The Not a Book Club Club discussion
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Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
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HPatPoA: Part 2: Chapter 6 - Chapter 9
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We saw McGarnagol turn to/from a cat in the first book, though I don't know that the students did, despite her doing it in the first movie I think. Either way convenient for them to be learning about Animagus just now as it plays so much into this book later.
Both McGarnagol and Hermonie both scoff at Trelawny, and often she is full of shit, but of course later on we find out she's given probably the most important prophecy on the last several decades.
Buckbeak!
I really love Lupin. I like how she paired up Potions and Defense against the Dark Arts and shows how Lupin is a far better teacher using their approach to Neville as the contrast. Lupin is one of the reasons this is my (very close) second favorite of the series.
We get our first hints at the time turner with Hermonine's disappearing/reappearing act after Potions.
Also really love Lupin. He quickly became one of my favorite characters, all the way up till the end. Seems to really care about the students when he's there and keeps that up throughout the series with Harry. Hints at the time turner are fun to see so early in the books. Kinda funny that Harry and Ron never really press her on it, more just mention it casually.
I really like McGonagall. Rowling does an excellent job, taking the whole "severe, strict teacher" trope and making her someone we really can't help but love.
Also, we get the answer to that question I had concerning Charlie's friends picking up Norbert in Chapter 9. When the gang's discussing how Sirius Black could have gotten in on Halloween, Hermione indicates that flying in via broomstick is possible, "the Dementors would have seen him."
Which means that it not being possible in later books is probably due to Sirius Black, or wards Dumbledore installed after Voldemort returned.
Also, we get the answer to that question I had concerning Charlie's friends picking up Norbert in Chapter 9. When the gang's discussing how Sirius Black could have gotten in on Halloween, Hermione indicates that flying in via broomstick is possible, "the Dementors would have seen him."
Which means that it not being possible in later books is probably due to Sirius Black, or wards Dumbledore installed after Voldemort returned.
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Some subtle: first the boggart turning into a moon, then his not feeling well around Halloween (and really the approaching full moon) and the potion Snape prepares.
But some much less so. Mainly Snape being a complete asshole about it and doing a lesson on Werewolves while he's locked up and assigning them to write how to identify werewolves. But of course only Hermonine is clever enough to figure it out.
Ch6-Hermonie's attitude toward Draco is the same as mine - ignore him. He wants that reaction. Don't give it to him.
-"By the way, my dear. Beware a red-headed man." LOL.
-More omens. Trelawney sees a grim in his tea leaves.
-"I assure you that if you die, you need not hand it in." McGonagall is the best.
-We are introduced to animaguses (animagusii?) Rowling doesn't introduce something if it's not important. BTW, I would totally turn into a dragon. If there's a size limit, then a hawk or an owl. I want to fly.
-Gotta agree with Hermione about divination. Seems like a lot of guesswork and hunches.
-I wouldn't be all that thrilled about Hagrid being my teacher either. I wouldn't be mean but I wouldn't been too keen on it.
Ch7
-I can't get over how horrible Snape is to Neville and Harry. I know he saves Harry and keeps him alive but he's a nasty person.
-Seriously. Lupin is the best. I may or may not harbor a not-so-secret crush on him.
-My boggart would probably be a clown (Pennywise).
Ch8
-Ron insists there's something funny about Crookshanks. Wrong pet, Ron.
-Ron and Hermione already bicker and fight like an old married couple.
-There's a grindylow on Lupin's desk when Harry goes to talk to him. Lupin uses this fact later as a security measure against impersonation.
-"I was just showing Harry my grindylow." Sounds like a euphemism.
-Snape brings Lupin Wolfsbane potion. It makes Lupin keep his mind when he transforms.
-Sirius tries breaking into Gryffindor tower.
Ch9
-So Snape had a conversation with Dumbledore when Lupin was appointed. Snape already suspects that Lupin helped Sirius in. Snape can reeeeeally hold a grudge.
-Hannah Abbott insists that Sirius can turn into a flowering shrub. She has the right idea. Just not a shrub.
-Cedric is the new captain and seeker? So is this his first year ever or did he play a different postion before? I mean, first year playing and he's already their captain? Seems weird.
-Snape assigns them an essay on how to recognize and kill werewolves. Clearly he wants them to recognize Lupin's symptoms. Only Hermione does. Seriously Snape, let it go.
-Sirius is in the stands for Harry's match against Hufflepuff.
