pauraque_bk | CoS 4

Continuing the fabulous house-elf discussion from Chapter 2,

sedesdraconis has an excellent post on house-elf sociobiology, discussing what we see in canon with an eye to the real-life biological factors involved in domestication. ♥

Oh, and I wanted to mention, if it wasn't clear, that the posts and discussions may contain spoilers for all five books. I've seen people friending me who claim not to have read them all yet (what're ya waiting for?), so I thought I'd be on the safe side.

CoS 4: At Flourish and Blotts

'That lot won't come cheap,' said George, with a quick look at his parents. 'Lockhart's books are really expensive...'
'Well, we'll manage,' said Mrs Weasley, but she looked worried. (38)

No possibility of financial aid, of course. I wonder what the tuition fees are like?

[Percy] was already dressed, his Hogwarts prefect badge pinned to his knitted tank top. (38)

I have nothing to say here except BWAH.

They couldn't use real Quidditch balls, which would have been hard to explain if they had escaped and flown away over the village[...] (39)

It's hard to believe that Arthur, whose fascination with Muggles is mentioned about five times in this chapter, would live so close to a Muggle village yet not go down there often enough to have a solid grasp on the basic elements of their culture. You wouldn't think he'd be quite so excited to meet the Grangers, either. Do they just Floo to wizarding London every time they want to go shopping, or do anything else for that matter?

'Harry Potter got a Nimbus Two Thousand last year. Special permission from Dumbledore so he could play for Gryffindor. He's not even that good, it's just because he's famous ... famous for having a stupid scar on his forehead...'
Malfoy bent down to examine a shelf full of skulls.
'...everyone thinks he's so smart, wonderful Potter with his scar and his broomstick--'
'You have told me this at least a dozen times already,' said Mr Malfoy, with a quelling look at his son[...] (42-43)

'I hope my son will amount to more than a thief or a plunderer [...] Though if his school marks don't pick up,' said Mr Malfoy, more coldly still, 'that may indeed be all he is fit for.'
'It's not my fault,' retorted Draco. 'The teachers all have favourites, that Hermione Granger--' (44)

Draco's got a point about the special permission, and the fact that the teachers play favorites, which of course they do. Even so -- the kid never gives it a rest, does he? He carries on this way some more at the bookstore (50).

I also wonder how bad Draco's marks actually are. Hermione beat him in every exam (44), but that doesn't tell us much. I always think of him as being pretty clever, though maybe not in a way that translates well to schoolwork.

This scene plays rather differently in the movie -- it's worth remembering that while movie!Lucius gets angry and gives Draco a shove here with very little provocation, book!Lucius is only annoyed by his constant whining (and understandably so).

'[...]There are rumours about a new Muggle Protection Act -- no doubt that flea-bitten, Muggle-loving fool Arthur Weasley is behind it--'
Harry felt a hot surge of anger.
'--and as you see, certain of these poisons might make it appear--' (43)

Poisons that harm Muggles, but not wizards, it would seem.

The moment the door had closed, Mr Borgin dropped his oily manner.
'Good day yourself, Mister Malfoy, and if the stories are true, you haven't sold me half of what's hidden in your manor...' (44)

I like this suggestion that even other Dark wizards resent Lucius, as well they might -- he's done pretty well for himself by pretending innocence, as explained last chapter, and that wouldn't play well with those who had true loyalty to Voldemort. (He also passes this strategy on to Draco, advising him that "it is not -- prudent -- to appear less than fond of Harry Potter, not when most of our kind regard him as the hero who made the Dark Lord disappear" (43).)

There may be some class-resentment here too... as was discussed on

hp_britglish not too long ago, the Malfoys come off as obnoxiously nouveau-riche.

Harry explained all about Dobby and the Dursleys.
'Ruddy Muggles,' growled Hagrid. 'If I'd've known--' (46)

This came up in discussion on an earlier chapter; sometimes a character says something like this, referring to Harry's damn Muggle relatives or what have you, and it's "corrected" by someone saying it's got nothing to do with them being Muggles. This is a counter-example, where the remark passes without comment.

A short, irritable-looking man was dancing around taking photographs with a large black camera that emitted puffs of purple smoke with every blinding flash. (49)

This is where we really start to get into the thematic material of fame as a burden (for Harry) and as a smokescreen concealing the truth about a person (for Lockhart).

Also, JKR recently posted some things about wizarding photography on her site, entertainingly protested by

snitchnip_chill here.

'We have a very different idea of what disgraces the name of wizard, Malfoy,' [Arthur] said.
'Clearly,' said Mr Malfoy, his pale eyes straying to Mr and Mrs Granger, who were watching apprehensively. 'The company you keep, Weasley... and I thought your family could sink no lower--'
There was a thud of metal as Ginny's cauldron went flying; Mr Weasley had thrown himself at Mr Malfoy, knocking him backwards into a bookshelf.
[fight! fight! and Hagrid breaks them up...]
[Lucius] was still holding Ginny's old transfiguration book. He thrust it at her, his eyes glittering with malice.
'Here, girl -- take your book -- it's the best your father can give you--' (51)

Plot point! I was going to bring this up later, but... I'm really puzzled by Lucius's motives in trying to resurrect Tom Riddle. What does he have to gain? And why doesn't he mention it when Voldie accuses him of disloyalty in GoF? I almost wonder if he really just wanted to get to Arthur by putting his daughter in harm's way.

Also, can I have one of those "out of context canon line" icons that says 'Mr Weasley had thrown himself at Mr Malfoy...'? Plzkthx.

Past re-read posts are here.