Little Questions Answered

I don't think JK really expected any of us to take any of this to this extent (elf-house desplacement or clearinghouse set up's....) come to that...medicare for displaced house elves..or social security... I think it's just interesting that a house-elf feels the need to be dependent on humans when they seem to have more attitude and "kick-you-know-what" than even Malfoy ..(by all protense from the way Dobby got Malfoy when he went to get Harry with the AK spell) He literally ran from the place. I would imagine Dobby would have loved a little comeuppance to his old master. Who wouldn't! But the fact that he was only protected Harry and dropped it says a lot of what Dobby has inside..and truely is a friend of Harry's with all the "hero" he needs already installed. I'd like to think Dobby get's Voldermort in the end...it would be fitting! Make that Malfoy too!

New question for the group mind:

Somewhere in HBP, a mention is made by someone that a wizard cannot kill another wizard who is close kin. -- that is, if my memory is not totally out of whack. -- Can anyone point me to where this was said, and by whom?

New question for the group mind:

Somewhere in HBP, a mention is made by someone that a wizard cannot kill another wizard who is close kin. -- that is, if my memory is not totally out of whack. -- Can anyone point me to where this was said, and by whom?Can't recall. But Barty Crouch junior proved it possible by killing his own father.

New question for the group mind:

Somewhere in HBP, a mention is made by someone that a wizard cannot kill another wizard who is close kin. -- that is, if my memory is not totally out of whack. -- Can anyone point me to where this was said, and by whom?

I believe you're thinking of life debts... And if so, Dumbledore in the end of Prisoner of Azkaban.

Can't recall. But Barty Crouch junior proved it possible by killing his own father.
So did Voldemort.

This all strictly has to do with PoA.

I'm going to ask this in this thread and see if I can get a response. I was going to start a new thread, but I thought it would be a waste. Here goes nothing.

I'm watching the movie of PoA right now. I have NOT read the book in a long time (it's the only one I don't own, not sure how that happened lol). Though I adored the book, the movie, the story, and all the happenings....there is something that I don't quite "get", and I'm hoping I can explain it clearly.

To put it simply, the time-traveling portion confused me a bit. When I read it in the book, I think I totally understood everything that was going on and why, but for some reason the movie ALWAYS leaves me a bit confused. Lets go over the events:

- the trio goes to Hagrid's hut to comfort him
- while they are in the hut, a stone is thrown through the window and breaks a vase
- another stone hits Harry
- the stone throws alert them that it's time for them to leave
- they leave, Buckbeak is killed
- fast-foward to the post-Shack stuff...a wolf's howl distracts Lupin from attacking the trio
- fast-foward to the lake....harry and sirius are attacked by dementors when someone conjures and patronus (Harry believe it to be his dad)

Ok...fast foward again...DD tells Hermione and Harry to go back in time and change things so Sirius and Buckbeak are saved and freed. Hermione throws the stones, Hermione howls for Lupin, and Harry conjures the patronus.

What I don't understand here is if Hermione and Harry didn't go back in time yet, how did all those things happen? I ask myself this everytime I watch the movie and I can never figure it out. Was it explained a lot more clearly in the book?

What I don't understand here is if Hermione and Harry didn't go back in time yet, how did all those things happen? I ask myself this everytime I watch the movie and I can never figure it out. Was it explained a lot more clearly in the book?This confuses a lot of people, but it's quite clear really. Because they went back in time, they were already there! There is only one timeline and everything happened the same as it always did, except that we see it from a different perspective each time. The stone throwing was a neat little illustration of this. So was Harry saving his own life. You see, if he wasn't already there the first time round, he wouldn't have survived to go back and save himself!

Buckbeak never died, but the children heard the axe hit the fencepost and Hagrid yelling and they assumed Buckbeak was dead. In fact, they had already rescued him - they just didn't know it yet.

This confuses a lot of people, but it's quite clear really. Because they went back in time, they were already there! There is only one timeline and everything happened the same as it always did, except that we see it from a different perspective each time. The stone throwing was a neat little illustration of this. So was Harry saving his own life. You see, if he wasn't already there the first time round, he wouldn't have survived to go back and save himself!

Buckbeak never died, but the children heard the axe hit the fencepost and Hagrid yelling and they assumed Buckbeak was dead. In fact, they had already rescued him - they just didn't know it yet.

Wow. See, I already kind of knew that. I guess I was looking for something...bigger? lol It does make sense. So the whole point was to show that Harry would conjure a powerful patronus then?

I thought it was odd that, when talking about Dumbledore's burial no one asked the portrait what he would want. I mean it was there with them in the headmasters office.

I have been wondering about the portaits of the headmasters. If one or more of the original founders were head teachers at Hogwarts, won't their portaits be in the school somewhere? They could be the perfect horcux.

I've often wondered about them too. We have no canon that I can think of.

I doubt they were 'headmasters', because it seems as they were the only teachers in the time they found Hogwarts. Maybe later their students became the first headmasters. But you're right - it would be strange, if there's no potrait of the founders, but I remember nothing - no portrait, no fountain, not sculpture. Just the few things, they possesed (the sword, the cup...).

Maybe there's indeed nothing and JK decided that the middleages where not the time, when people make such things - but be a historican I have to say, it was.

Well actually portraits weren't painted until a couple of hundred years after Hogwarts was founded.

Is this thread for just HBP related questions? Because I have a question about 'Goblet of Fire'.
Sorry if this question is in the wrong thread, any answers would be much appreciated.
My question if about the portkey Voldemort uses at the end of 'Goblet' to get Harry to the graveyard.
My understanding of portkeys is that the Ministry of Magic authorises an object to be turned into a portkey to transport a large number of magical people (especially those who cannot apparate). E.G the portkey used by the Weasley's and Co to get to the Quidditch World cup. Unauthorised portkeys can also be used, Dumbledore uses one in book 5/6 (sorry do not have the books to hand).
I'm also under the impression that they have a time span on them, E.G the one the Weasley's used might have only worked between 7am and 9am (This is just a guess, as I do not have a copy of 'Goblet')
I have two questions regarding the portkey used by Voldemort to transport Harry to the graveyard.
Obviously, it was an unauthorised portkey and if Dumbledore has no problem making an unauthorised one, if sure Voldemort would have no problem either.
But did Voldemort's portkey have a time span? If so how did he know how long it would take Harry to complete the maze. Or know Harry would complete the maze first?
Also how was the portkey put in the middle of the maze, surely whoever set up the maze (possibly Hagrid) would have moved the portkey and due to touching it be sent to the graveyard?
Please feel free to leave feedback on my questions or make any corrections to the nature of portkeys.
All comments are very welcome and thanks in advance for your help. :tu:

Is this thread for just HBP related questions? Because I have a question about 'Goblet of Fire'.
Sorry if this question is in the wrong thread, any answers would be much appreciated.
My question if about the portkey Voldemort uses at the end of 'Goblet' to get Harry to the graveyard.
My understanding of portkeys is that the Ministry of Magic authorises an object to be turned into a portkey to transport a large number of magical people (especially those who cannot apparate). E.G the portkey used by the Weasley's and Co to get to the Quidditch World cup. Unauthorised portkeys can also be used, Dumbledore uses one in book 5/6 (sorry do not have the books to hand).
I'm also under the impression that they have a time span on them, E.G the one the Weasley's used might have only worked between 7am and 9am (This is just a guess, as I do not have a copy of 'Goblet')
I have two questions regarding the portkey used by Voldemort to transport Harry to the graveyard.
Obviously, it was an unauthorised portkey and if Dumbledore has no problem making an unauthorised one, if sure Voldemort would have no problem either.
But did Voldemort's portkey have a time span? If so how did he know how long it would take Harry to complete the maze. Or know Harry would complete the maze first?
Also how was the portkey put in the middle of the maze, surely whoever set up the maze (possibly Hagrid) would have moved the portkey and due to touching it be sent to the graveyard?
Please feel free to leave feedback on my questions or make any corrections to the nature of portkeys.
All comments are very welcome and thanks in advance for your help. :tu:


i was under the impression there were two types of Portkeys, timed and touch sensetive.

i was under the impression there were two types of Portkeys, timed and touch sensetive.
Thanks for your suggestion,that's probabilly the case, but still who put the portkey in the maze? They'd have to touch it to move it.

Where did the Potter's live before they were killed?
And were we told what Lily's and James's Middle names were?
What middle names do we know from the books?

Trying to figure these out for my fan fiction...

Is this thread for just HBP related questions? Because I have a question about 'Goblet of Fire'.
Sorry if this question is in the wrong thread, any answers would be much appreciated.
My question if about the portkey Voldemort uses at the end of 'Goblet' to get Harry to the graveyard.
Fake Moody was the one who placed the portkey in the maze and he was also the one who enchanted the cup to be a portkey. He could have enchanted it any way he wanted since he's a pretty powerful wizard.

It couldn't have been a time portkey, because as you pointed out, no one knew what time the cup would be touched. I think it was a person portkey, set to Harry's touch. If Fleur had reached it first, it probably wouldn't have done anything. The only reason Cedric got transported with the portkey is that Harry touched it at the same time, so it was activated.

