(no subject)
God, I hate this chapter. Long and angsty.
Note for Jo - Political allegories are not your friend.
Note for Harry - STFU, as always.
Note for Hermione - The hell?
13.5 is up, and I see we're now dreading awaiting HBP!
* 'Umbridge - "High Inquisitor"?' said Harry darkly, his half-eaten piece of toast slipping from his fingers. 'What does that mean?'
That JK Rowling is one of Earth's less subtle writers?
Why on earth would someone name themselves an Inquisitor, especially when they fail to do any Inquisition (unless you consider it liek, totally unfair that there are guidelines and rules for teachers. In which case, go campaign to bring back the birch, and stop bothering me.)?
After the 'Death Eaters' and the 'Inquisition Squad' I'm beginning to believe that the only difference between the 'good' side and the 'bad' here is that the baddies all have horrible PR. And I expect the HBP's new gang/court/hangers-on to be called 'Nasty Killer Nazis From Hell'. Or possibly just carry around a signpost saying 'I'm the one you're supposed to hate'.
* 'In a surprise move last night the Ministry of Magic passed new legislation giving itself an unprecedented level of control at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Gotta remember all that control has to be wrested from somewhere, though. I love that there's all the 'How can one person have so much power?' (hee, poor Dumbledore, he's lost both his incredibly important jobs. I know I was in total suspense throughout this book and in no way suspected that
a) He'd get them all back and likely Fudge on bended knee apologising or
b) There would be absolutely no questioning that he's basically fostering his own dictatorship or that it might be inappropriate having one man, not even an elect, deciding so much.
Or as ajhalluk put it:
"Well, talk about pluralism. There was, of course, a good deal of angst earlier in the book about him losing the latter two appointments; no-one seems to have considered that it was pretty dashed iffy him attempting to hold them both at the same time (separation of powers, anyone?)"
and 'Down with the fascist establishment' (bring back the old one!) but the idea that Dumbledore had an unprecedented amount of control (of course, that's arguable, since we haven't studied the old headmasters in depth, but they can't all have been part-time politicians) over a school, to the point of dismissing both parental and staff concerns, any attempt at health, safety or teaching standards, and in fact wilfully misled said parents over the welfare of their children and the government (are they even funding Hogwarts? It's not clear whether the kids pay fees or not, which would make it privately run.
Of course, even in the Muggle world, public schools (yup, we call the privately runs schools public and the government ones state.) have to teach a, you know, curriculum. And obey, um, laws.
Of course if it's funded by parents; then they deserve a voice about their children's welfare; and if it's run by taxes and the government, that's even more reason that they should have some kind of say over how the place is run, but I don't want to appear one of those fascist racist types who think children have a right not to go to school under a megalomaniacal sociopath who admits he'd let any amount of people die and suffer in order to assure the peace of mind of one student, so I'll shut up now!
* "The Minister has been growing uneasy about goings-on at Hogwarts for some time," said junior Assistant to the Minister, Percy Weasley.
Why would he be disturbed at Hogwarts? Just because there are constant injuries, a recent death from a school sponsored event; and a horrifying lack of teaching, let alone any standards for teachers who both allow and actively participate in student abuse and endangerment? What a bureaucratic worry wart Fudge is!
* "He is now responding to concerns voiced by anxious parents, who feel the school may be moving in a direction they do not approve of."
Only the nasty pureblood ones though. No doubt they're uncomfortable with all the love and peace and think the direction should be Evil. It's just that simple in the HPverse.
Of course, under Dumbledore's rule, Muggle parents don't even have to be informed of the murders of students, and I didn't see anyone contacting Hermione's parents while she was hospitalised twice in her second year, the latter time for months.
In fact, the only parents who seem at all concerned about their children are the nasty ones in this series. The Malfoys, the Montagues, the Dursleys.
The Weasleys, our pureblood example of happy families and good parenting take the opposite tack of 'personal responsibility, no whining, buck up and listen to your elders' (so odd that they're the liberals and their enemies the conservatives when this very attitude is the definition of oldfashioned values.)
Only bad parents question the Right Way to Think or even show concern over their children. You spoil a child with love and the best way to raise a decent kid is neglect and abuse (with Harry as our shining example of course.)
* 'This is not the first time in recent weeks that the Minister, Cornelius Fudge, has used new laws to effect improvements at the wizarding school...Educational Decree Number Twenty-two was passed, to ensure that, in the event of the current Headmaster being unable to provide a candidate for a teaching post, the Ministry should select an appropriate person.'
Horror! Wish they'd implemented that at my old college.
But seriously? If there's no teacher to be found, can anyone explain to me why it's objectional that the government, with the wider resources they possess, shouldn't refer someone?
I mean, seriously, isn't it better than having no teacher?
And of course, Dumbledore has repeatedly and without any assistance from the Ministry, hired some pretty dire teachers all by himself and apparently with awareness (Lockhart, Quirrell, Moody) so why is it so wrong to assume that most anyone could do a better job of selecting teachers?
Even Umbridge with her abuse of students, mental instability and attempts at Unforgiveables is only following in the steps of those before her.
* 'Dumbledore couldn't find anyone so the Minister put in Umbridge, and of course, she's been an immediate success -'
'She's been a WHAT?' said Harry loudly.
'Wait, there's more,' said Hermione grimly. '- totally revolutionising the teaching of Defence Against the Dark Arts and providing the Minister with on-the-ground feedback about what's really happening at Hogwarts.'
She has rather revolutionised it, hasn't she? All this fancy intellectual talk about theory and law; and now no-one gets to hex people anymore...*sobz*
And it is the standard world-wide for governments to recieve feedback on education, especially state-schools which are funded by them. I realise JKR is an ex-teacher but what she is apparently suggesting appears to be rooted in personal bitterness (teachers should be trusted as god figures and not questioned in any way, ever.) much like the 'newspapers tell lies about poor me celebrities' sub-plot.
* 'Among those eccentric decisions are undoubtedly the controversial staff appointments previously described in this newspaper, which have included the employment of werewolf Remus Lupin, half-giant Rubeus Hagrid and delusional ex-Auror, "Mad-Eye" Moody.
How could anyone not approve of them?
Why, the Prophet are totally racist and so are anybody who questions the wisdom of hiring: a man who endangered the entire Wizarding World by neglecting to tell anyone the information he had about a suspected mass-murder, who nearly killed three students and a professor; another man who's class has constant injuries and who sent two students into a forest inhabited by man-eating spiders, who told Voldemort himself how to subvert Dumbledore's maze and who drinks to excess on school grounds regularly. And of course, Moody, who demonstrated Unforgiveables and thought physical abuse appropriate punishment.
* 'Wizengamot elders Griselda Marchbanks and Tiberius Ogden have resigned in protest at the introduction of the post of Inquisitor to Hogwarts. '"Hogwarts is a school, not an outpost of Cornelius Fudge's office," said Madam Marchbanks.
Ha! Hogwarts is a school, not an outpost for Albus Dumbledore to run his totalitarian regime and foster terrorist groups.
* 'And now he's given her the power to inspect the other teachers!' Hermione was breathing fast and her eyes were very bright. 'I can't believe this. It's outrageous'
Huh? Didn’t she go to Muggle primary school? Did she not think that they’re inspected?
* 'The general standard of this homework was abysmal. Most of you would have failed had this been your examination.'
British schools usually have one ‘mock’ exam for practice. Why don’t they have those in Hogwarts? Oh well, maybe they do.
Snape's still a nasty teacher, calling people who perform below expectations 'dunces'. Of course, Hagrid refers to students questions as 'stupid' so if I'm supposed to realise that Snape is the teacher not promoted to vacant positions he appears to be better qualified for because he's liek totally mean, then perhaps I'm missing how great all the other teachers in the school are.
And like I've said, I'm not even fond of Snape, particularly.
* He smirked as Malfoy sniggered and said in a carrying whisper, 'Some people got a "D"? Ha!'
Heh. Snape/Draco OTP - theirloveworksintandemtoembarrassothers. So I’m assuming Draco’s not too bad at potions, at least; what with this and the bit in PS about how well he stewed horns. (?!)
* 'I didn't expect the top grade, not if he's marking to OWL standard, but a pass is quite encouraging at this stage, wouldn't you say?'...'Obviously, I'd have been thrilled if I'd got an "O" -'
I want to know what Hermione got. Presumably an E. Which would ruin the lovely 'OMG Snape is so biased and h8s us Gryffindors cause he's liek totally jellus & stuff!11' victimisation complex.
* 'Hermione,' said Ron sharply 'if you want to know what grades we got, ask.'
Seriously. Or mind your own business. What with the spying and unsubtle hints and lending her work to others (if it were a Slytherin, it would be cheating. As it's Hermione, I shall call it 'counter-assistance' or something.) I'm wondering why Hermione doesn't tutor anyone herself rather than leave it to Harry.
Since she's all about freedom of knowledge. Just...not too much. Wouldn't want people knowing how to undo a disfiguring hex, for example, would you?
* 'Still, better than "D", isn't it? "Dreadful"?'
Harry felt his face grow warm and faked a small coughing fit over his roll.
OMG. Harry got a lower grade than Ron? *falls over dead* HOW CAN THIS BE?
* They all laughed except Hermione, who ploughed on, 'So, after "E" it's "A" for "Acceptable", and that's the last pass grade, isn't it?'
Thanks Captain Exposition! I find it hard to believe Hermione wouldn’t already know the grades system backwards by now, so this part comes across rather clumsily, imho.
* He imagined trying to conceal from Hermione that he had received T's in all his OWLs and immediately resolved to work harder from now on.
