Little HP Questions Answered v2

This thread is designed for the asking and answered of the smaller questions from the Harry Potter series with help from other members that may just be bugging you.

Last few posts from the the previous thread (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?p=2587770):
I see what you're saying and I've often thought of that myself. Here's some of my thoughts that I've come up with:
1. The point was that they weren't meant to come after Hermione, they were meant to go straight to their dorms.
2. It showed that she was willing to get into trouble so that they didn't have to take any of the heat, however little.
3. It also made them look like heroes and helped form a bond between the three.
Also, one person getting in trouble (Hermione) is better than two people getting in trouble (Harry and Ron).
In Hermione's story, she did the wrong thing first.

Go ahead and continue. :)

It would've been awkward trying to explain the real story anyway. For example:

Ron: Well, see, we came into the girl's bathroom to tell Hermione the troll was in the dungeons.

(awkward silence)

Harry: Yeah, and then we accidentally locked the troll in the bathroom with her.
Ron: That was a major whoops, wasn't it?
Minerva: (Doesn't laugh)
Ron: (Nervous laughter)
Minerva: How were you aware that Miss Granger was in the girl's bathroom?
Harry: Well, see, Ron here said that she was miserable and it wasn't a wonder that she didn't have any friends.
Ron: (Nervous laughter) I'm such a stupid git, sometimes!
Harry: And she's been crying in the bathroom all day. Yeah.
Ron: And, yeah, she's been in here and we didn't want her to get eaten or beaten up.
Minerva: Well how did you know she had been crying in the bathroom all day?
Harry: Oh, someone told us at the table. She didn't go to any classes this afternoon.
Hermione: (mumbles about them just getting everyone in more trouble)
Minerva: You two are stupid.

Okay, maybe it wouldn't happen just like that, but you get the idea. The idea of Harry and Ron coming after her because she thought she could handle the troll herself is a little easier to explain and raises a lot less questions. Though "what were you thinking?" still comes to mind...

I think the main point was still that Hermione was willing to take the fall for them, hence helping forge a bond between the three.

Yeah, that's definately one of the things it did. Miss Perfect taking the fall? What? I think it really showed her true character to Ron and Harry and let them know that she really was worth knowing and it WAS a wonder that she didn't have any friends.

But it could have gone even simpler without the story:

McGonagall: Explain yourselves!

Harry or Ron: We noticed Hermione wasn't at dinner and someone told us she was in the bathroom. When we heard about the troll, we ran to tell her about it but then we saw the troll go into the bathroom and ran in to save her.


In Hermione's story, Harry and Ron disobey Dumbledore ANYWAY and come to save her, and from her story Hermione gets in trouble. It just doesn't make sense.

But it wouldn't have helped form a bond between the three then. And you could tell that Harry and Ron did the wrong thing from Professor Mcgonagall's tone but their act of heroism won out I think in the end when compared to disobeying the rule to help a friend.

Hmmm...
Actually, the term "philosopher's stone" sould not be interpreted as the "stone that belongs to the philosopher".. It is a greek term and would be much better as a "philosophical stone" (that is what the actual greek term means, translated into english). The word philosophy means the love for wisdom (philo-likeness,love , sophia-wisdom). The stone is named that way to point out its unpredictable nature and the fact that it is completely hypothetical..

So, you should not actually think of the word "philosopher" as a possible synonim of "alchemist"..

;)

Well, the definition I gave comes from my dictionary. But it's writen in french, so I probably not have explained things in a right way.
“philosopher” is not a synonim of "alchemist” in common language. But, in french, "la pierre philosophale” (translated in “Philosopher's stone”) is an ancient expression used to describe the thing all alchemists were purchasing : a stone able to change matter in gold, and able to bring immortality... That alchemist's quest is a part of european histry. Nicolas Flamel is an historic person, a french writer who lived between 1330 and 1418. The legend tells he has discover the secret of the alchemists, the secret of the philosopher stone...
So the "philosopher's stone” is clearly related to medievals alchemists !

About Hermione : maybe another reason is that she didn't want to tell why she was there, crying and so on... perhaps she was ashamed?

In Hermione's story, Harry and Ron came swooping in a la Batman & Robin and saved her. She took all the blame for coming in and trying to kill the troll by herself without at least asking Quirrell or McGonagall.

But it could have gone even simpler without the story:

McGonagall: Explain yourselves!

Harry or Ron: We noticed Hermione wasn't at dinner and someone told us she was in the bathroom. When we heard about the troll, we ran to tell her about it but then we saw the troll go into the bathroom and ran in to save her.


In Hermione's story, Harry and Ron disobey Dumbledore ANYWAY and come to save her, and from her story Hermione gets in trouble. It just doesn't make sense.

Your right, in some sense, telling a lie instead of the truth may not make sense when you look at the lie in terms of just this one scene. Hermione lies and says she's hunting the troll and Ron and Harry came looking for me. If she tells the truth she doesnt loose the five house points, and HP and RW still gain the ten. Again, correct, the lie makes no sense if we look at it in terms of just this scene.

But in the larger sense, when you look at everything that had happened before halloween: the flying lesson in which Harry disobeyed Hooch and Hermione lectured, Harry and Ron were going to duel malfoy, Hermione lectured, all of the "know it all" stuff that annoyed ron. Hermione has basically been a slave to the rules and her telling an out right lie to the professors shattered the opinions that Ron and Harry had of hermione. Without the destruction of those opinions it would have never been possible for them to be friends. The lie (and troll) basically gave Hermione the clean slate that she needed with Harry and Ron to be her friends.

Looking at the scene itself:

"Professor McGonagall was looking at Ron and Harry. Harry had never seen her look so angry. Her lips were white. Hopes of winning fifty points for Gryffindor faded quidkly from Harry's mind."

At this point, MM is pinning the whole incident on Harry and Ron. She probably can't imagine that Hermy was in any way to blame. She might have even thought that that the boys dragged Hermy into danger.

"What on earth were you thinking of?" said Professor McGonagall, with cold fury in her voice. Harry looked at Ron, who was still standing with his wand in the air. "You're lucky you weren't killed. Why aren't you in your dormitory?"
***
"Then a small voice came out of the shadows.
"Please, Professor McGonagall -- they were looking for me."
"Miss Granger!"
***
"I went looking for the troll because I -- I thought I could deal with it on my own -- you know, because I've read all about them."
***
If they hadn't found me, I'd be dead now. ... They didn't have time to come and fetch anyone. It was about to finish me off when they arrived."
***
Well -- in that case ..." said Professor McGonagall, staring at the three of them, "Miss Granger, you foolish girl, how could you think of tackling a mountain troll on your own?"

Hermy could tell that MM was going to blame the boys for the whole incident and she didn't want that to happen because they had rescued her in the end. That's why she made up that story.

Pretty flimsy, of course, but I really don't think that MM fell for it. Given the fact that Hermy is a model student and would be believed, MM didn't have much choice.

Hermy could tell that MM was going to blame the boys for the whole incident and she didn't want that to happen because they had rescued her in the end. That's why she made up that story.

Pretty flimsy, of course, but I really don't think that MM fell for it. Given the fact that Hermy is a model student and would be believed, MM didn't have much choice.
I think you're right. But she didn't have any proof otherwise so she let it lay.

Here's the deal with this situation. They are 11 years old...instinctively Hermoine told a lie trying to save her new friends from trouble...it doesn't make sense for it to be logical.

You also have to remember that this was a key oppurtunity to end any negative feelings between the three of them. JKR had to do something that would start a friendship with Hermione, and also prove that Hermione is willing to break the rules or lie for the better good.

Yeah, that's definately one of the things it did. Miss Perfect taking the fall? What? I think it really showed her true character to Ron and Harry and let them know that she really was worth knowing and it WAS a wonder that she didn't have any friends.

That's why she's a Gryffindor, not a Ravenclaw!

That's why she's a Gryffindor, not a Ravenclaw!
Good insight. A lot of people wonder why Hermione wasn't sorted into Gryffindor, and I think you just answered that question.

Well, the definition I gave comes from my dictionary. But it's writen in french, so I probably not have explained things in a right way.
“philosopher” is not a synonim of "alchemist” in common language. But, in french, "la pierre philosophale” (translated in “Philosopher's stone”) is an ancient expression used to describe the thing all alchemists were purchasing : a stone able to change matter in gold, and able to bring immortality... That alchemist's quest is a part of european histry. Nicolas Flamel is an historic person, a french writer who lived between 1330 and 1418. The legend tells he has discover the secret of the alchemists, the secret of the philosopher stone...
So the "philosopher's stone” is clearly related to medievals alchemists !


I totally get what you are saying, so no worries about your explanation!

I've actually read some books and seen a few medieval fantasy-related shows/movies that have mentioned philosopher's stones in the past. And, yes... it's supposed to be the ultimate payoff of the study of alchemy.


I don't know how many people are familiar with (god, here comes my super geek confession) the old-ish anime Slayers, which is basically supposed to be a satire of the whole fantasy/D&D/LotR culture, but I was watching my (and here comes the dating of myself) old tapes of the series the other day, and they even mentioned a philosopher's stone in that!


I LOLed =/

Question:

If Voldemort no longer has his own blood, that is, the 'noble blood of Salazar Slytherin', is he still technically Slytherin's heir??

Question:

If Voldemort no longer has his own blood, that is, the 'noble blood of Salazar Slytherin', is he still technically Slytherin's heir??
I think that he would probably still be technically considered the heir of Slytherin. He is the son of a woman who was heir of Slytherin, so even if he doesn't have his the blood in his veins he was born with (which I am not so sure of, I'm not exaclty sure what blood now flows through his veins), wouldn't he still be an heir by birth right?

I believe that the ritual Voldemort used to bring himself back at the end of GoF gave him back the same exact body he had before his defeat, with the same blood in his veins. I'm not really sure how to explain it, but I believe using Harry's blood for the ritual and the protection Voldemort gained from it was kind of a side effect. They could have used any wizard who was an enemy of Voldemort's, but it wouldnt have given him the protection that Harry's did.
http://sorting-hat.com/linklogo/sorthatg.gif

Question:

If Voldemort no longer has his own blood, that is, the 'noble blood of Salazar Slytherin', is he still technically Slytherin's heir??

I believe that he still has Salazar Slytherin's blood in his veins, but he also now has some of Harry's too. The reason he had to use Harry's blood is because Harry's blood had protective properties in it (from his mother). Now he not only has his original, but some of Harry's which makes him stronger than before.