Well actually portraits weren't painted until a couple of hundred years after Hogwarts was founded.Yes, you're right, if we think of real portraits (= were you know, who's painted and don't create an ideal pic of the ie. ideal man in the timeperiod, which was made in former times). 'Real' Portraits are indeed first made in the early modern times.
I thought of the other things, which could remain on the founders, it's really strange that there's - expect of the wappons every house have and which you can find everywhere in Hogwarts - nothing. No sculpture, no tapestry...nothing?

Fake Moody was the one who placed the portkey in the maze and he was also the one who enchanted the cup to be a portkey. He could have enchanted it any way he wanted since he's a pretty powerful wizard.

It couldn't have been a time portkey, because as you pointed out, no one knew what time the cup would be touched. I think it was a person portkey, set to Harry's touch. If Fleur had reached it first, it probably wouldn't have done anything. The only reason Cedric got transported with the portkey is that Harry touched it at the same time, so it was activated.

Yeah what you said seems like the best answer. Thanks so much for your help, it's cleared a lot up for me. :tu:

Where did the Potter's live before they were killed?
And were we told what Lily's and James's Middle names were?
What middle names do we know from the books?

Trying to figure these out for my fan fiction...

Here is a link to the harry potter lexicon. it has character information, biographies and family trees. I've just used it to look up the Weasly family and it states thair middle names if they're know. hope this helps.
http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/wizards_list.html

Where did the Potter's live before they were killed?
And were we told what Lily's and James's Middle names were?
What middle names do we know from the books?

Trying to figure these out for my fan fiction...

They lived at Godric's hollow. And I don't think we know James' or Lily's middle names.

By the way, if you're looking for that kind of information, I recommend the Harry Potter Lexicon. You can look up other middle names or basically everything there.

Originally Posted by ComicBookWorm
Well actually portraits weren't painted until a couple of hundred years after Hogwarts was founded.
Though mediaeval stonemasons and wood carvers were very ingenious at including protraits in ecclesiatical sculpture - perhaps they are at Hogwarts as gargoyles or ceiling bosses.

Well actually portraits weren't painted until a couple of hundred years after Hogwarts was founded.There wasn't an awful lot of plumbing in the British Isles at that time either, but the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets was ahead of it's time!Thanks for your suggestion,that's probabilly the case, but still who put the portkey in the maze? They'd have to touch it to move it.Crouch/Moody could have levitated it there with his wand, or used a banishing spell (which the kids learnt in GoF). Or maybe he put it in place and then performed the Portkey spell.

Or maybe he put it in place and then performed the Portkey spell.The way I understand his own words, that would be exactly what he did.'I offered to carry the Triwizard Cup into the maze before dinner', whispered Barty Crouch. 'Turned it into a Portkey.'

Thanks for your suggestion,that's probabilly the case, but still who put the portkey in the maze? They'd have to touch it to move it.
Mad Eye Moody was being portrayed to have placed it there...but it was Barty Crouch Jr. in disguise with the polyjuice potion...remember Moody was in the trunk in the end. Remember DD also placed a portkey in Harry's hand just before he sent him back to his office at the end of OotP...and he was sent back to the office after handing it to Harry...that was an unauthorized portkey...as if MoM could stop DD from doing anything he wanted after their fantastic bungles....

niggling question from Book 6:

In the scene in the cave, Harry tries to fill the goblet with water, but it dissappears. DD is asking for water. Harry then dips the goblet in the lake, causing the inferi to come to life.

Then later, in Snape's escape, Harry uses his wand to directly apply water to Hagrid's hut to put the fire out.

Why didn't Harry just put the water diretly in DD's mouth in the cave? Obviously Harry could make water shoot from the end of his wand, so why not skip the whole lake/Inferi thing and bypass the goblet altogether?

Why didn't Harry just put the water diretly in DD's mouth in the cave? Obviously Harry could make water shoot from the end of his wand, so why not skip the whole lake/Inferi thing and bypass the goblet altogether?Harry was beginning to panic and not thinking clearly--just as he totally forgets to fight Inferi with fire.

niggling question from Book 6:

In the scene in the cave, Harry tries to fill the goblet with water, but it dissappears. DD is asking for water. Harry then dips the goblet in the lake, causing the inferi to come to life.

Then later, in Snape's escape, Harry uses his wand to directly apply water to Hagrid's hut to put the fire out.

Why didn't Harry just put the water diretly in DD's mouth in the cave? Obviously Harry could make water shoot from the end of his wand, so why not skip the whole lake/Inferi thing and bypass the goblet altogether?

I don't think that would have worked. Voldemort is too smart to forget something like that. The water probably would have been blocked from entering Dumbledore's mouth just as their hands were blocked from entering the bowl(was it a bowl? don't have my book handy). That did occur to me though. I also wondered why they couldn't just fill the goblet with the potion and pour it out. I can only assume that this would have caused the Inferni to attack or something.

Why didn't Harry just put the water diretly in DD's mouth in the cave? Obviously Harry could make water shoot from the end of his wand, so why not skip the whole lake/Inferi thing and bypass the goblet altogether?

I kind of saw the aguamenti spell as a pretty forceful stream of water, it being enough to put out a house fire and all. If Harry had done this to DD, it probably would have drowned him!

Anyways, I have a question. Does anybody know if Snape's father was a muggle (non-magic human) or was he a muggle-born wizard (like Hermione)?

Hermione tells Harry on page 637 of the American hardback version of the Half-Blood Prince: "Tobias Snape was a Muggle from what it said in the Prophet"

Hermione tells Harry on page 637 of the American hardback version of the Half-Blood Prince: "Tobias Snape was a Muggle from what it said in the Prophet"

Thanks! I knew it was in there somewhere but I couldn't seem to find it.

Can someone please remind me where it says that Voldemort attacked the Potters on halloween? :/

I think the "Mouth Organ" comment was made to show that only things of great importance would be horcuxes. At the time, Harry didnt understand the relevance of the ring really, and was trying to figure out what importance it had. i dont think it was ment to be read into any deeper

I had always wondered where Snape lived and I always wondered how Death Eaters treated their family, ie Bellatrix. HBP answered all of that.

Snape lives in a Muggle town, which isn't surprising to me, somehow.

Can someone please remind me where it says that Voldemort attacked the Potters on halloween? :/In PS, chapter 4 Hagrid told it.

Thank you Alastor D. :)

Hi, not sure whether this question has been done or not but why did Fred and George give malfoy the instant darkness powder? I mean they dont exactly like him(if you can call beating to a pulp not exactly) Wouldnt they get suspicious? Or were they under Imperius?


Still freaking out about DD death :upset:

:welcome: I think someone bought it for Malfoy - there must be plenty of DEs who nobody knows about.

i have a question ...
its said that the four founders of Hogwarts splitted their souls into the Sorting Hat..
can it be ? the Sorting Hat is a horcrux of the four founders of Hogwarts ?!?!
is it true ?! and if it is true how can that be, the four founders of hogwarts wasn't evil enough to murder :S

i dont thing anyone have answer to that , but JKR .
any knows a way to contact her (JKR) ? :S

It said they put their brains not their souls, there's a difference

Actually they put 'some brains' in the hat. Not necessarily parts of their own ones. GoF, chapter 12.

" 'Twas Gryffindor who found the way,
He whipped me off his head
The founders put some brains in me
So I could choose instead!"

Actually they put 'some brains' in the hat. Not necessarily parts of their own ones. GoF, chapter 12.

" 'Twas Gryffindor who found the way,
He whipped me off his head
The founders put some brains in me
So I could choose instead!"


ooops my mistake, I should have known that one as I'm rereading GOF at the moment!

In PS, chapter 4 Hagrid told it.


If the reporter was right in saying Bonfire night wasn't until next week and Bonfire night is November 5th, the Potters could not have possibly been attacked on Halloween... As October 31st and November 5th are within seven days of each other.

If the reporter was right in saying Bonfire night wasn't until next week and Bonfire night is November 5th, the Potters could not have possibly been attacked on Halloween... As October 31st and November 5th are within seven days of each other.We know it was Halloween because it says so in the book. Assuming it was, say, a Wednesday, it would be quite correct to say that Bonfire Night is "next week", because it falls in the following week. Even though technically it's only 5 days, and it is possible for them to fall in the same week, the chances are Bonfire Night will come in the calendar week following Halloween.

We know it was Halloween because it says so in the book. Assuming it was, say, a Wednesday, it would be quite correct to say that Bonfire Night is "next week", because it falls in the following week. Even though technically it's only 5 days, and it is possible for them to fall in the same week, the chances are Bonfire Night will come in the calendar week following Halloween.


Hagrid says it was on Halloween, Hagrid isn't the most credible source.
It couldn't be on a Wednesday as the story took place on a Tuesday. (Fourth paragraph of the book.)


Tuesday 31
Wednesday 1
Thursday 2
Friday 3
Saturday 4
Sunday 5


Wouldn't it make more sense to say "Bonfire night isn't until this coming weekend" as opposed to next?

Hagrid says it was on Halloween, Hagrid isn't the most credible source.
It couldn't be on a Wednesday as the story took place on a Tuesday. (Fourth paragraph of the book.)I don't think this is significant. If we have been told the attack at Godric's Hollow happened on Halloween and we have nothing to contradict that, then we should accept it and not fret about it. 5 days is pretty close to a week and we know Jo isn't too fussy about weekdays and numbers.

