PoA 15

[pauraque_bk]

Wrist still hurts. When typing is laborious, I feel very handicapped. Much moreso than when I have laryngitis and can't talk. So I've been quiet recently, though I want to say many things. Let it suffice that people are saying smart things in Chapter 14 about Peter and Snape and Harry's POV, and I wish it wasn't so physically hard to answer!

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PoA 15: The Quidditch Final

Lucky for me, this chapter is a bit boring. Quidditch subplot -- not a strong point in this book. I hear that of the three matches, only the first will be in the movie, which I certainly wouldn't argue with.

'Ron, I'm really, really sorry about Scabbers...' [Hermione] sobbed.
'Oh -- well -- he was old,' said Ron[...] (215)

Ron meant what he said: An apology was all he needed.

'Have you ever seen anything quite as pathetic?' said Malfoy. 'And he's supposed to be our teacher!' (216)

What Draco doesn't get is that his father isn't defending him -- I can't imagine Lucius being impressed by Draco's whining pleas for attention -- but is merely using Draco's complaint as an excuse to get at Dumbledore by ousting Hagrid. Draco's smugness is unfounded.

A number of small scuffles broke out in the corridors, culminating in a nasty incident in which a Gryffindor fourth-year and a Slytherin sixth-year ended up in the hospital wing with leeks sprouting out of their ears. (222)

Sneaky suggestion that the older Slytherin was unfairly picking on a younger kid.

First [Harry] dreamed that he had overslept, and that Wood was yelling, 'Where were you? We had to use Neville instead!' (223)

Neville is again used a symbol of Harry's fears.

A loud snore told him Ron had fallen asleep again. (224)

It's Ron who snores, not Neville, as fanon would have it.

[EDIT: Actually, they both do. ficbymarks discusses canonical snoring here.]

Three-quarters of the crowd were wearing scarlet rosettes, waving scarlet flags with Gryffindor lions upon them or brandishing banners with slogans such as 'GO GRYFFINDOR!' and 'LIONS FOR THE CUP!' (225)

This may not be as bad as it sounds, as Slytherin has been a very winning team for some years -- there's a natural tendency to support the underdog.

Behind the Slytherin goalposts, however, two hundred people were wearing green [...] and Professor Snape sat in the very front row, wearing green like everyone else, and a very grim smile. (225)

Makes 800 people in the stands.

Also: Note that Snape doesn't always wear black.

[Lee:] -- duck, Angelina, that's a Bludger! (225)

Rather unfair to Slytherin, letting the announcer give one team useful information.

'YOU CHEATING SCUM!' Lee Jordan was howling into the megaphone, dancing out of Professor McGonagall's reach. 'YOU FILTHY, CHEATING B--'
Professor McGonagall didn't even bother to tell him off. She was actually shaking her fist in Malfoy's direction[...] (228)

Hm! If McG was doing her own thing, Lee would have had no reason to cut himself off. It reads like he really swore into the megaphone, and JKR was merely too polite to repeat it. JKR usually narrates over bad language (except "damn"), so if "b--" is meant to stand for "bastard", it's unusual. We expect:

'D'you know what that --' (he called Snape something that made Hermione say *'Ron!'*) '-- is making me do?[...]' (130)

Past re-read posts are here.

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Also: If you smiled at someone and they responded by punching you in the face, would you resolve never to smile again?

OK. Then don't withhold all feedback because one writer is a jerk. Thanks.

Comments

[wolfie-thu.livejournal.com]

There's another passage in either PoA or GoF where Snape sneezes

You know, I almost certain that it was CoS that he sneezed in (I can't believe I'm discussing a fictional character's sneezing habits ;))...

*does a search*

Ah, here we go: "and there was a particularly tense moment when Ron stubbed his toe only yards from the spot where Snape stood standing guard. Thankfully, Snape sneezed at almost exactly the moment Ron swore." from Chapter 14 of CoS, taken from this (http://www.geocities.com/willowsevern/files/snape2.html) page.

[asphodeline.livejournal.com]

oooh thank you, I knew it had something to do with a threat in the castle, couldn't think when. I just love that little bit.

I can't believe I'm discussing a fictional character's sneezing habits
heh heh!!!!