1. No idea about that one. Call it magic if you will. For example how did a 5 foot sword get into a 2 foot hat in the first place?

2 With this case I'm guessing that fear and rhetoric are keeping most of that in check. Goblins aren't exactly known for their niceties. And since they allow most Dark Wizards access to their money I hardly see the point in robbing it. Most of the DE's are wealthy purebloods anyway. But mostly? Hagrid is the one that said it. You can't take his word as absolute truth. It was robbed the day of the Harry's visit after all.

3. Snape invented the Sectusempra. I'm sure he knows all of the effects and counters for it. It's only not curable because Snape probably refuses to divulge such information.

4. Voldemort was caught up in his own brilliance. Arrogance gave him a lot of wrongdoings. He did believe he was the most powerful wizard since Slytherin himself after all.

5. Never explained and never will be. You're just supposed to accept it. Another "assume" factor from Rowling.

6. Call it nerves, call it the danger situation. Griphook could have also put magic on it to prevent it from summoning. There is an anti summoning charm. I'm sure the goblins have a few tricks up their sleeves as well.

7. Could be. Could have been a passing memory. Or simply his shadow. One will never know. Good theory though.




I'm a big stickler for Ron's little Chamber fiasco as well as Hermione's Memory charm issues. Apparantly she can erase her very existence from her parent's lives but she can't obliviate a DE. Also we never know what happened to Umbridge or the Ministry in General. We just know that it was "reformed by Harry and Ron"

 

Question- why did Harry's wand start firing on its own in the chase scene? I don't remember this being explained in the book.

 

It was though I didn't like it. Dumbledore explains it. Apparently in the fourth book, because of the Priori Incatatem spell Harry's wand absorbed some of Voldemort's wand's magic or essence. This allowed Harry's wand to become more attuned to Voldemort and since Harry despises Voldemort it would become more resistant. Thus Harry's wand would be stronger against Voldemort's wand and would react as it did in the scene mentioned anytime Voldemort attacked. The book also mentioned that Harry's wand would only be more powerful when combating Voldemort. I'll edit later on when I can find the chapter this is explained. I think it's the Platform 9 3/4 scene at the end but I'm not sure.

 

Thank you. I was so tired by the time I read the end, that I completely forgot about it. I checked the book, and it's on page 711, American Edition.

 

I should clarify - Dumbledore, in HBP, says he and Petunia "have corresponded". Now, in retrospect, this is a hint that she wrote Dumbledore back when she was 13 or whatever, but this could also imply that Dumbledore and Petunia have written to each other during Harry's presence at the Dursley house. So, did they, in fact, "correspond" more than once?

Also, where the hell did James Potter get all that money? JKR never did say in TDH. And how rich IS Harry? I know JKR's supposed to be famously bad with numbers, but she has to have some idea as to whether she means thousands, hundreds of thousands, or millions of Galleons. (and a problem crops up here too because she's been inconsistent about the value of money in the wizarding world)

For all the hoo-ha over Occlumency and the fact that Snape even told Harry to 'keep his mind closed', why does JKR make such a half-ass run at the subject? I know she's addressed aspects of this in interviews, but she's changed her mind before (such as saying Grindelwald was dead after 1945 and then keeping him alive to molder away in Nurmengard until 1998 ).

In fairness, for 99% of fanfic writers, the Horcruxes came out of left field as well, in HBP.

I've read many a post-OotP fanfic that was finished before HBP came out, and only one, to my knowledge, incorporated any device by which Voldemort could encase some of his soul and keep himself alive that way. Similarly I don't think any post-HBP I've seen has touched much on the possibility that the power Voldemort knew not was the ability to face death without fear and thus become master of the three Deathly Hallows. The only clue she dropped there was that Harry's wish for death combined with his love for Sirius Black seemed to be the combination that forced Voldemort out of Harry's mind.

JKR's allowed to bring in whatever she wants, she's the blasted author of the books!