Although I can't think of a portrait that sounds like one of the founders there is a statue that may fit the bill. In CoS when Harry and Ron hide behind a statue while Crabbe and Goyle find the cakes, they hide behind a statue built from deep red stone of a man holding a model of Hogwarts with a lion at his feet. Could this be Godric Griffindor?

In CoS when Harry and Ron hide behind a statue while Crabbe and Goyle find the cakes, they hide behind a statue built from deep red stone of a man holding a model of Hogwarts with a lion at his feet. Could this be Godric Griffindor?In the movie? Well observed, I think you're right.

But JK didn't mention a portrait/statue/etc., if I'm right, so there's probably none.

In the Extras DVD for CoS, there's a tour of Dumbledore's office program. One of the things you can do is examine some of the portraits of former headmasters and the voiceover identifies one of them as Slytherin. Didn't know he'd ever been headmaster.

No idea how accurate that is.

I don't think this is significant. If we have been told the attack at Godric's Hollow happened on Halloween and we have nothing to contradict that, then we should accept it and not fret about it. 5 days is pretty close to a week and we know Jo isn't too fussy about weekdays and numbers.


If I felt it was significant I would not have put it in a thread with the words "little questions." :)

We have been told the attack happened on a Monday, (as the story starts on Tuesday,) we have been told that Bonfire Night was during the following week, we have found out that the year was 1981, and we have been told that the Potters were attacked on Halloween. At least one of those is wrong, most likely the latter.

In the Extras DVD for CoS, there's a tour of Dumbledore's office program. One of the things you can do is examine some of the portraits of former headmasters and the voiceover identifies one of them as Slytherin. Didn't know he'd ever been headmaster.

No idea how accurate that is.


Referring to Phineas Nigellus Black? (http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/a-z/b.html)

We have been told the attack happened on a Monday, (as the story starts on Tuesday,) we have been told that Bonfire Night was during the following week, we have found out that the year was 1981, and we have been told that the Potters were attacked on Halloween. At least one of those is wrong, most likely the latter. I think it's the Tuesday part that's inaccurate. In PS/SS, Harry's 11th birthday, July 31st, falls on a Tuesday as well. But July 31st, 1991 was a Wednesday. :)

If I felt it was significant I would not have put it in a thread with the words "little questions." :)

We have been told the attack happened on a Monday, (as the story starts on Tuesday,) we have been told that Bonfire Night was during the following week, we have found out that the year was 1981, and we have been told that the Potters were attacked on Halloween. At least one of those is wrong, most likely the latter. It's like school always starting on Sept 1.
The attack happened shortly after midnight on Tuesday, and the Dursleys watched the news Tuesday night. Five days later is Sunday and the first day of the next week.

So - no problems! :)

I don't think they put their "brains" into it....so much as they put a spell on it..sort of like the portraits in the head-master's room..but it does think for itself..sort of like the book....interesting... if the Slytherin part is in their...do they still fight that part? Or is it one of those neutral spells?

what is bonfire night?

It's like school always starting on Sept 1.
The attack happened shortly after midnight on Tuesday, and the Dursleys watched the news Tuesday night. Five days later is Sunday and the first day of the next week.

So - no problems! :)

I still don't think it's correct. :)

Edit: My last post with dates was incorrect.
Tuesday 1
Wednesday 2
Thursday 3
Friday 4
Saturday 5

(Thank you Lexicon!) :)


what is bonfire night?

http://www.hp-lexicon.org/about/books/ps/rg-ps01.html

Actually, it can't be. If November 1 is on a Tuesday, November 5 will be the Saturday of that same week. Jim is a bit addled from all the owls and shooting stars, perhaps. Bonfire Night the evening of November 5, a holiday in Britain remembering the aborted attempt by a fellow named Guy Fawkes to blow up Parliament. It is celebrated with bonfires and fireworks. Fawkes the phoenix got his name from the villain of this story. For more information about Bonfire Night and Guy Fawkes Day, see http://www.bonfirenight.net/.

I still don't think it's correct. :)

Edit: My last post with dates was incorrect.
Tuesday 1
Wednesday 2
Thursday 3
Friday 4
Saturday 5

(Thank you Lexicon!) :)

If it's Tuesday, you start counting on Wednesday. You don't count the day you're on. So day 5 is Sunday.

And I believe the lexicon is mistaken. Vernon sees McG on Tuesday morning and "weirdos" in cloaks are already out and about. Before midnight, McG tells Dumbledore that "today will be Harry Potter Day."

Vodle must have attacked in the predawn hours of Oct 31, and Harry was delivered to Privet Drive before midnight on the same day. Nov 1, Sirius caught up with Pettigrew.

Although there has been occasions when we've had reasons to think that Hagrid isn't the most reliable source, I can't see how some inexact wording from a weatherman on TV would necessarily prove him wrong. Hagrid had first hand information, he had been sent there by Dumbledore to collect Harry.

If the question is: who was wrong, Hagrid or the weatherman, my vote goes to the weatherman.

Anyone have any ideas as to why the Trio always gets on the train last?

No, seriously. They're always like, "Everywhere else is full." Why? Does everyone get on at 10:45 and they're just chatting away until 10:58, run pell-mell onto the train and try to secure a seat?

Anyone have any ideas as to why the Trio always gets on the train last?

No, seriously. They're always like, "Everywhere else is full." Why? Does everyone get on at 10:45 and they're just chatting away until 10:58, run pell-mell onto the train and try to secure a seat?

I thought that only happened in Prisoner of Azkaban and Order of Phoenix (Lupin and Luna).

I have a little question:

A while ago, I read a post about the possibility of Emmeline Vance being mentioned in one of the books, before we meet her in the the chapter The Advance Guard in OotP. I remember something about chapter two of book one, but I can'find her there. So I've been searching CoS, CoSArchives and the books, but I can't find her anywhere.

Does anybody her know where to find that quote?

If it's Tuesday, you start counting on Wednesday. You don't count the day you're on. So day 5 is Sunday.

We know Tuesday was November 1st if that's when the story starts and the story starts the day after the Potters are attacked which was also Halloween.


And I believe the lexicon is mistaken. Vernon sees McG on Tuesday morning and "weirdos" in cloaks are already out and about. Before midnight, McG tells Dumbledore that "today will be Harry Potter Day."

That would still be November 1st on the assumption that Hagrid remembered when it was.


Vodle must have attacked in the predawn hours of Oct 31, and Harry was delivered to Privet Drive before midnight on the same day. Nov 1, Sirius caught up with Pettigrew.

I'll go look at my book when I get home to see if this can be wrong, but I just don't think Vernon would have much of a problem with people dressed up weirdly if it was within 24 hours of Halloween.

If the question is: who was wrong, Hagrid or the weatherman, my vote goes to the weatherman.

Fair enough. Hagrid knows when Halloween is. He grows his enormous pumpkins and Hogwarts pulls out all the stops. It's the school's autumn holiday.

Besides, the weatherman's remark was so general, I don't even think it's a good idea to try and pinpoint a day by it.

"All anyone knows is, he turned up the village where you was all living, on Hallowe'en ten years ago. You was just a year old. He came ter yer house and' - an' - "



I can't imagine Hagrid being wrong about the date of such a significant event. It was the day Voldemort was vanquished. A day to be celebrated all around the world, even though McGonagall's prediction about it being called Harry Potter Day didn't come true. As for Vernon, don't forget that Halloween in Britain isn't celebrated to nearly the same extent that it is in North America, and I'll bet it was completely ignored in Privet Drive.

Jo is so vague with dates and weekdays that 1st September falls on a Monday 6 years in a row! There is nothing to be gained by nitpicking in this area.

... We know Tuesday was November 1st if that's when the story starts and the story starts the day after the Potters are attacked which was also Halloween.

... That would still be November 1st on the assumption that Hagrid remembered when it was.

... I'll go look at my book when I get home to see if this can be wrong, but I just don't think Vernon would have much of a problem with people dressed up weirdly if it was within 24 hours of Halloween.TWell, here we need some help from British friends, but my understanding is that they don't celebrate Halloween the way Americans do.
... When Mr. and Mrs. Dursley woke up on the dull, gray Tuesday our story starts, there was nothing about the cloudy sky outside to suggest that strange and mysterious things would soon be happening all over the country.

... None of them noticed a large, tawny owl flutter past the window.

... At half past eight, Mr. Dursley picked up his briefcase,

... It was on the corner of the street that he noticed the first sign of something peculiar - a cat reading a map.

... As he sat in the usual morning traffic jam, he couldn't help noticing that there seemed to be a lot of strangely dressed people about. People in cloaks.

... Mr. Dursley always sat with his back to the window in his office on the ninth floor. If he hadn't, he might have found it harder to concentrate on drills that morning. He didn't see the owls swooping past in broad daylight, though people down in the street did; they pointed and gazed open-mouthed as owl after owl sped overhead.

... He was in a very good mood until lunchtime,

... when he left the building at five o'clock, he was still so worried that he walked straight into someone just outside the door.

... On the contrary, his face split into a wide smile and he said in a squeaky voice that made passersby stare, "Don't be sorry, my dear sir, for nothing could upset me today! Rejoice, for You-Know-Who has gone at last! Even Muggles like yourself should be celebrating, this happy, happy day!"

