The Burrow

News, Updates and Editorials Forum

So what is "The Burrow," anyway?

A cozy place where ideas meet, obviously. But, what does that mean? And what's with this "collaborative effort"? Who's that?

Put simply, the Burrow is a weekly column by the MuggleNet editors and a group of writers discussing different perspectives on various and sundry Harry Potter issues. The HP universe is so broad and expansive that getting one view on any particular subject just isn't enough.

The topic changes monthly, so there's always going to be a fresh idea waiting around the corner. And, we love input. Reactions to articles, ideas for topics you'd like discussed... Just no death threats.

So, come for the company and discussion. There may even be a lively debate!

Signed,
Mike, Rachael, and Nancy


11/10/03

This month’s “The Burrow” topic is about what secrets can or will be revealed about characters in books 6 and 7. I myself have a theory to contribute to this month’s TB even though it may sound like it belongs in “The Quibbler.” My theory is that Lily’s parents came from wizarding families, but are squibs themselves. Sound outlandish? Here’s my supporting evidence, four points of them.

First off, there’s nothing in the books pointing against it. In fact, in the first book Petunia speaks of her jealousy of Lily saying that her parents were happy to have a witch in the family. If her parents were squibs, wouldn’t they be happy that their child was magical? They certainly wouldn’t be disappointed, and we’ve seen how some people act on the subject. On the other hand, this might not mean anything, as Hermione’s parents also seemed happy that she could do magic.

Second, the two squib characters we know are alone, single. Filch seems to be a sadistic and has something against the students of Hogwarts. Many think it’s because he can’t use magic himself. Mrs. Figg seems nice enough, but wants to rip out Mundungus’ throat for leaving Harry (isn’t she caring?). It’s obvious squibs aren’t the most respected citizens in the magical world and so it might be hard to find a special someone. Is it so unlikely two squibs would marry each other?

Third, in OotP, Snape called Lily a mudblood, but isn’t a mudblood someone magical born from muggles? What do muggles and squibs have in common? They’re both non-magical, so couldn’t a child of squibs be called a mudblood? Why not? In CoS Filch’s cat was attacked because he was a squib. If Tom was going after squibs and muggleborns because of their relationship with non-magic, is it wrong to say that Lily would be called a mudblood with either squib or muggle parents? I find that to a death eater, it doesn’t make a difference which your parents were, you’d still be considered a mudblood because your parents were non-magical.

Fourth, in OotP there’s an understanding between Petunia and Harry about Voldemort. If Lily’s parents were squibs, then that means they probably had contact with the Wizard world. Notice both Mrs. Figg and Filch still have plenty of contact. Without the knowledge of the Wizard world, there is no way Petunia would begin to understand the terror Voldemort can and did cause.

I think this is sufficient evidence to at least keep open the possibility of Lily’s parents being squibs. That good chance of squibs marrying each other, Lily being called a mudblood, and the understanding between Harry and Petunia only support this theory. Perhaps the craziest theory this month, I stand by that it could be true.

11/10/03

"Victor? Hasn't he asked you to call him Vichy yet?"
-Ron Weasley (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix)

Howdy, folks! I'll be participating in this little Mugglenet Burrow section from time to time. It appears that today I'll be writing about what secrets can or will be revealed about the HP characters in later books. I've decided to select Viktor Krum: seeker, student and rival. Now you may be asking, why Krum? Well, that's easy: Krum is easily established as the anti-Harry and it'll be interesting to see what side he will take during the upcoming chaos. First, I'll contrast Victor Krum and Harry Potter a bit.

With the exception of Hermione of course, Quidditch is perhaps Harry and Krum's strongest connection to each other. Both are excellent seekers for their respective teams. Looking at Krum, we understand that he's either older than Harry (to be able to play on the national team) or is a lot better than Harry. Remember that the Snitch is a very small object, and to play on a professional level like Krum which must mean his reflexes are excellent. Both Harry and Krum are very famous. It is becoming apparent that Harry's fame is not only becoming a burden to him, but it appears that Harry's fame is a two way street. After all, Harry is the target of both admiration and discrimination, which really hurts him (as is the case when everyone finds out he's a Parseltongue). Krum on the other hand doesn't appear to have any detractors (besides Ron); his fame was earned through his hard work (though Harry's constant defeat of Voldemort's schemes is basically the same thing). Harry seems to find it difficult to be liked by others outside of Gryffindor, while Krum has fans from all the houses and is loved by all. While Harry has never put a lot of priority into his studies, Krum is on almost a Hermione-like level. Everything I presented is circumstantial though, just because he's a lot like Harry but isn't, means it is difficult to understand what truly motivates Krum.