Actually it is kind of confusing since he didn't use any of his mother's remains for the ritual. So, technically he doesn't really have anything from Salazar Slytherin flowing in his veins.

I believe that he still has Salazar Slytherin's blood in his veins, but he also now has some of Harry's too. The reason he had to use Harry's blood is because Harry's blood had protective properties in it (from his mother). Now he not only has his original, but some of Harry's which makes him stronger than before.
Using Harry's blood meant that now he could actually touch Harry whereas as we saw in PS, the protective spell meant that Harry couldn't be touched by Quirrel, i.e. LV. Now he can be because some of Harry's blood and hence Lily's blood is flowing in LV.

I've been rereading all the books (along with everyone else I expect) and it struck me that the whole Forbidden Forest detention thing in PS/SS was really weird.

I mean, they were only in trouble because they were trying to help Hagrid, right? So why didn't he seem to feel at all bad? At one point he said that they'd done wrong and had to pay for it or something.

It just seems really weird, especially in contrast to CoS, when he rushes into DD's office to tell him Harry didn't Petrify anyone. Harry isn't even in trouble then, and Hagrid's ready to testify in front of the Ministry, yet when Harry ACTUALLY gets into trouble, and it's 100% Hagrid's fault, he doesn't do ANYTHING! Harry and Hermione lost 50 points each for Gryffindor, the whole school hated them and Hagrid didn't say ANYTHING.

It just seems so out of character that he protected his own skin and let two 11 year old kids take the fall for his illegal activities! What a jerk!

And how bizarre was the detention? You know there's something dangerous in the forest, aside from all the usual, so you take a bunch of kids in to investigate? Whose idea was that?!?! And we're supposed to believe DD has been doing everything possible to keep Harry safe for all these years and he's ok with sending him off to face unknown monsters at 11? Of course he then essentially sent him off to face Vapourmort, but that's another issue.

It just seems really odd that Hagrid let them take the blame and that anyone authorised sending kids into the Forest, whether it was Hagrid, McGonagall or DD.

I think that he would probably still be technically considered the heir of Slytherin. He is the son of a woman who was heir of Slytherin, so even if he doesn't have his the blood in his veins he was born with (which I am not so sure of, I'm not exaclty sure what blood now flows through his veins), wouldn't he still be an heir by birth right?

It seems to me a good explanation.

I believe that he still has Salazar Slytherin's blood in his veins, but he also now has some of Harry's too. The reason he had to use Harry's blood is because Harry's blood had protective properties in it (from his mother). Now he not only has his original, but some of Harry's which makes him stronger than before.

And it's perhaps why DD had his “Triumphal look” when Harry tald him LV has now his mother blood in him. Now that the 2 bloods are melted, it could be a hope to overcome the split and be united again, as in the times GG and SS were close one to another? And LV will be defeated in that way ???

Hello. This isn't so much a reply as it is a question. Could someone please tell me where the Hufflepuff house originated from and don't tell me Helga. That's obvious. What I mean is Gryffindor = Griffin. Slytherine = snake. Ravenclaw = raven. Hufflepuff = BADGER???????????? :huh:

How does that fit. This has been bugging me for quite a bit. It doesn't seem to make any sense.

Thanks.

The symbol for Gryffindor is a lion, not a gryffin. I don't think the animal of each house has much to do with the name of the founder (besides Slytherin). It's more about the values and characteristics of each house and what animal fits those values:

Lions: bold, strong, brave
Snakes: cunning, silent, sneaky
Eagles: proud, intelligent, shrewd
Badgers: humble, hard-working

The four founders couldn't choose their last names, but they could choose their house animal! =)

(Personally, if I were Helga, I would have made the Hufflepuff mascot a work horse or something. But I guess badgers have their upsides.)

i have a very usless question.

in the chapter "the hog's head" in the american version of OotP, in the part where the students were all enumerating the wondeful deeds harry has done, neville makes a mistake and called the sorcerer's stone "sorcerous stone."

now i know in the UK version it is actually called philosopher's stone, so obviously neville woudnt call it "sorcerous." so...how did neville mistakenly say it? did he say "philosophical" or something?

just wondering, that's all:)

It was called the "Philological" Stone, a word you can find in the dictionary. It means the study of linguistics relevant to literature.

if harry has to kill Voldermort, or VOldermort has to kill harry, and there wands cant fight each other then how will one of them win

if harry has to kill Voldermort, or VOldermort has to kill harry, and there wands cant fight each other then how will one of them win

This has been answered before. Not only is your statement wrong (The wands can fight each other, they just won't work properly), but the effects we saw were only because two spells met in mid-air, which doesn't happen that often. Last but not least: the magical world is littered with wands and all sorts of stuff which could kill, so I don't think Harry will have a problem. I myself think a clove of garlic, some holy water and a stake would suffice.

if harry has to kill Voldermort, or VOldermort has to kill harry, and there wands cant fight each other then how will one of them win I agree with elperuaan, the wands will work, just not properly.
I think that Harry will defeat Voldemort by another way anyway, after all there is the connection between them via the scar.

i was wondering - ive searched but can't find it - does anyone know for sure what house moaning myrtle was in?

does anyone know for sure what house moaning myrtle was in?
Not that I know of...We also don't know her last name or what age she was when she died (somewhere between 11 and 18)...

Not that I know of...We also don't know her last name or what age she was when she died (somewhere between 11 and 18)...
All we really know is that she died in 1943 according to HPL. http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/myrtle.html

My little question, and maybe I've just forgotten, but... in OotP, who tipped Filch off that Harry was supposedly sending off an order for Dungbombs when he sends the owl to Sirius?

(I admit, having recently finished reading Dracula, I'm intrigued by the dust Harry is watching in the ray of sunshine just before he writes the note... In Dracula, the vampires can appear and disappear as particles of dust. :scared:)

My little question, and maybe I've just forgotten, but... in OotP, who tipped Filch off that Harry was supposedly sending off an order for Dungbombs (when he sent the Owl to Sirius and ran into Cho)?
I always thought it was Umbridge trying to prevent Harry from doing anything sneeky.

My little question, and maybe I've just forgotten, but... in OotP, who tipped Filch off that Harry was supposedly sending off an order for Dungbombs (when he sent the Owl to Sirius and ran into Cho)?

It was Umbridge, not to prevent Harry from doing anything sneaky, but to read his mail without him knowing. She was after Sirius at that time too, you know. Anyway, Hermione explains it all.

But how did she know?? I mean, that he was going to the owlery right then?

I agree with elperuaan, the wands will work, just not properly.
I think that Harry will defeat Voldemort by another way anyway, after all there is the connection between them via the scar.

JKR wrote in Ootp that thoughts can hurt worse than acts or words. Do you think Harry will defeat LV with a thought ??? And how ???

But how did she know?? I mean, that he was going to the owlery right then?
Either a lucky guess or Mrs Norris went and told Filch. Don't have my book here but I remember Harry meeting Mrs. Norris on the way to the owlery and saying something like "I'm not doing anything illegal, you know" That cat is very intelligent and sneeky.

Ah, yes, you're right -- he did run into Mrs. Norris.

The symbol for Gryffindor is a lion, not a gryffin. I don't think the animal of each house has much to do with the name of the founder (besides Slytherin). It's more about the values and characteristics of each house and what animal fits those values:

Lions: bold, strong, brave
Snakes: cunning, silent, sneaky
Eagles: proud, intelligent, shrewd
Badgers: humble, hard-working

The four founders couldn't choose their last names, but they could choose their house animal! =)

(Personally, if I were Helga, I would have made the Hufflepuff mascot a work horse or something. But I guess badgers have their upsides.)Also badgers traditionally symbolise steadfast loyalty etc, quite appropriate for Hufflepuff.

I am currently in the process of rereading Order of the Phoenix, and in the scene where Snape tells Harry he has to take occlumency, I noticed something:
A minute or two later, he pushed open the kitchen door to find Sirius and Snape both seated at the long kitchen table, glaring in opposite directions. The silence between them was heavy with mutual dislike. A letter lay open on the table in front of Sirius.
My question is, what do you think was in this letter? My only guess so far has been that it was written by Dumbledore, and says Snape has to teach Harry occlumency.

Originally Posted by Allemande
My question is, what do you think was in this letter? My only guess so far has been that it was written by Dumbledore, and says Snape has to teach Harry occlumency.
well, i always assumed the same thing...what else could be in the letter anyway?

Somewhere in the book Molly mentions "intructions" that Sirius recieved from Dumbledore. Perhaps that's what's in the letter?

I am currently in the process of rereading Order of the Phoenix, and in the scene where Snape tells Harry he has to take occlumency, I noticed something:

My question is, what do you think was in this letter? My only guess so far has been that it was written by Dumbledore, and says Snape has to teach Harry occlumency.

I would think instructions from Dumbledore. Sirius probably wouldn't have taken Snape at his word, so he probably had to show him the letter to prove this was what Dumbledore had asked.

Hiya ive been trying to catch up on what everyone has said since the first "little questions", but dont have the patience to read through them all to find if my question has been asked (and answered):no:

So my question is: which house(s) are the other marauders in (apart from james since i know he's in griffindor)? There's probably some obvious line in a book with the answer but i don't recall coming across it (and all my books are in South Africa)

We know that Black and Lupin were also Gryffindors. The jury is still out on Pettigrew--someone had typed in the question about the marauders' houses and instead of typing in Peter, he/she had Lupin's name in twice...from an on-line chat with JKR.

Considering how chummy the marauders were, I suspect Peter was also a Gryffindor.

I believe that he still has Salazar Slytherin's blood in his veins, but he also now has some of Harry's too. The reason he had to use Harry's blood is because Harry's blood had protective properties in it (from his mother). Now he not only has his original, but some of Harry's which makes him stronger than before.

I don't know how he could still have that blood. He lost his body and became a spirit, floating about until he was able to become a child-like monster (what was that thing, anyway??) and eventually regain a human body using Harry's blood, Pettigrew's flesh and his father's bone.

I have a question, what's the deal with the Lunch Trolley lady on the Hogwarts express? Is she a hogwarts employee? Does she only work six days a year (First day, last day, christmas and easter travels both ways)? If she's a hogwart's employee, why doesn't she sell stuff to the student's the rest of the year? I'm sure first and second years would appreciate the service as they can't go to Hogsmead.

I have a question, what's the deal with the Lunch Trolley lady on the Hogwarts express? Is she a hogwarts employee? Does she only work six days a year (First day, last day, christmas and easter travels both ways)? If she's a hogwart's employee, why doesn't she sell stuff to the student's the rest of the year? I'm sure first and second years would appreciate the service as they can't go to Hogsmead.