As Magpie said, Harry’s fears of failure are just as dramatic as his hopes of success. Of course, if the worst thing about failing all his exams is having to explain it to Hermione, he’d be rather lucky.
* 'Lets say I dreamed I was...drowning Snape in my cauldron. Yeah, that'll do...'
Erk! (Although I’m sure if you ship Snarry you can make that romantic somehow.)
* Professor Trelawney scowled at her, arms crossed and shoulders hunched as though wishing to protect herself as much as possible from the indignity of the inspection. After a slight pause in which she seemed to decide that the question was not so offensive that she could reasonably ignore it, she said in a deeply resentful tone, 'Nearly sixteen years.'
Heh. It's odd, but the attitude being mocked here - that Trelawney finds an inspection an 'indignity', since she's incompetent and knows it; and that it's offensive that she, a noted Seer, must submit to the earthly concerns of those not blessed with The Inner Eye, blah blah pretention-cakes; appears to be closer to our heroes' feelings than anything.
For all their disagreements, Harry and Hermione have similiar feelings to Trelawney on this issue - how dare someone question Hagrid/Dumbledore by something as prosaic and petty as an inspection? Can't they feel what wonderful human beings they are, whether or not they get their students through itty bitty things like exams?
* Professor Umbridge made another note. 'And you are a great-great-granddaughter of the celebrated Seer Cassandra Trelawney?'
Umbridge has done her research.
* 'Of course,' she said sweetly, making yet another note. 'Well, if you could just predict something for me, then?' And she looked up enquiringly, still smiling.
I must say, I'm rather warming to Umbridge and her inspections. She seems more professional than most of the other teachers, and can assess whether or not they're competent (G-P and Flitwick, for example.)
Although obviously we should sympathise with Trelawney, since she has the good guy characteristics of being awful at her job and getting angry.
* Professor Trelawney pointed a shaking finger at Professor Umbridge who continued to smile blandly at her, eyebrows raised.
'I am afraid ... I am afraid that you are in grave danger!' Professor Trelawney finished dramatically.
Another one of Trelawney’s semi-truthful prophesies?
And Umbridge is unmoved by Divinations. Chalk up another coincidence for the Bitch2Brains theory ;)
* Harry caught Ron's eye and knew that Ron was thinking exactly the same as he was: they both knew that Professor Trelawney was an old fraud, but on the other hand, they loathed Umbridge so much that they felt very much on Trelawneys side - until she swooped down on them a few seconds later, that is.
'Well?' she said, snapping her long fingers under Harry's nose, uncharacteristically brisk. 'Let me see the start you've made on your dream diary, please.'
And by the time she had interpreted Harry's dreams at the top of her voice...he was feeling much less sympathetic towards her.
Heh. This part just reminds me of when they visit Lockhart, and Harry’s all 'Huh? I don’t know why Ron feels at all guilty that this man is now mentally disabled and has to live in assisted care. He totally had it coming! I...feel...nothing...'
More and more of the lines between people Harry feels worthy of consideration and not.
Gryffindors are all good, unless they question him.
People who dislike Umbridge are all good, unless they're not nice to him at the same time.
* 'Wands away' she instructed them all with a smile, and those people who had been hopeful enough to take them out, sadly returned them to their bags.
To quote Magpie, because I'm unable to manage even one chapter of a children's book without cribbing off someone else:
"Most of the kids in this class who are sad at having to put their wands away and itching to try these hexes will, of course, wind up not only concentrating on jinxes but using them on other students without it being self-defense. So...uh...is the idea here that Hermione and her gang of Heroes eventually triumph over the evil Slinkhard by liking jinxes ever so much and proving how useful they are by using them on others and still calling them counter-jinxes?"
Fo' real, yo. Doesn't your heart bleed for the poor kids? All they want to do is hex learn!
* 'I've already read Chapter Two,' said Hermione.
'Well then, proceed to Chapter Three.'
'I've read that too. I've read the whole book.'
Professor Umbndge blinked but recovered her poise almost instantly.
OMG! The whole book? Well, that taught everyone who ever questioned Hermione's intelligence (*blows kisses at Mira* ;) - you just have to be impressed at people who can read entire non-fiction books all by themselves!
Heh. I used to read all the books ahead of time in class, and no-one was ever 'OMG1111 U r so smart!'
In fact, teachers used to get irritated because they like to take each chapter one-by-one and discuss.
Likewise, teachers get annoyed when people like Hermione write 20 pages when they've been set five. Part of language skills is cohesive writing (if you become a writer and get assigned a story of 1000 words but write 3000 you get fired. Heh, not the best example to use for either JKR's books which are woefully flabby or my readthroughs which are equally so.)
Seriously, though, I'd be about 1000x more impressed with Hermione and her famed intellect if she'd proven to have absorbed any of the points in her book. As the next paragraph proves.
* 'He says that counter-jinxes are improperly named,' said Hermione promptly. 'He says "counter-jinx" is just a name people give their jinxes when they want to make them sound more acceptable.'...'Mr Slinkhard doesn't like jinxes, does he? But I think they can be very useful when they're used defensively.'
Huh? Jeebus, how can someone so supposedly intelligent miss the point so often? The point isn't whether Slinkhard has a positive or negative impression of jinxes; or whether jinxes are useful or useless; but that people justify them by describing them with nice names and make excuses for them by attributing themselves good motives (I only use them 'defensively'! Sweet. Like nuclear weapons.) Which is exactly what Hermione is doing.
And this is supposed to be the smartest kid around? Things like this make me think that actually JKR isn't that bright and is writing a character who's the Hollywood-style stereotype of intelligence, but actually doesn't convince. Like, *gasp* she read the whole book, what a genius!
* ...'Well, I'm afraid it is Mr Slinkhard's opinion, and not yours, that matters within this classroom, Miss Granger.'
'But -' Hermione began.
Of course, no villain in the HPverse can ever make a logical point rebutting the flaws in a 'good' characters argument. Heavens forfend! Readers might actually think for themselves rather than regurgitating the author's and lead character's opinions.
Better make sure your antagonists are cripplingly stupid and reply with the equivalent of: "Shut up! That's why!"
Although I'd love to know what Hermione was going to say: But I'm far cleverer than silly old Slinkard! I should be the authority of the moral value of all possible spells, hexes and curses!
* …'Miss Granger, I am going to take five points from Gryffindor house.'
There was an outbreak of muttering at this.
Outraged Gryffindors? Heh, if they’re anything like the other houses members in PS, they’re likely rooting for Gryffindor to have the largest point total whether it affects them or not.
* 'Potter, you must get a grip on yourself! You are heading for serious trouble! Another five points from Gryffindor!'
'But - what -? Professor, no!' Harry said, furious at this injustice, 'I'm already being punished by her, why do you have to take points as well?'
'Because detentions do not appear to have any effect on you whatsoever!' said Professor McGonagall tartly. 'No, not another word of complaint, Potter! And as for you, Miss Johnson, you will confine your shouting matches to the Quidditch pitch in future or risk losing the team captaincy!'
Ha! Go McGonagall! I have my doubts about her, what with the whole 'She's the fairest teacher around!' insistence; but I rather liked her willingness to deduct points from her own house, and ever question *gasp* Quidditch players.
I'd say her priorities have changed from PS, the book in which I like her least and coincidentally the one in which she basically embodies 'Rules are for other people'; except I really hate the ending of OotP, to which she contributes.
For now, though... *is impressed*
* 'She's taken points off Gryffindor because I'm having my hand sliced open every night! How is that fair, how?'
Um. Because of the reasons she just said?
* 'I know, mate,' said Ron sympathetically, tipping bacon on to Harry's plate, 'she's bang out of order.'
Hermione, however, merely rustled the pages of her Daily Prophet and said nothing.
'You think McGonagall was right, do you?' said Harry angrily...
'I wish she hadn't taken points from you, but I think she's right to warn you not to lose your temper with Umbridge,' said Hermione's voice.
More juxtapositions of McGonagall and Hermione, as well as them being the only two to disturb Umbridge in any way.
Glad to see them both, especially Hermione who has a tendency to be spineless with her friends, asserting themselves and their opinions, without being afraid to challenge Angry!Harry.
Although of course it's a little hypocritical of them to lecture on proper conduct towards Umbridge considering how openly rude they both are to her, but still...
And more Ron and his saying whatever Harry wants to hear.
I actually had high hopes for Ron, once upon a time.
He's the only member of the Trio not to have either attempted murder or an Unforgiveable; he proved himself willing to question Harry and their friendships dynamic, albeit wrongly, but the principle remains the same, as well as Hermione (again wrongly. Of course.)
He even questioned Hagrid, and I wondered whether he, rather than trailing behind Harry and Hermione as usual, had actually lost the childish adulation (while still liking the man on a personal level) - Ron's the one who got bit by Norbert in PS (and a serious enough bite that he was hospitalised), Ron's the one who has that really great bit in CoS about Hagrid's not being innocent because of hatching Aragog, and Ron's the one who's absent throughout most of the Hagrid-heavy adventures: Buckbeak and Grawp.
He also got the Prefect badge that Harry didn't, and I wondered whether he might actually have some value or trait that Harry and Hermione lacked; or that he might have matured somewhat.
Instead all we got was a pale clone of Harry who echoes his every sentiment (or Hermione's) and doesn't even have the balls to back it up; a lazy brat who wants everything but fights for nothing and isn't even interesting enough for me to hate like the other two.
* 'Let's see Umbridge get what she deserves.'
Wow. Change the name whenever appropriate and you’ve got the motto of this entire series.