... "Well, Ted," said the weatherman, "I don't know about that, but it's not only the owls that have been acting oddly today. Viewers as far apart as Kent, Yorkshire, and Dundee have been phoning in to tell me that instead of the rain I promised yesterday, they've had a downpour of shooting stars! Perhaps people have been celebrating Bonfire Night early - it's not until next week, folks! ...."

... Shooting stars all over Britain? Owls flying by daylight? Mysterious people in cloaks all over the place? And a whisper, a whisper about the Potters .....

... He didn't say another word on the subject as they went upstairs to bed.

... Mr. Dursley crept to the bedroom window and peered down into the front garden. The cat was still there. It was staring down Privet Drive as though it were waiting for something.

... In fact, it was nearly midnight before the cat moved at all.

... "You'd be stiff if you'd been sitting on a brick wall all day," said Professor McGonagall.

... "A fine thing it would be if, on the very day You-Know-Who seems to have disappeared at last, the Muggles found out about us all.

... - I wouldn't be surprised if today was known as Harry Potter day in the future -

This is all one 24 hour period.

I have a little question:

A while ago, I read a post about the possibility of Emmeline Vance being mentioned in one of the books, before we meet her in the the chapter The Advance Guard in OotP. I remember something about chapter two of book one, but I can'find her there. So I've been searching CoS, CoSArchives and the books, but I can't find her anywhere.

Does anybody her know where to find that quote?I'm very much afraid that quote doesn't exist. Her name was unknown to us until book 5. But Dedalus Diggle who also was in the Advance quard introduced himself in PS, chapter 5, and Harry recognised him as the one who had bowed to him in a shop. And that was in chapter two. I guess the poster had got Emmeline and Dedalus mixed up.

I'm very much afraid that quote doesn't exist. Her name was unknown to us until book 5. But Dedalus Diggle who also was in the Advance quard introduced himself in PS, chapter 5, and Harry recognised him as the one who had bowed to him in a shop. And that was in chapter two. I guess the poster had got Emmeline and Dedalus mixed up.

Thanks for that! I started to think I was going mad for missing her.

I'm going to try to remember who posted it and send him/her an owl to clear this up :)

I'm very much afraid that quote doesn't exist. Her name was unknown to us until book 5. But Dedalus Diggle who also was in the Advance quard introduced himself in PS, chapter 5, and Harry recognised him as the one who had bowed to him in a shop. And that was in chapter two. I guess the poster had got Emmeline and Dedalus mixed up.
McGonagle mentioned Diggle in book one, chapter one, too. The shooting stars over Kent. :)

McGonagle mentioned Diggle in book one, chapter one, too. The shooting stars over Kent. :)Right you are. I was too much concentrated on when Harry first met him to remember that. :)

Wasn't a Vance in Harry's class in book 1...her niece..or something...

Wasn't a Vance in Harry's class in book 1...her niece..or something...No, no Vance...I think you're confusing Susan Bones and her 'Auntie' Madam Bones....Susan is in Harry's year, she's a Hufflepuff.

Daphne Greengrass - who's she? I'm going bananas because I can't find any mention of her!

Daphne Greengrass - who's she? I'm going bananas because I can't find any mention of her!

It says on HP Lexicon that she was a Slytherin in Harry's year, that she took her OWLs at the same time as Hermione, which would make sense as it was alphabetical.

Daphne Greengrass - who's she? I'm going bananas because I can't find any mention of her! A Slytherin student in the same year as the Trio, Mentioned during OWLS in OotP.

A Slytherin student in the same year as the Trio, Mentioned during OWLS in OotP.
Here's the extract:
Hermione's name was called. Trembling, she left the chamber with Anthony Goldstein, Gregory Goyle and Daphne Greengrass. Students who had already been tested did not return afterwards, so Harry and Ron had no idea how Hermione had done.

How do we know she is Slytherin?

How do we know she is Slytherin?HP Lexicon has a scan of Rowling's original, handwritten list of Harry's classmates. She seems to have changed the first name, but a girl named Greengrass is listed as a Slytherin.

HP Lexicon has a scan of Rowling's original, handwritten list of Harry's classmates. She seems to have changed the first name, but a girl named Greengrass is listed as a Slytherin.
You can view the list here (http://www.hp-lexicon.org/about/sources/source_hpm.html).

TWell, here we need some help from British friends, but my understanding is that they don't celebrate Halloween the way Americans do.
... When Mr. and Mrs. Dursley woke up on the dull, gray Tuesday our story starts, there was nothing about the cloudy sky outside to suggest that strange and mysterious things would soon be happening all over the country.

... None of them noticed a large, tawny owl flutter past the window.

... At half past eight, Mr. Dursley picked up his briefcase,

... It was on the corner of the street that he noticed the first sign of something peculiar - a cat reading a map.

... As he sat in the usual morning traffic jam, he couldn't help noticing that there seemed to be a lot of strangely dressed people about. People in cloaks.

... Mr. Dursley always sat with his back to the window in his office on the ninth floor. If he hadn't, he might have found it harder to concentrate on drills that morning. He didn't see the owls swooping past in broad daylight, though people down in the street did; they pointed and gazed open-mouthed as owl after owl sped overhead.

... He was in a very good mood until lunchtime,

... when he left the building at five o'clock, he was still so worried that he walked straight into someone just outside the door.

... On the contrary, his face split into a wide smile and he said in a squeaky voice that made passersby stare, "Don't be sorry, my dear sir, for nothing could upset me today! Rejoice, for You-Know-Who has gone at last! Even Muggles like yourself should be celebrating, this happy, happy day!"

... "Well, Ted," said the weatherman, "I don't know about that, but it's not only the owls that have been acting oddly today. Viewers as far apart as Kent, Yorkshire, and Dundee have been phoning in to tell me that instead of the rain I promised yesterday, they've had a downpour of shooting stars! Perhaps people have been celebrating Bonfire Night early - it's not until next week, folks! ...."

... Shooting stars all over Britain? Owls flying by daylight? Mysterious people in cloaks all over the place? And a whisper, a whisper about the Potters .....

... He didn't say another word on the subject as they went upstairs to bed.

... Mr. Dursley crept to the bedroom window and peered down into the front garden. The cat was still there. It was staring down Privet Drive as though it were waiting for something.

... In fact, it was nearly midnight before the cat moved at all.

... "You'd be stiff if you'd been sitting on a brick wall all day," said Professor McGonagall.

... "A fine thing it would be if, on the very day You-Know-Who seems to have disappeared at last, the Muggles found out about us all.

... - I wouldn't be surprised if today was known as Harry Potter day in the future -

This is all one 24 hour period.


Here's something you missed Whizbang.

"What they're saying," she pressed on, "is that last night Voldemort turned up in Godric's Hallow..."

Last night, if they really were attacked on Halloween would be October 31.

Here's something you missed Whizbang.



Last night, if they really were attacked on Halloween would be October 31.

"Night" is the hours of darkness. "Last night" is the time between dusk and dawn before the most recent hours of daylight.

This is how we know that Voldemort attacked between midnight and dawn of the same day that McG and Dumbledore are talking. As it is once again "night" and before midnight when they are having this discussion, the attack which occurred "last night" and yet "today" would be during the hours between midnight and dawn of this same 24 hour period. It's not a contradiction at all.

Just out of curiosity, what is the point of changing the day of the attack from Halloween? Halloween is such an important date in the books and the Celtic calendar.

In the Extras DVD for CoS, there's a tour of Dumbledore's office program. One of the things you can do is examine some of the portraits of former headmasters and the voiceover identifies one of them as Slytherin. Didn't know he'd ever been headmaster.

No idea how accurate that is.
I don't think Slytherin himself was headmaster but there was at least one from Slytherin House. Phineas Nigellus who was Sirius' relative was Headmaster. He was noted as being the least popular headmaster ever. He was a Slytherin. It's mentioned in OoTP. :huh:

What house was Hagrid in?

What house was Hagrid in?
Gryffindor

What house was Hagrid in?

I was under the impression he was in Gryffindor, right?

"Night" is the hours of darkness. "Last night" is the time between dusk and dawn before the most recent hours of daylight.

This is how we know that Voldemort attacked between midnight and dawn of the same day that McG and Dumbledore are talking. As it is once again "night" and before midnight when they are having this discussion, the attack which occurred "last night" and yet "today" would be during the hours between midnight and dawn of this same 24 hour period. It's not a contradiction at all.

Just out of curiosity, what is the point of changing the day of the attack from Halloween? Halloween is such an important date in the books and the Celtic calendar.

I'm just really trying to figure out if there's a way of making it all accurate. :)


That would not be 'last night' it would be 'early this morning.' I don't really think we can argue this much more and I'm pretty sure I know what your response to this will be, but if something happens at 2:00am and it's 8:00pm of the same day I'll say it happened 'earlier today' as it really is not during the previous night.

What house was Hagrid in?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hagrid
http://www.harrypotterfanzone.com/?ID=jkrowling/transcripts/7&dir=Barnes%20and%20Nobel%20Chat

What house was Hagrid in?
Hagrid was in Gryffindor, naturally!

Was Lupin a Gryffindor too?

