Harry Potter Book Club - Chapter 16 A Very Frosty Christmas- Page 19

[Overthemoon6]

Posted: 3/20/06 at 11:05pm

I am a very sensitive person!!!

And there is nothing wrong with having a crush on a teen actor when you are a teen.

So there.

*makes face*

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 3/20/06 at 11:07pm

Just like there is nothing wrong with having a crush on a teen actor younger than your little brother when you're in your twen--

Oh, okay. I see where we differ here...

[caitiesus1522]

Posted: 3/20/06 at 11:09pm

haha meh it is ok Tiff

[yodamarie78]

Posted: 3/20/06 at 11:13pm

Okay, you guys can stop the threadjacking. New questions to the rescue! Again, I'm sorry about being so slack lately. Homework, work, Anjilly, Patronus, and Penguin are very demanding.

Chapter 12 Silver and Opals

Harry learns several new spells from his potions book including Levicorpus, which causes Ron be hung up in the air by his ankle. Hermione continues to express her disapproval of Harry's use of the Half Blood Prince's notes. The trio goes to Hogsmeade on the weekend where they run into Mundungus and find out that he's been stealing heirlooms from Sirius's house. Harry threatens him, but Mundungus disapparates before Harry can do anything. They decide to go back to school early and see Katie Bell carrying a package and arguing with a friend. Before they get to the castle Katie drops the package, flies in to the air and begins screaming. Harry runs to get help and finds Hagrid who carries Katie back up to the school. Harry realizes that the package contains a necklace from Borgin and Burkes. The trio talk to Professor McGonagall about what happened. Harry tells her that he suspects that Malfoy may be responsible, but she, like Hermione and Ron, does not believe him.

*Discussion Questions*

What do you think about the spells Harry finds in his Potions book?

Did Harry overreact to learning that Mundungus has been selling Sirius's things?

Why does Harry persist in blaming Malfoy even though there is no evidence whatsoever? Is Professor McGonagall right to dismiss Harry's suspicions about Malfoy?

[Overthemoon6]

Posted: 3/21/06 at 1:47am

What do you think about the spells Harry finds in his Potions book?

I think that Harry should have exercised caution when using them. For all he knew, they could have been seriously harmful. It's not very safe to do try spells that you don't know the outcome of.

Did Harry overreact to learning that Mundungus has been selling Sirius's things?

No, not really. Before Harry remembers that it is, in fact, his stuff that Mundungus was pilfering, I think that he took it as an insult to Sirius' memory to steal the artifacts from his house. It's sort of like tomb raiding, which is completely disrespectful.

Why does Harry persist in blaming Malfoy even though there is no evidence whatsoever? Is Professor McGonagall right to dismiss Harry's suspicions about Malfoy?

I think Harry's continued insistence on blaming Malfoy shows his stubborness. He has an idea that Malfoy is up to something, and he won't rest until he proves his theory. He hasn been suspicious of Malfoy from the beginning, and Malfoy's little excursion to Borgin and Burke cemented Harry's idea that something is going on with him. Professor McG is right to dismiss Harry's suspicions, because all of the evidence did seem to favor Malfoy.

[pndmnd]

Posted: 3/21/06 at 7:18pm

What do you think about the spells Harry finds in his Potions book?

I agree. He's definitely acting in poor judgement by doing something that he has no idea what kind of outcome it could have. For all he knew it could have killed someone.

Did Harry overreact to learning that Mundungus has been selling Sirius's things?

Not really. It had nothing to do with the stuff, but more on the disrespect it brought to Sirius' memory.

Why does Harry persist in blaming Malfoy even though there is no evidence whatsoever? Is Professor McGonagall right to dismiss Harry's suspicions about Malfoy?

Harry has always been a bit on the obsessive side. Plus, he's grieving over Sirius, and needs someone to blame. It's probably a way for him to feel like he's having some control and taking some action (though not consciously, of course). Based on the evidence, McGonagall can't really do anything but dismiss Harry's supsicions. There's nothing solid to point to Malfoy having a part in the necklace, and Harry and Malfoy have been known to dislike each other greatly. She really can't just take the stuborness of a teenager as evidence, when nothing else supports it.

[Overthemoon6]

Posted: 3/21/06 at 9:50pm

I like some of the points you made on the last question.

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 3/22/06 at 8:46pm

What do you think about the spells Harry finds in his Potions book?
I agree with both of you, this was a terrible decision and one that is at odds with the Harry we had been seeing who was "older and wiser" I think a major point of this is for us to realize that Harry still needs guidance, and he will still rush to some bad judgements.

Did Harry overreact to learning that Mundungus has been selling Sirius's things?
It was a betrayal of trust of Mundungus, which is of utmost importance to Harry. I probably would have been even angrier. I agree that it has nothing to do with the stuff. Harry or Sirius probably would have just given the junk to him if he had asked, this goes deeper. It takes one kind of person to be a theif, but a theif who would steal from his friends is a traitor.


Why does Harry persist in blaming Malfoy even though there is no evidence whatsoever? Is Professor McGonagall right to dismiss Harry's suspicions about Malfoy?

I think Harry is too quick to place the blame on Malfoy, and McGonagal can not do anything without the evidence. But his suspicions are WELL founded. The extremes to which the others go to try to convince him he is wrong are just as wrong headed. The Malfoy's have death eater connections, Drace is acting suspiciously, he is a prime suspect.

