Pottermore v.12

[snapes_witch]

Originally Posted by Rew

Yeah, I agree and don't really know why anyone wouldn't accept her comments as canon (unless, as also suggested, it was before the books were finished and intended to misdirect). Anything after DH should be canon.

Here's an interesting thought experiment, though--can anything Rowling says from now on (post-2007), if it contradicts the books, be considered a higher level of canon, almost as though she's correcting something from the books? I'm not necessarily inclined to agree, but it's sort of fun to think about.

It's hard to say, since she's admitted that she doesn't re-read the books after they're published. In some cases it appears that she thinks she wrote something when she didn't; i.e., the Slytherin students returning to fight alongside Harry in the final battle.

Oy, you ignored my post completely! After I made a triple reply to you and all--harsh.

I'm sorry, no offence was intended. I had nothing to add to what I'd already said.

[Rew]

Originally Posted by snapes_witch

It's hard to say, since she's admitted that she doesn't re-read the books after they're published. In some cases it appears that she thinks she wrote something when she didn't; i.e., the Slytherin students returning to fight alongside Harry in the final battle.

I really like that idea, that there were Slytherins (led by Slughorn?) who helped in the final battle against the Death Eaters at the end. A shame it's not in the book, but perhaps through Pottermore (if it ever gets that far!) it will become canonical?

I'm sorry, no offence was intended. I had nothing to add to what I'd already said.

Nothing at all, even that one paragraph where I completely refuted your arguments?

You're probably wondering why I'm harping on this so much. I don't really care so much about the issue per se (what is and isn't canon). It's more that I was somewhat offended by something you and ArryGrotter posted last night, and I confess I should've addressed it right out before now, instead of tip-toeing around the issue. So I'll go ahead and come out with it now--this is not only to you but to Arry as well.

It was these two posts:

Originally Posted by ArryGrotter

(I mean, does Harry and co. really collect floating bertie botts beans in canon? )

Originally Posted by snapes_witch

Agree about the movies and games. Chocolate frogs don't fly!!

Basically, between the laughing emoticon and the double exclamation points, I detected a bit of mockery from you two toward me. "Yeah, that stuff didn't happen like that idiot Rew claims, haha!!"

I didn't really think that anything I'd said up to that point (or afterward) deserved any sort of ridicule, so I was taken aback by that--which sort of caused me to "dig in" as it were, argument-wise. Sure, I don't expect either of you to agree with me, but I would hope that you would at least understand where I'm coming from and not be so dismissive toward me. (As a good Ravenclaw, I don't take very well to being dismissed easily since I make a point of not posting anything unless I've thought it through to some degree!)

In short, I wasn't expecting that sort of reaction from you two, and I felt a bit stung, is all.

[ArryGrotter]

Rew, sorry if you took offence. I wasn't intended to dismiss your view. I know some people consider films and games as a lower level of canon, I was just using a very extreme example of why I personally don't. Actually, some of the information in the games, such as the chocolate frog cards from the earlier ones, are actually within canon for me. Jo actually wrote some of them, and introduced the characters later on her website and Pottermore.

[MerryLore]

Originally Posted by asdfasdf17

I'm not to sure about the video games/movies (numbers four and five) but otherwise I would think most everything else is canon. I find it surprising sometimes that people don't take Rowling's comments/interviews as canon. I mean, if she said it and she's kind of the boss of her universe, I think it should be considered good enough.

Well, I think what she says is sometimes influenced by the audience she's with. Plus, she contradicts herself at times.

In my mind, a person can read the books and only be responsible for what's in those books. Very few authors get to give interviews and explain their viewpoints. Everything in interviews and anywhere else is "in addition to" and we can take it or leave it.

Part of art is allowing the reader their own interpretation, I think. I mentioned the portrait info from Pottermore because I found it a very interesting image, but I have a difficult time imagining Headmasters in cupboards training their portraits. It seems silly to me. I prefer a more magical explanation.

To me, the books are true canon. It's up to me if i choose to read and accept Pottermore and the interviews.

She didn't write the movies - others did. She may have agreed with parts of them - i.e., she agrees with Snape's arc in DH2, even though some of it was changed - they aren't her work. My opinion.

