*They have a short conversation about Luna. Ron supposes she'll be in Azkaban, if she's alive, and doubts whether she will survive since many don't. Harry says Luna is tougher than she seems and is probably teaching all the inmates about Nargles because he can't "bear to contemplate the alternative". Yes, she's probably teaching them since she's in Lucius's cellar, but had she been in Azkaban, she would be alone in her cell, surrounded by numerous Dementors.
Not only that, but Harry fails to realise that Luna's memories will be much worst than most, what with witnessing her mother's death and afterwards enduring years of bullying.
*Potterwatch, the illegal radio program, follows in DD's footsteps with the complexity of their passwords ("Albus") and pseudonyms (Lee-River, Romulus-Remus, etc). If Ron says "they've got code names, but you can usually tell", you could as well use your real names, boys.Why bother with passwords? How are they to get new listeners? And why bother with pseudonyms (noms de guerre, even)? Everyone knows that
( ... )
I think the idea behind pseudonyms is to give how-things-usually-go in a war feeling. People are supposed to tell each other about the program to add new listeners.
*And Harry gets a flashback to Marvolo Gaunt, V's grandfather, brandishing an ugly ring with Peverell coat of arms, as he thought (in reality the sign of the DH), in the face of a Ministry official. I completely forgot V descended from the Peverells too. Did both he and Harry descend from Ignotus? So all those fandom theories about V and Harry being relatives are (very) slightly true. Only they are very distantly related, not Star Wars style, like some fans thought. Love that
( ... )
*Lupin describes Hagrid as "well-known gamekeeper at Hogwarts School". Is it a sign he isn't a teacher this year or that Lupin has never been really able to perceive him as one? ***JKR would probably say the first reason. Lupin, however, would think of both reasons.
And I would say this is another one of those things that was written from day dot and never edited to fit into the later story as it evolved, but then, that's me.
And I would say this is another one of those things that was written from day dot and never edited to fit into the later story as it evolved, but then, that's me. ***You definitely got a point there. It's one of those little unclear things Beta readers and editors pick up when the author doesn't.
I also love that Voldemort and Harry are related distantly, like everyone else with a wizarding ancestor. The wizarding world is like a small town that way: everyone is at least distantly related to everyone, in the end. (I wonder if Harry has figured out yet that the Longbotttoms, the Weasleys, and the Potters are all related to the Malfoys through the Blacks? Just think, Draco might have inherited the Black fortune if Harry hadn't gotten it.)
It is such a shame that Harry couldn't/didn't bother to figure out a way to work with the resistance. Okay, sure, don't tell them about the Horcruxes - but surely you can still coordinate your efforts somehow? Try tracking down another two-way mirror so you can talk to the students still at Hogwarts, at least
( ... )
May be Harry The Lonely Hero (except Ron & Hermione) was like a fixed idea for JKR so much that she didn't sit down and planned what would the book be like with and without working with the resistance. Besides, trusting DD is a sign of being a Good Person in those books.
Well, yes, it is as if anybody doing anything would somehow steal Harry's glory! Yet she couldn't figure anything interesting for Harry to do either.
It is such a shame that Harry couldn't/didn't bother to figure out a way to work with the resistance.Indeed. Those descriptions of the VW1, when "you never knew whom to trust" and people actually fought back against Voldy held such promise... Yet for most of DH JKR seems to forget that there was supposed to be resistance or war going on
( ... )
The "not knowing whom to trust"/spies in the Order (which Dumbledore maybe knew about, just not exactly who) would have added so much to this story. Like tension.
* Kingsley tells listeners, who think it should be "Wizards first" in those dangerous times, that there is one short step from that to "Purebloods first" & then to "DEs": "We're all human, aren't we? Every human life is worth the same". Sadly, hardly anybody seems to fully believe that in the wizarding world, except Muggleborns. Interesting whether Kingsley would approve of DD's behavior to the Dursleys in HBP. Are elves, goblins, werewolves or vampires 'humans'? I thought it was really sad that the next line was a werewolf agreeing that yes, humans first was the best philosophy to go by.
Werewolves are defined as diseased humans, so they would be included too. Of course, from what we know, only Lupin doesn't live in a forest and deliberately attacks people.
Vampires don't seem to be involved in the war. Elves aren't either until the battle of Hogwarts and even then we talk only about the school's elves - there are much more. (With Dobby being an exception to the rule). Goblins haven't been hurt, except the one in the next chapter, which was tortured a bit by Bellatrix.
It's wizards' war, in addition to some Muggles being killed by DEs for fun. The wizarding world is very prejudiced, but they weren't wrong here to talk about humans.
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Not only that, but Harry fails to realise that Luna's memories will be much worst than most, what with witnessing her mother's death and afterwards enduring years of bullying.
*Potterwatch, the illegal radio program, follows in DD's footsteps with the complexity of their passwords ("Albus") and pseudonyms (Lee-River, Romulus-Remus, etc). If Ron says "they've got code names, but you can usually tell", you could as well use your real names, boys.Why bother with passwords? How are they to get new listeners? And why bother with pseudonyms (noms de guerre, even)? Everyone knows that ( ... )
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***JKR would probably say the first reason. Lupin, however, would think of both reasons.
And I would say this is another one of those things that was written from day dot and never edited to fit into the later story as it evolved, but then, that's me.
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***You definitely got a point there. It's one of those little unclear things Beta readers and editors pick up when the author doesn't.
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It is such a shame that Harry couldn't/didn't bother to figure out a way to work with the resistance. Okay, sure, don't tell them about the Horcruxes - but surely you can still coordinate your efforts somehow? Try tracking down another two-way mirror so you can talk to the students still at Hogwarts, at least ( ... )
Reply
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It is such a shame that Harry couldn't/didn't bother to figure out a way to work with the resistance.Indeed. Those descriptions of the VW1, when "you never knew whom to trust" and people actually fought back against Voldy held such promise... Yet for most of DH JKR seems to forget that there was supposed to be resistance or war going on ( ... )
Reply
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Are elves, goblins, werewolves or vampires 'humans'? I thought it was really sad that the next line was a werewolf agreeing that yes, humans first was the best philosophy to go by.
Reply
Vampires don't seem to be involved in the war. Elves aren't either until the battle of Hogwarts and even then we talk only about the school's elves - there are much more. (With Dobby being an exception to the rule). Goblins haven't been hurt, except the one in the next chapter, which was tortured a bit by Bellatrix.
It's wizards' war, in addition to some Muggles being killed by DEs for fun. The wizarding world is very prejudiced, but they weren't wrong here to talk about humans.
Reply
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