* 'Right then, everyone, listen closely - Dean Thomas, if you do that to the mouse again I shall put you in detention'
Looking up Dean: he was the first to defend Hagrid after the Buckbeak incident (wasn't too happy when he got injured though ;) forges signatures; adores Lupin; JKR likes him; drew pictures of Cedric with his head on fire; doesn't tell his Muggle parents about deaths; defends Moody; and is in the DA.
He also dates Ginny, teases small creatures and is desperate to learn hexes.
Erk!
* 'How she can lecture me about not losing my temper with Umbridge!' Harry muttered to Ron under his breath, but he was grinning - his anger with Professor McGonagall had quite evaporated.
Whee! All gone! Heh, the Gryffindors remind me more than ever of toddlers. There’s Sirius, who like totally isn’t talking to Harry; the ‘LOOK AT ME’ attention-seeking, and the frantic mood-swings and tendency to forget things that tormented one seconds ago.
* Professor Umbridge did not follow Professor McGonagall around the class as she had followed Professor Trelawney; perhaps she realised Professor McGonagall would not permit it.
Huh? Dude, like she can do anything about it? I actually think McGonagall, while being a better teacher than either Trelawney or Hagrid, is actually being quite unprofessional here, and should really take a page from her own book about tolerating people rather than fighting them.
* Professor Umbridge, dropping her voice, though Harry could still hear her quite clearly.
Um. Does Harry have supersonic hearing or is Umbridge just so incompetent she can’t even modulate the volume of her voice?
* Most people were able to answer well and Harry's spirits lifted somewhat; at least the class was not letting Hagrid down.
Because that's the classes job. To help Hagrid. Not the other way around.
* Harry exchanged uneasy looks with Ron and Hermione. Malfoy was whispering with Crabbe and Goyle; he would surely love this opportunity to tell tales on Hagrid to a member of the Ministry.
Ha! That's one of the more childish rationales in this book, and believe me, it's hard to pick a top ten.
Of course, Malfoy couldn't tell tales of Hagrid's incompetence if there weren't any to tell; and the whole 'Harry never tells anyone anything or complains even when having to cut himself, don't you want to be like him instead of the cowardly wimp?' ethos is actually quite disturbing.
I mean, how far do you take it?
Malfoy and Harry should, according to Harry's values, both remain silent about injuries caused by teachers - is that the limit? Should Harry not have immediately informed Dumbledore of Voldemort's return - after all, it's a mano e mano match against him and the Big V and he doesn't want to look a tattletale, now does he?
What if an adult is repeatedly hurting a child? Brr.
* Harry saw Malfoy look up eagerly and watch Umbridge and Grubbly-Plank closely.
Again, to quote Magpie:
"Harry's eyes are fixed on Malfoy, whose own eyes are fixed on Umbridge. Not that Harry remembers Malfoy exists."
* 'Oh, yes, Dumbledore's excellent,' said Professor Grubbly-Plank heartily. 'Yes, I'm very happy with the way things are run, very happy indeed.'
Looking politely incredulous, Umbridge...
Ha! So was I. I guess I’m a nasty old hag. Mind you, if G-P’s a temp, it makes sense that of course she likes affable Dumbledore, since she likely hasn't had chance to disagree with him or oppose him on any matters.
* 'Well, you seem to know what you're doing, at any rate,' said Professor Umbridge, making a very obvious tick on her clipboard. Harry did not like the emphasis she put on 'you' and liked it even less when she put her next question to Goyle.
Yeah, stupid Umbridge! Don’t be agreeing with the entire class including Hermione and even Harry himself! G-P is NOT better than Hagrid at teaching!
Notice how Umbridge doesn’t bother the competent?
* Goyle gave a stupid grin.
Malfoy hastened to answer the question. 'That was me,' he said. 'I was slashed by a Hippogriff.'
'A Hippogriff?' said Professor Umbridge, now scribbling frantically.
'Only because he was too stupid to listen to what Hagrid told him to do,' said Harry angrily.
What, Goyle can’t even answer questions now?
Poor stupid Malfoy. Then I guess he deserved what he got.
Of course, by that logic, there’s no point in the mile-long ever-so-sympathetic descriptions of poor Harry and his angsty hand; since he was ‘too stupid to listen to what (McGonagall) told him to do.’
(In fact, at least Malfoy
a: didn’t hear said instructions and
b: didn’t repeatedly do the exact thing that resulted in pain the first time out of misguided pride; which suggests to me he may be smarter than *gasp* Harry. Or cowardlier. Whatever your interpretation.
So basically, people in glass houses (ie. Gryffindors) are really the last people to be criticising others for a lack of intelligence and self-preservation.)
* It was nearly midnight when Harry left Umbridge's office that night, his hand now bleeding so severely that it was staining the scarf he had wrapped around it.
OMG? THAT SEVERELY?
* 'Here,' she said anxiously, pushing a small bowl of yellow liquid towards him, 'soak your hand in that, it's a solution of strained and pickled Murtlap tentacles, it should help.'
Ha! I’m afraid I had the same reaction as Magpie again, here: Oh, Hermione’s being thoughtful. I suppose she wants something?
* 'McGonagall would go nuts if she knew -'
'Yeah, she probably would,' said Harry dully. 'And how long do you reckon it'd take Umbridge to pass another decree saying anyone who complains about the High Inquisitor gets sacked immediately?'
Seriously. McGonagall’s ‘go(ne) nuts’ before, but she appears to have no official power of her own - she’s second in command to whoever rules the school. Which is handy for Dumbledore, but causes problems when he’s gone and/or when her judgement and his differs.
Interestingly my opinion differs from the other readthrough here: while it's described as Harry being 'martyrish' (which is entirely IC) I assumed he wasn't telling McGonagall because she couldn't do any good for him - if she tried, she'd get fired; rather than because being fired would be devastating for her. Clearly I'm less charitable ;)
* 'She's an awful woman,' said Hermione in a small voice. 'Awful. You know, I was just saying to Ron when you came in...we've got to do something about her.'
'I suggested poison,' said Ron grimly.
'No...I mean, something about what a dreadful teacher she is, and how we're not going to learn any Defence from her at all,' said Hermione.
Ha! I love that Hermione’s main problem with Umbridge appears to be that she can’t teach, and more importantly, isn’t nice enough to her and her ilk for Hermione to excuse this flaw to others.
Like, if she was psychotic and taught loads, a la Moody, she’d be fine and dandy?
Also, Ron - jokes about murder? I realise you’re all talk, but please don’t join your other two friends in the Sociopath stakes.
* 'Don't be silly, of course there is,' said Hermione, and Harry saw, with an ominous feeling, that her face was suddenly alight with the kind of fervour that SPEW usually inspired in her.
Seriously. Reason 91947205 why the whole concept of the DA disturbs me (as well as how it turned out in practise.)
* 'Harry, you're the best in the year at Defence Against the Dark Arts,' said Hermione.
'Me?' said Harry, now grinning more broadly than ever. 'No I'm not, you've beaten me in every test -'
'Actually, I haven't,' said Hermione coolly. 'You beat me in our third year - the only year we both sat the test and had a teacher who actually knew the subject. But I'm not talking about test results, Harry. Think what you've done.'
Well, yeah. Helped that he was the only student to receive personal tuition throughout the year. Not to dim the light of Saint Harry, or anything.
And of course, everyone must be 'the best' in the HP!verse. Heh, the whole thing just reminds me of the jock's dad in The Breakfast Club. "Win! Win!"
Hermione's 'the best' at all other schoolwork, Harry's 'the best' at DADA and Quidditch. Because unless they were 'the best', their achievements and accomplishments would be meaningless.
* 'It sounds great when you say it like that, but all that stuff was luck - I didn't know what I was doing half the time, I didn't plan any of it, I just did whatever I could think of, and I nearly always had help -'
Buh? Huh? Isn't that a direct contrast from Harry's own thoughts and stated feelings on the subject chapters ago? That he was more capable than Ron and Hermione, and that they hadn't done as much as him by just providing the (clearly unimportant) help?
Jeez, I'm going to go write a fic in which Dudley is kind and sweet or Draco secretly adores Muggles; and when someone says it's OOC or fanon, I'll just point to the books and say 'OMG!11 Just because, for example, Draco's repeatedly and openly stated his feelings about Muggles privately and publicly doesn't mean that his feelings aren't the exact opposite if I can somehow make him look better!'
* 'The whole time you're sure you know there's nothing between you and dying except your own - your own brain or guts or whatever - like you can think straight when you know you're about a nanosecond from being murdered, or tortured, or watching your friends die - they've never taught us that in their classes, what it's like to deal with things like that - and you two sit there acting like I'm a clever little boy to be standing here, alive, like Diggory was stupid, like he messed up - you just don't get it, that could just as easily have been me - '
This is where I find it difficult to separate the meta from the text. It wasn't Harry. It won't be Harry.
It's hard to really feel any fear for him or even emphasise with his when as a reader you know how things will turn out.
There's seven books, Harry can't die until the last, and it's extremely doubtful he will even then.
Just like when Dumbledore gets kicked off his Ever So Important posts - there's no tension, no mystery. He'll get them back and everything will be rosy (for him).
Or even minor things like the House Cups or the Quidditch matches - Gryffindor will win, Slytherin will lose, life will be predictable. There's always an escape hatch.
And so things get more and more outlandish as the books continue; with wilder, more death-defying finales, and rather than the antagonists losing by missing out on school trophies they're brutally dispatched and there'll be ever more angstier injuries and even deaths until you feel as if you're being hit over the head with 'Feel sorry for poor Harry/Insert Requisitite Sad Gryffindor here, yet?' but there's never any effects. Harry can be angry, cruel; but he's the hero and will remain the hero which means he will overcome his lower impulses and Do What's Right and more importantly, will be proved to Be Right.
