yay for one more chapter in this old year <3 and as usual i am highly amused by your commentery about the thestrals i have always thought they were an afterthought, because with all the muggle children around many must be able to see them traffic accidents are real!
also i agree on your statement that remus poor clothing style has to be by choice - in a world magic it makes no sense - and piles of chocolate-apparently very good chocolate need to cost money
also also basically i would be qualified to teach at hogwarts, if my plans do not work out, i shall consider that option to become a teacher for sure
thanks for one more chapter analysis and have a happy new year!
Re: Remus buying chocolate. He might have charged the expense to the school, knowing that he would have to be feeding it to Dementor-stricken children all year long. Or maybe Madame Pomfrey added it to the school budget and arranged for every adult on staff to have a supply available at all times as Dementor first aid. Does anyone have an opinion on whether she is sufficiently foresighted and responsible to do that? Or is it more likely that Snape suggested it to her when they were discussing the coming year's medical supplies?
Remus's "Pity me, the poor harmless werewolf!" wardrobe is every bit as intentional as Snape's "Tremble before the dreaded potions master!" act and Dumbledore's "Never mind me, I'm just a dotty old man with god-like power and wisdom" routine.
"I'm so harmless I can't even poke my clothing with a magical needle! I definitely would not tear anyone's throat out!" Hm, that's an interesting thought. Though he could just be the absolute worst with mending spells, like how Tonks can heal a broken nose instantly but can't clean a messy owl cage. Failing Domestic Skills 101: proof that they're made for each other!
In alternate universe where Tonks and Remus survived the war, their home is this falling apart shack. Poor Andromeda visits them a few times a week to make sure that her grandson wasn't eaten by garbages that became a bit too sentient.
‘That’s obvious,’ whispered Hermione. ‘There’s only one vacancy, isn’t there? Defence Against the Dark Arts.’” Eh, it’s a bit of stretch Hermione. Remus could be your new History teacher.
Remus isn't the only new teacher that year. Hagrid becomes the Magical Creature teacher.
So if any other teacher's decided to leave how would Hermione know?
Indeed. But back when I was first reading the series I kept hoping that at some point we could actually get a decent history teacher and thus learn more about HPverse :P
But then again it kind of shows how the school body perceives DADA teaching position. DADA teachers change so often that it's no brainer that anyone travelling via Hogwarts Express calling themselves 'Professor' is DADA teacher and not some scholar wanting to use Hogwarts' library for their research.
Remus as "bodyguard" on the train at least makes Dumbledore look slightly less negligent. Only slightly, but if he recognizes danger at all, that's... wait, that makes it look more intentional in the future when he doesn't.
Uh. Well, I can see Remus not being able to Apparate if he's especially sick right now. I wonder if Floo travel also affects him badly near transformation time? It sounds like it would be awful if you're sick, what with all the whirling and rooms flashing by. So maybe Remus was like, "Um, maybe I could... guard the train?" And Dumbledore went, "Guard...? Ah, yes, safety! What an excellent thought."
I bet Professor R.J. Lupin was his grandfather or something, which is why the trunk is so battered. That, or he's a "professor" in the same way literal traveling snake-oil salesmen were "Professor Soandso." (Or Professor Marvel from The Wizard of Oz. Though he's probably Dumbledore.) Snape probably has some scathing remarks about Professor Lupin's Patent Medicines. Though he actually does seem to know his creatures;
( ... )
OMG, those are excellent and I had not read them before. Thank you! I'm going to have trouble not imagining Hermione as a bookie now. It's too perfect.
I bet Remus learned a lot of things in his Marauders days that would translate to the extermination business. They must have run into a lot of minor and not-so-minor creatures during all that sneaking around.
Hm, that might work. Maybe the Patronus/positive memories thing is more about pulling yourself together than happiness as such, then? Which might make sense given what Sirius says, that knowing he was innocent helped keep him sane even though it wasn't a happy thought. It was about knowing who he was and holding his soul together, or something like that. And he does seem a bit, um, lacking in emotional nuance once he's free. I think he was damaged before he went in, but having his soul nibbled around the edges surely makes it worse.