 

The Horcruxes were hard to guess for the readers, but they made sense in hindsight and there's evidence in the books (CoS) that they have been part of the plot-layout from scratch.

The Deathly Hallows don't explain anything that's been mentioned earlier. On the contrary:

- For starters: I find it very hard to believe that Voldemort never knew about the Hallows. They were Grindelwald's symbol for crying out loud.

- There's no hint that Harry's Invisibility Cloak was different from other ICs. The fact that Dumbledore was in possession of the Cloak when James died wasn't that much of a big deal until Rowling deliberately drew attention to it.

- The symbol of the Hallows was on the grave of Ignotus Peverell in Godric's Hollow. How come neither Dumbledore nor Grindelwald figured out that the Potters were descendants of Ignotus Peverell?

- Marvolo Gaunt told Ben Ogden that he had been offered loads for the Ring of Peverell, meaning it wasn't impossible to find out that he was in possession of an artefact connected to the Peverell brothers, but neither Dumbledore nor Grindelwald ever made an attempt to get the Ring from him or his son. I'm sure that Grindelwald would have tried anything, and Marvolo wouldn't have been a match for him.

- Grindelwald alive and in prison was necessary for Voldemort to figure out that the Elder Wand had ended up with Dumbledore. If this important detail had been part of the plot all along, Rowling wouldn't have said in the Leaky/Mugglenet interview that he was dead. The backstory of Dumbledore's and Grindelwald's friendship was obviously planned, cause she refused to dwell on the subject, but Dumbledore not killing him can't have been a part of it.

- There are other instances of sudden deviations from what she said in interviews and/or what was reasonably established in earlier books that indicate a major change in plans: the Secret Keeper desaster, Ron's sudden ability to speak Parseltongue, Harry again being persona non grata with the Ministry... The changes in the epilogue might be another one, though we can't be sure it differs drastically from the original one.

- The wand allegiance doesn't really add to the explanation of why two additional AKs didn't affect Harry. The blood-connection alone would have sufficed.

What the Elder Wand allegiance stuff achieved was providing a somewhat legit reason for Dumbledore to have wanted to be killed by Snape. That's all. She couldn't take back the Unbreakable Vow in Half-Blood Prince that made it impossible to not classify Snape's AK as murder, and was in dire need of a deus-ex-machina that would make it easier to overlook that this was a point of no return. In my very humble personal opinion, JKR bowed to the wishes of the fangirl-masses and decided that if they really want to pay money for crap, crap is what they were going to get.

 

What I want to know is how did a letter from an adult Lily to an adult Sirius end up at Grimmauld Place if Sirius hadn't been back there from the time he ran away from home as a teenager until he returned in OotP?

OK, now who (besides me) rolled their eyes at the fact that there was a "Lily's letter"?

 

Here are two guesses-

1. He had some sort of apartment before he was arrested, and it was left undisturbed for years until he went there while hiding in GoF.

2. He had some sort of apartment, and Remus cleared it out, keeping Lily's letter, which he returned to Sirius in OotP.

As for the letter, I did kind of laugh at the lameness, but at the same time was happy that Lily didn't write the letter to future Sirius or Harry.

 

Good guesses, though I wish Rowling would keep her continuity straight. Things like this just mess up my reading enjoyment.

 

I would like a question to be asked to Rowling.
Which brother stares at his sister like Harry looks at Hermione in the Yule ball?
Which sister tells her brother that he is more hotter than ever(fanciable scene)?

Also for a shallow character like Ron to show such feelings and insecurities of depth is just........
What Ron's insecurities are In DH are supposedly fear of abandonment by his family and the love of his life , and loss of love which are all in fact Harry's fears.

For one Ron has never shown that he values his family's love so much as he clearly wants to be much better than them in terms of fame, and achievement , secondly I am yet to see any depth of feelings from Ron towards Hermione for the past 6 books.

So basically Rowling has ended up changing Ron's priorities from wanting glory to wanting love Which is completely OOC.

 

Harry didn't stare at Hermione. That'd be Ron. But besides that, when sister comes down looking spectacular before a date or something, I notice and tell her so.