Never mind I found it ***

i see snape brewing lucky potion

Hagrid was in grffindor

I'm just really trying to figure out if there's a way of making it all accurate. :)
That would not be 'last night' it would be 'early this morning.' Night is the dawn to dusk period of darkness. Why isn't it accurate?
I don't really think we can argue this much more and I'm pretty sure I know what your response to this will be, but if something happens at 2:00am and it's 8:00pm of the same day I'll say it happened 'earlier today' as it really is not during the previous night. That's perfectly accurate too, and your preferred usage. But it really is the previous night. Night ends at dawn, not at midnight when the day of the week changes. If something happened at 2 am and it was anytime after dawn, I would call it "last night."

At some point, we should probably ask someone who comes from around Bristol, Eng, what the local usage is. I'm in New England, and I see no conflict either way. By definition, night is the period of darkness between dusk and dawn, and while the date may change at midnight, the night doesn't end until dawn.

Honestly, I think there's enough evidence in the books to confine the events to one 24 hour period, from midnight Tuesday to midnight Wednesday on what was, by Hagrid's account, Halloween 1981.

Ok, I've been wondering for quite a while now, why is the yule ball called the yule ball?
Does yule stand for anything related to a ball, the tournament or christmas or is it just a random name?
Thanks for your help guys! :)

Ok, I've been wondering for quite a while now, why is the yule ball called the yule ball?
Does yule stand for anything related to a ball, the tournament or christmas or is it just a random name?
Thanks for your help guys! :) Yule I believe is an old word for Christmas--like Yule log. The ball takes place on Christmas, hence its name.

Yule I believe is an old word for Christmas--like Yule log. The ball takes place on Christmas, hence its name. Yes it is; Yule is like the Yule log and since it's Christmas, hence Yull Ball. Besides, have you heard of a Christmas Ball? Yule seems more appropriate. xD

Thanks, marine2323 and allydee! Actually, I just looked up what the Yule ball was called in the german edition and hence it's called "Der Weihnachtsball", "the Christmas ball" if you'd translate it. Now I can add Yule to my vocabulary, thanks again guys!

Whenever tonks sees harry, she always says 'wotcher harry'. I have never understood what that means?? What does it mean???

Whenever tonks sees harry, she always says 'wotcher harry'. I have never understood what that means?? What does it mean???Short for 'what cheer?'

Can anyone tell me why the Triwizard cup/portkey brought Harry (along with Cedric's body) to the entrance of the maze? Wouldn't it have taken them back to the center of the maze, where it started from?

Whenever tonks sees harry, she always says 'wotcher harry'. I have never understood what that means?? What does it mean???

I believe it's similar to 'what's up?' :p

Can anyone tell me why the Triwizard cup/portkey brought Harry (along with Cedric's body) to the entrance of the maze? Wouldn't it have taken them back to the center of the maze, where it started from?

Perhaps everyone there (Dumbledore, Diggory, etc...) went into the centre of the maze?

Whenever tonks sees harry, she always says 'wotcher harry'. I have never understood what that means?? What does it mean???I always thought it was an abbreviated form of 'what're you doing?' = 'wotcher doing' = 'wotcher'. A form of 'how're you doing?'.
From Wikipedia: Wotcher is a casual greeting used primarily in the United Kingdom. It has been described as a eviation or corruption of "what cheer", but is more likely a phonetic abbreviation of "What are you doing?" (Wotcher doin'?).

Perhaps everyone there (Dumbledore, Diggory, etc...) went into the centre of the maze?

Maybe. But I did get the impression from the book that he portkeyed right back to the crowd.

I must go re read all the books NOW. I have read them all twice. But I need to go reread them and catch up on all these little important details.

Maybe. But I did get the impression from the book that he portkeyed right back to the crowd.Harry landed outside the maze, but close to it. He had come back to the edge of the maze. He could see the stands rising above him, the shapes of people moving in them, the stars above. As for why the portkey was a bit inexact I'm afraid we have no information.

Can anyone tell me why the Triwizard cup/portkey brought Harry (along with Cedric's body) to the entrance of the maze? Wouldn't it have taken them back to the center of the maze, where it started from? Goblet of Fire, Chapter 35, Veritaserum:He had come back to the edge of the maze. I have no idea why it took him back at all, let alone back to the edge of the maze. When Harry etc. arrive at the World Cup, their portkey is tossed by one of the wizards who greet them into a large box of used portkeys. From that I got the impression that a portkey was a one-way thing. Of course, Barty Crouch was quite mad, who knows what he might have added to the portkey spell on the Cup... :huh: ;)

Well actually portraits weren't painted until a couple of hundred years after Hogwarts was founded.

Does that mean there might be a statue of a founder? This one had a chain with locket / timepiece around his neck.

http://www.cosforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28198

Where did Voldie obtain the ugly little baby snake body before the ritual transforms him??? And how exactly do the Horcruxes work; when he dies is he resurrected as one of the Horcruxes or what??

You can view the list here (http://www.hp-lexicon.org/about/sources/source_hpm.html).

So cool ! thanks a lot.

I dont think anyone is sure how babymort came to be. We know he fed on *** venom milked from Nagini. Horcruxes are a torn part of his soul, seperate from Voldemort (the mind, the man, the madness) He always exsisted as that "shadow" and that was I guess his soul. It couldnt be destroyed because that part of his soul has to be the last one to be destroyed.

As for why the portkey was a bit inexact I'm afraid we have no information.
The portkey had a sense of occasion.

Whenever tonks sees harry, she always says 'wotcher harry'. I have never understood what that means?? What does it mean???

And she doesn't say it in the hall outside the room of requirement (my theory, it was Draco polyjuicing her, having got out of the room by a backdoor that appeared because he'd been thinking for 30 minutes about how he needed one.

She also didn't say it in Hogsmeade when she saved Mundungus from an explanation that would have helped us all. Thus, she is evil.

Goblet of Fire, Chapter 35, Veritaserum: I have no idea why it took him back at all, let alone back to the edge of the maze. When Harry etc. arrive at the World Cup, their portkey is tossed by one of the wizards who greet them into a large box of used portkeys. From that I got the impression that a portkey was a one-way thing. Of course, Barty Crouch was quite mad, who knows what he might have added to the portkey spell on the Cup... :huh: ;)
There's no good answer for why the cup went to the edge of the maze. But it was two-way deliberately so they could return Harry's dead body back to the tournament and try to make it look like Viktor had done it.

Goblet of Fire, Chapter 35, Veritaserum: I have no idea why it took him back at all, let alone back to the edge of the maze. When Harry etc. arrive at the World Cup, their portkey is tossed by one of the wizards who greet them into a large box of used portkeys. From that I got the impression that a portkey was a one-way thing. Of course, Barty Crouch was quite mad, who knows what he might have added to the portkey spell on the Cup... :huh: ;)
Crouch made it a two-way portkey. LV intended to send Harry's dead body back to the maze using this portkey. He figured it would be assumed that Harry died in the third task and no one would no LV had returned. I forget where it was said, but Dumbledore said that Harry messed up LV's plan by coming back alive and announcing his return. LV had hoped to keep that secret for a while.

I understand he wasn't very popular as headmaster's go. But I think Dippet was popular...at least Dumbledore appreciated him...however..he did say he didn't like the fact that he couldnt' see through Riddle..and did like the fellow..but Dumbledore could see right through him.

man ,i didn't though about that ...
thanks

His portrait was in Harry's bedroom too...and he was spying on Harry..so anyone who says they (portraits) just repeat stuff... didn't see that either..they are able to think and perform "miracles" . Remember the two snuck out of their portraits and reported on Mr. Weasley showing up in Hospital and he looked bad.... They were able to get the gist of the conversation between Harry and DD and then perform a service by appearing in another portrait...which I find strange as how can they be in two places at one time? They disappear here..and reappear there..so who what "there" at the time...think about that..but then make an informed opinion on the condition of a human that just got bit by a giant snake....and then later "tut-tut" the fact that Harry compromises DD's office by smashing everything..they are "thinking" and breathing as they can't be in more than one place at a time...but how about the portrait in the PM's office? He's there all the time...and then disappears at times...interesting.

which I find strange as how can they be in two places at one time? They disappear here..and reappear there..so who what "there" at the time...I think when one portrait goes to visit another - they are both then in the same frame. When a portrait goes 'empty' it's because it's off visiting another one. That's why we see the Fat Lady and her friend Vi in the same frame. I'm sure Vi's picture in the trophy room was blank when she was visiting the Fat Lady.

A person in a self portrait can travel between their own portrait to answer that one.

Ok, I wasn't in the shipping wars, but I need some vocabulary.

Harmony = Harry & Ron?
Chocolate = ?
Greasy = ?

Are Harry & Cho = Hachoo?

Someone opened a thread that I thought was about little questions but turned out not to be. I did a search and didn't find anything, As always, mods, feel free to close or move or merge.

I had a little question about the mouth organ on Dumbledore's table and I didn't know what mouth organ he was referring to. Someone also opened a thread on why Fleur was called Phlegm and that was answered.

So it seemed like we needed to start this thread for HBP.

A mouth organ is the British version of a harmonica

Ok, I wasn't in the shipping wars, but I need some vocabulary.

Harmony = Harry & Ron?
Chocolate = ?
Greasy = ?

Are Harry & Cho = Hachoo?
Chocolate = Harry/Ginny
Harmony = Harry/Hermione

NO idea about 'Greasy'! :D

Harmony = Harry & Ron?
Chocolate = ?
Greasy = ?