I mean, JKR can ladle on the pain and torture but she can't take away the very things that make Harry who is he is: a winner.
The world constructed around him is built for him, it's centres upon him; and all the attempts to convince the audience that he's not privileged, that this time he really could die/lose/be proved wrong; just appear like the author wishes to have her cake and eat it - we should acknowledge how fragile/human her character is without actually having any evidence of it.
Even the misfortunes that occur to him follow this pattern - for instance, other characters bring mistakes upon their own head. Their flaws are real and difficult and people recognise this and dislike said failings.
Look at Lockhart - the very embodiment of 'he had it coming'.
The classic sign of a Mary Sue, and something I realise I'm far too conscious of and am constantly bringing up in regards to JKR's characters (especially Hermione, Ginny and Harry) is either possessing no flaws; having flaws that aren't flaws at all (for example, being 'too nice' or 'too pretty' or 'too clever' and provoking jealousy) or having flaws that aren't dealt with realistically.
For example, Hermione is bossy.
For much of PS and some of the earlier books - people disliked her for this. Not because they were envious and recognised her natural superiority in academics but because she was expressing herself in a way that offended them.
It had repercussions and both positive and negative effects for her. Like a normal, real person.
Harry to me is the most major Sue in the books because there are no rules to the universe when it affects him.
There's authorial contempt for a large number of actions that are somehow different when he performs them.
JKR goes to massive lengths to ensure that he appears in the right in every situation; sometimes to the extent that you can make perfect parallels with similiar scenarioes in which the person performing Harry's actions is criticised by both authorial voice and characters.
Even Sirius' death, the largest example of Harry's flaws working against him rather than for him - his refusal to listen to others - is machinated so that Harry's responsibility is partial; or as Chowder put it: 'Sirius is gone! And it's nearly entirely my fault, if you don't count the roles of Snape, Kreacher, Narcissa, Voldemort, Bellatrix, Umbridge and Sirius himself!'
And of course, the very message of the books seems to be Harry is the hero. Harry's the star. Harry's the very best of all the characters. Somehow Harry deserves things in a way others don't - he's smarter, he's stronger, his mother loved him more.
It doesn't take much to reverse that and get the very impression being debunked here - that somehow he lives because he's better than others. If he's more talented than Cedric, it makes sense that Cedric was less talented next to him.
Here is an essay which is both shorter and better at expressing what I'm trying to say here.
I can't help but feel sorry for Harry in this passage, but the entire ethos demonstrated and perpetrated by him and the 'good' side in these books is so repellent to me that I try not to.
I imagine it's similiar for people who loathe Draco or the Slytherins or whoever - you realise that the characters suffer, you feel bad (of course, the portrayal of their pain is much more 'humorous' so it's easier not to sympathise) but their morality is so alien that pitying them is like being complicit to their actions.
* Harry could not think of anything to say. He was feeling ashamed of his outburst already.
It’s increasingly difficult (for me anyway) to sympathise with someone who repeatedly loses their temper and then feels sorry afterwards (well, depends who he lose it at. I don't see him eating himself up with guilt over anyone but Ron and Hermione.)
I mean, it's the classic behavioural pattern of an addict - they fuck up, people are hurt, they promise never to do it again but just can't help themselves. Blah blah.
It just comes across to me that Harry's temper issues are just another way of conveying how very sensitive he is and how his heart and feelings are what makes him 'good'.
* Harry's detentions with Umbridge were finally over (he doubted whether the words now etched into the back of his hand would ever fade entirely)
Oh jeepers. Why wish they would? Then you couldn’t have yet another mark of How Harry’s Suffered. I imagine if they faded after a couple of weeks, Harry would horrified, since they were such badges of courage.
* ...but at others, he had found himself thinking about the spells that had served him best in his various encounters with Dark creatures and Death Eaters - found himself, in fact, subconsciously planning lessons...
Could someone find me something, anything, that would suggest Harry has any kind of qualities that make a natural teacher? Because frankly, this seems a little out of the blue and frankly just another characterisation is determined by plot necessities - JKR needs the kids to learn DA, Harry should teach them since he’s the star and the best at it, so I’ll be darned if he doesn’t master it instantly as he does everything else, and is in fact, The Best Teacher Ever, who can help kids even Lupin couldn’t. Except Harry’s never been interested in teaching, or assisting others, or even interacting with people other than members of his house. Harry likes to save others, sure. Enabling them to save themselves? *looks skeptical*
Also, I find it difficult to imagine how Harry could help, since the only magical spell he’s needed to work at, iirc, has been the Patronus. Everything else is down to inborn talent, which is impossible to teach.
And of course, there’s the problem that Harry, being so ‘good at Defense against the Dark Arts’ would realistically find it difficult to understand which parts of the material would cause problems for students, since it’s all simple for him.
You want decent tutoring, get a Neville Longbottom type (preferably after he’s become Smart All Along, Just Lacking Confidence.)
* 'I dunno,' said Harry, playing for time. He looked up at Ron.
What’s with the co-dependent Trio? No-one cares what Ron thinks because he’s so stupid and untalented next to the superstars Harry and Hermione and now it’s all ‘Ron, back me up!’, ‘Ron, what shall I do?’ Make a frigging decision on your own!
And Ron’s just as bad with his: ‘I always thought it was a great idea, now I’m sure you’re not gonna yell at me!’
* Harry shifted uncomfortably in his chair. 'You did listen to what I said about a load of it being luck, didn't you?'
'Yes, Harry,' said Hermione gently, 'but all the same, there's no point pretending that you're not good at Defence Against the Dark Arts, because you are. You were the only person last year who could throw off the Imperius Curse completely, you can produce a Patronus, you can do all sorts of stuff that full-grown wizards can't, Viktor always said -'
Ron looked round at her so fast he appeared to crick his neck. Rubbing it, he said, 'Yeah? What did Vicky say?'
'Ho ho,' said Hermione in a bored voice. 'He said Harry knew how to do stuff even he didn't, and he was in the final year at Durmstrang.'
Well, of course he did! He can do things adults can’t, he can play sports better than anyone else who’s ever existed, he’s the only one who’s ever resisted an Unforgiveable what with his immense strength of mind and power to love. GOD, SHUT UP.
I'd like Harry about 1000x more if there was something he was genuinely bad at. No 'poor Harry can't master Activity X, weep for him!', no 'it's not Harry's fault he can't do it' or 'by hard work, Harry mastered it'. Just plain failure. It would humanise him.
Seriously, the whole luck excuse reeks of compliment fishing and false modesty since we’ve already had chapter and verse on: How Harry Did Everything By Himself like the Little Red Hen, while his Useless Friends gloried in not being the Tragic Boy Who Lived.
* Ron was looking at Hermione suspiciously. 'You're not still in contact with him, are you?'
'So what if I am?' said Hermione coolly, though her face was a little pink. 'I can have a pen-pal if I -'
'He didn't only want to be your pen-pal,' said Ron accusingly.
Hermione shook her head exasperatedly and, ignoring Ron, who was continuing to watch her...
More fascinating love-triange business with Hermione being disingenous and Ron being jealous. I care, really. *yawns*
* 'Just you and Ron, yeah?'
Why hasn’t he already taught her and Ron, anyway? Since the teachers are all so dire and he knows so much? I kind of find it hard to believe that if they were struggling that he wouldn't assist them, and that this scenario has never occured makes me even more doubtful of the whole DA plot.
* 'Well,' said Hermione, looking a mite anxious again. 'Well...now, don't fly off the handle again, Harry, please...but I really think you ought to teach anyone who wants to learn. It doesn't seem fair if we don't offer the chance to other people.'
Ha! Other people of course, being those we have pre-determined as worthy? I mean, let’s not fool ourselves here, gang, this isn’t exactly motivated by equality and justice. The very fact that the DA has members of every house but one kind of demolishes the 'We're ever so fair and want everyone to get a decent education' myth (except people who we might want to hex - wouldn't do any good if they knew how to combat being turned into slugs and the like, now would it?)
Or if it was, the focus quickly changes - it’s not Dumbledore’s Teaching Group, now is it?
And it’s creeping me out how nervous Hermione seems of her friend here.
* 'Well, I think you might be surprised how many people would be interested in hearing what you've got to say' said Hermione seriously.
Can you guess how surprised I was to learn that of course everyone secretly idolises Harry still and would jump at the chance to spend minutes in his presence, soaking up his knowledge?
* ‘The trouble is,' she said to Harry, 'until V-Voldemort - oh, for heaven's sake, Ron -’
‘For heaven’s sake’, ‘don’t be pathetic’. Tough talk considering Hermione herself until this chapter also called him ‘You-Know-Who’ and can’t say Voldemort without stuttering. (I’m not sure why, though, since she’s Muggleborn.)
* ‘I mean, the stupid Ministry isn't going to realise Sirius is innocent until they accept that Dumbledore's been telling the truth about him all along. And once the fools start catching real Death Eaters again, it'll be obvious Sirius isn't one...'
Heh. Of course, if Dumbledore was always so confident of the great worth of Sirius, he might have done something thirteen years ago. But of course, he had nothing to benefit from it, then.
* …he was barely keeping up with his homework, though he was doing much better now that he was no longer spending every evening in detention with Umbridge. Ron was even further behind with his work than Harry, because while they both had Quidditch practice twice a week, Ron also had his prefect duties.
Also, Harry has all that natural instinct and intelligence to rely on, whereas Ron...doesn’t. So don’t be too surprised when *gasp* Harry passes his exams with flying colours and qualifies for Aurorhood.
* However, Hermione, who was taking more subjects than either of them, had not only finished all her homework but was also finding time to knit more elf clothes.
However does she do it? Can one woman Have It All? Is there any area of her life Hermione doesn't find a breeze?
