HPatOotP: Part 4: Chapter 24 - Chapter 29

[Rob, Mayor of Ghost Town]

Discuss Chapter 24 - Chapter 29

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.

[Dara]

Ch. 24
-Did Voldemort tell Snape that he knew Harry was sharing his mind or did Dumbledore guess?

-It seems that Occulmency is a combination of magic and pure willpower.

-Dumbledore knows how Snape and Harry don't get along. Why put them together?

Ch. 25
-These educational decrees are getting out of hand.

-How does Umbridge have time to teach plus sit in on every Divination and Care of Magical Creatures lesson? Did she steal a Time Turner?

-They don't get to visit Hogsmeade very much. I'd feel cooped up in the castle for too long, personally.

-What a disaster of a first date.

-I love Hermione and Rita's interaction.

Ch. 26
-Good point about Quidditch: it creates a lot of tension between the houses.

-The villains are often too mustache-twirly for me, at least Voldemort and his cronies. Umbridge, the Malfoys, Snape, and Fudge are great because they have depth and they're not just labeled as ''EVIL''. I find the Malfoys quite interesting after their fall from grace.

-So Bode went nutty from trying to steal the prophecy.

-Harry finally gets through the door during an Occlumency lesson. Snape isn't pleased.

-Dumbledore arriving through the front doors to save Trelawney is quite impressive. He can't let her leave because she's the one who made the prophecy about Harry and Voldemort.

Ch. 27
-Firenze shuts Parvati's nonsense right down.

-Clever jinx, Hermione.

-We don't get to see Dumbledore do impressive magic often. I wish we did.

Ch. 28
-The headmaster's office sealed itself against Umbridge. I assume that also means she won't be getting a portrait in the office.

-This is where Fred and George shove Montague into the broken Vanishing Cabinet. He gets stuck and can hear things on both sides – Hogwarts and Borgin & Burke's. I assume he relays that info to Malfoy.

-Umbridge lets crucial info slip: the only fire unmonitored is her own.

-''Don't stun them, Filch!'' … ''Right you are, Headmistress!'' wheezed Filch, who was a Squib and could no more have Stunned the fireworks than swallowed them.

-I never understood what Harry saw in Cho. Pretty and good at Quidditch I guess. They're 15, I shouldn't look too much into it.

-What other thoughts do you think Snape is removing? Order stuff is my guess. Doesn't want Harry to know what his meetings with the Death Eaters/Voldemort contain.

-I would think Harry's fear of Snape would be enough to prevent him from delving into his thoughts but nooooo...

-I think Snape used Sectusempra on James.

-Snape was mostly right about James.

Ch. 29
-I like this Ginny.

-I'd like to be a Healer.

-Minerva McGonagall, bad ass.

-There's probably a lot of Sirius and Lupin slashfic.

-Fred and George leave in a blaze of glory.

[Rob, Mayor of Ghost Town]

Dara wrote: "Minerva McGonagall, bad ass."

She really is the best teacher. Stern, but fair. Smart and capable. And she won't take shit from anyone.

[Dara]

I agree. Shes one of my favorite characters and I think she would be my favorite teacher at Hogwarts. She's the type that I respond to.

[Scott]

While I never felt Harry gave his all during those lessons, could there have been a worse person tasked with teaching him Occlumency? I mean, mark that down as one of Dumbledore's worst ideas. Clear your mind every night! Yeah, um, thanks for the vaguest ass homework ever. Could I have some tips?

And I know Harry gets slightly butthurt when someone (think it was Hermione) implies he likes the connection with Voldy but I think theres some truth to that.

[Rob, Mayor of Ghost Town]

Dumbledore has been almost missing from this book, but as the one auror says, he sure has style. Overall though I'm still disappointed in the way he does things in this book.

The fireworks are so awesome. I'm not sure I'd be friends with the Weasely twins. I don't really like pranks. I do enjoy reading about them though.


I wouldn't like James or Sirius at all. What a bunch of assholes. It'd be one thing if Snape prevoked them, but nope.

I have to keep listening until Fred and George leave.

I like Ginny a lot in this book. She's finally come into her own.

[Scott]

I would always be worried they would turn the pranks around on me and then it wouldn't be so funny.

James and Sirius do come off as assholes in this one and especially in the last book. I'm sure a lot of it was youth but still

[Rob, Mayor of Ghost Town]

And I got to the McGonagall being a badass. Really the entire last chapter of this section is awesome. I love Peeves saluting the twins.

I've been the victim of pranks, so I generally find them mean spirited even when they aren't directed at me.

[Scott]

Peeves was awesome. And then he terrorizes the shit out Dlore-bag (stealing it Alex!), which was also great fun.

Yeah, I feel yeah. They definitely can be. I like how the twins go about it because it seems they like to save them for people who are kinda asking for it like Dudley or Umbridge.

[Dara]

I'm also not a fan of pranks. The person being pranked rarely finds it funny. I agree with Rob, they're mean-spirited.

[Rob, Mayor of Ghost Town]

Alex wrote: "OK this has popped up too many times now. Rowling, there are other ways to deal with your problems than alcohol.."

Just because there are, it doesn't mean a lot of people don't deal with them that way. Far too many do.

[Dara]

I don't know Rowling's background too well but maybe people dealing with their problems by drinking is something she's been around her whole life so she's writing what she knows/saw? Not saying that it's right.

[Scott]

I'm all for diversity in my swear words, personally

[Dara]

I learned a few colorful ones yesterday from Chris Kluwe. I'm waiting for the opportunity to call someone a "slopebrowed weaseldick".

[Scott]

Scott Lynch is good for some new ones as well as Archer the TV show

[Rob, Mayor of Ghost Town]

I'm boring and stick to fuck and shit pretty much.

[Scott]

Can't go wrong with the classics either

[Suzanne]

I know I'm behind reading this time - between being busy and being so frustrated with many of the characters n this book, it has slowed me down.

I thought Snape's memory of James and Sirius was quite disturbing. With this re-read - I really don't like Sirius at all. I did feel a bit sorry for him at the Christmas festivities, but he has just been so selfish and irresponsible - and that scene (and his treatment of Kreacher) shows a lot of unkindness too.

I do love F&G - their attitudes and those fireworks. I liked how they thought about how people would attempt to fix them, and counterspelled those.

[Rob, Mayor of Ghost Town]

I liked this book a lot more on my last reread, but not as much this go around. Maybe the stars aligned for that read or something, because it used to be my least favorite for awhile.

I still like it more than CoS, but the whining of Harry and the stuff with Sirius definitely wore on me a lot more this time.

[Rob, Mayor of Ghost Town]

Teach me to be lazy..

Though I'm going to do it again, and say Goblet has always been my favorite, but with this reread, I'm thinking I might like Prisoner better. Though it's very close.

I'm curious how the last two will go.