Are Harry & Cho = Hachoo?
Chocolate = Harry and Ginny (chocolate scene in the library)
Harmony = Ron and Hermione

I've never heard of Greasy :lol: but if I had to take a guess I'd say Ginny & Draco.

'Greasy' usually involves Snape, but I've never heard it all by itself. It's usually "HMS Greasy Something."

'Greasy' usually involves Snape, but I've never heard it all by itself. It's usually "HMS Greasy Something."
Maybe he's in love with himself :lol:

Harmony = Ron and HermioneI thought Ron and Hermione = Heron ? But I'll admit, these always confused me a bit . . .

I thought Ron and Hermione = Heron ? But I'll admit, these always confused me a bit . . .
You're right Billywiggy, Heron is Hermione/Ron...Harmony is Harry/Hermione...Chocolate is Harry/Ginny...Pink Werewolf is Remus/Tonks.

I thought Ron and Hermione = Heron ? But I'll admit, these always confused me a bit . . .
My mistake - I'm having a bad typing day! I meant Harry and Hermione = Harmony...sorry :)

I can understand the reason people used "Heron" and "Harmony," but can someone tell me how whoever created this ship name came up with "Chocolate?" :huh:

I can understand the reason people used "Heron" and "Harmony," but can someone tell me how whoever created this ship name came up with "Chocolate?" :huh:
Not an expert, since I was careful in the shipping threads, but I believe it refers to the scene where Ginny looks for Harry in the library to bring him the Easter egg from Mrs. Weasley, and they share chocolate until Madam Pince chases them out for eating in the library.

I can understand the reason people used "Heron" and "Harmony," but can someone tell me how whoever created this ship name came up with "Chocolate?"
It's from the time when they share a chocolate egg in the library until they were told off from Madam Pince.

Thanks for the info.

Heron HE-rmione & RON
Harmony HAR-ry & herMIONY
Chocolate - Harry & Ginny

I really didn't know that.

I've got a question... If Hogwarts grounds disallow apparation, why is it that House-Elves can? Or are they using some spooky power?

I've got a question... If Hogwarts grounds disallow apparation, why is it that House-Elves can? Or are they using some spooky power?From JKR's site:


You say that people cannot Apparate or Disapparate within Hogwarts and yet Dobby manages it, why is this?

House-elves are different from wizards; they have their own brand of magic, and the ability to appear and disappear within the castle is necessary to them if they are to go about their work unseen, as house-elves traditionally do.

A question: Do we know (I can't recall) by a quote of JKR or the timelines how old Neville was when his parents got tortured and send to St Mungos?

It was shortly after Harry's parents died because the DEs were in a frenzy trying to figure out what happened to him. And they thought the Longbottoms might have known. And that was probably because they knew the Longbottoms were targets.

The Lexicon has it dated as "shortly" after the Potter's died.

I'd say he was old enough to remember it, going off his reaction to Moody's first lesson in the book, but we don't know for sure yet.

It was shortly after Harry's parents died because the DEs were in a frenzy trying to figure out what happened to him. And they thought the Longbottoms might have known. And that was probably because they knew the Longbottoms were targets.

The Lexicon has it dated as "shortly" after the Potter's died.The question is how long is shortly. The books say it was long enough after Voldemort's disappearance that everyone had begun to feel safe again. It's unclear how long that takes, but I would think at least 6 months to a year.

Additionally, there's a marked change in CrouchSr.'s appearance in the hearings and trials. He appears to age noticeably. Not that I think it took years, but that the pressure aged him. Even so, that doesn't happen in a matter of weeks, usually more like months.

And the first hearing of Karkaroff would not have even been immediately after Voldemort's fall. The Wizengamot had already heard and decided on both Snape and Lucius. The fact that they were even willing to offer Karkaroff a deal implies that they had reached a plateau in arrests.

Next we have Bagman's trial which would have been the result of the investigation of Rookwood who they had not known about until Karkaroff's hearing. That would take a bit of time. Only after everything had quieted down do we get the torture of the Longbottoms.

Goblet of Fire, Chapter 35, Veritaserum: I have no idea why it took him back at all, let alone back to the edge of the maze. When Harry etc. arrive at the World Cup, their portkey is tossed by one of the wizards who greet them into a large box of used portkeys. From that I got the impression that a portkey was a one-way thing. Of course, Barty Crouch was quite mad, who knows what he might have added to the portkey spell on the Cup... :huh: ;)

Some have speculated that maybe the Death Eaters and Voldemort had intended on invading the school (after the rebirthing) and so Moody/CrouchJr made it a two-way portkey. You wouldn't want to appear in the middle of the maze, if you have plans to attack the school.

But it may have been just what several in this thread speculated, a way to return Harry's body to the outside of the maze, but then why would he (Harry) be clutching the cup, if Krum was supposed to have attacked him. Krum would have been the one holding the cup.

I've got a question. Where were the owls in HBP? Students kept giving Harry his messages... in previous books, that was all handled by owls.

Harry's messages in HBP came from Dumbledore, who was in the school. Owls deliver messages from other places, not within the same building.

And from Slughorn. As Colonel said, owls have been used for long distances. I cannot think of any time when an owl has been used to deliver a message from one part of Hogwarts to another, although I feel like there should be one. But there are many ways of delivering messages in the wizarding world besides owls: the flying notes in the Ministry of Magic, Lockhart's valentines, portrait hopping, head Flooing.

And from Slughorn. As Colonel said, owls have been used for long distances. I cannot think of any time when an owl has been used to deliver a message from one part of Hogwarts to another, although I feel like there should be one. But there are many ways of delivering messages in the wizarding world besides owls: the flying notes in the Ministry of Magic, Lockhart's valentines, portrait hopping, head Flooing.I suppose if you've got to go all the way to the owlery to send an owl, it's quicker to deliver the message straight to the recipient. Hagrid sends Harry owls, though.

I suppose if you've got to go all the way to the owlery to send an owl, it's quicker to deliver the message straight to the recipient. Hagrid sends Harry owls, though.

Hagrid doesn't exactly live inside the castle, though it is odd Hagrid uses a student to send Harry letters. Perhaps Dumbledore felt it was unsafe to let letters near Harry due to some magical curse or maybe that Filch checks everything enters the school isn't enough for Harry according to Dumbledore.

It's from the time when they share a chocolate egg in the library until they were told off from Madam Pince.

o,lol, I was wondering about that.:)

Do the 6 books clearly state where are the common rooms of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw?

His deformed body reflects his deformed soul - he's chopped six bits off to make the horcruxes

Do the 6 books clearly state where are the common rooms of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw?Ravenclaw's is in Ravenclaw Tower (OotP), and I believe Hufflepuff's is near the kitchens.

Do the 6 books clearly state where are the common rooms of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw?
there is a quote by JKR saying that Ravenclaw is in a tower and Hufflepuff in a sort of cellar

A question: Do we know (I can't recall) by a quote of JKR or the timelines how old Neville was when his parents got tortured and send to St Mungos?

The assumption that he was old enough to remember it may be incorrect. I don't believe that there is anything in the canon which says he witnessed them being crucio'd.

However, he has spent most of his life, from being very young (maybe 2?) until he goes to school, and over the holidays while he's at school, visiting his parents. His parents don't remember him, and give him no more affection than the random giving of candy wrappers. So he is well aware of what the cruciatus curse can do to a person, even if he didn't witness that attack itself.

Do the 6 books clearly state where are the common rooms of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw?From the books and interviews:

Ravenclaw's common room is in a tower {on the 4th floor I believe}....the Ravenclaws to a tower on the west side of the castle...Hufflepuffs' Common Room is off the hallway that leads to the kitchens."Hufflepuff's common room isn’t a dungeon, it’s more a cellar."...the Hufflepuffs to the basement corridor that also led to the kitchens...So Gryffindor is fire, Ravenclaw is air, Hufflepuff is earth, and Slytherin is water, hence the fact that their common room is under the lake {...the Slytherin common room has a spooky beauty...}.

I have a question too. What confused me the most probably from all the books is time travel. If you go back in time and change something, is that change already made or does it change the future? I'm sorry if that's a little unclear, but I'm not sure how to put it another way.

Yes, I know what you mean. If we are talking about Harry Potter, I believe that the changes are already made. For instance we never see Buckbeaks head fall off, or Sirius being kissed by the Dementor. And Dumbledore knew what they had to do because it had happened already.
But generally it would be more complicated. I believe that when you timetravel in the past and change something, you just switch to a paralell dimension, like there are millions of paralell dimensions with all possibilities....

There are also these links:
http://www.mugglenet.com/levelnine/timetravel/
http://www.hp-lexicon.org/timelines/timeline_end-of-pa_chart.html

I have a question too. What confused me the most probably from all the books is time travel. If you go back in time and change something, is that change already made or does it change the future? I'm sorry if that's a little unclear, but I'm not sure how to put it another way.
Trying to eaplain time travel is always confusing but I'll give it a shot. The present and future events occur simultaneously. You go back in the future and as a result it changes the past, but the events lie on the same linear time line. An example (not realted to HP) would be say you got a scar from a fall and then your future self stopped you from falling. This would result in the scar disappearing from your future self.