Well there does appear to be a school shop, sorry I don't have the exact quote to hand, so maybe she works there.

Well there does appear to be a school shop, sorry I don't have the exact quote to hand, so maybe she works there.
I don't remember reading about a school shop (except Fred and George's secret one). Did I miss something?

Well there does appear to be a school shop, sorry I don't have the exact quote to hand, so maybe she works there.

No, a school shop doesn't appear in the books.

But perhaps she works for a shop at Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade, which provides the food for the journey?

No, a school shop doesn't appear in the books.

But perhaps she works for a shop at Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade, which provides the food for the journey?
"Wiccan's magical catering service" perhaps? :lol:

No, a school shop doesn't appear in the books.

But perhaps she works for a shop at Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade, which provides the food for the journey?Actually there is a slight mention of one in the books...

He was lying in a bed with white linen sheets, and next to him was a table piled high with what looked like half the candy shop.
"Tokens for your friends and admirer's," said Dumbledore.The important thing to remember is that the candy has appeared following Harry's saving the Sorcerer's Stone, and after the last Hogsmeade visit...so where is this candy shop?

Actually there is a slight mention of one in the books...

He was lying in a bed with white linen sheets, and next to him was a table piled high with what looked like half the candy shop.
"Tokens for your friends and admirer's," said Dumbledore.The important thing to remember is that the candy has appeared following Harry's saving the Sorcerer's Stone, and after the last Hogsmeade visit...so where is this candy shop?
My guess is that it's from Hogsmeade, but it's just a hunch. Why would there be a shop on the school grounds? They are served every meal in the great hall and news papers are delived by owls.

Actually there is a slight mention of one in the books...

He was lying in a bed with white linen sheets, and next to him was a table piled high with what looked like half the candy shop.
"Tokens for your friends and admirer's," said Dumbledore.The important thing to remember is that the candy has appeared following Harry's saving the Sorcerer's Stone, and after the last Hogsmeade visit...so where is this candy shop?

Thank you kingwidgit for finding the quote.

There is also the fact that at Christmas in PS, Hermione's presents to Harry and Ron were a box of Chocolate Frogs and Bertie Bott's every flavoured beans, respectively. How did Hermione get these given she couldn't go into Hogsmeade, it seems reasonable for there to be a school shop, especially for first and second-years, and indeed older students given there only appears to be two Hogsmeade visits a term.

what i never understood was why, if the MoM believed that "nothing was out there to get them," were aurors still hired? aurors are dark wizard catchers, and from OotP, we saw that kingsley was the head of the hunt for sirius... but you can't honestly believe that all of those aurors were employed just to look for sirius. i don't anyway. do you think this could be because of the MoM's denial of voldemort's return, but they still thought maybe he was back? or do you think that the aurors were still employed to do other things than "dark wizard catching"?... like tailing hagrid in the mountains and stalking dumbledore and the order to see what they were up to?

what i never understood was why, if the MoM believed that "nothing was out there to get them," were aurors still hired? aurors are dark wizard catchers, and from OotP, we saw that kingsley was the head of the hunt for sirius... but you can't honestly believe that all of those aurors were employed just to look for sirius. i don't anyway. do you think this could be because of the MoM's denial of voldemort's return, but they still thought maybe he was back? or do you think that the aurors were still employed to do other things than "dark wizard catching"?... like tailing hagrid in the mountains and stalking dumbledore and the order to see what they were up to?
The MoM propably realised that there were dark wizards out there even if they didn't think that Voldemort had returned. Even though there might not be a evil overlord, there can still be evil wizards. Just look at Lucius Malfoy. I think the aurors are like the FBI or secret agents.

There is also the fact that at Christmas in PS, Hermione's presents to Harry and Ron were a box of Chocolate Frogs and Bertie Bott's every flavoured beans, respectively. How did Hermione get these given she couldn't go into Hogsmeade, it seems reasonable for there to be a school shop, especially for first and second-years, and indeed older students given there only appears to be two Hogsmeade visits a term.

I don't know, where Hermione bought the sweets (perhaps by mail order ?). But if the students could buy Chocolate Frogs and Bertie Bott's every flavoured beans at school whenever they like, it would be a very boring present! That doesn't sound like Hermione.

I don't know, where Hermione bought the sweets (perhaps by mail order ?). But if the students could buy Chocolate Frogs and Bertie Bott's every flavoured beans at school whenever they like, it would be a very boring present! That doesn't sound like Hermione.

And a homework diary that shouts at you is just sooooooooo interesting. :evil:

Remember she had only been their friend for just under two months, and you cannot deny that Harry and Ron enjoy their sweets.

I was also wondering whether there is more than one dormitory per year, per house, because it seems to me that 10 (or 12) students in each house and year doesnt seem much. That makes it less than 50 students in a year! E.g. in Harry's dorm there are 5 boys. (I also remember a mention that there are 1000 students in the whole of Hogwarts) :huh:

Thanks Nicole for answering my question! Seems it wasnt too obvious one eh! :cool:

I was also wondering whether there is more than one dormitory per year, per house, because it seems to me that 10 (or 12) students in each house and year doesnt seem much. That makes it less than 50 students in a year! E.g. in Harry's dorm there are 5 boys. (I also remember a mention that there are 1000 students in the whole of Hogwarts) :huh:

Thanks Nicole for answering my question! Seems it wasnt too obvious one eh! :cool:Yes, there are different dorms within the Houses...as you say, Harry--Dean--Ron--Seamus--Neville all share their dorm, it also says somewhere in the books that there's a sign on their door that denotes their year...I'll see if I can find the quote.

EDIT:
They hurried up to it, right to the top, and at last reached the door of their old dormitory, which now had a sign on it saying "Second Years".

oh rite thanks, but that seems to be like a dormitory for each year. What i mean in other words, are there more than the 5 griffindor students in the same year?

We don't know...JKR has stated that there are about a thousand students...and there's a screencap somewhere of here flashing a book with all the names who share first year with Harry...and there's a lot more names on it than actually appear in the book.

I've been rereading all the books (along with everyone else I expect) and it struck me that the whole Forbidden Forest detention thing in PS/SS was really weird.

I mean, they were only in trouble because they were trying to help Hagrid, right? So why didn't he seem to feel at all bad? At one point he said that they'd done wrong and had to pay for it or something.

It just seems really weird, especially in contrast to CoS, when he rushes into DD's office to tell him Harry didn't Petrify anyone. Harry isn't even in trouble then, and Hagrid's ready to testify in front of the Ministry, yet when Harry ACTUALLY gets into trouble, and it's 100% Hagrid's fault, he doesn't do ANYTHING! Harry and Hermione lost 50 points each for Gryffindor, the whole school hated them and Hagrid didn't say ANYTHING.

It just seems so out of character that he protected his own skin and let two 11 year old kids take the fall for his illegal activities! What a jerk!

And how bizarre was the detention? You know there's something dangerous in the forest, aside from all the usual, so you take a bunch of kids in to investigate? Whose idea was that?!?! And we're supposed to believe DD has been doing everything possible to keep Harry safe for all these years and he's ok with sending him off to face unknown monsters at 11? Of course he then essentially sent him off to face Vapourmort, but that's another issue.

It just seems really odd that Hagrid let them take the blame and that anyone authorised sending kids into the Forest, whether it was Hagrid, McGonagall or DD. :rotfl: I totally agree! I remember that I had the same exact thoughts when I read it the first time.

As for taking the kids into the forest - I think maybe they were better protected than we think. I remember reading someone's theory somewhere (sorry - I can't remember who!) who thought that maybe Dumbledore was actually watching them (the breeze that Harry feels on his neck - plus it's just so coincidental that Firenze shows up at just the right time).

But Hagrid - yeah, no excuse! I mean, it was illegal, so he would get into a lot of trouble probably, more than just a few kids being out of bed at night. But still - he could've said something to them, showing how much he appreciated their sacrifice! :shrug:

oh rite thanks, but that seems to be like a dormitory for each year. What i mean in other words, are there more than the 5 griffindor students in *** same year?

That's a good question! I think, nobody knows for sure, how many students there are in a year. Gryffindor students from another dormitory in Harry's year are not mentioned in the books. But JKR said, that there are about 1000 students at Hogwarts. If this is correct, there should be more than 5 students in every year.

There is a thread dicussing this:

280 students? (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=14866)

And a homework diary that shouts at you is just sooooooooo interesting.

Oh....I've forgotten about the homework diary! But at least it was *cough* useful! :rotfl:

:rotfl: I totally agree! I remember that I had the same exact thoughts when I read it the first time.

As for taking the kids into the forest - I think maybe they were better protected than we think. I remember reading someone's theory somewhere (sorry - I can't remember who!) who thought that maybe Dumbledore was actually watching them (the breeze that Harry feels on his neck - plus it's just so coincidental that Firenze shows up at just the right time).

But Hagrid - yeah, no excuse! I mean, it was illegal, so he would get into a lot of trouble probably, more than just a few kids being out of bed at night. But still - he could've said something to them, showing how much he appreciated their sacrifice! :shrug:
In POA, Fudge mentions that he is removing the dementors and might replace them with dragons, and DD says something like 'Hagrid would like that.' I think this shows DD was aware of Hagrid/Norbert...so why did he allow Harry & co be punished, and why did he allow them to enter the dark forest...Dumbledore rarely interferes with punishments, and perhaps he wanted Harry to be aware of "who/what" was in the forest. After all, he allowed Harry to be out of bed and viewing the Mirror of Erised--even tells Harry how it works with the possible intention of Harry going after Quirrelmort to save the stone...there isn't much that DD doesn't know.

And a homework diary that shouts at you is just sooooooooo interesting. :evil:

Remember she had only been their friend for just under two months, and you cannot deny that Harry and Ron enjoy their sweets.
I don't remember the sweets. What sweets were they? Also the homework diary that's interesting, but knowing Hermione she probably baught it before hand then charmed it to shout at them.

I don't remember the sweets. What sweets were they? Also the homework diary that's interesting, but knowing Hermione she probably baught it before hand then charmed it to shout at them.

Perhaps I should have said that both Harry and Ron have a sweet-tooth, as that was supposed to be a generalisation about the amount of sweets they appear to get through.

But more specifically at Christmas in PS, Harry gets a box of Chocolate Frogs from Hermione, whilst she gives Ron a box of Bertie Bott's.