Well, one of the things that we do know that would motivate Krum (and anyone else for that matter) is the power of love. And to be quite frank I really think that Krum likes Hermione (or is pulling the greatest melodrama of the Potter series). After all, should he join because of Hermione it shows that he loves her and wants to help and protect her. Should he not join, Hermione will be crushed and anything that she told him during their correspondence would be highly valuable to Voldemort's group. Then again, breaking Hermione's heart will probably mean good news for Ron... but that's a topic for another day.

The biggest tipping point is that Krum goes to a school where he learns the dark arts and (assumingly) can apply them. While Karkaroff may be a cowardly former Voldemort associate, he is none the less an associate. Karkaroff let his faculty teach the dark arts to his students. Obviously there is a reason. Let's not forget that Durmstrangs associate with Slytherins more than the other houses, and odds are Slytherins will most likely support Voldemort. So far, anyone who's associated with the dark arts at one point has turned out to be for Voldemort in one form or another.

So what about Krum? Well I think that when Voldemort strikes during the next book (or in theory should) many wizards will be forced to take sides. Now this is where it becomes interesting. Krum is basically a wildcard when it comes to selecting a side. Both sides should actively be seeking Krum's support as he would be a great asset to them. His popularity means that should he join with Voldemort's forces, it's possible that others will follow. Likewise, joining with Harry, Hermione (his most likely reason to join at this point) and friends would greatly help their cause. Also, his knowledge of the dark arts is a double edged sword: he can inflict and defend against (they would probably teach you counters at the same time) pain against those who oppose him.

In the end though, it'll be interesting to see what happens. If Krum goes 'bad', it'll likely lead to a confrontation between himself and Hermione. If Krum joins with anti-Voldemort forces, it's more than likely that he'll be alienated like Harry. Ah, Victor Krum, the life you lead is a tangled mess of contradictions but in the end who will you side with?

11/16/03

Possible Things to be Revealed
by Robbie Fischer

Here are some ideas that I've entertained, about how the characters in the next two Harry Potter books may entertain us. If they're not exactly original, then say I've put my dittos on existing rumors and speculation.

Neville Longbottom: His magic will improve once he has a proper wand of his own ("The wand chooses the wizard..."). But as McGonagall pointed out when she was preparing Harry's year for OWLs, all Neville really wants is some confidence. He has gotten a lot of that through working with the D.A. and it showed in the Department of Mysteries, when of all people he was the last school friend standing by Harry. Going out on a limb: maybe the fact that the prophecy could have been about Harry or Neville, will become more important. At least I think Neville will play a pivotal role in the downfall of the Dark Lord.

Peter "Wormtail" Pettigrew: Don't forget he owes Harry a life debt. This will prove very inconvenient for Voldemort. In fact, it may even be the very thing that tips the scales in the final reckoning. Fans of LotR will remember how Bilbo's, and later Frodo's pity toward Gollum made it possible for Gollum to play his key part in the Cracks of Doom. I think in a similar way, Harry's pity toward Wormtail may be the final clincher, or turn the tide when all seems lost.

Cornelius Fudge: His consuming passion is holding onto power. To him the definition of evil is anything that threatens the status quo. Even now that he has been forced to face the truth, I don't think Fudge is to be trusted. He will lead a camp in the anti-Voldemort forces that wants to "fight fire with fire"-that is, use dark magic to fight dark magic, use deception and skullduggery to combat even greater evil. But I think this approach will make people like Fudge more of a prey to dark forces, and will leave them helpless to face the powers that will be brought against them. In short, I think Fudge is going down, and a whole way of looking at things in the magical world will go down with him. And I also ditto the speculation that Arthur Weasley will be the next Minister, because it does look as if Ron has more talent in divination than anyone in the story realizes.

The Dursleys. Sooner or later Voldemort has to realize that if he eliminates Petunia Dursley, his path is clear to come and get Harry. Petunia had better look out for diving broomsticks, curses, and letters filled with nasty substances. I think by the end of the 7 books, after being forced to treat Harry nicely for a while and to depend on him to protect her from magical attacks (which also concern him nearly), Petunia will be a little warmer toward the boy. I also think she and Vernon have set themselves up for a big disappointment with Dudley, and that will also be a factor in creating a new relationship between Harry and his Muggle relatives.

Firenze/Trelawney: I hardly think Firenze was brought into the story merely to serve the tiny role he served in OotP. Therefore I think that somehow, Harry and Ron will continue to study Divination at a NEWT level. And it may come out that they both have considerable gifts in this area, and the fact that they picked the subject for their OWL studies was very providential. I think Trelawney's incompetence and "blinkered, fettered" human perspective has been holding them back, and Firenze will really open them up. However, I think Trelawney has more to contribute too. There is a good reason Dumbledore considered it so important to keep her at Hogwarts, probably in addition to keeping her from falling into the hands of the Death Eaters and probed for her memories of her first prophecy. That's part of it, but I think Dumbledore expects Trelawney's on-again, off-again Sight to prove important at least one more time.