Note for Jo - Political allegories are not your friend.
Note for Harry - STFU, as always.
Note for Hermione - The hell?
13.5 is up, and I see we're now dreading awaiting HBP!
* 'Umbridge - "High Inquisitor"?' said Harry darkly, his half-eaten piece of toast slipping from his fingers. 'What does that mean?'
That JK Rowling is one of Earth's less subtle writers?
Why on earth would someone name themselves an Inquisitor, especially when they fail to do any Inquisition (unless you consider it liek, totally unfair that there are guidelines and rules for teachers. In which case, go campaign to bring back the birch, and stop bothering me.)?
After the 'Death Eaters' and the 'Inquisition Squad' I'm beginning to believe that the only difference between the 'good' side and the 'bad' here is that the baddies all have horrible PR. And I expect the HBP's new gang/court/hangers-on to be called 'Nasty Killer Nazis From Hell'. Or possibly just carry around a signpost saying 'I'm the one you're supposed to hate'.
* 'In a surprise move last night the Ministry of Magic passed new legislation giving itself an unprecedented level of control at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Gotta remember all that control has to be wrested from somewhere, though. I love that there's all the 'How can one person have so much power?' (hee, poor Dumbledore, he's lost both his incredibly important jobs. I know I was in total suspense throughout this book and in no way suspected that
a) He'd get them all back and likely Fudge on bended knee apologising or
b) There would be absolutely no questioning that he's basically fostering his own dictatorship or that it might be inappropriate having one man, not even an elect, deciding so much.
Or as ajhalluk put it:
"Well, talk about pluralism. There was, of course, a good deal of angst earlier in the book about him losing the latter two appointments; no-one seems to have considered that it was pretty dashed iffy him attempting to hold them both at the same time (separation of powers, anyone?)"
and 'Down with the fascist establishment' (bring back the old one!) but the idea that Dumbledore had an unprecedented amount of control (of course, that's arguable, since we haven't studied the old headmasters in depth, but they can't all have been part-time politicians) over a school, to the point of dismissing both parental and staff concerns, any attempt at health, safety or teaching standards, and in fact wilfully misled said parents over the welfare of their children and the government (are they even funding Hogwarts? It's not clear whether the kids pay fees or not, which would make it privately run.
Of course, even in the Muggle world, public schools (yup, we call the privately runs schools public and the government ones state.) have to teach a, you know, curriculum. And obey, um, laws.
Of course if it's funded by parents; then they deserve a voice about their children's welfare; and if it's run by taxes and the government, that's even more reason that they should have some kind of say over how the place is run, but I don't want to appear one of those fascist racist types who think children have a right not to go to school under a megalomaniacal sociopath who admits he'd let any amount of people die and suffer in order to assure the peace of mind of one student, so I'll shut up now!
* "The Minister has been growing uneasy about goings-on at Hogwarts for some time," said junior Assistant to the Minister, Percy Weasley.
Why would he be disturbed at Hogwarts? Just because there are constant injuries, a recent death from a school sponsored event; and a horrifying lack of teaching, let alone any standards for teachers who both allow and actively participate in student abuse and endangerment? What a bureaucratic worry wart Fudge is!
* "He is now responding to concerns voiced by anxious parents, who feel the school may be moving in a direction they do not approve of."
Only the nasty pureblood ones though. No doubt they're uncomfortable with all the love and peace and think the direction should be Evil. It's just that simple in the HPverse.
Of course, under Dumbledore's rule, Muggle parents don't even have to be informed of the murders of students, and I didn't see anyone contacting Hermione's parents while she was hospitalised twice in her second year, the latter time for months.
In fact, the only parents who seem at all concerned about their children are the nasty ones in this series. The Malfoys, the Montagues, the Dursleys.
The Weasleys, our pureblood example of happy families and good parenting take the opposite tack of 'personal responsibility, no whining, buck up and listen to your elders' (so odd that they're the liberals and their enemies the conservatives when this very attitude is the definition of oldfashioned values.)
Only bad parents question the Right Way to Think or even show concern over their children. You spoil a child with love and the best way to raise a decent kid is neglect and abuse (with Harry as our shining example of course.)
* 'This is not the first time in recent weeks that the Minister, Cornelius Fudge, has used new laws to effect improvements at the wizarding school...Educational Decree Number Twenty-two was passed, to ensure that, in the event of the current Headmaster being unable to provide a candidate for a teaching post, the Ministry should select an appropriate person.'
Horror! Wish they'd implemented that at my old college.
But seriously? If there's no teacher to be found, can anyone explain to me why it's objectional that the government, with the wider resources they possess, shouldn't refer someone?
I mean, seriously, isn't it better than having no teacher?
And of course, Dumbledore has repeatedly and without any assistance from the Ministry, hired some pretty dire teachers all by himself and apparently with awareness (Lockhart, Quirrell, Moody) so why is it so wrong to assume that most anyone could do a better job of selecting teachers?
Even Umbridge with her abuse of students, mental instability and attempts at Unforgiveables is only following in the steps of those before her.
* 'Dumbledore couldn't find anyone so the Minister put in Umbridge, and of course, she's been an immediate success -'
'She's been a WHAT?' said Harry loudly.
'Wait, there's more,' said Hermione grimly. '- totally revolutionising the teaching of Defence Against the Dark Arts and providing the Minister with on-the-ground feedback about what's really happening at Hogwarts.'
She has rather revolutionised it, hasn't she? All this fancy intellectual talk about theory and law; and now no-one gets to hex people anymore...*sobz*
And it is the standard world-wide for governments to recieve feedback on education, especially state-schools which are funded by them. I realise JKR is an ex-teacher but what she is apparently suggesting appears to be rooted in personal bitterness (teachers should be trusted as god figures and not questioned in any way, ever.) much like the 'newspapers tell lies about poor me celebrities' sub-plot.
* 'Among those eccentric decisions are undoubtedly the controversial staff appointments previously described in this newspaper, which have included the employment of werewolf Remus Lupin, half-giant Rubeus Hagrid and delusional ex-Auror, "Mad-Eye" Moody.
How could anyone not approve of them?
Why, the Prophet are totally racist and so are anybody who questions the wisdom of hiring: a man who endangered the entire Wizarding World by neglecting to tell anyone the information he had about a suspected mass-murder, who nearly killed three students and a professor; another man who's class has constant injuries and who sent two students into a forest inhabited by man-eating spiders, who told Voldemort himself how to subvert Dumbledore's maze and who drinks to excess on school grounds regularly. And of course, Moody, who demonstrated Unforgiveables and thought physical abuse appropriate punishment.
* 'Wizengamot elders Griselda Marchbanks and Tiberius Ogden have resigned in protest at the introduction of the post of Inquisitor to Hogwarts. '"Hogwarts is a school, not an outpost of Cornelius Fudge's office," said Madam Marchbanks.
Ha! Hogwarts is a school, not an outpost for Albus Dumbledore to run his totalitarian regime and foster terrorist groups.
* 'And now he's given her the power to inspect the other teachers!' Hermione was breathing fast and her eyes were very bright. 'I can't believe this. It's outrageous'
Huh? Didn’t she go to Muggle primary school? Did she not think that they’re inspected?
* 'The general standard of this homework was abysmal. Most of you would have failed had this been your examination.'
British schools usually have one ‘mock’ exam for practice. Why don’t they have those in Hogwarts? Oh well, maybe they do.
Snape's still a nasty teacher, calling people who perform below expectations 'dunces'. Of course, Hagrid refers to students questions as 'stupid' so if I'm supposed to realise that Snape is the teacher not promoted to vacant positions he appears to be better qualified for because he's liek totally mean, then perhaps I'm missing how great all the other teachers in the school are.
And like I've said, I'm not even fond of Snape, particularly.
* He smirked as Malfoy sniggered and said in a carrying whisper, 'Some people got a "D"? Ha!'
Heh. Snape/Draco OTP - theirloveworksintandemtoembarrassothers. So I’m assuming Draco’s not too bad at potions, at least; what with this and the bit in PS about how well he stewed horns. (?!)
* 'I didn't expect the top grade, not if he's marking to OWL standard, but a pass is quite encouraging at this stage, wouldn't you say?'...'Obviously, I'd have been thrilled if I'd got an "O" -'
I want to know what Hermione got. Presumably an E. Which would ruin the lovely 'OMG Snape is so biased and h8s us Gryffindors cause he's liek totally jellus & stuff!11' victimisation complex.
* 'Hermione,' said Ron sharply 'if you want to know what grades we got, ask.'
Seriously. Or mind your own business. What with the spying and unsubtle hints and lending her work to others (if it were a Slytherin, it would be cheating. As it's Hermione, I shall call it 'counter-assistance' or something.) I'm wondering why Hermione doesn't tutor anyone herself rather than leave it to Harry.
Since she's all about freedom of knowledge. Just...not too much. Wouldn't want people knowing how to undo a disfiguring hex, for example, would you?
* 'Still, better than "D", isn't it? "Dreadful"?'
Harry felt his face grow warm and faked a small coughing fit over his roll.
OMG. Harry got a lower grade than Ron? *falls over dead* HOW CAN THIS BE?
* They all laughed except Hermione, who ploughed on, 'So, after "E" it's "A" for "Acceptable", and that's the last pass grade, isn't it?'
Thanks Captain Exposition! I find it hard to believe Hermione wouldn’t already know the grades system backwards by now, so this part comes across rather clumsily, imho.
* He imagined trying to conceal from Hermione that he had received T's in all his OWLs and immediately resolved to work harder from now on.
As Magpie said, Harry’s fears of failure are just as dramatic as his hopes of success. Of course, if the worst thing about failing all his exams is having to explain it to Hermione, he’d be rather lucky.