I'm sorry, but I cannot buy into the idea that a Homework diary is interesting, had I'd been either Harry or Ron, I think I may have lost the diary accidently on purpose. :evil:

In POA, Fudge mentions that he is removing the dementors and might replace them with dragons, and DD says something like 'Hagrid would like that.' I think this shows DD was aware of Hagrid/Norbert...Actually - I think this only shows us that DD knows that Hagrid likes dragons. As Hagrid mentioned this to Harry on the first day they met - we can probably assume that DD knew this about Hagrid, seeing as how they've known each other for years. :)

so why did he allow Harry & co be punished, and why did he allow them to enter the dark forest...Dumbledore rarely interferes with punishments, and perhaps he wanted Harry to be aware of "who/what" was in the forest. After all, he allowed Harry to be out of bed and viewing the Mirror of Erised--even tells Harry how it works with the possible intention of Harry going after Quirrelmort to save the stone...there isn't much that DD doesn't know. :tu: I think you're absolutely right here - DD knows pretty much everything that goes on - and he does let Harry get into trouble, knowing it's all a learning experience. But DD is a little weird, too. Isn't there a description at the end of PS/SS which shows Ron thinking how crazy his hero DD is?

The number of students at Hogwarts has had everyone puzzled, but JKR just says she's really bad with numbers and math, so I think her estimate of 1000 students was just a number right out of the air! As if it wasn't confusing enough, POA (the movie) has an unknown Griffindor boy reading a definition of The Grim and again at the table in the Great hall talking about Sirius. when JKR waved that paper in front of the camera in her interview, saying these are all the students in harry's year, there was one column of names down the page, and they were the Slytherins and Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs, not just Gryffindors, about 30 of them. I assumed that these were the ones who had names and some sort of position in the story, so a "guesstimate" of 50 per year, all houses, means that the student body totalled about 350--- a normal number for the average school in Britain, I would think. Mine had about 450 and was considered quite big -- they merged two smaller schools when it was built.

As to the Hagrid thing, I totally missed that in all my readings! What a meanie, letting them take the rap, not just from the staff but from their disgruntled class mates! I still think 50 points was way out of line. Snape deducted one point from harry his first week, and Snape is usually more vindictive than anyone else! Then to be awarded only 50/50/60 points for delivering the school from Voldie --- most unfair!!!

I've been rereading all the books (along with everyone else I expect) and it struck me that the whole Forbidden Forest detention thing in PS/SS was really weird.

I mean, they were only in trouble because they were trying to help Hagrid, right? So why didn't he seem to feel at all bad? At one point he said that they'd done wrong and had to pay for it or something.

It just seems really weird, especially in contrast to CoS, when he rushes into DD's office to tell him Harry didn't Petrify anyone. Harry isn't even in trouble then, and Hagrid's ready to testify in front of the Ministry, yet when Harry ACTUALLY gets into trouble, and it's 100% Hagrid's fault, he doesn't do ANYTHING! Harry and Hermione lost 50 points each for Gryffindor, the whole school hated them and Hagrid didn't say ANYTHING.

It just seems so out of character that he protected his own skin and let two 11 year old kids take the fall for his illegal activities! What a jerk!

And how bizarre was the detention? You know there's something dangerous in the forest, aside from all the usual, so you take a bunch of kids in to investigate? Whose idea was that?!?! And we're supposed to believe DD has been doing everything possible to keep Harry safe for all these years and he's ok with sending him off to face unknown monsters at 11? Of course he then essentially sent him off to face Vapourmort, but that's another issue.

It just seems really odd that Hagrid let them take the blame and that anyone authorised sending kids into the Forest, whether it was Hagrid, McGonagall or DD.


I totally agree with you. I know this has been said, but when I first read that part it was so outrageous, because Hagrid would never act like that. It seems so wrong for his character, and i was really mad that he wouldnt even say sorry for getting them into trouble, or atleast thank you for risking getting caught just to help him.

I can't seem to find a thread about this, so I will just ask away.
Who destroyed the Potter's house? When VM tried to kill Harry he didn't know that the spell was going to rebound. His body was destroyed and he was left as a spirit, so he couldn't have destroyed it.

How did Hagrid know where to look for Harry and when did he know that the Potters had been attacked and killed?

Harry is so curious about everything and sometimes has trouble controlling the urge to investigate (Peter Pettigrew on the Maurader's Map) so why hasn't he tried to find Godric's Hollow? It probably had the same kind of protection as number 12 Grimmauld Place until the betrayal by Peter, but surely there would have been the place itself. I would have been asking where my house was.

Who destroyed the Potter's house? When VM tried to kill Harry he didn't know that the spell was going to rebound. His body was destroyed and he was left as a spirit, so he couldn't have destroyed it.
The Potters' house destroyed? (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=16383&)

How did Hagrid know where to look for Harry and when did he know that the Potters had been attacked and killed?
We know that Sirius arrived at the Potters' house to find his best friend dead and Harry still alive. I imagine that word got out that LV had been defeated by young Harry Potter and so DD sent Hagrid to find him and bring him back. He would have known where to look as I imagine DD would have told him. He arrived to see Sirius and with DD's orders took Harry and deposited him with the Dursleys'.

I have a question, what's the deal with the Lunch Trolley lady on the Hogwarts express? Is she a hogwarts employee? Does she only work six days a year (First day, last day, christmas and easter travels both ways)? If she's a hogwart's employee, why doesn't she sell stuff to the student's the rest of the year? I'm sure first and second years would appreciate the service as they can't go to Hogsmead.

Perhaps, she's retired and volunteers her services.

Perhaps, she's retired and volunteers her services.
And maybe that's not her only job. She might work for a candy company and Hogwarts hires that company and a person for six days a year. For example, when we had our walkathon, we hired a fairy floss machine and that included a person to come and make the fairy floss.

Okay... as for the Book 1-Hagrid-detention thing... Since there is a popular theory about how Dumbledore knew about Quirrelmort (or at least the presence of Voldemort near Hogwarts) and was "testing" Harry and whatnot... this idea might lead you to believe that Dumbledore knew that the reason the unicorns were being slain was to help keep Voldemort semi-alive.

Taken farther, this would suggest that, since Harry had just started at Hogwarts (in other words, had just been taken out of the "protection" of his relatives' home and reintroduced to the public wizarding world eye), Dumbledore knew that Voldemort would be looking for a way to come after him, yet still wouldn't be strong enough to be a supreme threat to Harry. So... this would be step one in Dumbledore's "test" of Harry's strength against Lord Voldemort. Or, rather than test, introduction to the "dark times" that lie ahead, and the prophecy that Dumbledore already knew about, and had to prepare Harry for.

So, he might have taken this opportunity (detention) to send Harry into the woods (with Hagrid, for just-in-case protection) and get his first glimpse at the Dark Lord he will eventually have to face. Dumbledore probably would have told Hagrid, in not-so-many words, perhaps, about this plan. So, Hagrid was aware that it wasn't really a "detention."

Sounds confusing and contrived, and totally not my own theory, but it makes complete sense to me, and I agree with it. However, as for the other students being put into this kind of danger for detention, I don't know what would explain that. =/

I'm also of the unpopular opinion that Hagrid isn't all that great, so I kind of agree with some of what claret101 said about Hagrid's attitude towards the detention. Sure, he has a kind heart and I do have a soft spot for him in a way, but honestly, after books 4 & 5, he's been kind of getting on my nerves. He's a little too much of the blundering idiot sidekick kind of person, and they never really end up being useful; in fact, they usually cause more trouble than they're worth. *prepares to be crucified by Hagrid fans* But, maybe he'll redeem himself in my eyes in the forthcoming book.

Concerning the school shop... I'm of the opinion that there has to be some kind of school shop, since only 3rd years and above can go to Hogsmeade, what in the world to first and second years do when they run out of parchment and ink?

Concerning the school shop... I'm of the opinion that there has to be some kind of school shop, since only 3rd years and above can go to Hogsmeade, what in the world to first and second years do when they run out of parchment and ink?
What if the school was willing to provide them with parchment and ink? Or perhaps it gets owled to them from home.
I'm also of the unpopular opinion that Hagrid isn't all that great, so I kind of agree with some of what claret101 said about Hagrid's attitude towards the detention. Sure, he has a kind heart and I do have a soft spot for him in a way, but honestly, after books 4 & 5, he's been kind of getting on my nerves. He's a little too much of the blundering idiot sidekick kind of person, and they never really end up being useful; in fact, they usually cause more trouble than they're worth. *prepares to be crucified by Hagrid fans* But, maybe he'll redeem himself in my eyes in the forthcoming book.
I love the mean looking characters who are really softies inside so I can't say that I agree with you due to my bias although I see what you mean. I suppose everyone's entitles to their opinions (no matter how wrong ;))
Sounds confusing and contrived, and totally not my own theory, but it makes complete sense to me, and I agree with it. However, as for the other students being put into this kind of danger for detention, I don't know what would explain that. =/
It's not confusing at all and I see where you're going with it. I suppose the most obvious explanation [which according to Occum's Razor is the best explanation] would be that by only taking Harry into the forest might have seemed a little weird and obvious, because it would have been signalling him out. Whereas by taking everyone, then they were all treated the same. Hagrid was there to look out for all of them but maybe the trip into the forest wasn't to make Harry come into contact with LV [or Quirrelmort] but rather to make him aware that LV is still after him.

I have an opinion about the detention (which compared to others sounds a bit stupid). When i read the book first time, i thought maybe because Hagrid felt responsible for getting them in trouble, he offered to take charge of their detention (thinking that it would be a better detention than any of the other proffessors). I don't think he realised how dangerous it actually was (especially for 1st years) since he spends a lot of time in there.

Then again, the theory about Harry's test of skill against Voldy sounds more likely... :tu:

I have an opinion about the detention (which compared to others sounds a bit stupid). When i read the book first time, i thought maybe because Hagrid felt responsible for getting them in trouble, he offered to take charge of their detention (thinking that it would be a better detention than any of the other proffessors). I don't think he realised how dangerous it actually was (especially for 1st years) since he spends a lot of time in there.

Yeah, somehow like Lockhart, he did just the same thing asking especially for Harry to help him answer his fanpost ;-) He also thought that would be a better way of spending one's detention than anything else.


There's something that's been bugging me since a while:
What about this legend of 'the boy who lived'? Harry is supposed to be the only one who ever survived an AK curse - until now, actually. Now everyone knows Voldie's back, so there we've technically got a second person who survived it ... in a way. I mean, the spell rebounded, but Voldie wasn't dead, he's still here ... or here again, if you like.
Isn't that in a way bound to shatter the myth of Harry? Or do people just ignore this fact?