Katie Bell: She will be in her last year at Hogwarts in Book 6, and I think she will be the new Quidditch captain. The Gryffindors will need two new chasers (one of them will be Ginny Weasley), Harry will be seeker again, Ron will stay on goal, and if they don't do something about Sloper and Kirke there will be a good deal of comic relief from those bumbling batsmen.

Draco Malfoy: I think he'll have to be cut down to size, a bit, in the aftermath of his father's arrest and the discrediting of Umbridge, of whom Draco and his friends were known toadies. Perhaps Draco will get a taste of what Harry has felt like, being shunned and picked on. His character is either heading for a cleansing catharsis or for some kind of nuclear explosion (in terms of personality). I don't think his rivalry with Harry is on the same level as the Snape-James grudge. But if Draco keeps going in the direction he has been, we'll be seeing the awkward situation of having Junior Death Eaters operating freely at Hogwarts. I just don't think that can happen. Some kind of restraint has to be put on Draco, but I think he'll end up being offered the opportunity to do something really Dark and he'll blow it. Maybe his conscience will make him hesitate. Maybe Harry will take pity on him...?

Lupin: From the scene in which he visited with the werewolf at St. Mungo's, I gathered that Lupin's mission for the Order may be to recruit werewolves to fight against the Death Eaters, just as Hagrid was sent to recruit the giants. Maybe success will surprise both of them, and maybe Charlie Weasley will come through with some dragons, and maybe the creatures of the forest will get into the act and when the all-out war opens up, maybe a lot of things Wizards have tended to fear and avoid will come out as allies against the Dark Lord.

The D. A.: The fact that representatives of Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Gryffindor came together for this, in spite of their Quidditch-related differences, is an encouraging sign. The Sorting Hat should be pleased, in view of its song at the start of Harry's fifth year. This trend of uniting the different houses may continue to be a key element in Hogwarts' defense against Dark Forces-and I think the defense of Hogwarts will be a key element in this war. Will the DA continue as such? Will some Slytherins join up? That'll be the day!

Ginny Weasley: Someone has to carry on the Fred and George tradition, and Ginny has already shown signs of having it in her. Look to Ginny for daring exploits and wild, wacky schemes. I also think that her ability to talk openly with Harry will help the two of them to grow together. Ron wants that to happen, obviously...

Snape: What is going to happen when he finds Harry in his NEWT class? We already know Snape is a double agent. He practically admitted as much to Harry. The funny thing about double agents is that both sides know, to some degree, that they are working both sides. At least their controllers on both sides (in this case, Dumbledore and Voldemort). But as the Good Book says, "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be loyal to the one and despise the other." Which master does Snape really serve? Could the answer to that question change over time? How far will he go?

Hermione's activism for house-elves may lead her into a career in the Ministry of Magic, making sure that the rights of elves, goblins, centaurs, and so on, are preserved, their conditions improved, peace and cooperation fostered, etc. Harry will have to get surprisingly good OWLs to continue in his ambition to be an Auror. Everything Ron saw in the Mirror of Erised will come true: he will end up as Quidditch Captain, Head Boy, and the hero of more House Cup and Quidditch Cup victories. I expect that he'll start to get a bit stuck-up and there will be another rift, temporarily, between him and Harry.

Viktor Krum will show his surly face again, and a more mature romance will flare up between him and Hermione. I can't believe JKR would pass up an opportunity to put Ron through a torturous conflict between hero worship and insane jealousy. It would be so much fun to write!

Fred and George will make so much money that they will either redecorate the Burrow beyond recognition, or do something even fancier. Mrs. Weasley will ultimately make up her mind to be grateful that they went into the Joke Shop line. Maybe their funding will become important for Order of the Phoenix activities.

The next DADA teacher will be a totally new character.

The next major character to die will be a member of the Hogwarts staff.

Aaaaand..."open" or not, the coming war will involve a lot of covert activity. These stories are, after all, a lot closer to being mysteries than war novels. I don't think that "open war" is going to change the format that much. The burden of the story will still be some covert mystery that Harry and friends are trying to figure out before it rises up and bites them. And for open war to come to the Hogwarts campus would be ridiculously disruptive. School could not go on under those conditions; it would ruin the setting. So my main prediction for Harry is that he will spend his next year or two at Hogwarts, anxiously keeping tabs on events outside the school, and getting into danger by leaving the campus to take part in those events. He's not going to sit on his tuckus while the people who took Sirius from him are out there...

11/24/03

This month’s The Burrow article was meant to deal with what will happen to the HP characters in books 6 and 7, but in order to keep the article’s length reasonable and to give a more exhaustive analysis on this issue, my article will deal mainly with three characters, who are very closely related, for several reasons.