Updated On: 3/24/06 at 08:46 PM

[pndmnd]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 11:01am

I'm working with Luna Lovegood today. Just wanted to pass that along. It's not so much that she says crazy things (although there has been some of that). It's more that she does this blank stare kind of thing at me, where I can't really tell if she's staring or if she's off in her own little world! It's exactly how I picture the way that Luna stares at Ron!

[yodamarie78]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 9:13pm

I love how if I wait a day or two, even if only 3! people give their opinions, someone will say exactly what I think, only better than I could.

I'm declaring a couple of days off for people to get caught up in their reading and hopefully rejoin the discussion. It has been suggested that we move to doing fewer chapters a week, could I get an opinion or two? Feel free to PM me.

So new chapter on Monday. Have a good weekend.

[caitiesus1522]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 9:22pm

Thank you Thank you Thank you!

[pndmnd]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 10:31pm

April is about to start, and with it I will become much busier for a while, so I'm definitely fine with fewer chapters each week (especially for a while, at least). Besides, it'll make our book club last longer!

[Overthemoon6]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 11:41pm

Wait, what do you mean that you're working with Luna Lovegood?

[pndmnd]

Posted: 3/24/06 at 9:49am

I'm temping right now, so I'm at different offices all the time. I went to a job yesterday, and my supervisor there comes up to me, and instead of saying, "Are you Manda?" or "I'm Barbara," she just stared at me. So finally I said, "Hi, I'm Manda." Then she says she needs to get some things, goes away, comes back, and just stands there with this vacant look in her eyes staring at me. Finally she says, "Well, let me get you started," and then she stands there with the funny look on her face, so finally I said, "Um, I don't know where I'm going." She wasn't blond, but she had these kind of big googly eyes like I picture Luna to have. It was pretty amusing.

[Patronus]

Posted: 3/24/06 at 9:52am

I am very much in favor of going to fewer chapters every week.

I am reading a few other books, having the real job and the fake job and everything else going on I am having trouble keeping up and keeping it fun.

The last thing I want to do is have HP feel like a chore so I can use the longer gaps of time, plus this weekend to figure out a way to balance my things a bit more evenly.
Updated On: 3/24/06 at 09:52 AM

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 3/26/06 at 2:19am

Hey all, I won't really give my 2c on ch. 12 since I pretty much agree with everything that's been said (Harry should be weary of the potions book/I'd kill Mundungus with my bare hands/Harry was jumping to conclusions and McGonagall was right) and it's too after-the-fact anyway. I'm game for fewer chapters per week - I'm also plugging through two books and working, so I'm with Stephen on this one.

Also, this was posted on MuggleNet a couple of days ago. I just saw it.

Gary Oldman to return in OOTP
Gary Oldman's long-time manager Doug Urbanski sealed the deal this morning with Harry Potter producer David Heyman: the actor will reprise the role of Sirius Black in the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix movie.

"I'm so relieved and happy," said Urbanski. "I can't put my mind in the place of the producers, but I would've thought that when they read the book, a call to us would've been very high on their list. Obviously, the character of Sirius Black is key."

Oldman's manager mentioned Oldman had been offered several different film roles in the time it took Warner Bros. to make a decision on the part of Harry's godfather.

Both Gary and manager are delighted with the highly anticipated outcome: "It's a wonderful role. Gary read the script last night, and he read part of it to me on the phone this morning. The end of the story is: Gary's in it. It's a terrific script, and he's so happy to be back."

[pndmnd]

Posted: 3/26/06 at 11:37am

Thank goodness! I know that some people have complained about Oldman as Sirius, but I was fine with him. If they hadn't cast him, I'd have to assume that they would do a search for another actor (which there's really no need for), because they obviously can't do the film with out the role of Sirius. It's not exactly something that can just be mentioned and not seen.

[caitiesus1522]

Posted: 3/26/06 at 11:42am

I should probably catch up now...

I complete forgot until right now.

Oops

[Overthemoon6]

Posted: 3/26/06 at 12:45pm

Even if people didn't like his performance, if he hadn't reprised his role, then the casting would have to find a new Sirius, or worse, cut Sirius from the film (which would ruin it).

Off topic, but I think that Gary Oldman and Daniel Radcliffe are good friends.

[caitiesus1522]

Posted: 3/26/06 at 2:33pm

Ok this is just me venting...but I can't find my book! How could I lose it? It is huge! I searched my entire freakin house and it is nowhere. Am I freaking out a bit? Yes you could say that (seeing that I have to go buy 5 again because someone stole it).

[yodamarie78]

Posted: 3/26/06 at 11:40pm

Thank you for posting that Tiff. It's good to hear that they finally got the Gary Oldman thing worked out.

Just a reminder to those who are still behind on reading, Chapter 13 will be posted tomorrow morning. I'm planning to move to a Monday and Thursday schedule and see if that works better for everyone. Happy reading!

[Patronus]

Posted: 3/26/06 at 11:41pm

Excellent. That means I only have 7 chapters to read tonight.

Of course I didn't get caught up during the "get caught up weekend".

[yodamarie78]

Posted: 3/26/06 at 11:44pm

I'm very disappointed in you Stephen. Why can't you be more like Tiff? Why can't you all be more like Tiff?

[Patronus]

Posted: 3/26/06 at 11:50pm

There is a whole different set of rules up in Canada.

There are a lot of people here in the states like Tiff, problem is they all end up in places like Milledgeville.

[yodamarie78]

Posted: 3/26/06 at 11:58pm

...or LA