Well I don't think a reflection counts the same in people's minds.

Besides, most people probably don't know what happened that night. They wouldn't know about Lily's protection charm, so they still only know what we knew in the first book - that Harry survived and it "somehow broke his [Voldemort's] power". They wouldn't know the curse rebounded.

Also, they might not know he never died, they might think he's back from the dead. Everyone's going to be very scared that he's back at all. I mean, 11 years since he went and no one would even say his name.

Actually, now I think about it, in the PS/SS, when Dumbledore said what happened between Harry and Voldemort was a complete secret, so naturally the whole school knows... so how come the whole school didn't believe Voldemort was back in OotP, if they believed it in PS/SS? Did they think it was all lies in PS/SS? Weird.

Actually, now I think about it, in the PS/SS, when Dumbledore said what happened between Harry and Voldemort was a complete secret, so naturally the whole school knows... so how come the whole school didn't believe Voldemort was back in OotP, if they believed it in PS/SS? Did they think it was all lies in PS/SS? Weird.


Well the story spread sure enough, but the Daily Prophet made sure it wasn't to be believed!

Also, i hardly think performing the AK curse on oneself and surviving really counts! I mean, if it was, many people would perform it (just not properly) just to be famous! Does this make sense?

Can Dementors speak?

I know they have mouths but we've never known them to speak

If they don't, how do they communicate?

I somehow don't think they can speak, otherwise i imagine they would have said something like "resistance is not an option" or "you can run but you can't hide!" :eyebrows:

Me thinks that mouth has one perpose and one alone! I don't know how they would communicate then (maybe they have a secret language or communicate by thought or something!)

Maybe they talk by thoughts??? Remember, JKR said that thoughts can hurt much more than any other things, and Dementors are so terrible!
So, it would be a kind of telepathy...

I somehow don't think they can speak, otherwise i imagine they would have said something like "resistance is not an option" or "you can run but you can't hide!" :eyebrows:
"Resistance is futile!" http://www.peyups.com/images/phpbb/avatar/borg.gif
No sorry, that's Star Trek. :blush:

Either a lucky guess or Mrs Norris went and told Filch. Don't have my book here but I remember Harry meeting Mrs. Norris on the way to the owlery and saying something like "I'm not doing anything illegal, you know" That cat is very intelligent and sneeky.

wHAT IF mRS. nORRIS IS AN aNIMAGUS? Oops, Caps lock.

wHAT IF mRS. nORRIS IS AN aNIMAGUS? Oops, Caps lock.
Or perhaps a Kneazle?

This very intelligent cat-like creature can detect unsavory or suspicious persons very well and will react badly to them. However, if a kneazle takes a liking to a witch or wizard, it makes an excellent pet. The kneazle has spotted fur, large ears, and a lion-like tail
http://www.hp-lexicon.org/bestiary/bestiary_h-m.html#Kneazle
She just described as "dust colored with lamp-like yellow eyes" but perhaps she also have big ears and tail.

claret101 -The correct quote is about Harry and Quirrell:

(cut) "What happened down in the dungeons between you and Professor Quirrell is a complete secret, so, naturally, the whole school knows. (cut)" PS/SS page 296 US.


So the statement wasn't "strictly" about Voldemort, and actually, did any but the Trio, Dumbledore and some of the staff (maybe) know that Voldemort was there. In OoP, chapter 15, page 317 US:


"Yeah, Quirrell was a great teacher," said Harry loudly, "there was just that minor drawback of him having Lord Voldemort sticking out of the back of his head."
This pronouncement was followed by one of the loudest silences Harry had ever heard. Then --


Was this because his classmates were surprised that Harry had challenged Toad again (their second class) or because of his description of Quirrell's head or both? I think it is both. They didn't know about Voldemort and Harry was shouting at Toad, again.

Was this because his classmates were surprised that Harry had challenged Toad again (their second class) or because of his description of Quirrell's head or both? I think it is both. They didn't know about VM and Harry was shouting at Toad, again.
Who's Toad?

Kneazle seems like a good choice. She does seem smarter than every cat I have run across. Around here, they tend to be so dumb that I don't know how they can walk straight! :p

However, do you really think it is likely that JKR will pull the same move over on us twice? Crookshanks already turned out to a kneazle, so do you think it is possible that she would also make Mrs. Norris a kneazle?

Who's Toad?

Umbridge

Toad = Umbridge Have you read her description in OoP? How could it be anyone else? She is often referred to this way on these forums.

Around here, they tend to be so dumb that I don't know how they can walk straight! :p
I know exactly what you mean. :rolleyes:
However, do you really think it is likely that JKR will pull the same move over on us twice? Crookshanks already turned out to a kneazle, so do you think it is possible that she would also make Mrs. Norris a kneazle?

No, propably not but it would explain her eerie behaviour.
Toad = Umbridge Have you read her description in OoP? How could it be anyone else? She is often referred to this way on these forums.
Since I've only read the books translated into my own language, I didn't make that connection. And I've never seen that before on the forums, but that's my bad. You learn something new everyday and now I know that Toad = Umbridge.

Mrs. Norris makes some sense, but I'm still not totally convinced. I guess Umbridge might have expected Harry to owl someone after the night's detention, and thus tipped Filch & Mrs. Norris off to check Harry's owls the next day, but it still seems a little odd. (If Hermione thinks it's odd, I think it's odd :lol:) And who tipped Umbridge off about the DA -- not Marietta, but the day after the Hogsmeade meeting, when she banned all organizations? Someone at the Hog's Head?

(I'm just re-reading OotP from cover-to-cover and am amazed at how many details I've forgotten... :blush:)

Can Dementors speak? Fudge apparently communicates with them :shudder: My best guess would be some form of telepathy as well.

Can Dementors speak?

I know they have mouths but we've never known them to speak

If they don't, how do they communicate?

Well, when Fudge was talking about Sirius in the pub, he said the Dementors had said Sirius had been muttering in his sleep "he's at Hogwarts", so they must be able to communicate somehow. They do have mouths...

I think it was said, anyone got the quote? Argh, I need to bring my books to work so I can look these things up!

It's the scene when Harry finds out about Sirius and James being friends.

Originally Posted by KristynM
However, do you really think it is likely that JKR will pull the same move over on us twice? Crookshanks already turned out to a kneazle, so do you think it is possible that she would also make Mrs. Norris a kneazle?
well, that depends, on whether having a cat that's half kneazle is 'normal' in the wizarding world or not. JKR did say in her website that Arabella Figg does a roaring trade in cross-bred cats and Kneazles meaning that, i guess, anyone could have access to a half Kneazle cat, so..i guess it's possible.

Yes, there is that roaring trade, but that is just littering the books with the same general idea. JKR tends to like her books to be different from eachother and not repeat things. Heck, she won't even repeat a name unless she has to! (exit Mark Evans, she admitted that was her mistake)

Well, when Fudge was talking about Sirius in the pub, he said the Dementors had said Sirius had been muttering in his sleep "he's at Hogwarts", so they must be able to communicate somehow. They do have mouths...

I think it was said, anyone got the quote? Argh, I need to bring my books to work so I can look these things up!

It's the scene when Harry finds out about Sirius and James being friends.


I've just looked the quote up in the book and I'm able to confirm a few things. First of all the quote "he's at hogwarts" is not in the scene when Harry finds out about Sirius and James it's actually in the fourth chapter The Leaky Cauldron where Mr. and Mrs. Weasley are arguing wether or not to tell Harry about Sirius. Mr.Weasley didn't directly say the dementors told Fudge that Sirius was muttering in his sleep but said the guards told Fudge Sirius was muttering in his sleep. As to what " the guards" refer to i'm not sure. Could it be the dementors? They are the guards of Azkaban. But could there be wizard guards also that haven't been mentioned in the books so far. Azkaban can't be run just by dementors could it? And if Azkaban is run by dementors how did they communicate to Fudge? In english or do they have their own language that Fudge can understand? Knowing Fudge so far he doesn't seem very bright so is he capable enough to learn a different language assuming that the dementors have their own? My conclusion is that the dementors aren't the only guards in Azkaban and that there must be wizard guards also. Although i'm pretty sure that Azkaban is wholly run by the dementors but merely saying that there might be a few wizards patrolling the prison also.


Hilary :p :blush:

This has always bothered me in CoS. How come only HARRY can ehar the basilisk when it's going to attack??? That doesnt make sense to me, when Harry spoke to the snake everyone understood, why then, when the snake is ready to attack, only he, harry can hear?

This has always bothered me in CoS. How come only HARRY can ehar the basilisk when it's going to attack??? That doesnt make sense to me, when Harry spoke to the snake everyone understood, why then, when the snake is ready to attack, only he, harry can hear?
No one heard the snake speak, only Harry. Perhaps he has a different accent? :p

He understood it because he spoke parseltongue. But maybe only he heard it because he may have more sensitive ears to snake language. I'm not a biologist here, but don't snakes have more sensitive 'ears' or however they 'hear'?

Can we get someone who is smart with science?

He understood it because he spoke parseltongue. But maybe only he heard it because he may have more sensitive ears to snake language. I'm not a biologist here, but don't snakes have more sensitive 'ears' or however they 'hear'?

Can we get someone who is smart with science?I'm not an expert but I have always understood that snakes are deaf - they feel vibration and react to that, but have no ears. Of course part of that comes from the maths teacher at my school - if you asked him a question while he was busy he always said 'there's nothing so deaf as an adder' and thought he was terribly clever.

Quick google says I'm right - no external ears on snakes.

He understood it because he spoke parseltongue. But maybe only he heard it because he may have more sensitive ears to snake language. I'm not a biologist here, but don't snakes have more sensitive 'ears' or however they 'hear'?

Can we get someone who is smart with science?
Good theory. :tu:

I googled it and snakes don't have external ears and don't appear to respond to loud noises but they have hearing in an electro-physiological sense. Snakes have equivalent structures on each side of its head. The skin and muscle tissue on each side of the head cover a loosely suspended bone, called the quadrate, which undergoes small displacements in response to airborne sound. The quadrate motion is transferred by intermediate structures to the cochlea, which produces electrical signals on its hair cells that correlate with the airborne sounds (within a range of intensity and frequency determined by the ear system) and are transferred to the brain. Cochlear signals are present in functioning ears of all classes of vertebrates from fish to mammals, while animals that are congenitally deaf produce no such signals, so their presence in response to sound is taken as an indication of the hearing sense.

They also smell with their tongue...