My absolute favourite copperbadge's work is Registration. It just fits pre-Pottemore HPverse world. Also Hermione-the-bookie fits OotP!Hermione
( ... )
I really liked Jodel's idea that the Dementors represent the root of what's rotten in the wizarding world: this is a society built on fear. Fear is the excuse they use for their constant mind-wiping of innocent Muggles, their kangaroo courts, their police acting above the law, their inhumane treatment of prisoners... I wish more had come of that in the books. Failing that, she could at least have had the kids try using the soul-sucking demons to fix their Horcrux problem. Even if it didn't work, at least they'd have looked less helpless, and trying and failing more would have made the ending look less like the author handed them a victory.
(unintentionally) almost ate SeverusFunny thing: I can't find where in the books anyone who was actually there at the time says Remus wasn't in on the plan from the beginning, just as Snape said. Given how Snape was dead right about James being a strutting, arrogant bully who thought he was above the rules, whenever no one refutes his accusations now, I get suspicious. This is actually an important
( ... )
Considering how cowardly Remus is, I don't think he knew about any plan. Especially since he would know about potential consequences for him if he was even suspected to be responsible for taking part in Plan 1.0 . Sirius's version of the plan would land Remus in the death row. It pretty much shows that either Sirius didn't appreciate Remus' friendship or was ignorant of consequences for him (which pretty much shows Sirius' respect for Remus). That is exactly why I think he didn't know and doesn't appreciate Sirius's stunt. But he can milk consequences (terrorising Snape).
Well, I would think that, but he did participate in those monthly excursions, which could also have gotten him sent to Azkaban. He even claims to have planned them and led his friends. (Which may be his retroactive perception rather than how it actually happened, but still.) So the right inducement can overcome his cowardice. It's trying to figure out exactly where his breaking point is that's hard.
It would be simpler all around if he didn't know beforehand, though. Or at least, if he hadn't participated in anything more than idle brainstorming, which might be enough to make him feel responsible even if he wasn't in on any actual plan.
I mean how much Remus has control over his wilder side during full moon without proper potions? He might be angry at them for risking his life for their amusement, but they might be his only friends and they worked so hard to be able to make him more... comfortable during full moons, so he should be grateful to them, right?
I think that a lot of Remus' guilt (and his perceptions of his role in Maruder's activities) steams from his Prefect position. After all his benefactor counted on him to keep James and Sirius in line. 'Maybe if he was less lenient back at Hogwarts, all Marauders would be alive...'
/Or maybe he does and that's why he keeps trying to go after Peter. I think that I read somewhere that Crookshanks is supposed to be part-Kneazle?
But it ends up being irrelevant anyway in later books, because we never see Crookshanks alert anyone to shifty people like Barty Crouch Jr. /
You see that is why I have such a big problem with this subplot. Yes, Crookshanks is supposed to be super smart, because he is part Kneazle. But this cat is perfectly ok with working with one animagus (Sirius) and actively hunting another one before he could possibly know that this animagus is up to no good. Had this books been written by another author Peter could at some point transform back into human form and try to convince Crookshanks that he is a secret bodyguard for Harry or something. We are back to the same problem we had in PS and CoS. Rowling already knows the conclusion to this book so retroactively certain characters react to the information they have no way of knowing.
I'd say Crookshanks can sense evil, the way people say animals can as it is... but Sirius is only on Team Good Guys through technicalities and is a pretty rotten person a lot of the time, so I don't think that works.
I am now disappointed that we didn't see him attacking Moody's good leg all through GoF, though. Or hey, how about a cat attacking Umbridge the cat-lover? So many missed opportunities!
Heck, considering how Sirius acted when he finally caught Peter, he should be considered evil. After all, he was planning to murder a fellow human being.
And statistically speaking Crookshanks most probably isn't the only Kneazle hybrid. Any person who intends to harm students would be attacked by a pack of angry cats, no matter if they are parent, teacher or fellow student.
Comments 42
and as usual i am highly amused by your commentery
about the thestrals i have always thought they were an afterthought, because with all the muggle children around many must be able to see them traffic accidents are real!
also i agree on your statement that remus poor clothing style has to be by choice - in a world magic it makes no sense - and piles of chocolate-apparently very good chocolate need to cost money
also also basically i would be qualified to teach at hogwarts, if my plans do not work out, i shall consider that option to become a teacher for sure
thanks for one more chapter analysis and have a happy new year!