-Once again, Harry's character is shown. When he hears the woman (unknown to him at the time, his mother), screaming in his head, his first though it that he has to save her. His thought it for other people rather than himself.
-RIP, Nimbus Two Thousand.
I don't think Lupin ever did the bullying. I think he sat by and let it happen but never actively started anything. It reminds me of Philospher's Stone when Dumbledore gives Neville 10 points for standing up to his friends - Lupin never did that, even when he was made Prefect. He never stopped James and Sirius from having a go at Snape. Now that Lupin is back at school teaching, he's older and wiser and I don't think he ever bullies Snape in this book. In later books (Order of the Phoenix I do believe) Lupin does show remorse. He says Dumbledore made him prefect hoping the Lupin could exercise some control over his friends. Lupin says he failed. The part with the boggart was more to help Neville face his fears than to hurt Snape.
Thanks, Alex! :-)One more point: I don't think Lupin would risk bullying now because Snape is making the Wolfsbane potion for him. Snape could easily poison it or something. Lupin owes his sanity and health to him.
I see what you're saying, especially with the one-line cracks Lupin does do at times. He's just as bad as James and Sirius for not stepping in and stopping them from harassing Snape. He let it happen when he could have done something.
I think those are some excellent insights on bullying and I certainly never looked at Snape in that light this early in the series - I LIKED when people made fun of him, etc. because he seemed like such a bad guy! One thing that slightly bothered me is - back in Chamber of Secrets when Harry as seeker couldn't play, his team forfeited the game. This time when Draco couldn't play, they changed opponents.
I think I'd want my Patronus to be a grizzly bear or maybe a unicorn. If *I* could shapeshift, I'd want to be a jaguar.
Yeah that really is the problem. Most (although not all) people I've initially disliked, I learned weren't so bad once I got to know them or understood their motivations, etc. I guess that whole "mile in his shoes" is a saying for a reason.
Ha Alex what you said about Draco expecting the world to revolve around him reminded me of one of my students last semester. He came to the first two classes then was gone about 6 weeks (16 week semester). He came back and talked to me after class - "I had to go to Seattle. Did I miss anything?" Ha ha - I think he was expecting a "no, we've just been waiting for you so that we could get started.
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When I was younger however, that was a different story.
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I teach math at the university here. Its a fun job, but it sure is busy during the semester! I WISH I taught Arithmancy!
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Every semester is different. This one is Calculus 2, PreCalculus/Trig, and Beginning Algebra. And yeah - unless you are using it all the time, it is hard to remember how to do all that stuff. But logic remains (and is important)!
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Calc 2
Differential equations
Calc 3
Applied Algebra
Statistics
Linear algebra
All gone. Everything but linear algebra was required for my computer engineering degree. Doing that as elective got me the minor.
In my master's program I took probability and stochastic processes for engineers and I hated it. So I switched from Electrical engineering to Computer science.
I could learn and perform The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 3 before I could learn complex math.
It was smart to take that one extra math class for a minor because...why not? So close! I got my BS in Computer Science but when I wanted to teach I decided I'd like teaching math more. I originally wanted to teach English because I like to read so much - but I really don't like writing at all. And boy am I glad I don't have to grade a bunch of peoples' papers.So...if I taught at Hogwarts hmmmm.....I think I'd want Care of Magical Creatures. Although I really like the way Lupin is teaching the Defense class.
Rob wrote: "In undergrad I did:Calc 2
Differential equations
Calc 3
Applied Algebra
Statistics
Linear algebra
"
Good times, good times.
As a math major, I threw down in modern geometry, differential geometry, group theory, rings and fields, partial differential equations, numerical analysis, and complex analysis. I think I could still find the wedge product of a pair of vectors in a non-Euclidean space if push came to shove...
Naturally, now I program in C#.
I would give much to enroll in the Care of Magical Creatures. I was working at the zoo when I first read the majority of these books, back before college. I've got a pretty large swath of mundane animals down, ready to move on to the mystical.
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That's the main reason why I hated English. I was OK at writing, but bad at spelling and grammar.
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And I think I'd want to teach Arithmancy or Potions.
I would want to teach Charms or Transfiguration.
NOTE: While this section is meant to focus on the specified chapters of this book, this read is meant for people who have already read the entire series.
As a result, unlike most of our group reads, full spoilers for the series will be allowed without spoiler tags in every discussion post.
If you haven't read some/all of the books (What's wrong with you?) proceed at your own peril.