pauraque_bk

eponis suggested that what happened eleven years ago was that Dumbledore became Headmaster, there was an interesting exchange about Dumbledore and McGonagall's relationship, and one about Petunia and Vernon's. Also,

theatresm caught McGonagall's use of the word "noble" as a possible alchemical reference. Woo!

PS 2: The Vanishing Glass

Nearly ten years had passed since the Dursleys had woken up to find their nephew on the front step, but Privet Drive had hardly changed at all. The sun rose on the same tidy front gardens and lit up the brass number four on the Dursleys' front door; it crept into their living-room, which was almost exactly the same as it had been on the night when Mr Dursley had seen that fateful news report about the owls. Only the photographs on the mantelpiece really showed how much time had passed [...] now the photographs showed a large, blond boy riding his first bicycle, on a roundabout at the fair, playing a computer game with his father, being hugged and kissed by his mother. The room held no sign at all that another boy lived in the house, too. (19)

I was struck by how cinematic her description is here. You can see the camera panning over the garden, past the gleaming house number, into the living room and past the telling photos on the mantel... Others have noted this tendency in her writing (

idlerat comes to mind), but I've never seen it as strongly as here.

There are several references in this chapter to Dudley's love of the computer, encouraged by his parents (among his birthday gifts are "the new computer he wanted" and "sixteen new computer games"). Knowing now that JKR wasn't very into computers herself until recently, I think we can take this as another intended sign of his overindulgence.

Perhaps it had something to do with living in a dark cupboard, but Harry had always been small and skinny for his age. (20)

Compare:

Snape-the-teenager had a stringy, pallid look about him, like a plant kept in the dark. (564 OotP UK)

There's also Harry's handed-down clothes, and Snape's infamous underpants.

(If, when I first came to this fandom, you'd told me that one day I'd be using the phrase "Snape's infamous underpants" in a serious analytical context, I doubt I'd have believed you.)

The only thing Harry liked about his own appearance was a very thin scar on his forehead which was shaped like a bolt of lightning. (20)

We aren't told specifically why he likes it, but the implication seems to be that he values the connection to his parents (Petunia tells him he got it in the car crash when they died). He comes to despise it later on, of course.

Dudley thought for a moment. It looked like hard work. Finally he said slowly, 'So I'll have thirty ... thirty ...'

'Thirty-nine, sweetums,' said Aunt Petunia. (21)

First indication that Dudley is stupid, as well as mean and spoiled. We also find out in GoF that he doesn't get very good grades, but I always think of Dudley as being clever, actually... he's certainly good at manipulating his parents (even while taking a subtle jab at them, as in CoS). I think he's smart in the same way as Draco; in a way that doesn't really transfer to schoolwork.

'Bad news, Vernon,' she said. 'Mrs Figg's broken her leg. She can't take him.' She jerked her head in Harry's direction. (21)

Knowing what we know now, my thought is to question whether she really broke her leg, but I'm not sure what she/Dumbledore would hope to accomplish by having Harry go out somewhere. Give him a bigger chance to prove his magical ability, maybe...

'We could phone Marge,' Uncle Vernon suggested.

'Don't be silly, Vernon, she hates the boy.' (22)

I thought this was odd for a moment -- why would they worry about sending him to someone who hates him? But actually, this is consistent with what we see in PoA: they're very eager to please Marge.

Piers was a scrawny boy with a face like a rat. He was usually the one who held people's arms behind their backs while Dudley hit them. (22-23)

Reminds me of another rat who made a habit of egging on bullies. (JKR doesn't like rats very much, does she?)

'I had a dream about a motorbike,' said Harry, remembering suddenly. 'It was flying.'

Uncle Vernon nearly crashed into the car in front. He turned right around in his seat and yelled at Harry, his face like a gigantic beetroot with a moustache, 'MOTORBIKES DON'T FLY!' (24)

See, this is what I'm talking about. Ten years ago, he didn't have this kind of exaggerated reaction, even to much more extraordinary things. This is the state he's in after ten years of Harry growing his hair back overnight, magically appearing on top of the school building, and so on (23). If I were him, I don't think I'd be very comforted by the fact that Harry isn't aware he's doing magic -- isn't it even more frightening if it's uncontrolled?

They ate in the zoo restaurant and when Dudley had a tantrum because his knickerbocker glory wasn't big enough, Uncle Vernon bought him another one and Harry was allowed to finish the first. (24-25)

What's a knickerbocker glory?

The snake suddenly opened its beady eyes. Slowly, very slowly, it raised its head until its eyes were on a level with Harry's.

It winked. (25)

Which is rather more extraordinary than JKR intends, as snakes don't have eyelids.

As the snake slid swiftly past him, Harry could have sworn a low, hissing voice said, 'Brazil, here I come ... Thanksss, amigo.' (26)

Don't ask me why/how a snake who's never *been* to Brazil would drop a word of Portuguese into an utterance in Parseltongue. I will note, however, that snakes can't hear. (JKR, who generally does good research, is oh for three where snakes are concerned... she also has the Basilisk's shed skin as being bright green.)

But that aside, I actually liked this chapter a lot. The characters aren't as exaggerated as I think they are at the beginnings of CoS and PoA.

Past re-read posts will be saved in memories here.