* 'Lets say I dreamed I was...drowning Snape in my cauldron. Yeah, that'll do...'
Erk! (Although I’m sure if you ship Snarry you can make that romantic somehow.)
* Professor Trelawney scowled at her, arms crossed and shoulders hunched as though wishing to protect herself as much as possible from the indignity of the inspection. After a slight pause in which she seemed to decide that the question was not so offensive that she could reasonably ignore it, she said in a deeply resentful tone, 'Nearly sixteen years.'
Heh. It's odd, but the attitude being mocked here - that Trelawney finds an inspection an 'indignity', since she's incompetent and knows it; and that it's offensive that she, a noted Seer, must submit to the earthly concerns of those not blessed with The Inner Eye, blah blah pretention-cakes; appears to be closer to our heroes' feelings than anything.
For all their disagreements, Harry and Hermione have similiar feelings to Trelawney on this issue - how dare someone question Hagrid/Dumbledore by something as prosaic and petty as an inspection? Can't they feel what wonderful human beings they are, whether or not they get their students through itty bitty things like exams?
* Professor Umbridge made another note. 'And you are a great-great-granddaughter of the celebrated Seer Cassandra Trelawney?'
Umbridge has done her research.
* 'Of course,' she said sweetly, making yet another note. 'Well, if you could just predict something for me, then?' And she looked up enquiringly, still smiling.
I must say, I'm rather warming to Umbridge and her inspections. She seems more professional than most of the other teachers, and can assess whether or not they're competent (G-P and Flitwick, for example.)
Although obviously we should sympathise with Trelawney, since she has the good guy characteristics of being awful at her job and getting angry.
* Professor Trelawney pointed a shaking finger at Professor Umbridge who continued to smile blandly at her, eyebrows raised.
'I am afraid ... I am afraid that you are in grave danger!' Professor Trelawney finished dramatically.
Another one of Trelawney’s semi-truthful prophesies?
And Umbridge is unmoved by Divinations. Chalk up another coincidence for the Bitch2Brains theory ;)
* Harry caught Ron's eye and knew that Ron was thinking exactly the same as he was: they both knew that Professor Trelawney was an old fraud, but on the other hand, they loathed Umbridge so much that they felt very much on Trelawneys side - until she swooped down on them a few seconds later, that is.
'Well?' she said, snapping her long fingers under Harry's nose, uncharacteristically brisk. 'Let me see the start you've made on your dream diary, please.'
And by the time she had interpreted Harry's dreams at the top of her voice...he was feeling much less sympathetic towards her.
Heh. This part just reminds me of when they visit Lockhart, and Harry’s all 'Huh? I don’t know why Ron feels at all guilty that this man is now mentally disabled and has to live in assisted care. He totally had it coming! I...feel...nothing...'
More and more of the lines between people Harry feels worthy of consideration and not.
Gryffindors are all good, unless they question him.
People who dislike Umbridge are all good, unless they're not nice to him at the same time.
* 'Wands away' she instructed them all with a smile, and those people who had been hopeful enough to take them out, sadly returned them to their bags.
To quote Magpie, because I'm unable to manage even one chapter of a children's book without cribbing off someone else:
"Most of the kids in this class who are sad at having to put their wands away and itching to try these hexes will, of course, wind up not only concentrating on jinxes but using them on other students without it being self-defense. So...uh...is the idea here that Hermione and her gang of Heroes eventually triumph over the evil Slinkhard by liking jinxes ever so much and proving how useful they are by using them on others and still calling them counter-jinxes?"
Fo' real, yo. Doesn't your heart bleed for the poor kids? All they want to do is hex learn!
* 'I've already read Chapter Two,' said Hermione.
'Well then, proceed to Chapter Three.'
'I've read that too. I've read the whole book.'
Professor Umbndge blinked but recovered her poise almost instantly.
OMG! The whole book? Well, that taught everyone who ever questioned Hermione's intelligence (*blows kisses at Mira* ;) - you just have to be impressed at people who can read entire non-fiction books all by themselves!
Heh. I used to read all the books ahead of time in class, and no-one was ever 'OMG1111 U r so smart!'
In fact, teachers used to get irritated because they like to take each chapter one-by-one and discuss.
Likewise, teachers get annoyed when people like Hermione write 20 pages when they've been set five. Part of language skills is cohesive writing (if you become a writer and get assigned a story of 1000 words but write 3000 you get fired. Heh, not the best example to use for either JKR's books which are woefully flabby or my readthroughs which are equally so.)
Seriously, though, I'd be about 1000x more impressed with Hermione and her famed intellect if she'd proven to have absorbed any of the points in her book. As the next paragraph proves.
* 'He says that counter-jinxes are improperly named,' said Hermione promptly. 'He says "counter-jinx" is just a name people give their jinxes when they want to make them sound more acceptable.'...'Mr Slinkhard doesn't like jinxes, does he? But I think they can be very useful when they're used defensively.'
Huh? Jeebus, how can someone so supposedly intelligent miss the point so often? The point isn't whether Slinkhard has a positive or negative impression of jinxes; or whether jinxes are useful or useless; but that people justify them by describing them with nice names and make excuses for them by attributing themselves good motives (I only use them 'defensively'! Sweet. Like nuclear weapons.) Which is exactly what Hermione is doing.
And this is supposed to be the smartest kid around? Things like this make me think that actually JKR isn't that bright and is writing a character who's the Hollywood-style stereotype of intelligence, but actually doesn't convince. Like, *gasp* she read the whole book, what a genius!
* ...'Well, I'm afraid it is Mr Slinkhard's opinion, and not yours, that matters within this classroom, Miss Granger.'
'But -' Hermione began.
Of course, no villain in the HPverse can ever make a logical point rebutting the flaws in a 'good' characters argument. Heavens forfend! Readers might actually think for themselves rather than regurgitating the author's and lead character's opinions.
Better make sure your antagonists are cripplingly stupid and reply with the equivalent of: "Shut up! That's why!"
Although I'd love to know what Hermione was going to say: But I'm far cleverer than silly old Slinkard! I should be the authority of the moral value of all possible spells, hexes and curses!
* …'Miss Granger, I am going to take five points from Gryffindor house.'
There was an outbreak of muttering at this.
Outraged Gryffindors? Heh, if they’re anything like the other houses members in PS, they’re likely rooting for Gryffindor to have the largest point total whether it affects them or not.
* 'Potter, you must get a grip on yourself! You are heading for serious trouble! Another five points from Gryffindor!'
'But - what -? Professor, no!' Harry said, furious at this injustice, 'I'm already being punished by her, why do you have to take points as well?'
'Because detentions do not appear to have any effect on you whatsoever!' said Professor McGonagall tartly. 'No, not another word of complaint, Potter! And as for you, Miss Johnson, you will confine your shouting matches to the Quidditch pitch in future or risk losing the team captaincy!'
Ha! Go McGonagall! I have my doubts about her, what with the whole 'She's the fairest teacher around!' insistence; but I rather liked her willingness to deduct points from her own house, and ever question *gasp* Quidditch players.
I'd say her priorities have changed from PS, the book in which I like her least and coincidentally the one in which she basically embodies 'Rules are for other people'; except I really hate the ending of OotP, to which she contributes.
For now, though... *is impressed*
* 'She's taken points off Gryffindor because I'm having my hand sliced open every night! How is that fair, how?'
Um. Because of the reasons she just said?
* 'I know, mate,' said Ron sympathetically, tipping bacon on to Harry's plate, 'she's bang out of order.'
Hermione, however, merely rustled the pages of her Daily Prophet and said nothing.
'You think McGonagall was right, do you?' said Harry angrily...
'I wish she hadn't taken points from you, but I think she's right to warn you not to lose your temper with Umbridge,' said Hermione's voice.
More juxtapositions of McGonagall and Hermione, as well as them being the only two to disturb Umbridge in any way.
Glad to see them both, especially Hermione who has a tendency to be spineless with her friends, asserting themselves and their opinions, without being afraid to challenge Angry!Harry.
Although of course it's a little hypocritical of them to lecture on proper conduct towards Umbridge considering how openly rude they both are to her, but still...
And more Ron and his saying whatever Harry wants to hear.
I actually had high hopes for Ron, once upon a time.
He's the only member of the Trio not to have either attempted murder or an Unforgiveable; he proved himself willing to question Harry and their friendships dynamic, albeit wrongly, but the principle remains the same, as well as Hermione (again wrongly. Of course.)
He even questioned Hagrid, and I wondered whether he, rather than trailing behind Harry and Hermione as usual, had actually lost the childish adulation (while still liking the man on a personal level) - Ron's the one who got bit by Norbert in PS (and a serious enough bite that he was hospitalised), Ron's the one who has that really great bit in CoS about Hagrid's not being innocent because of hatching Aragog, and Ron's the one who's absent throughout most of the Hagrid-heavy adventures: Buckbeak and Grawp.
He also got the Prefect badge that Harry didn't, and I wondered whether he might actually have some value or trait that Harry and Hermione lacked; or that he might have matured somewhat.
Instead all we got was a pale clone of Harry who echoes his every sentiment (or Hermione's) and doesn't even have the balls to back it up; a lazy brat who wants everything but fights for nothing and isn't even interesting enough for me to hate like the other two.
* 'Let's see Umbridge get what she deserves.'
Wow. Change the name whenever appropriate and you’ve got the motto of this entire series.
* 'Right then, everyone, listen closely - Dean Thomas, if you do that to the mouse again I shall put you in detention'
Looking up Dean: he was the first to defend Hagrid after the Buckbeak incident (wasn't too happy when he got injured though ;) forges signatures; adores Lupin; JKR likes him; drew pictures of Cedric with his head on fire; doesn't tell his Muggle parents about deaths; defends Moody; and is in the DA.
