The Order of the Phoenix Re-Read: Chapter 18

[slowfox]

Hermione, normally so eloquent, has some misgivings about their proposed defiance of Educational Decree Number Twenty-Four:

"Just thinking..." she said, still frowning at the rain-washed window.

"About Siri- Snuffles?" said Harry.

"No... not exactly..." said Hermione slowly. "More... wondering... I suppose we're doing the right thing... I think... aren't we?"

Harry and Ron looked at each other.

"Well, that clears that up," said Ron. "It would've been really annoying if you hadn't explained yourself properly."

Ron: on form again :-)

After the truncated Quidditch practice, Harry's scar twinges:

"No," Harry muttered, sinking on to a bench and rubbing his forehead. "He's probably miles away. It hurt because... he's... angry."

Harry had not meant to say that at all, and heard the words as though a stranger had spoken them - yet knew at once that they were true. He did not know how he knew it, but he did. Voldemort, wherever he was, whatever he was doing, was in a towering temper.

It's the second time that Harry's scar has hurt whilst at school, and yet without any seemingly obvious trigger. At least this time we haven't got the willful misdirection of Umbridge's presence to throw us off the scent, but we don't have much to go on as to the true meaning.

This is the chapter where the dreams move from merely being referenced to experienced:

He was walking once more along a windowless corridor, his footsteps echoing in the silence. As the door at the end of the passage loomed larger, his heart beat fast with excitement... if he could only open it... enter beyond.

Was Dobby really planning to return Hedwig to Harry in the middle of the night?? Surely that could've waited until a more sociable hour?

Anyway, Dobby comes up with the suggestion to host the DA classes in the Room of Requirement. Hermione seems to be about as much of a fan of Dobby's plans as I would be (he really ought to describe them as 'cunning', though), but Harry slyly assuages those doubts with the implication that this all has Dumbledore's blessing.

Which actually serves to underline that we're almost half-way through the book, and Harry and Dumbledore haven't spoken to one another yet... of course, we know the reason, but the radio silence seems brought to the fore right at this moment.

Hah - more canon detail for those who worry about such stuff (I've heard there are some):

Fifth-years were allowed to be out in the corridors until nine o'clock...

I do like how, when faced with a class of his peers, Harry's casual assurance demonstrates that he is the right person for this job:

"Hey, Harry, what's this stuff?" asked Dean from the rear of the room, indicating the Sneakoscopes and the Foe-Glass.

"Dark detectors," said Harry, stepping between the cushions to reach them. "Basically they all show when Dark wizards or enemies are around, but you don't want to rely on them too much, they can be fooled..."

And this confidence also extends to his conversation with Cho, where he can freely mock her without subsequently wanting to find some big, dark hole to swallow him up:

"That was quite good," Harry lied, but when she raised her eyebrows he said, "Well, no, it was lousy, but I know you can do it properly, I was watching from over there."

The lesson seems to go pretty well, all told. At the end of the lesson, I'm assuming that Harry's made the Marauder's Map public knowledge:

He pulled out the Marauder's Map again and checked it carefully for signs of teachers on the seventh floor. He let them all leave in threes and fours, watching their tiny dots anxiously to see that they returned safely to their dormitories...

Comments

[aome]

You forgot Fred and George suffering the repercussions of some of their experiments. Poor boys.

Note that Hermione's confidence in Dobby's information (about the RoR) reappears as soon as she sees the books in there.

I do wonder a little about Harry making so much of Dumbledore's silence. It's not as if he spoke frequently to Harry in any of the previous four books - not until after the Big Adventure, anyway.

[slowfox]

Note that Hermione's confidence in Dobby's information (about the RoR) reappears as soon as she sees the books in there.

But don't you remember Arthur's warning from CoS:

Never trust anything that can think for itself if you can't see its brain

How does the Room of Requirements know what Harry'll need before he even knows it? Yes, Harry knew about Foe Glasses and Sneakoscopes, but he didn't know the specific books. Hermione knew those, but given her surprise on discovering them, we have to assume she wasn't thinking of those topmost in her mind when they were standing outside.

I'm guessing that after Ron's stint as a guinea-pig for Stunning Spells in GoF, he's the one who was thinking of the cusions ;-P

[cynthia_black]

I suppose the combined efforts of Harry, Ron and Hermione all thinking of what they needed for the DA was enough - they only needed to think in general terms about what they needed rather than specifics.

[slowfox]

Weeeellll... I know 'it's magic', but still, how can you know what you need if you don't know what you need? What if Harry and Hermione had been thinking about DADA lessons, but Ron had been thinking about roast chicken??

Can you imagine the Room of Requirements getting confused, Boggart-like, when confronted by conflicting demands, and coming up with a compromise?</plotbunny>

Only 6 chapters behind now...

[cynthia_black]

"But after talking to Snuffles... Yes that's what made me think maybe it wasn't a good idea after all..."

Hermione really doesn't think much of Sirius, does she?

Good to see what's been happening to Hermione's knitting efforts.

That first DA meeting does go very well, and as you say, it demonstrates that Harry really is the right person for the job - it actually surprises me that he doesn't end up as Professor Potter in the epilogue, rather than just hearing about Professor Longbottom.

Re: Only 6 chapters behind now...

[aome]

Given Sirius' reputation for rashness and pranks, you can see how that wouldn't appeal to Hermione. It's why she's often been rather cool toward the twins as well - in fact, aside from when they heckle Umbridge, she also is most admiring of them when she realizes how skilled they are in magic in order to produce their wares. Hard work, in-depth knowledge - the things she values for herself. Plus, there's the way Sirius treats his House Elf. Strike three for Hermione's esteem. :P

Re: Only 6 chapters behind now...

[slowfox]

Hermione really doesn't like Sirius, agreed... but as aome explains in her reply to this comment, that's kinda consistent with her character...

It's a shame, actually, that Hermione's efforts on the knitting are proving so misguided, yet she doesn't know. All that positive energy going to waste...