Other people see it differently, and that's their right.

Originally Posted by snapes_witch

It's hard to say, since she's admitted that she doesn't re-read the books after they're published. In some cases it appears that she thinks she wrote something when she didn't; i.e., the Slytherin students returning to fight alongside Harry in the final battle.

If I remember correctly, when she did that "answer a question Pottermore members voted on" interview, she changed her mind again and said that most of those who fought in the battle were Gryffindors, followed by Hufflepuffs. Only half of the Ravenclaws fought, while none of the Slytherins did "for reasons which are understandable" (or something like that.) I'm guessing she forgot about Slughorn.

[snapes_witch]

I certainly meant nothing personal. Obviously I should have withdrawn from the thread quite a few comments ago.

[MerryLore]

Here's an example of where canon and Pottermore seem to contradict each other. Some may see it as minor, but it drives me batty:

From SS, Chapter 7:

The four Houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin.

From GoF, Chapter 12:

Harry, Ron, and Hermione walked past the Slytherins, the Ravenclaws, and the Hufflepuffs, and sat down with the rest of the Gryffindors at the far side of the Hall...

Alphabetical Order.

If you look at the Pottermore Hogwarts Crest, they even go on a circle, counterclockwise, in the same order.

In SS, Chapter 7, it gets a bit more confusing.

If you're looking down from the professor's table....
Hufflepuff (the table on the right)
Ravenclaw (the second table from the left)
Gryffindor (the table on the far left)
which puts Slytherin on the right side.

The Harry Potter Lexicon seems to think the Slytherin table is between Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw in SS:
http://www.hp-lexicon.org/atlas/hogw...-h-ground.html

Neither description matches the placement of the tables in the Great Hall on Pottermore.

Here's another thing which, to me, seems contradictory. She goes into great detail on Pottermore about wands and Ollivander's personal notes about the various woods, but leaves out Mahogany completely, which was James Potter's wand, and he bought it from Ollivanders.

Maybe this seems too picky, but, esp. with the placement of the tables, how do i decide what is canon and what isn't? Go with SS, or GoF? Or Pottermore? It just seems odd to me to think, "Well, if the author doesn't contradict HERSELF, I can consider it canon."

[Rew]

Originally Posted by MerryLore

Well, I think what she says is sometimes influenced by the audience she's with. Plus, she contradicts herself at times.

In my mind, a person can read the books and only be responsible for what's in those books. Very few authors get to give interviews and explain their viewpoints. Everything in interviews and anywhere else is "in addition to" and we can take it or leave it.

Part of art is allowing the reader their own interpretation, I think. I mentioned the portrait info from Pottermore because I found it a very interesting image, but I have a difficult time imagining Headmasters in cupboards training their portraits. It seems silly to me. I prefer a more magical explanation.

To me, the books are true canon. It's up to me if i choose to read and accept Pottermore and the interviews.

She didn't write the movies - others did. She may have agreed with parts of them - i.e., she agrees with Snape's arc in DH2, even though some of it was changed - they aren't her work. My opinion.

Other people see it differently, and that's their right.

That's very true, especially the part about readers forming their own interpretation. That's what makes questions like these rather interesting to me. As one who's also written fan-fiction, it also becomes significant to think about differing levels of canon and continuity, and where supplemental sources like movies and games fit in.

At any rate, well said!

If I remember correctly, when she did that "answer a question Pottermore members voted on" interview, she changed her mind again and said that most of those who fought in the battle were Gryffindors, followed by Hufflepuffs. Only half of the Ravenclaws fought, while none of the Slytherins did "for reasons which are understandable" (or something like that.) I'm guessing she forgot about Slughorn.

Did she really say that? (Do you have a link?) That sucks. Oh well--in my own personal head canon, there were Slytherins backing up Slughorn against the Death Eaters.

EDIT:
Oh, a new post!

Yes, I'm glad I'm not the only one who's tried to figure out the craziness of how the four House tables are set up! I mean, there are only four long tables (plus the staff table), so you'd think it'd be easy to keep track of something like that, wouldn't you? But it doesn't seem consistent how they're laid out. Maybe they just randomly change the configuration from year to year.