He also dates Ginny, teases small creatures and is desperate to learn hexes.
Erk!
* 'How she can lecture me about not losing my temper with Umbridge!' Harry muttered to Ron under his breath, but he was grinning - his anger with Professor McGonagall had quite evaporated.
Whee! All gone! Heh, the Gryffindors remind me more than ever of toddlers. There’s Sirius, who like totally isn’t talking to Harry; the ‘LOOK AT ME’ attention-seeking, and the frantic mood-swings and tendency to forget things that tormented one seconds ago.
* Professor Umbridge did not follow Professor McGonagall around the class as she had followed Professor Trelawney; perhaps she realised Professor McGonagall would not permit it.
Huh? Dude, like she can do anything about it? I actually think McGonagall, while being a better teacher than either Trelawney or Hagrid, is actually being quite unprofessional here, and should really take a page from her own book about tolerating people rather than fighting them.
* Professor Umbridge, dropping her voice, though Harry could still hear her quite clearly.
Um. Does Harry have supersonic hearing or is Umbridge just so incompetent she can’t even modulate the volume of her voice?
* Most people were able to answer well and Harry's spirits lifted somewhat; at least the class was not letting Hagrid down.
Because that's the classes job. To help Hagrid. Not the other way around.
* Harry exchanged uneasy looks with Ron and Hermione. Malfoy was whispering with Crabbe and Goyle; he would surely love this opportunity to tell tales on Hagrid to a member of the Ministry.
Ha! That's one of the more childish rationales in this book, and believe me, it's hard to pick a top ten.
Of course, Malfoy couldn't tell tales of Hagrid's incompetence if there weren't any to tell; and the whole 'Harry never tells anyone anything or complains even when having to cut himself, don't you want to be like him instead of the cowardly wimp?' ethos is actually quite disturbing.
I mean, how far do you take it?
Malfoy and Harry should, according to Harry's values, both remain silent about injuries caused by teachers - is that the limit? Should Harry not have immediately informed Dumbledore of Voldemort's return - after all, it's a mano e mano match against him and the Big V and he doesn't want to look a tattletale, now does he?
What if an adult is repeatedly hurting a child? Brr.
* Harry saw Malfoy look up eagerly and watch Umbridge and Grubbly-Plank closely.
Again, to quote Magpie:
"Harry's eyes are fixed on Malfoy, whose own eyes are fixed on Umbridge. Not that Harry remembers Malfoy exists."
* 'Oh, yes, Dumbledore's excellent,' said Professor Grubbly-Plank heartily. 'Yes, I'm very happy with the way things are run, very happy indeed.'
Looking politely incredulous, Umbridge...
Ha! So was I. I guess I’m a nasty old hag. Mind you, if G-P’s a temp, it makes sense that of course she likes affable Dumbledore, since she likely hasn't had chance to disagree with him or oppose him on any matters.
* 'Well, you seem to know what you're doing, at any rate,' said Professor Umbridge, making a very obvious tick on her clipboard. Harry did not like the emphasis she put on 'you' and liked it even less when she put her next question to Goyle.
Yeah, stupid Umbridge! Don’t be agreeing with the entire class including Hermione and even Harry himself! G-P is NOT better than Hagrid at teaching!
Notice how Umbridge doesn’t bother the competent?
* Goyle gave a stupid grin.
Malfoy hastened to answer the question. 'That was me,' he said. 'I was slashed by a Hippogriff.'
'A Hippogriff?' said Professor Umbridge, now scribbling frantically.
'Only because he was too stupid to listen to what Hagrid told him to do,' said Harry angrily.
What, Goyle can’t even answer questions now?
Poor stupid Malfoy. Then I guess he deserved what he got.
Of course, by that logic, there’s no point in the mile-long ever-so-sympathetic descriptions of poor Harry and his angsty hand; since he was ‘too stupid to listen to what (McGonagall) told him to do.’
(In fact, at least Malfoy
a: didn’t hear said instructions and
b: didn’t repeatedly do the exact thing that resulted in pain the first time out of misguided pride; which suggests to me he may be smarter than *gasp* Harry. Or cowardlier. Whatever your interpretation.
So basically, people in glass houses (ie. Gryffindors) are really the last people to be criticising others for a lack of intelligence and self-preservation.)
* It was nearly midnight when Harry left Umbridge's office that night, his hand now bleeding so severely that it was staining the scarf he had wrapped around it.
OMG? THAT SEVERELY?
* 'Here,' she said anxiously, pushing a small bowl of yellow liquid towards him, 'soak your hand in that, it's a solution of strained and pickled Murtlap tentacles, it should help.'
Ha! I’m afraid I had the same reaction as Magpie again, here: Oh, Hermione’s being thoughtful. I suppose she wants something?
* 'McGonagall would go nuts if she knew -'
'Yeah, she probably would,' said Harry dully. 'And how long do you reckon it'd take Umbridge to pass another decree saying anyone who complains about the High Inquisitor gets sacked immediately?'
Seriously. McGonagall’s ‘go(ne) nuts’ before, but she appears to have no official power of her own - she’s second in command to whoever rules the school. Which is handy for Dumbledore, but causes problems when he’s gone and/or when her judgement and his differs.
Interestingly my opinion differs from the other readthrough here: while it's described as Harry being 'martyrish' (which is entirely IC) I assumed he wasn't telling McGonagall because she couldn't do any good for him - if she tried, she'd get fired; rather than because being fired would be devastating for her. Clearly I'm less charitable ;)
* 'She's an awful woman,' said Hermione in a small voice. 'Awful. You know, I was just saying to Ron when you came in...we've got to do something about her.'
'I suggested poison,' said Ron grimly.
'No...I mean, something about what a dreadful teacher she is, and how we're not going to learn any Defence from her at all,' said Hermione.
Ha! I love that Hermione’s main problem with Umbridge appears to be that she can’t teach, and more importantly, isn’t nice enough to her and her ilk for Hermione to excuse this flaw to others.
Like, if she was psychotic and taught loads, a la Moody, she’d be fine and dandy?
Also, Ron - jokes about murder? I realise you’re all talk, but please don’t join your other two friends in the Sociopath stakes.
* 'Don't be silly, of course there is,' said Hermione, and Harry saw, with an ominous feeling, that her face was suddenly alight with the kind of fervour that SPEW usually inspired in her.
Seriously. Reason 91947205 why the whole concept of the DA disturbs me (as well as how it turned out in practise.)
* 'Harry, you're the best in the year at Defence Against the Dark Arts,' said Hermione.
'Me?' said Harry, now grinning more broadly than ever. 'No I'm not, you've beaten me in every test -'
'Actually, I haven't,' said Hermione coolly. 'You beat me in our third year - the only year we both sat the test and had a teacher who actually knew the subject. But I'm not talking about test results, Harry. Think what you've done.'
Well, yeah. Helped that he was the only student to receive personal tuition throughout the year. Not to dim the light of Saint Harry, or anything.
And of course, everyone must be 'the best' in the HP!verse. Heh, the whole thing just reminds me of the jock's dad in The Breakfast Club. "Win! Win!"
Hermione's 'the best' at all other schoolwork, Harry's 'the best' at DADA and Quidditch. Because unless they were 'the best', their achievements and accomplishments would be meaningless.
* 'It sounds great when you say it like that, but all that stuff was luck - I didn't know what I was doing half the time, I didn't plan any of it, I just did whatever I could think of, and I nearly always had help -'
Buh? Huh? Isn't that a direct contrast from Harry's own thoughts and stated feelings on the subject chapters ago? That he was more capable than Ron and Hermione, and that they hadn't done as much as him by just providing the (clearly unimportant) help?
Jeez, I'm going to go write a fic in which Dudley is kind and sweet or Draco secretly adores Muggles; and when someone says it's OOC or fanon, I'll just point to the books and say 'OMG!11 Just because, for example, Draco's repeatedly and openly stated his feelings about Muggles privately and publicly doesn't mean that his feelings aren't the exact opposite if I can somehow make him look better!'
* 'The whole time you're sure you know there's nothing between you and dying except your own - your own brain or guts or whatever - like you can think straight when you know you're about a nanosecond from being murdered, or tortured, or watching your friends die - they've never taught us that in their classes, what it's like to deal with things like that - and you two sit there acting like I'm a clever little boy to be standing here, alive, like Diggory was stupid, like he messed up - you just don't get it, that could just as easily have been me - '
This is where I find it difficult to separate the meta from the text. It wasn't Harry. It won't be Harry.
It's hard to really feel any fear for him or even emphasise with his when as a reader you know how things will turn out.
There's seven books, Harry can't die until the last, and it's extremely doubtful he will even then.
Just like when Dumbledore gets kicked off his Ever So Important posts - there's no tension, no mystery. He'll get them back and everything will be rosy (for him).
Or even minor things like the House Cups or the Quidditch matches - Gryffindor will win, Slytherin will lose, life will be predictable. There's always an escape hatch.
And so things get more and more outlandish as the books continue; with wilder, more death-defying finales, and rather than the antagonists losing by missing out on school trophies they're brutally dispatched and there'll be ever more angstier injuries and even deaths until you feel as if you're being hit over the head with 'Feel sorry for poor Harry/Insert Requisitite Sad Gryffindor here, yet?' but there's never any effects. Harry can be angry, cruel; but he's the hero and will remain the hero which means he will overcome his lower impulses and Do What's Right and more importantly, will be proved to Be Right.
I mean, JKR can ladle on the pain and torture but she can't take away the very things that make Harry who is he is: a winner.