Read above post.

You act like all of Ron's thoughts revolved around his lack of fame and fortune. He's a normal guy, with normal teenage wants and feelings, including the crush he's had on his female best friend since third year. They didn't change from glory to love. It's obvious JKR was building up to them getting together since fourth year with all the sexual tension at the Yule Ball and such.

So Ron grew up. It's not that surprising. He's one of the deeper characters in the book! What else do you want besides an in depth past and family, an emotional background, and a clear description of his faults, hopes, and dreams? We aren't going to describe shoe size or count the freckles on his back. Jesus christ.

Wishing to stand out among his well-known family =/= he doesn't value their love. If your brother or sister gets straight A's and you're an A/B student, would you not want to do something, such as a sport, to also show your worth? And if you can't see him having a depth of feeling for Hermione than you need to go back and read the books. It's been plasterd on the pages not too subtely since third year.



What makes the Deathly Hallows Invisibility Cloak different from any normal Invisibility Cloak? Dumbledore, Mad-Eye, and anyone else with strong magical ability can see through it, yet it's supposed to hide you from death?

 

Reread the books please.
Harry's jaw drops and during the Yule Ball , he more often than not keeps focusing on Hermione., a completely unnecessary reaction for someone whose relationship is only platonic.

Emotional abuse and insulting one another hardly is sexual tension.

He grew up completely in the most ridiculous manner . he has to learn from a book how to treat Hermione properly. God!!!!!! I knew Ron had his issues , but this makes him a human case.
Ron's treatment of Hermione in HBP was horrible and especially bordered on the emotionally abusive side.
Harry despite growing up in probably the most unhealthiest environment , learns how to treat a person well, while Ron who grew up in such a loving environment can't treat the girl he likes well?

If my brother and sister did well, I would want to do something as well and prove myself. Not sit around and whine like Ron does.
He also wants to be praised by anyone.
Sure he cares for them, but has there been any time in the series when ron has shown he craves love?
No!!! he would take praise from whomever it comes.
He values that more than his family.
Did you fail to read what he saw in the mirror of Erised?
He sees himself as better than all his brothers, overshadowing them in every way.
Thats the point. He sees only HIMSELF.

Insulting the girl you , like constantly putting her down, making her cry and not feeling guilty about it is a sign of deep feelings?
Seriously, you need to rethink about how Rowling has portrayed the R/Hr relationship despite her 1st marriage ending due to fighting.

 

Brave statement, considering the obsessive hatred for everything Weasley around here.

I think you're right, Ron at least developed as a character in a realistic way and that's a hell of a lot more than can be said about other characters in the books (especially those who are supposed to be so very deep). He might just about be the only one who actually did some growing up, come to think about it.

As to his constant bickering with Hermione; this is not a sign that he doesn't know how to treat Hermione 'properly'. On the contrary. Hermione is in severe danger of becoming a dangerously self-righteous bitch (not very different from Umbridge). Ron at least challenges her. He's the one who grounds her to reality, not Harry the grin-and-bear-it softie who swallows every shit dished out to him.

 

Yes, Harry's jaw dropped, but this is Hermione the book worm we are talking about. She doesn't do her hair, put on pretty clothes, or wear makeup. She did all three of those things that night and Harry was shocked, an easy cause for a bit of staring or jaw dropping. Also, if you would like to remember, Harry was all depressed over Cho going with Cedric. Once again, it was Ron gawking at Hermione. Stop trying to pull things from the books that just aren't there.

Do you not remember when you were in kindergarden and you watched as some little boy walked over and push the cute little girl with pig-tails off the swing? This is the exact same scenario, except with older people. Ron grew up around all boys and the only way he seems to know how to show his affection is through picking on someone. He's an idiot. That doesn't mean he doesn't care for her. No matter what you want to see, DH shows this quite clearly. I don't want to see Harry and Ginny together, but I'm not screaming about how she's a slut using love potions, even though I want her to be one.