So when Harry, Ron and Hermione 'saw' Buckbeak die, what really happened is that the future Harry, Ron and Hermione saved buckbeak, and the executor hit a log instead of buckbeak. Also, the future Harry, Ron and Hermione drew attention to the fact that they had to get out of Hagrid's house by throwing seeds at their past selves. I hope I made some resemblence of sense :)

I have a question too. What confused me the most probably from all the books is time travel. If you go back in time and change something, is that change already made or does it change the future? I'm sorry if that's a little unclear, but I'm not sure how to put it another way.This confuses a lot of people, but it's quite clear really. Because they went back in time, they were already there! There is only one timeline and everything happened the same as it always did, except that we see it from a different perspective each time. The stone throwing was a neat little illustration of this. So was Harry saving his own life. You see, if he wasn't already there the first time round, he wouldn't have survived to go back and save himself!

Buckbeak never died, but the children heard the axe hit the fencepost and Hagrid yelling and they assumed Buckbeak was dead. In fact, they had already rescued him - they just didn't know it yet.

I think the thing about time travel is that it is exceptionally difficult to write about i, and I think there are different ways of portraying it, and people think there are different ways that it can be. One, the way that the film PoA showed it, where both exist simultaneously, present and future, or past. But the book was more believable, whereby the action is simply changed to change the future, if you understand. Wow, it is hard to explain! Cos I dunno whether to say future or past or present! *scratches head* Ah well, I tried.

I think the thing about time travel is that it is exceptionally difficult to write about i, and I think there are different ways of portraying it, and people think there are different ways that it can be. One, the way that the film PoA showed it, where both exist simultaneously, present and future, or past. But the book was more believable, whereby the action is simply changed to change the future, if you understand. Wow, it is hard to explain! Cos I dunno whether to say future or past or present! *scratches head* Ah well, I tried.It's the same in the book and theh film. The Harry and Hermione who went back were already there the whole time - we just didn't see them on the first run through. If Harry hadn't already been there, he would not have survived to go back and save himself. In the film they emphasized this with the stone throwing, but it happened that way in the book too.

its almost the same, but not quite. Neither Harry nor Hermione had any huge part to play in the things that happened, minus the patronus, it was made clearer as the theme during the film,but I think they pushed it a bit too far saying that Harry and hermione had to throw stones at each other.(exagerration!) That was one reason I didnt like the time travel idea, it makes no sense and its totally unbelieveable. it goes against memory and possibility.

its almost the same, but not quite. Neither Harry nor Hermione had any huge part to play in the things that happened, minus the patronus, it was made clearer as the theme during the film,but I think they pushed it a bit too far saying that Harry and hermione had to throw stones at each other.(exagerration!) That was one reason I didnt like the time travel idea, it makes no sense and its totally unbelieveable. it goes against memory and possibility.It was our view of events that changed, not the events themselves. There was stuff going on behind the scenes the first time around, that we only found out about on the second time.

I agree the thing about time travel is that it is difficult to write about, and I think there are different ways of telling it. One, the way that the film POA showed it, where both exist simultaneously, present and future, or past. But the book was more believable, whereby the action is simply changed to change the future, if you understand. So, yea time travel is possible and you never know it might be possible in the near future.

What house was Mad-Eye Moody in?

What house was Mad-Eye Moody in?

Good question.

I don't think they say, but I could be wrong. I assumed most Aurors come from Gryffindor. Like most dark wizards come from Slytherin.

Actually, the time travel in Harry Potter is the only time travel that has ever completely worked out in my head. Time travel can only be possible if when you go back in time, you don't prevent your past self from going back in time. So you can't change the reason you went back in time for in the first place. It only works out in PoA because Harry Ron and Hermione didn't know that the events had been changed, so they still thought they had a reason to go back in time. Hence all the 'you must not be seen' things they keep saying. I think there are a thousand ways that that time travel could go wrong... I only imagine that your existance kind of... terminates if you go back in time and prevent yourself from going back in time. Like going back to save someone's life... it's just not possible if your past self isn't fooled into thinking that the person still has died.

What house was Mad-Eye Moody in?


He's worried about his own back
He's courageous
He's just
He's intelligent

He could have been put in any house, but if you're going to go by the common stereotype you may as well assume he was a Gryffindor.

Is Hogsmeade a village IN Hogwarts or outside Hogwarts?

Right outside Hogwarts. I've never seen Hogwarts mentioned as part of Hogsmeade.

Is Hogsmeade a village IN Hogwarts or outside Hogwarts?Hogsmeade is outside the Hogwarts grounds. Remember how Harry couldn't go to Hogsmeade in third year because he didn't have permission? He couldn't go outside the grounds.

Well he could be grounded within the Hogwarts' grounds, and technically Hogwarts could be part of Hogsmeade village. However they are always referred to separately.

The Lexicon confirms that Hogwarts is just quite near Hogsmeade, but they are separate.

I've been searching around... perhaps this is the best thread for this quesion...

I was re-reading interviews of JKR and started wondering what parts of HBP was she trying to use in CoS before she moved them? Obviously none of the hoarcrux info as it isn't related to the HBP. Same with the info about Voldemort's childhood. She did such a good job eradicating the Snape as HBP story line that I can't really see anywhere it could have been included. Any ideas?

Well the potions book and perhaps the vanishing cabinets. The Hand of Glory. I doubt that she would have killed DD.

Suicide to kill off a major character that early, and who would've told Harry about the Prophecy?

Villages were build round castles in former times to get it's protection (strong walls etc). Village inhabitans were working for the master of the castle. This was the deal former people made.

So Hogwarts was probably the 'wart' of Hogsmeade, but geographical the village is not the same as Hogwarts. It took some time to get (with boats or thestrals) from Hogsmeade station to the school, so I think we can assume that it's not near to Hogwarts, but correctly we must say that Hogwarts is a part of the (modern) Hogsmeade. Like Edingbourgh castle is to Edingbourgh, not exactly the same and you wouldn't say so, but in formal decision.

See JKRs own map of how Hogsmeade, Hogwarts and Hogsmeade Station are situated:
http://www.hp-lexicon.org/atlas/hogwarts/atlas-h-jkrmap.html

I've been searching around... perhaps this is the best thread for this quesion...

I was re-reading interviews of JKR and started wondering what parts of HBP was she trying to use in CoS before she moved them? Obviously none of the hoarcrux info as it isn't related to the HBP. Same with the info about Voldemort's childhood. She did such a good job eradicating the Snape as HBP story line that I can't really see anywhere it could have been included. Any ideas?

I believe it was the horcrux as it was the main issue in Half Blood Prince and practically explains how the diary in Chamber of Secrets worked as well.

Yes, but she wanted to call the book HBP!
That means the potions book had to be there. It is hard to imagine but that must be it.
She probably wanted to give away much more about Snape's backstory much earlier.

I was reading OotP last night and had an interesting question...
In HBP Dumbledore tells Harry that the MoM can't really tell who did magic where, and they leave it up to parents to control their children. Well that really screws the muggleborns, as wizard borns' magic will always be blamed on their parents, so they can really do anything they like. (coughfred&georgecough) But the question is, when the advance guard comes to 'rescue' Harry, why is none of the magic they do there blamed on him? And what about Mundungus's apparition? The MoM didn't know that they were coming to take Harry (and certainly wouldn't have allowed it), so why was Harry not pelted again with owls about the packing spell and the unlocking the door spell and the disillusionment charm?

I was reading OotP last night and had an interesting question...
In HBP Dumbledore tells Harry that the MoM can't really tell who did magic where, and they leave it up to parents to control their children. Well that really screws the muggleborns, as wizard borns' magic will always be blamed on their parents, so they can really do anything they like. (coughfred&georgecough) But the question is, when the advance guard comes to 'rescue' Harry, why is none of the magic they do there blamed on him? And what about Mundungus's apparition? The MoM didn't know that they were coming to take Harry (and certainly wouldn't have allowed it), so why was Harry not pelted again with owls about the packing spell and the unlocking the door spell and the disillusionment charm?

Whoah, good question, now I have to think...it could be because by the time they were alerted that magic had been used in Privet Drive, Harry was already at Grimmauld Place, and the owls couldn't get into there due to the whole secret keeper thing :huh: I dunno, someone else can probably explain this thing properly, but that's my theory.

Perhaps they look at the time of spell that was done and the effects. Harry got in trouble in CoS because a pudding fell ontop of his uncles bosses wife, a perfect childs joke. Thats not something a regular adult wizard would do. Thats the only thing I can think of.

I was reading OotP last night and had an interesting question...
In HBP Dumbledore tells Harry that the MoM can't really tell who did magic where, and they leave it up to parents to control their children. Well that really screws the muggleborns, as wizard borns' magic will always be blamed on their parents, so they can really do anything they like. (coughfred&georgecough) But the question is, when the advance guard comes to 'rescue' Harry, why is none of the magic they do there blamed on him? And what about Mundungus's apparition? The MoM didn't know that they were coming to take Harry (and certainly wouldn't have allowed it), so why was Harry not pelted again with owls about the packing spell and the unlocking the door spell and the disillusionment charm?


They knew Dumbledore was sending people and Dumbledore talked to them before deciding to officially expel Harry.