Quick google says I'm right - no external ears on snakes.
You're fast. :wow:

I'm asking really how Ron and Herminone heard harry talking to the snakes, but when the snake spoke they couldn't hear it.....the ymight not understand it, but theyd still be bale to hear it right???
BTW, iwas watching CoS last night at 1 in the morning, that movie is a bit chilling isn't it?

I'm asking really how Ron and Herminone heard harry talking to the snakes, but when the snake spoke they couldn't hear it.....the ymight not understand it, but theyd still be bale to hear it right???
BTW, iwas watching CoS last night at 1 in the morning, that movie is a bit chilling isn't it?



Maybe because we can hear human speech, but not snake speech, like Doctor Dolittle!

Addition: (i shuld perhaps explain a little better). In real life we can't hear animals talk, so neither can the others in HP, but when we start talking in "animal-language" we can still hear our own 'species' (aka human) talk. Make any sense?

Still, when a snake 'talks' you can hear it hissing. I think that is what he is getting at.

Human ears can only hear a certain number of vibrations in sound waves (I have meticulous notes on this upstairs. I have forgotten the numbers and am too lazy to check) Perhaps when snakes communicate, they use a different number of vibrations (I wish I could remember the name) that is above the level that humans can hear. But Harry, being human with the ability to talk to snakes, can still pick up on these vibrations.

OK completely off topic, but could anyone tell me how to get an image into a signature. I've tried, but when i click "add image" it comes up with a window that says "enter text to be formatted". If there is somewhere that explains how to can someone direct me to it please :sigh:

go to magical me and go to edit sig and put pic link

go to magical me and go to edit sig and put pic link
Signature Tutorial

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I'm asking really how Ron and Herminone heard harry talking to the snakes, but when the snake spoke they couldn't hear it.....the ymight not understand it, but theyd still be bale to hear it right???
BTW, iwas watching CoS last night at 1 in the morning, that movie is a bit chilling isn't it?

That's because they don't know what to listen for. I don't think the hissing is particulary loud, as if it was, people would ask what that hissing sound was, if you get me. Since Harry is a parsel-toungue, that quite hissing resolves itself into actual words to him. That's my theory at least.

Maybe Harry wasn't the only person to hear it. Are we sure Dumbledore can't speak it as well? I mean, come on, he speaks Mermish?

Maybe Harry wasn't the only person to hear it. Are we sure Dumbledore can't speak it as well? I mean, come on, he speaks Mermish?
Except that parseltongue isn't a language you can study or learn. Either you have the gift of speaking it or you don't.

Maybe Harry wasn't the only person to hear it. Are we sure Dumbledore can't speak it as well? I mean, come on, he speaks Mermish?

I don't think so because if i remember correctly it is said to be a very dark gift, and Dumbledore doesn't use any dark spells/telents, etc.

I don't think so because if i remember correctly it is said to be a very dark gift, and Dumbledore doesn't use any dark spells/telents, etc.

Just because he doesn't use it, doesn't mean he doesn't have it. Dumbledore is very powerful, and for someone to reach that level of powerful-ness, one must have knowledge of dark spells. DD just prefers not to use them.

Maybe Harry wasn't the only person to hear it. Are we sure Dumbledore can't speak it as well? I mean, come on, he speaks Mermish?

There is the question though, that if Dumbledore could speak parseltongue would he not have been able to sort out the problem back in Riddle's day, he would surely have heard the Basilisk and could have made the leap that Hermione did about travelling through the pipes.

There is the question though, that if Dumbledore could speak parseltongue would he not have been able to sort out the problem back in Riddle's day, he would surely have heard the Basilisk and could have made the leap that Hermione did about travelling through the pipes.

That's an excellent explanantion me thinks! He definately would have been able to stop the basilisk, so i guess this means he probably can't talk to snakes (can't think of any argument!) :agree:

Hermione says that Parseltongue is an extremely rare ability. Harry acquired the ability to speak Parseltongue from Voldemort during Voldemort's attack on the Potters. You can't learn to speak it if you don't have the gift.

I think there's a very small possibility of there being TWO Parselmouths at Hogwarts at the same time.

Just how much danger were Harry and the Advance Guard in when they were flying to Grimmauld Place? Obviously, Moody was probably more paranoid than the situation warranted, but they still took extreme security measures. How likely was it that they would be attacked, really?

Good question, Herminia, and it sort of goes hand in hand with the one about Tonks being so nervous when they were boarding the night bus to go back to Hogwarts. I don't think they were in huge danger from Tonks comments to Moody during the rescue, but obviously there was that chance that DE's could be spying or see an opportunity to take out some enemies and maybe Harry to boot.

Just how much danger were Harry and the Advance Guard in when they were flying to Grimmauld Place? Obviously, Moody was probably more paranoid than the situation warranted, but they still took extreme security measures. How likely was it that they would be attacked, really?

Given they were travelling just a week or so after Harry was attacked by Dementors, I think Moody was probably right to be ever vigilant.

Moody was being over protective but the rest of the guard werent serios enough their needed to be some sort of middle security level.

I don't think so because if i remember correctly it is said to be a very dark gift, and Dumbledore doesn't use any dark spells/telents, etc.I think Ron mentions it's dark in COS, but that might just be perception since VM and Salazar Slytherin both spoke it. Obviously, it's just a trait you either have or don't have. Since you can't 'learn' it, how can it be dark? You can use it for dark purposes - or not. It's similar to how Tonks is a Metamorphmagus - that trait can be seen as 'dark' because it's rare, and because you can easily deceive people. But she uses it for spying for the order, and doing her Auror work - I think that's a good parallel.

As for why no one else heard the snake - they probably just thought it was water hissing in the pipes. If you don't understand it as a language, you would just think it was a random noise and not pay as much attention to it.

Anyway, just MHO. ;)

if harry has to kill Voldermort, or VOldermort has to kill harry, and there wands cant fight each other then how will one of them win

I say if you give Harry a machine gun of some sort Voldemort isn't much of a problem anymore. Their's no problem that can't be solved by a large gun or two. They don't HAVE to use wands.

-Lisa-

I say if you give Harry a machine gun of some sort Voldemort isn't much of a problem anymore. Their's no problem that can't be solved by a large gun or two. They don't HAVE to use wands.

-Lisa-

What if Voldemort turned the gun into a giant snake? Besides, they can attack the wands, they just can't let their spell streams touch.

If they can turn each others wands into different things why don't they do that in battles against Death Eaters? I just think that it would be a good idea to use a gun or a sword or something to that nature. Irony-killing Voldemort using Muggle means.

Is Ginny a Parselmouth? If she's not how did she get into the Chamber?

Is Ginny a Parselmouth? If she's not how did she get into the Chamber?

Tom Riddle was using her, possesing her. He used his ability to speak parseltongue in the diary to control Ginny and make her able to open the chamber.

Is Ginny a Parselmouth? If she's not how did she get into the Chamber?

As far as I know, there is no evidence to suggest that Ginny is a Parselmouth. She was able to get into the Chamber of Secrets because Tom Riddle's memory sort of possessed her. As Tom told Harry at the end of CoS, he poured a little of himself into her. He enchanted her and by acting through her, he was able to use his gift to open the Chamber.

But as Riddle's memory was destroyed, I think any effects that he had on Ginny went along with it. There's nothing to prove otherwise at least...

***EDIT*** KristynM beat me to it. :)

I don't know how he could still have that blood. He lost his body and became a spirit, floating about until he was able to become a child-like monster (what was that thing, anyway??) and eventually regain a human body using Harry's blood, Pettigrew's flesh and his father's bone.

Well, my answer may be a little dull, but it all seems very clear to me..

He is a wizard isnt he? magic... In the same manner how people could ever apparate would b in question too.. The whole potion procedure returned voldemort in his same old complete body.. Or does he have a new face too?? :P
;)

if harry has to kill Voldermort, or VOldermort has to kill harry, and there wands cant fight each other then how will one of them win

There's actually a thread on this subject (and it also happens to have the funniest subject line of any thread on this forum in my opinion ;)):

The wands CAN DUEL! THEY CAN, can, can, can, can! (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=39052)

Perhaps that can answer your question :)

Good question, Herminia, and it sort of goes hand in hand with the one about Tonks being so nervous when they were boarding the night bus to go back to Hogwarts. I don't think they were in huge danger from Tonks comments to Moody during the rescue, but obviously there was that chance that DE's could be spying or see an opportunity to take out some enemies and maybe Harry to boot.


At this point, there was a lot of unknown dangers. They weren't positive what could be waiting out there for them - could have been anyone wanting anything. They could be just looking for information, or they could have been looking for revenge. There was a lot of mystery surrounding Voldemort's actual plans, and they probably just wanted to be prepared for anything.

i should be ashamed of even asking this question but...

third years must take 2 additional classes along with their regular ones right? and harry and ron took CoMC and divination. (btw, dont you guys think its such a coincidence that parvati and lavender chose the exact same 2 courses?) anyway, we know hermione got all, which includes CoMC, divination, muggle studies, arithmancy and ancient runes. we also know she dropped divination and muggle studies at the end of book3. but that means she is still taking three classes, not two. am i being stupid?

i should be ashamed of even asking this question but...

third years must take 2 additional classes along with their regular ones right? and harry and ron took CoMC and divination. (btw, dont you guys think its such a coincidence that parvati and lavender chose the exact same 2 courses?) anyway, we know hermione got all, which includes CoMC, divination, muggle studies, arithmancy and ancient runes. we also know she dropped divination and muggle studies at the end of book3. but that means she is still taking three classes, not two. am i being stupid?
No, I noticed that too. I think she manages it somehow without the time turner. Maybe her 3 extra classes meet for fewer hours during the week then Harry and Ron's. Also, all the Gryffindors that we know of have those two classes, minus Hermione. I think it's just so Jo has a handy list of people to choose from for other talking parts, and the Gryffindors with Hermione are girls we haven't heard mentioned specifically.

It's possible I guess that Hermione's schoolday lasted longer than most students, we know Percy got 12 OWLs so he did the same, so it must be possible. The other option I guess is that Harry and Ron, and most students, have free periods where they have no classes but Hermione has none.