Congrats, buddy, want a cookie? Ron=Ron, you=you. He's selfish and he's a whiner, you are whatever the hell you are. Why would Ron crave for love? Harry craves for it because he's never had it. Ron's been smothered by love his entire life. Even so, that doesn't mean he's just going to go 'screw it, I don't want a girlfriend. My mommy loves me too much already.' Come on, kid, think. To your last point ... yes, we all understand Ron is selfish. It's been a plot device throughout most of the books.

I've already stated my answer to your last paragraph.

 

I hope I don't get in trouble for necroing, but I believe I have a somewhat plausible answer to one of the original questions in this thread that nobody has thought of yet. I won't bother to answer the others because KenderCleric and others have answered them pretty well.


For this question: 5. How exactly did Voldemort and even Snape fly? (this pisses me of to no end.)


I can't explain how Voldemort flies, but if my memory is correct, when the scene in DH comes up where Harry sees something 'batlike' flying over Hogwarts or whatever, there is a plausible reason for this.

Remember during the second task when Krum transfigured himself into a sort of half man-half shark to get to the bottom of the lake? If we think about this for a second, it is possible for a wizard or witch to transfigure animal parts unto themselves for a specific purpose (in Krum's case, the ability to breath underwater, and to move fast through the water). I don't believe a wizard or witch can transfigure themselves fully into an animal (using self transfiguration with a wand) because that would pretty much eliminate the use of animagi, and for the fact that it brings up the question of how would you transfigure yourself back (which requires the use of a wand), when it would be pretty much impossible to wield a wand as an animal. Just as Krum did, it is reasonable that Snape either transfigured himself into a half man-half bat, or he just transfigured a pair of large bat wings onto himself in order to make his getaway. This explains Snape flying, but I have no theory on how Voldemort flies except for the fact that JKR thought it would be 'cool' or 'badass'.

 

I have several theory's on how they fly some of which are off the wall some just might work.
#1. Broom up the bum...what I ain't sayin anyting else.

#2. What if he merely enchanted his cloak or other article with the charms that are on a broom.

#3. He filled his socks with snichs.(that would tickle.)

#4. Presumably if we are to believe fanon all things magickal in the muggle world are inspired be something form the wizarding world. I propose to you that sometime during his travel Voldemort found the inspiration for the winged boots of mercury.

I could keep coming up with more these are just what I had preprepared. And the batlike!thing(Le gasp) Snape's an animagus and his forms a bat. What its logical if 3 school children can become an animagus certainly a 30 year old man with more grounding in magic can right? J.K certainly took allot more then that out of fanon.
(edit And don't necro please.

 

Well, maybe JK believed that all HP readers were total morons who would take 'because they are super-powered bastards' for an answer. DH's kind of fucked up. Voldemort got all flashy and stylish in the first chapters, but he died in a way that would take all of my will not to tear the book down into pieces and feed some starving pigs with it...

My own theory? They casted levitation charms on themselves.

 

On her website JKR mentions that most of Harry's money came from the Potter fortune. Being an old pureblooded wizarding family I guess they have to be rich... like the Malfoys.

But didn't Snape have 'batlike wings' and Voldemort was flying on some kind of dark smoke thing?

Yes indeed Voldemort had powers greater then anybody could imagine, hereby throwing all magical laws out of the window.

It must have been some kind of Dark Magic that required great evilness.

Either that or there is a big black gaping plot hole.

 

No, Voldemort wasn't flying on 'some kind of dark smoke thing'. I don't have the exact line, but I believe it was a comparison by way of simile, such as "Voldemort flew threw the air like smoke". This isn't the exact line but you get the picture.

And why must it have been Dark Magic? What is 'dark' about the ability to fly? Just because nobody else in the Potterverse (excluding Snape) can fly or even have heard of this ability, it doesn't mean it's OMFG!!Ancient Dark Magic.

And no, Voldemort flying isn't really a plot hole.

 

You don't see it as a plot hole? Do enlighten us why.