The Order of the Phoenix Re-Read: Chapter 12

[slowfox]

Harry's somewhat narked about how 'everyone' seems to think he's some 'lying, attention-seeking prat', but his temper's somewhat misdirected, as Hermione points out:

"... And it would be quite nice if you stopped jumping down our throats, Harry, because in case you haven't noticed, Ron and I are on your side."

I note in passing that again Gred and Forge refer to compatriots in their year by their full names - I'm suspecting, again, that it's mainly because Kenneth Towler and Patricia Stimpson have never been mentioned in canon before this point, but it's still very oddly formal. Especially for the Twins.

You'll note that Ron helpfully relays their timetamble for the day:

"History of Magic, double Potions, Divination and double Defence Against the Dark Arts..."

The implication, surely, is that 'double' Potions would be twice the length of History of Magic. And yet...

Today, they suffered an hour and a half's droning on the subject of giant wars.

Assuming that History of Magic was a single, then, that makes six lots of 1½ hour lessons per day - 9 hours. Plus homework. And Quidditch practice, which Angelina's scheduled for 5pm on the Friday. So either lessons start early, and there are no breaks through the day, or Fridays finish early or... JKR has problems with maths.

As it happens, since Snape gives them 1½ hours to brew their potions, after which it's lunch, it looks like either History of Magic was a 'double' (since Harry waits for Divination Studies after lunch) or else a double Potions is called such because it's twice as unpleasant as any other lesson on the curriculum.

Top bit of help from Ron on the Harry/Cho front at break :-)

...which gave Harry plenty of time to reflect that between Neville and Ron he would be lucky ever to have two minutes of conversation with Cho that he could look back on without wanting to leave the country.

Aw. And yes, as mentioned previously, I was a big Harry/Cho fan after GoF. Until I tried actually writing Harry/Cho, and discovered that I couldn't really get it to work. But then I'm not JKR, and I was definitely hoping, after the train and now the Tornados incident, that maybe this would start to work out for them.

The introduction of Professor Umbridge is good - treating the class like five-year olds certainly went down well :-)

It's never clear just how many people are in the class, is it? If it's just the Gryffindor fifths, which seems likely, then it's most probably eight students (they're the names we have). So a phrase like When more than half the class were staring at Hermione sort of over-eggs the pudding, methinks. Hermione can't stare at herself, so if you add the other five (which is 'more than half' of eight), that sort of implies that only two people weren't. ;-P

Does Dean get more speech in this scene than in the whole of canon to date??

"This is school, Mr Potter, not the real world," she said softly.

How truly doth Ms Umbridge speak :-)

Anyway, Harry gets sent to see McGonagall, who oddly isn't teaching (sorry to whine on and on about the Hogwarts timetable, but,logistically, it just doesn't add up). Anyway, loved this bit:

"Is it true that you shouted at Professsor Umbridge?"

"Yes," said Harry.

"You called her a liar?"

"Yes."

"You told her Hw Who Must Not Be Named is back?"

"Yes."

Professor McGonagall sat down behind her desk, watching Harry closely. Then she said, "Have a biscuit, Potter."

Comments

[carolanne5]

that makes six lots of 1½ hour lessons per day - 9 hours ...

... but only if every single lesson is the same length. Maybe period one is say 90 mins, period two 150 mins, lunch, period three 60 mins. But then again saying 'double' applies equal length. Perhaps we must chalk this up to author inconsistency.

"Have a biscuit, Potter." ... and then you remember why the books are readable.

[aome]

The Hogwarts timetable has never made sense. I think it was once determined that the teachers would have to be teaching 24/7 to fit all the houses and grades in, and perhaps even then they might not cover everyone. Or something just about that outrageous. Just ... go with it. :P

As far as the "double such-and-so" periods - sometimes it seems to be more indicative of having two houses together than in having a double-length session. Have we ever seen a mention of a double-subject class that didn't involve a second house? Also, why is it that some subjects seem chronically prone to being shared and others not? Herbology is G/H and Potions is G/S. Why isn't this shifted around from year to year? Why do G/R never seem to share class sessions.

As stated above: has never made sense. ;-)

As for Umbridge: hate her with the fire of a thousand suns. Having her speak in that falsely sweet voice was brilliant for making her even more hateable than Snape. The next chapter is the one I hate most in the whole book - possibly in the whole series. I nearly skipped re-reading it.

[cynthia_black]

I agree with you on the timetabling - it just doesn't work in practice really.

For me this is the start of building up the Umbridge sort of evil, as something that is layered, one bit on the next for cumulative effect.

But I do like Minerva McGonagall as a character. And I like the parting shot of the chapter, that she knew the answer Harry gave was Hermione's :-)