It's possible I guess that Hermione's schoolday lasted longer than most students, we know Percy got 12 OWLs so he did the same, so it must be possible. The other option I guess is that Harry and Ron, and most students, have free periods where they have no classes but Hermione has none.
That entered my mind too, because think about Divination. How come only one year of Gryffindor is in a class? Is it that way for the entire school? If it was, there would have to be at least 16 Divination classes per week, not to mention the occasional Double Divinations. Trelawny must have a break sometime! So it is probably true that at a couple points in their week they have a period or two with no classes and Hermione does.

i should be ashamed of even asking this question but...

third years must take 2 additional classes along with their regular ones right? and harry and ron took CoMC and divination. (btw, dont you guys think its such a coincidence that parvati and lavender chose the exact same 2 courses?) anyway, we know hermione got all, which includes CoMC, divination, muggle studies, arithmancy and ancient runes. we also know she dropped divination and muggle studies at the end of book3. but that means she is still taking three classes, not two. am i being stupid?

You're not being stupid, but I think the number of optional classes is up to student, perhaps with some guidance from the teachers - we know McGonagall went to great lengths to allow Hermione to do all her third-year subjects, with another student she may have advised them to drop some of their choices. On the matter of other Gryffindor choices we know none of them took Arithmancy from the O.W.L.s timetable, but its not to say that one or two of them didn't also do a third subject.

Pardon me if i'm being ignorant, but are Petunia and Lily the only two Evans siblings? If someone knows the answer, can they find the excerpt in the book?

Pardon me if i'm being ignorant, but are Petunia and Lily the only two Evans siblings? If someone knows the answer, can they find the excerpt in the book?
We only know of Lily and Petunia, no other siblings. We can find out more about them here:
Lily (http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/lily.html)
Petunia (http://www.hp-lexicon.org/muggle/dursley.html)

Hi siriuslyafan,

Yes, Petunia and Lily are the only siblings that JKR has told us.

If you have questions like this in the future, there is a thread in History of Magic here Little Questions #3 (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=58839).

This should help in the future. Happy postings.

I couldn't find this anywhere, so I'll ask it here. When Harry is getting his career consultation or whatever it is with McGonagall, she says they haven't taken on a new auror in 3 years. But Tonks told Harry she just became one in the last year. Is this a mistake, or had Tonks become an auror earlier or something?

I couldn't find this anywhere, so I'll ask it here. When Harry is getting his career consultation or whatever it is with McGonagall, she says they haven't taken on a new auror in 3 years. But Tonks told Harry she just became one in the last year. Is this a mistake, or had Tonks become an auror earlier or something?Since auror training takes an additional couple of years, they 'took on' Tonks 3 years ago, and she's only just an Auror now. At least, I think that's how it goes. :p

^That's what I thought it might have been. Thanks!

Yes, that's right. J.K. Rowling has said that in her interviews. :-) It was all rather confusing at first huh? But the Auror thing is explained now. Hoorah.

~Alex :evil:

Since auror training takes an additional couple of years, they 'took on' Tonks 3 years ago, and she's only just an Auror now.
And we also know that she nearly failed her Stealth test as we can very well understand.

how come no one, ie filch, questions the signature on harry's hogsmeade permission form?? if it's sirius black's signature, wouldn't filch suspect that harry knows where he is?

how come no one, ie filch, questions the signature on harry's hogsmeade permission form?? if it's sirius black's signature, wouldn't filch suspect that harry knows where he is?
He probably only checks that it's signed not who it's signed by.

how come no one, ie filch, questions the signature on harry's hogsmeade permission form?? if it's sirius black's signature, wouldn't filch suspect that harry knows where he is?I'm not sure Filch has access to the permission slips (although he did in the movie). He just has a list of names that he compares to faces...

ahh makes sense. thanks you two. :)

I have a question that's been bugging me. Unfortunately, I don't have a copy of the book, so I can't check this for myself just yet and I may be pulling stuff from the movie that didn't happen the same way in the book.

Anyway.

In the first book, there's a point where Snape and Quirrel have a chummy chat, where Snape basically says he knows what's up and not to go on doing it, etc.

... Wasn't You-Know-Who attatched to the back of Quirrel's head at that point? Wouldn't he have heard what was going on? Wouldn't he know that Snape, supposedly a loyal Death-Eater, was a traitor?

How does that work? :huh:

I just think that it would be a good idea to use a gun or a sword or something to that nature. Irony-killing Voldemort using Muggle means.

If Voldemort is to be killed in the end, that's how I see him being killed. Physically, not magically.

Wouldn't he know that Snape, supposedly a loyal Death-Eater, was a traitor?

Do we know for sure that he doesnt? I thought the "coward", "loyal servant", and "traitor" that Voldemort spoke of in GoF were never officially revealed.

They weren't. But we know Snape has the Dark Mark on his arm. That would require that he's a Death Eater, right?

EDIT: I'm a dork and mis-read. Yes, we don't know for sure that Voldy doesn't know, but wouldn't Dumbledore and Snape now know that Voldy knows that Snape's a traitor? Wouldn't that be really bad juju?

how come no one, ie filch, questions the signature on harry's hogsmeade permission form?? if it's sirius black's signature, wouldn't filch suspect that harry knows where he is?


DD would verify that Sirius is Harry's godfather and entitled to sign the hogsmeade form, but Harry received it on the train, not hand-to-hand. So, he can quite honestly say he doesn't know where Sirius escaped to, and it would be the truth!

My question would be, how much of a secret is it, that Sirius is Harry's Godfather?

... how much of a secret is it, that Sirius is Harry's Godfather?

I would have to say somewhat fairly. Harry didn't hear about it until he snooped in on a conversation amongst adults he was never meant to hear, and if my impressions serve me it seemed as if the wizards that were talking were somewhat surprised by this.

Still, that seems a little off to me. Wouldn't that be ENORMOUS news? The way celebrities are nowadays, any connection whatsoever to any famous person would be important. News of Sirius Black's escape would be even more vile if it was also reported that he was the godfather of the Boy Who Lived. Because there is no mention of the Daily Prophet saying this, I'd have to say no one really knew.

Hi I have 2 questions:

1. What is behind the door (and what is the point) of the door that wont open on the JK rowling site? It wont open, and I want to know what it is about.

2. Can anyone get me the link for the sorting hat quiz? I need it pronto, if you can. If you dont know which one im talking about, it gives those little symbals of the house you were sorted in that you can put in your sig.

Thanks, and answer ASAP. Thanks again

-Flannery


EDIT: I just would the link. Disregaurd question 2.

Hi I have 2 questions:

1. What is behind the door (and what is the point) of the door that wont open on the JK rowling site? It wont open, and I want to know what it is about.

2. Can anyone get me the link for the sorting hat quiz? I need it pronto, if you can. If you dont know which one im talking about, it gives those little symbals of the house you were sorted in that you can put in your sig.

Thanks, and answer ASAP. Thanks again

-Flannery

[1] The door only opens when JKR wants it to...until she puts something behind it nothing but filler text is there...It is the Room of Requirement.

[2] sorting-hat.com (http://sorting-hat.com/)

I would have to say somewhat fairly. Harry didn't hear about it until he snooped in on a conversation amongst adults he was never meant to hear, and if my impressions serve me it seemed as if the wizards that were talking were somewhat surprised by this.

Still, that seems a little off to me. Wouldn't that be ENORMOUS news? The way celebrities are nowadays, any connection whatsoever to any famous person would be important. News of Sirius Black's escape would be even more vile if it was also reported that he was the godfather of the Boy Who Lived. Because there is no mention of the Daily Prophet saying this, I'd have to say no one really knew.


Yes, but Sirius became Harry's godfather before he became famous and in a cerimony that JK stated was private and just Harry's parents and Sirius. And right after he became famous, Sirius got arrested, and they were more worried about cleaning up LV's mess than getting celeberty gossup. More likely since Harry's chrisening was a hush-hush affair and happend before he became known, no one knew about it.

ahh makes sense. thanks you two.
Glad to help :)

I have a question about the prophecy and not to sure where to put it. But, here goes...
Are we sure that its actually strue in that it has to be the way it says, in the end? Doesnt Frienze go to great legnths to say that even centaurs get it wrong after so many years of studying such things? A constant thing throughout HP has been the inference that predicting the future is really quite a sketchy thing to do. Am i way off base here?

I have a question about the prophecy and not to sure where to put it. But, here goes...
Are we sure that its actually strue in that it has to be the way it says, in the end? Doesnt Frienze go to great legnths to say that even centaurs get it wrong after so many years of studying such things? A constant thing throughout HP has been the inference that predicting the future is really quite a sketchy thing to do. Am i way off base here?

This is a fair question, but we've been given some strong hints about the reliability of Trelawney's prophecies.

Our Sybil seems to have limited ability as a seer, but has so far given 2 prophecies (that we know of) that can be considered "genuine" - one in the Hog's Head in her interview with Dumbledore (which is the Voldie/Harry prophecy) , and the other to Harry concerning Wormtail's treachery. Harry gets to see the first prophecy in the pensieve, and recognises the similarities in Trelawney's trance-like state and voice from the other prophecy he has seen her give.

The Wormtail prophecy turns out to be true (although misleading as it could potentially refer to Sirius), and so we are led to believe that the first prophecy is also accurate. However, the first is also potentially misleading - the person to whom it refers could be either Harry or Neville. And Voldemort, being privy to only part of the prophecy, reacts inappropriately, leading to his own downfall at Godric's Hollow.

So I think what JK is trying to convey is that prophecy is a dangerous thing - it is open to misinterpretation, and the act of prophecy itself can lead people to dangerous acts. So the overall impression I have is that prophecy is not always right, but even when it is, it is dangerously non-specific in its terms and not to be wholly trusted - the Wormtail/Sirius prophecy shows that often a prophecy is only intelligible in retrospect.

In short, if we believe the prophecy to be genuine, we should guard against thinking we know what it means until events have unfolded - therefore it may be entirely useless in helping Harry decide his course of action! (Particularly if, contrary to Dumbledore's belief, it actually refers to Neville! :eyebrows: )

I have a question about the prophecy and not to sure where to put it. But, here goes...
Are we sure that its actually strue in that it has to be the way it says, in the end? Doesnt Frienze go to great legnths to say that even centaurs get it wrong after so many years of studying such things? A constant thing throughout HP has been the inference that predicting the future is really quite a sketchy thing to do. Am i way off base here?

If there's anything I've learned from prophecies in fiction, it's that they are always very misleading. They always come true, but never in the way that they seem to suggest.

So I think JKR has made it clear the prophecy is true, but it will most likely have a twist that we haven't thought of.

This isnt really a question, well it is, but its not about the book.

Did anyone else notice that CoS Forums Countdown to HBP is about 5 hours off from MUgglenets countdown?

The mugglenet counter must be on UK time (time untill midnight UK), and the forum one adapted to your local time. Michigan is 5 hours difference with London, right? ;)

That's what I always thought. Mugglenet is UK time. CoS is local for each student.