Was it just in the movie or in the book, too, that Hermione tried some spells before arriving at Hogwarts in the first year? Sorry, that I mix this sometimes, but I can't look at SS at the moment, because my book isn't here and I unfortunately have a better memory for the movies sometimes.

If she does, wouldn't that mean the same? The MoM couldn't have thought that some dentists try to open a door with 'Alohomora', couldn't they? ;)
(If it was just in the movie, I'm sorry).

Originally Posted by WinkyBright
I've been searching around... perhaps this is the best thread for this quesion...

I was re-reading interviews of JKR and started wondering what parts of HBP was she trying to use in CoS before she moved them? Obviously none of the hoarcrux info as it isn't related to the HBP. Same with the info about Voldemort's childhood. She did such a good job eradicating the Snape as HBP story line that I can't really see anywhere it could have been included. Any ideas?

It was the part at the beginning, chapter One, about the Two Ministers. She said that in an interview, that it was the first chapter she wrote that she tried to put into book One, Two and Four, before finding a place for it in book 6.

They knew Dumbledore was sending people and Dumbledore talked to them before deciding to officially expel Harry.I don't think the Advance and Rear Guards were just to keep off Death Eaters. I think they were guarding/hiding Harry from the Ministry too. And considering the source of the Dementor attack, that would seem like a good thing! I agree that by the time any warning owls reached Privet Drive, Harry was well away and they couldn't find him to warn him.

I'm not sure it had to do with the owls not being able to find him. Harry was able to send Hedwig to Ron and Hermione earlier in the summer while they were at #12 (he just didn't know they weren't at their homes. And Percy sent Ron an owl after Harry was at #12.

I would think that the Ministry would know that the apparating couldn't be Harry (as he wasn't scheduled to learn it yet). Which leaves the unlocking of Harry's doors (back door and room door) and Tonks' packing

I have wondered if the ministry really cares about underage magic as much as it appears they do. Or if part of the citations were because it was magic done where muggles other than his family might see it. The dessert was done where Vernon's business associates might see and the dementors were in a muggle alley.

I think they are also typically inefficient civil servants! It would be quite characteristic for them to come down heavily on a hovering charm and ignore a blasted fireplace! (Although I daresay Arthur informed his colleages that he would be collecting Harry, even though the temporary Floo network connection was hush hush.)

I have a question...

Does anyone know if there is a significance with Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans? Some people said there may be but that does not seem possible to me...

I don't think the Advance and Rear Guards were just to keep off Death Eaters. I think they were guarding/hiding Harry from the Ministry too. And considering the source of the Dementor attack, that would seem like a good thing! I agree that by the time any warning owls reached Privet Drive, Harry was well away and they couldn't find him to warn him.



Harry -
Dumbledore's just arrived at the Ministry and he's trying to sort it all out. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR AUNT AND UNCLE'S HOUSE. DO NOT DO ANY MORE MAGIC. DO NOT SURRENDER YOUR WAND.

Arthur Weasley


Dumbledore's probably informing them that Harry's going to be picked up, kind of like a bailer.

I have a question...

Does anyone know if there is a significance with Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans? Some people said there may be but that does not seem possible to me...
What kinds of rumours are out there? I did a search and haven't seemed to find any threads on the subject... I know there's one about Drooble's Best Blowing Gum being an anagram for Gold Bribe Below St. Mungos... but that doesn't make a lot of sense.

I have a question.

What is Harry's date of Birthday?

We know he will lose his mothers protection when he becomes an adult.

What is Harry's date of Birthday?He was born July 31, 1980

Originally Posted by WinkyBright
I've been searching around... perhaps this is the best thread for this quesion...

I was re-reading interviews of JKR and started wondering what parts of HBP was she trying to use in CoS before she moved them? Obviously none of the hoarcrux info as it isn't related to the HBP. Same with the info about Voldemort's childhood. She did such a good job eradicating the Snape as HBP story line that I can't really see anywhere it could have been included. Any ideas?

I have just had a brilliant idea about the potions book in CoS, well, Hermione said the polyjuice potion was very hard to brew, yet she managed it. I reckon that in the first draft, the HBP helped them do it through the book, after all, what did the trio really gain by using it?

Was it just in the movie or in the book, too, that Hermione tried some spells before arriving at Hogwarts in the first year? Sorry, that I mix this sometimes, but I can't look at SS at the moment, because my book isn't here and I unfortunately have a better memory for the movies sometimes.

If she does, wouldn't that mean the same? The MoM couldn't have thought that some dentists try to open a door with 'Alohomora', couldn't they? ;)
(If it was just in the movie, I'm sorry).In PS, chapter six on the train Hermione tells that she had tried a few simple spells. And that they worked for her. It seems obvious that the Ministry doesn't apply any zero tolerance, but overlooks minor magic which goes unnoticed by muggles. Compare with Dobby's howering charm which was witnessed not only by the Dursleys but also Mr and Mrs Mason.

I posted something about all the magic detection last night, but I've realised what the real deal could be now: none of the magic was performed in front of muggles, neither by Hermione or the advanced guard. Voila!

Alastor D, thank you! I think this is the way JK thought of this. But how know the ministry, if a spell was done in front of muggles?
This would mean that they don't know who a spell did, but that they are able to recognize, what it was. Would explain why Hermione never got an owl.

I think the Ministry are lenient with Muggleborns who haven't started school yet. The assumption would be that all magic is unintentional anyway. I bet Hermione is one of very few Muggleborns who can perform simple spells straight out of a book without any help at all!

How are owls able to find the OotP members when they are in the House of Black if it is protected by all the sheilding spells? Are owls above these spells, and if so couldnt this be used by people wishing to serch out the order?

If the ministry can tell what spells are performed, why did they not notice the big spells around the graveyard where Voldemort resurfaced, surely those spells are not seen every day? I mean, who regains a body like that, surely they would find that suspicious if not a proof of what Harry's telling them? And what about all the AK's Voldy does? Don't they see those, Frank Bryce was certainly a muggle witness, but they never even seemed to be suspicious about that.

Seeing that Umbridge and a few other's were trusted Ministry officials..stands to reason..that the Ministry is not really Potter friendly...and Harry being there..gives them access to kill him..wize move on Dumbledore's part to keep the two apart..until the real culpret's come clean....don't you think.

It's really irritating. Indeed, Voldi is no child. Seems as the Ministery observes the places were young wizards live. If they're muggleborn and there's a spell, they are able to look what spell it was or (maybe and) if muggles visited the spell. Probably this rules just for non-family-muggles.

But it is still odd: when they are able to see, who witnessed, why aren't they able to see, who the spell did?
By re-reading JKs explanation I think she made a little mistake with Hermione's spells as an underage at home. I get the impression that JK means, that the ministry is just able to observe the places, where non-adult wizards live in mugglehouses, but not what they do or who witnessed.

How are owls able to find the OotP members when they are in the House of Black if it is protected by all the sheilding spells? Are owls above these spells, and if so couldnt this be used by people wishing to serch out the order?While owls can find people who are in hiding, following them would do no good, since the spells involved would still work. Any humans looking for 12 Grimmauld Place would be completely unable to see it unless told about it by the Secret Keeper, even if they followed an owl, or even watched other people going in. They simply would not see the building.

Hepibzah(sp?) Smith- the old woman who used to be regularly visited by Tom Riddle when he worked at B&B..until Tom killed her and took her 2 most prized possesions of Helga Hufflepuff and Salazar Slytherin...


Zarchias Smith, a late decendant of her?

Idella11, you may want to check out this thread: Zacharias Smith: Descendent of Helga Hufflepuff? (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=59990)

woops! thanks Racmel!

If the ministry can tell what spells are performed, why did they not notice the big spells around the graveyard where Voldemort resurfaced, surely those spells are not seen every day? I mean, who regains a body like that, surely they would find that suspicious if not a proof of what Harry's telling them? And what about all the AK's Voldy does? Don't they see those, Frank Bryce was certainly a muggle witness, but they never even seemed to be suspicious about that.I suppose it's possible that a team of Ministry Wizards did turn up at the graveyard after Harry and the Death Eaters had left. We know they are pretty inefficient. While Dumbledore would have been able to detect at least some of the magic that had been performed that night, I doubt if your average Magical Law Enforcement wizard would have been able to. They might have concluded that a wizard duel had taken place or that a potion had been brewed there, without being any the wiser as to what really happened.

During most of that year, Voldemort and Wormtail were in the Crouch house. But they did spend some time in the Riddle house, without being detected by anyone apart from Frank Bryce. I wonder if there is some sort of shield charm that will prevent magic from being detected? If so, Voldemort could have performed one over the Riddle house and the graveyard.

To play the devil's advocat: wouldn't a shield charm getting detected, too?

To play the devil's advocat: wouldn't a shield charm getting detected, too?Not if it is specially designed to avoid detection. It would work a bit like an Invisibility Cloak or a Disillusionment Charm. If either of those can easily be detected, then there is no point in using them! But this has no basis in canon - only in my imagination!

Hm, this makes sense, thank you! This is well thought.
Sometimes I get the impression, we think more of the possibilities to detect a charm than JK ever did...:eyebrows:

Sometimes I get the impression, we think more of the possibilities to detect a charm than JK ever did...:D I think you are right! I'm sure she never imagined what demanding and pernickety readers she would attract!