The world constructed around him is built for him, it's centres upon him; and all the attempts to convince the audience that he's not privileged, that this time he really could die/lose/be proved wrong; just appear like the author wishes to have her cake and eat it - we should acknowledge how fragile/human her character is without actually having any evidence of it.
Even the misfortunes that occur to him follow this pattern - for instance, other characters bring mistakes upon their own head. Their flaws are real and difficult and people recognise this and dislike said failings.
Look at Lockhart - the very embodiment of 'he had it coming'.
The classic sign of a Mary Sue, and something I realise I'm far too conscious of and am constantly bringing up in regards to JKR's characters (especially Hermione, Ginny and Harry) is either possessing no flaws; having flaws that aren't flaws at all (for example, being 'too nice' or 'too pretty' or 'too clever' and provoking jealousy) or having flaws that aren't dealt with realistically.
For example, Hermione is bossy.
For much of PS and some of the earlier books - people disliked her for this. Not because they were envious and recognised her natural superiority in academics but because she was expressing herself in a way that offended them.
It had repercussions and both positive and negative effects for her. Like a normal, real person.
Harry to me is the most major Sue in the books because there are no rules to the universe when it affects him.
There's authorial contempt for a large number of actions that are somehow different when he performs them.
JKR goes to massive lengths to ensure that he appears in the right in every situation; sometimes to the extent that you can make perfect parallels with similiar scenarioes in which the person performing Harry's actions is criticised by both authorial voice and characters.
Even Sirius' death, the largest example of Harry's flaws working against him rather than for him - his refusal to listen to others - is machinated so that Harry's responsibility is partial; or as Chowder put it: 'Sirius is gone! And it's nearly entirely my fault, if you don't count the roles of Snape, Kreacher, Narcissa, Voldemort, Bellatrix, Umbridge and Sirius himself!'
And of course, the very message of the books seems to be Harry is the hero. Harry's the star. Harry's the very best of all the characters. Somehow Harry deserves things in a way others don't - he's smarter, he's stronger, his mother loved him more.
It doesn't take much to reverse that and get the very impression being debunked here - that somehow he lives because he's better than others. If he's more talented than Cedric, it makes sense that Cedric was less talented next to him.
Here is an essay which is both shorter and better at expressing what I'm trying to say here.
I can't help but feel sorry for Harry in this passage, but the entire ethos demonstrated and perpetrated by him and the 'good' side in these books is so repellent to me that I try not to.
I imagine it's similiar for people who loathe Draco or the Slytherins or whoever - you realise that the characters suffer, you feel bad (of course, the portrayal of their pain is much more 'humorous' so it's easier not to sympathise) but their morality is so alien that pitying them is like being complicit to their actions.
* Harry could not think of anything to say. He was feeling ashamed of his outburst already.
It’s increasingly difficult (for me anyway) to sympathise with someone who repeatedly loses their temper and then feels sorry afterwards (well, depends who he lose it at. I don't see him eating himself up with guilt over anyone but Ron and Hermione.)
I mean, it's the classic behavioural pattern of an addict - they fuck up, people are hurt, they promise never to do it again but just can't help themselves. Blah blah.
It just comes across to me that Harry's temper issues are just another way of conveying how very sensitive he is and how his heart and feelings are what makes him 'good'.
* Harry's detentions with Umbridge were finally over (he doubted whether the words now etched into the back of his hand would ever fade entirely)
Oh jeepers. Why wish they would? Then you couldn’t have yet another mark of How Harry’s Suffered. I imagine if they faded after a couple of weeks, Harry would horrified, since they were such badges of courage.
* ...but at others, he had found himself thinking about the spells that had served him best in his various encounters with Dark creatures and Death Eaters - found himself, in fact, subconsciously planning lessons...
Could someone find me something, anything, that would suggest Harry has any kind of qualities that make a natural teacher? Because frankly, this seems a little out of the blue and frankly just another characterisation is determined by plot necessities - JKR needs the kids to learn DA, Harry should teach them since he’s the star and the best at it, so I’ll be darned if he doesn’t master it instantly as he does everything else, and is in fact, The Best Teacher Ever, who can help kids even Lupin couldn’t. Except Harry’s never been interested in teaching, or assisting others, or even interacting with people other than members of his house. Harry likes to save others, sure. Enabling them to save themselves? *looks skeptical*
Also, I find it difficult to imagine how Harry could help, since the only magical spell he’s needed to work at, iirc, has been the Patronus. Everything else is down to inborn talent, which is impossible to teach.
And of course, there’s the problem that Harry, being so ‘good at Defense against the Dark Arts’ would realistically find it difficult to understand which parts of the material would cause problems for students, since it’s all simple for him.
You want decent tutoring, get a Neville Longbottom type (preferably after he’s become Smart All Along, Just Lacking Confidence.)
* 'I dunno,' said Harry, playing for time. He looked up at Ron.
What’s with the co-dependent Trio? No-one cares what Ron thinks because he’s so stupid and untalented next to the superstars Harry and Hermione and now it’s all ‘Ron, back me up!’, ‘Ron, what shall I do?’ Make a frigging decision on your own!
And Ron’s just as bad with his: ‘I always thought it was a great idea, now I’m sure you’re not gonna yell at me!’
* Harry shifted uncomfortably in his chair. 'You did listen to what I said about a load of it being luck, didn't you?'
'Yes, Harry,' said Hermione gently, 'but all the same, there's no point pretending that you're not good at Defence Against the Dark Arts, because you are. You were the only person last year who could throw off the Imperius Curse completely, you can produce a Patronus, you can do all sorts of stuff that full-grown wizards can't, Viktor always said -'
Ron looked round at her so fast he appeared to crick his neck. Rubbing it, he said, 'Yeah? What did Vicky say?'
'Ho ho,' said Hermione in a bored voice. 'He said Harry knew how to do stuff even he didn't, and he was in the final year at Durmstrang.'
Well, of course he did! He can do things adults can’t, he can play sports better than anyone else who’s ever existed, he’s the only one who’s ever resisted an Unforgiveable what with his immense strength of mind and power to love. GOD, SHUT UP.
I'd like Harry about 1000x more if there was something he was genuinely bad at. No 'poor Harry can't master Activity X, weep for him!', no 'it's not Harry's fault he can't do it' or 'by hard work, Harry mastered it'. Just plain failure. It would humanise him.
Seriously, the whole luck excuse reeks of compliment fishing and false modesty since we’ve already had chapter and verse on: How Harry Did Everything By Himself like the Little Red Hen, while his Useless Friends gloried in not being the Tragic Boy Who Lived.
* Ron was looking at Hermione suspiciously. 'You're not still in contact with him, are you?'
'So what if I am?' said Hermione coolly, though her face was a little pink. 'I can have a pen-pal if I -'
'He didn't only want to be your pen-pal,' said Ron accusingly.
Hermione shook her head exasperatedly and, ignoring Ron, who was continuing to watch her...
More fascinating love-triange business with Hermione being disingenous and Ron being jealous. I care, really. *yawns*
* 'Just you and Ron, yeah?'
Why hasn’t he already taught her and Ron, anyway? Since the teachers are all so dire and he knows so much? I kind of find it hard to believe that if they were struggling that he wouldn't assist them, and that this scenario has never occured makes me even more doubtful of the whole DA plot.
* 'Well,' said Hermione, looking a mite anxious again. 'Well...now, don't fly off the handle again, Harry, please...but I really think you ought to teach anyone who wants to learn. It doesn't seem fair if we don't offer the chance to other people.'
Ha! Other people of course, being those we have pre-determined as worthy? I mean, let’s not fool ourselves here, gang, this isn’t exactly motivated by equality and justice. The very fact that the DA has members of every house but one kind of demolishes the 'We're ever so fair and want everyone to get a decent education' myth (except people who we might want to hex - wouldn't do any good if they knew how to combat being turned into slugs and the like, now would it?)
Or if it was, the focus quickly changes - it’s not Dumbledore’s Teaching Group, now is it?
And it’s creeping me out how nervous Hermione seems of her friend here.
* 'Well, I think you might be surprised how many people would be interested in hearing what you've got to say' said Hermione seriously.
Can you guess how surprised I was to learn that of course everyone secretly idolises Harry still and would jump at the chance to spend minutes in his presence, soaking up his knowledge?
* ‘The trouble is,' she said to Harry, 'until V-Voldemort - oh, for heaven's sake, Ron -’
‘For heaven’s sake’, ‘don’t be pathetic’. Tough talk considering Hermione herself until this chapter also called him ‘You-Know-Who’ and can’t say Voldemort without stuttering. (I’m not sure why, though, since she’s Muggleborn.)
* ‘I mean, the stupid Ministry isn't going to realise Sirius is innocent until they accept that Dumbledore's been telling the truth about him all along. And once the fools start catching real Death Eaters again, it'll be obvious Sirius isn't one...'
Heh. Of course, if Dumbledore was always so confident of the great worth of Sirius, he might have done something thirteen years ago. But of course, he had nothing to benefit from it, then.
* …he was barely keeping up with his homework, though he was doing much better now that he was no longer spending every evening in detention with Umbridge. Ron was even further behind with his work than Harry, because while they both had Quidditch practice twice a week, Ron also had his prefect duties.
Also, Harry has all that natural instinct and intelligence to rely on, whereas Ron...doesn’t. So don’t be too surprised when *gasp* Harry passes his exams with flying colours and qualifies for Aurorhood.
* However, Hermione, who was taking more subjects than either of them, had not only finished all her homework but was also finding time to knit more elf clothes.
However does she do it? Can one woman Have It All? Is there any area of her life Hermione doesn't find a breeze?