I have a question that's been bugging me. Unfortunately, I don't have a copy of the book, so I can't check this for myself just yet and I may be pulling stuff from the movie that didn't happen the same way in the book.

Anyway.

In the first book, there's a point where Snape and Quirrel have a chummy chat, where Snape basically says he knows what's up and not to go on doing it, etc.

... Wasn't You-Know-Who attatched to the back of Quirrel's head at that point? Wouldn't he have heard what was going on? Wouldn't he know that Snape, supposedly a loyal Death-Eater, was a traitor?

How does that work? :huh:

As far as I understand Voldy wasn't on the back of Quirrel's head at that point. When Harry heard him (Quirral) upset in the classroom he was actually talking to Voldy, not Snape, this is when Voldy decided to keep a 'closer eye' on Quirral

I just woke up and for some reason the picture of Ron and Harry in their dress robes was stuck in my head and then I was feelinig sorry for Ron but then i remembered that Ron gets new one's from Harry Via Fred And George. Then i was thinking why would Ron need new one's They most certinally would not be having Parties with Voldemort on the loose so why do people normally get dressed up for. Weddings and Furnerals, or fancy dinner dates. if this sounds totataly werid please excuse me i am not a morning person and i just woke up. I can of cousres as in anything i say may be wrong.

As far as I understand Voldy wasn't on the back of Quirrel's head at that point. When Harry heard him (Quirral) upset in the classroom he was actually talking to Voldy, not Snape, this is when Voldy decided to keep a 'closer eye' on Quirral
Voldemort was possessing Quirrell before school term began--the turban shows up after Q fails to steal the stone from Gringott's because that is when a 'closer eye' was needed.

To what was said about Voldemort on the back of Quirral's head I think Voldemort attacthed him self to the back of Qurriels head right after he couldn't get the Stone from the Vault because thats when he started wearing the turban. Maybe Voldemort does know that Snape is a traitor and is giving him false information that will lead the order into a trap. Or maybe he was alsleep. But he was definally there when Snape talke to him.

I just woke up and for some reason the picture of Ron and Harry in their dress robes was stuck in my head and then I was feelinig sorry for Ron but then i remembered that Ron gets new one's from Harry Via Fred And George. Then i was thinking why would Ron need new one's They most certinally would not be having Parties with Voldemort on the loose so why do people normally get dressed up for.

Well, I'm sure, even if we don't see it in the books, they use dress robes for other occasions. Just because Voldemort is back doesn't mean that there won't be weddings and parties (Maybe Bill will marry Fleur?). Yes, the wizarding world will be frightened that Voldemort has returned, but they won't stop having the occasional fun time. Also, I think that Harry told Fred and George to buy Ron new dress robes so Ron wouldn't have to be embarrassed about his poverty, even if he didn't need the robes anymore.
~DogStarBlack :)

I sort of thought that the little chats between Quirrel & Snape were rather amibiguous. Harry misunderstood what Snape meant & I think it's possible that LV did too. So LV does not necessarily know just what Snape is up to. Although, I thought the scene in the graveyard in GoF implied that LV did know. Wow, too many contradicting hints. Going to have to wait & see, I guess. :)

Question:

If Voldemort no longer has his own blood, that is, the 'noble blood of Salazar Slytherin', is he still technically Slytherin's heir??
Well, he must have SOME of his own blood left, right? Even if he is Voldemort, he needs blood. Harry's blood made him stronger, but he kept some of his own blood, too.

Also, I think it's more a matter of heritage than blood when it comes to being someones heir. I mean, even if you had different blood, you'd still be your parents child, right?

I hope that made sense...

Ok here's something I've wondered about.....

Why do they call him Professor DD and not Headmaster DD? He's not teaching any longer. He holds a different position with a different title....shouldn't they call him by HeadMaster? And don't they refer to the past headmasters and headmater/mistress?

Ok here's something I've wondered about.....

Why do they call him Professor DD and not Headmaster DD? He's not teaching any longer. He holds a different position with a different title....shouldn't they call him by HeadMaster? And don't they refer to the past headmasters and headmater/mistress?

Intriquing. He wouldn't be called Headmaster Dumbledore, as this doesn't happen in British schools, he would be called Headmaster or The Head, which is the case in some instances. Therefore if a title is to be prefixed to Dumbledore it would have to be Professor or Mister.
As to past Heads, in the main it is Dumbledore who speaks to them and as an equal speaks to them on first name terms. I cannot quite remember, but in Riddle's diary when Tom goes to see Dippet, he addresses him as Headmaster.

Just checked and Riddle calls him Professor Dippet. Then later, in conversion with Dumbledore, refers to him as 'the Headmaster'.

In most British schools, the teachers would be Mr, Mrs. or (now) Ms. ONly University 'teachers' were considered Professors. Have to think this is something of an honorary thing at Hoggies to convey great and ancient wisdom (Hagrid would definitely not have been addressed as "Professor", I think Harry did it (in the movie) to be nice to Hagrid)

anyway, this secrecy over Harry's godfather thing. I agree that almost no-one knew, and I'm surprised Rita never found out or referred to it when she got all interested in Harry (GOF). Also, given that everyone (on staff at least) is supposed to protect Harry, wouldn't releasing this knowledge while Sirius was supposed to be coming after Harry have been a good thing, then everyone could have kept a lookout? Why is is a secret now that Lily and James are killed, and it's all (supposedly) Sirius fault?

ONly University 'teachers' were considered Professors.


In fact only a small proportion of University lecturers get to have the title Professor.
Although this does raise the question as to whether Hogwarts School is more on a par with a Muggle University.

In fact only a small proportion of University lecturers get to have the title Professor.
Although this does raise the question as to whether Hogwarts School is more on a par with a Muggle University.

Might be. Bit of the old "Wizard Snobbery" if you ask me? I mean, a ghost who doesn't know he is, a werewolf who did, a reformed DE, an old fraud in divination, replaced by a centaur......................?

Quote from RavenLH: I just woke up and for some reason the picture of Ron and Harry in their dress robes was stuck in my head and then I was feelinig sorry for Ron but then i remembered that Ron gets new one's from Harry Via Fred And George. Then i was thinking why would Ron need new one's They most certinally would not be having Parties with Voldemort on the loose so why do people normally get dressed up for. Weddings and Furnerals, or fancy dinner dates. if this sounds totataly werid please excuse me i am not a morning person and i just woke up. I can of cousres as in anything i say may be wrong.

I believe that Harry understands how much Ron's robes bother him, even from the first year when Malfoy mentions his "hand me down robes", as part of being a Weasley. Then of course at the ball, Ron had to endure a used robe again. Harry just realized how sensative Ron is to this issue. I don't think Harry would have thought ahead as to special events that would be held within the next few years, it was just something that he knew mattered to Ron. I actually thought Harry was refering to class robes as well.

That's what I always thought. Mugglenet is UK time. CoS is local for each student.
No, cause if that was true, CoS would be saying that HBp comes out at 7:00 tomorrow evening. Thats 5 hours off...


But now my question is answered. Thanks!

P.S.... Does anyone know when CoS is closing tomorrow?

I'm guessing when the countdown goes down to one day?

EDIT: Ok it's down to 23 hours so I'm guessing soon?

:rotfl: I totally agree! I remember that I had the same exact thoughts when I read it the first time.

As for taking the kids into the forest - I think maybe they were better protected than we think. I remember reading someone's theory somewhere (sorry - I can't remember who!) who thought that maybe Dumbledore was actually watching them (the breeze that Harry feels on his neck - plus it's just so coincidental that Firenze shows up at just the right time).

But Hagrid - yeah, no excuse! I mean, it was illegal, so he would get into a lot of trouble probably, more than just a few kids being out of bed at night. But still - he could've said something to them, showing how much he appreciated their sacrifice! :shrug:
Yea I just realizedd that too. It really isn't like Hagrid to not stand up for Harry and Hermione, plus Hagrid probably knows that Dumbledore wouldn't fire him even if he braught a dragon in to the cabbin. Maybe he did, but it just wasn't mentioned? I don't know but yea I just noticed that too.

Why are the Weasleys considered Blood Traitors?

Why are the Weasleys considered Blood Traitors?

Because they like Muggles, and Arthur is one of the Ministry agents who protects Muggles from wizards.

can anyone sum up the storyline of OotP for me please? I cant remember some parts of it, and i've already started HbP and dont want to stop and go back and read Ootp again before finishing the new one :(

HPL (http://www.hp-lexicon.org/about/books/op/book_op.html) has a good chapter-by-chapter summary for OotP, along with books 1-4.

Be careful about searching HPL for other info, though, as I've already noticed HBP plot details being added to other areas of their database. The link I gave you looks safe. Enjoy!

thanks!

Please how can I get the password to reach the HPB Forum?

its on the front page of the forums

Thanks a lot!

Maybe I'm blind ... didn't noticed it! What is this password?

Try this thread (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=59986), Zoe, it'll help you.

I have enabled the cookies, but I can't login. HPB all in caps, right? Can't login grggggggggggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

That's why she's a Gryffindor, not a Ravenclaw!

That and Hermione implies, on the big wizard's chess board, that she values courage and bravery over books and cleverness. I think that everyone sort of undervalues what comes naturally to them. Grades and wits come naturally to her. Courage and bravery are what she aspires to, and that's what makes her a Gryffindor in my opinion (and probably the Sorting Hat's too). :)

Sorry if this is a re-post. I don't know what happened to my first attempt.

Do we know sirius's middle name?

That and Hermione implies, on the big wizard's chess board, that she values courage and bravery over books and cleverness. She said something like that when Harry was going to face Quirrellmort.

Is it ever mentioned who the head of house for Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw are?

Prof. Sprout is head of Hufflepuff and Prof. Flitwick is head of Ravenclaw.

I have enabled the cookies, but I can't login. HPB all in caps, right? Can't login grggggggggggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

I couldn't the first time I tried either, just try again... you could always try the copy and paste method to make sure it's right...

Do we know sirius's middle name?

I don't think so. But wouldn't it be funny if it was Lee?

But wouldn't it be funny if it was Lee?Yes, it would. :lol: I don't actually know what it is, either. IIRC then we haven't been told in any of the books.

'Osric' would give him good initials... :evil:

I have enabled the cookies, but I can't login. HPB all in caps, right? Can't login grggggggggggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
How about trying HBP, instead of HPB.

How about trying HBP, instead of HPB.

-laughs- Well, there's a good idea :p