I too hate that Mahogoney was left out of Pottermore. In the words of Ron Weasley, maybe Rowling needs to sort out her priorities.

[Pox Voldius]

Originally Posted by Rew

Yes, I'm glad I'm not the only one who's tried to figure out the craziness of how the four House tables are set up! I mean, there are only four long tables (plus the staff table), so you'd think it'd be easy to keep track of something like that, wouldn't you? But it doesn't seem consistent how they're laid out. Maybe they just randomly change the configuration from year to year.

I too hate that Mahogoney was left out of Pottermore. In the words of Ron Weasley, maybe Rowling needs to sort out her priorities.

Maybe she rearranges the tables based on what works best for each scene? Like how she tends to rearrange the calendar to fit the story...? (see the HPL calendars)

[MerryLore]

Originally Posted by Rew

Did she really say that? (Do you have a link?) That sucks. Oh well--in my own personal head canon, there were Slytherins backing up Slughorn against the Death Eaters.

Here's the link to the Youtube video:

http://youtu.be/-cVmduowKNQ

Snitchseeker wrote a transcript, and this is what they have:

Young student: What would you say to people who are disappointed that they’ve been Sorted into Hufflepuff on Pottermore?

J.K. Rowling: That is actually my favorite question so far because this is a very sore point for me. This may surprise people, but it is the truth. In many, many ways, Hufflepuff is my favorite House. Here’s my reasoning. Bear with me. Again, I don’t want to spoil things too much for people who haven’t read the whole series, so I’m going to say what I’m about to say quite carefully. There comes a point in the final book where each House has the choice whether or not to rise to a certain challenge – and that’s everyone in the House.

The Slytherins, for reasons that are understandable, decide they’d rather not play. The Ravenclaws: some decide they will, some decide they won’t. The Hufflepuffs, virtually to a person, stay – as do the Gryffindors. Now, the Gryffindors comprise a lot of fool-hardy and show-offy people. That’s just the way it is. I’m a Gryffindor, I’m allowed to say it. There’s bravery and there’s also showboating, and sometimes the two go together. The Hufflepuffs stayed for a different reason. They weren’t trying to show off. They weren’t being reckless.

http://www.snitchseeker.com/harry-po...ailable-91349/

They way I read this, she's talking about the final battle but trying not to give any spoilers. The Slytherins did not stick around, according to my interpretation. However, Slughorn returned, right? Maybe he brought Slytherins back, but I don't get that impression from this. Does DH (the book) say he himself fought? Or did he only return to bring people?

Originally Posted by Pox Voldius

Maybe she rearranges the tables based on what works best for each scene? Like how she tends to rearrange the calendar to fit the story...? (see the HPL calendars)

I don't see any plot reasons for it in the books, although I do in the movies - the movies need Harry and Draco close by for their interactions

[Rew]

Originally Posted by Pox Voldius

Maybe she rearranges the tables based on what works best for each scene? Like how she tends to rearrange the calendar to fit the story...? (see the HPL calendars)

Heh, LOL at the Valentine's Day on Sunday gaff.

Originally Posted by MerryLore

Here's the link to the Youtube video:

http://youtu.be/-cVmduowKNQ

Snitchseeker wrote a transcript, and this is what they have:



http://www.snitchseeker.com/harry-po...ailable-91349/

They way I read this, she's talking about the final battle but trying not to give any spoilers. The Slytherins did not stick around, according to my interpretation. However, Slughorn returned, right? Maybe he brought Slytherins back, but I don't get that impression from this. Does DH (the book) say he himself fought? Or did he only return to bring people?

Haven't watched the video yet (I'm about to go to bed), but from the transcript, I don't think it'd be altogether contradictory to suppose that a remnant of Slytherins stayed behind to fight for the good side--or that Slughorn left, recruited some, who returned with him.

And I do remember the DH book very specifically showing Slughorn fighting at the end. In fact, I think it was he, McGonagall, and Shacklebolt fighting Voldemort together at the same time as Bellatrix was fighting Ginny, Luna, and Hermione, right before the famous scene where Molly kills Bellatrix.