Reply
Remus's "Pity me, the poor harmless werewolf!" wardrobe is every bit as intentional as Snape's "Tremble before the dreaded potions master!" act and Dumbledore's "Never mind me, I'm just a dotty old man with god-like power and wisdom" routine.
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Remus isn't the only new teacher that year. Hagrid becomes the Magical Creature teacher.
So if any other teacher's decided to leave how would Hermione know?
Reply
But then again it kind of shows how the school body perceives DADA teaching position. DADA teachers change so often that it's no brainer that anyone travelling via Hogwarts Express calling themselves 'Professor' is DADA teacher and not some scholar wanting to use Hogwarts' library for their research.
Reply
Uh. Well, I can see Remus not being able to Apparate if he's especially sick right now. I wonder if Floo travel also affects him badly near transformation time? It sounds like it would be awful if you're sick, what with all the whirling and rooms flashing by. So maybe Remus was like, "Um, maybe I could... guard the train?" And Dumbledore went, "Guard...? Ah, yes, safety! What an excellent thought."
I bet Professor R.J. Lupin was his grandfather or something, which is why the trunk is so battered. That, or he's a "professor" in the same way literal traveling snake-oil salesmen were "Professor Soandso." (Or Professor Marvel from The Wizard of Oz. Though he's probably Dumbledore.) Snape probably has some scathing remarks about Professor Lupin's Patent Medicines. Though he actually does seem to know his creatures; ( ... )
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I bet Remus learned a lot of things in his Marauders days that would translate to the extermination business. They must have run into a lot of minor and not-so-minor creatures during all that sneaking around.
Hm, that might work. Maybe the Patronus/positive memories thing is more about pulling yourself together than happiness as such, then? Which might make sense given what Sirius says, that knowing he was innocent helped keep him sane even though it wasn't a happy thought. It was about knowing who he was and holding his soul together, or something like that. And he does seem a bit, um, lacking in emotional nuance once he's free. I think he was damaged before he went in, but having his soul nibbled around the edges surely makes it worse.
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(unintentionally) almost ate SeverusFunny thing: I can't find where in the books anyone who was actually there at the time says Remus wasn't in on the plan from the beginning, just as Snape said. Given how Snape was dead right about James being a strutting, arrogant bully who thought he was above the rules, whenever no one refutes his accusations now, I get suspicious. This is actually an important ( ... )
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That is exactly why I think he didn't know and doesn't appreciate Sirius's stunt. But he can milk consequences (terrorising Snape).
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It would be simpler all around if he didn't know beforehand, though. Or at least, if he hadn't participated in anything more than idle brainstorming, which might be enough to make him feel responsible even if he wasn't in on any actual plan.
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I think that a lot of Remus' guilt (and his perceptions of his role in Maruder's activities) steams from his Prefect position. After all his benefactor counted on him to keep James and Sirius in line. 'Maybe if he was less lenient back at Hogwarts, all Marauders would be alive...'
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But it ends up being irrelevant anyway in later books, because we never see Crookshanks alert anyone to shifty people like Barty Crouch Jr. /
You see that is why I have such a big problem with this subplot. Yes, Crookshanks is supposed to be super smart, because he is part Kneazle. But this cat is perfectly ok with working with one animagus (Sirius) and actively hunting another one before he could possibly know that this animagus is up to no good. Had this books been written by another author Peter could at some point transform back into human form and try to convince Crookshanks that he is a secret bodyguard for Harry or something.
We are back to the same problem we had in PS and CoS. Rowling already knows the conclusion to this book so retroactively certain characters react to the information they have no way of knowing.
Reply
I am now disappointed that we didn't see him attacking Moody's good leg all through GoF, though. Or hey, how about a cat attacking Umbridge the cat-lover? So many missed opportunities!
Reply
And statistically speaking Crookshanks most probably isn't the only Kneazle hybrid. Any person who intends to harm students would be attacked by a pack of angry cats, no matter if they are parent, teacher or fellow student.
Reply
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