PS Chapter Thirteen: "Nicholas Flamel"

[for_diddled]

* The trio look for mentions of Nicholas Flamel by “skimming through books”, because apparently wizarding publishers still haven't invented the index.

Comments

[sunnyskywalker]

apparently wizarding publishers still haven't invented the index

That, or the kids just don't know what indexes are because Dumbledore has forbidden Madame Pince from offering library research skills orientation classes. Because of, er, budget and scheduling concerns, yes, that's it. Nothing at all to do with concerns about what might happen if the wizarding world ever learned to ask questions and research properly.

I’m not sure why Snape wanted to meet in the Forbidden Forest, given that he lives in a castle chock-full of abandoned classrooms, hidden passages and assorted secret hiding-places.

Because it would be super-awkward to arrange a secret meeting only to have it interrupted by horny teenagers looking for a private room? Or the Twins, who currently have the Map and are probably responsible for a lot of "strange" goings-on. Or Peeves. I bet the staff all hold unofficial meetings in the Forbidden Forest. It's safer and quieter.

[jana_ch]

Better yet, at the Hog’s Head. Unofficial meetings plus beer.

Or if he doesn’t want Aberforth eavesdropping, Snape could transfigure their robes and Apparate Quirrel to his local in Manchester. Better beer, no one reporting back to the headmaster, and a few grizzled muggle toughs (who’ve known “Toby’s boy” forever) sitting around looking threatening.

Nah, Sev wouldn’t take a possible Death Eater to his local, but I’m sure our Working-Class Hero knows plenty of other places Quirrelmort would find sufficiently revolting.

[sunnyskywalker]

He probably has a whole mental rolodex of clandestine meeting places! And places that appear to be clandestine but aren't (for when he needs a third party to overhear something), and places that appear not to be clandestine but actually are/can be made so...

[hwyla]

And worse - we now know that Snape had invented Muffilato back when he was 15-16 yrs old.

There's no reason (except plot) that Harry didn't hear mere buzzing when he followed Snape and Quirrel into the forest. Even if Snape had cast it just to ensure the Centaurs didn't overhear.

[aikaterini]

/Gryffindor have no reserve seeker, because only wimps display common sense./

Or because if they did have a reserve seeker, then it wouldn’t be a big deal that Harry wasn’t able to play.

/Malfoy’s been looking for someone to practise his new curse on, just like Harry in HBP./

Nice catch!

/Oh, that biased meanie Snape, penalising Gryffindor just for lobbing bludgers at him!/

Apparently, attacking non-players during a game isn’t and shouldn’t be a big deal. This will come up again later when Ginny attacks Zacharias Smith for his commentary.

[jana_ch]

Physically attacking people is brave. It’s calling names and making snarky comments that’s eeeeevil.

[hwyla]

I suppose we can excuse all the times Harry and Ron called Snape 'greasy git' and amend the evil name calling to only be evil when the person can hear you?

However, what does that make the Marauders who called Sev 'Snivelus' to his face? Somehow, I think even name calling is 'brave' if you're a Gryffindor. And Harry's 'snark' at the Dursleys is considered brave.

[jana_ch]

You’re right, the rule doesn’t hold. There is only one iron-clad moral rule in the Potterverse: IOIAGDI