Imagine the HP world around 1960, more or less when Harry’s parents were born. Well, a child born at that same year could have several personalities, though at the moment we’ll only pay attention to three of them. One was magically very powerful, intelligent, and handsome. Another was very ambitious, and would make friends with anyone to be popular and powerful. And the third was extremely curious and clever, and had a special affinity with dark and mysterious things. With the right upbringing, and after 11 years, these three kids would become, respectively, Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew and Severus Snape (if that’s his real name, but we’ll get to that later), all three of them becoming important in the HP series for the simple fact of being in the same year as James Potter, and getting to be a very important and relevant part of his school life.

So now, let’s analyze each of them separately. Lets begin with my favourite character in the whole series, from the moment he appeared (even before we found out he was a good guy): Sirius Black. I must confess I cried when I read the end of OotP, though when I came to think about it I was quite relieved to find a pattern in our modern literature. Sirius is actually Obi Wan Kenobi, the character who, from his position of age and wisdom teaches the main character, and then dies confronting the forces of evil. However, there is one more important fact about Obi Wan, which I firmly believe will ultimately apply to Sirius in books 6 and 7: He came back from the dead, living on to give advice to the main character while he prepares to have his own go at the bad guy, meaning sooner or later we’ll hear a good deal more about Sirius, who will come back either through the veil or through the mirror he gave Harry (I still think there is more to it than meets the eye, ya Harry broke the mirror, but why would J.K. bring it up for nothing?).

The second character I believe is important, and from I can guess quite a lot (right or wrong, time will tell), is Peter Pettigrew, a.k.a. Wormtail. There are two fundamental theories I’ve developed about him. The first is shared by all of us with a small knowledge of folk culture. Wormtail has a silver hand + Lupin is a werewolf = quite a disgusting end for the best Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher Hogwarts has seen since Harry has been there. I think it’s quite obvious, since J. K. Rowling never places a single fact for one or even two reasons. Most elements in the series have more than one meaning, such as the firebolt, the boxing tree or even the Ministry of Magic. And my second theory concerning Wormtail also relies on literature. Now, what important character could Wormtail resemble? Once again, it’s quite obvious: Gollum! (skip the rest of this paragraph if you don’t want LotR spoiled) A character of dark nature, allied with evil beings only to achieve its goals, and who is forgiven, by pure pity, by the main character. Once again, the end of his story is what I expect to happen to Wormtail before the end of the series. It will be him (and not Harry) who saves the day in book 7, in the final battle. If you read Lord of the Rings, you’ll know it’s actually not Frodo who defeats Sauron, but Gollum, though of course not voluntarily, but I’m sure that is something to take into account (lets remember Wormtail is indebted to Harry after book 3). Another argument to support this theory is Hermione’s quote in book 5, when she talks about Harry’s “thing with saving people.” That way, Harry does not achieve victory through killing the bad guy, but through showing mercy to those who deserve it.

And finally, I believe Snape also saves quite a lot of surprises. I said before I’m not sure that is his real name. I suppose you’d have read the ‘Perseus’ theories, but in case you haven’t, here goes a summary. Snape could be faking his name for several reasons, taking the letters in Persues Evans to make Severus Snape. So, if we rearrange Severus Snape’s name, we get thousands of possibilities, one of which is specially attractive, and if you have read any Harry Potter at all, you will agree NOTHING is ever coincidental. This is Perseus Evans, a more than plausible name in the HP series. And since not in all the series has a single name been repeated without there being a relation between those who have it, this would mean Perseus is the third (but unkown to the Lily and Petunia) Evans sibling. That way we’d get an answer to the Mark Evans riddle (since I DON’T believe him to be a coincidence at all). Surely whether or not this is true will be found in book 6, for if Mark Evans was 10 in book 5, next year he’ll go into Hogwarts! Finally, since I’ve done it with Sirius and Peter before, I’d like to relate Snape/Evans to a famous character. This time it’s a little wilder, but I still stick to Snape being a traitor to the Order of the Phoenix. That, in case you haven’t noticed, is Boromir. Which means he is bound to die.

So, that’s that for the moment. I hope you have found my article entertaining as well as informative. I don’t expect everyone to agree with me, but these are educated guesses, based upon previous facts, and so I’d say there is about a 30 or 40% chance that most of this will be true.

11/30/03

From the Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets DVD:

Lizo Mzimba: How do you see Dumbledore, Steve?
Steve Kloves: ... he's a character of so many layers. And I think when he does say something like it is our choices and not our abilities... I just think that coming from him, somehow it doesn't feel like a sermon, it doesn't feel like a message, it just feels like, you know, an absolute truth, and it goes down easy, and I like that about him. That's what I like about the books. I've always thought that Jo's writing is deceptively, you know, profound, which is you never feel that there are messages in there, and, uh, but there's a lot of things being dealt with in a very sort of clever way, and they're never pretentious, the books, and I think that's why kids love reading them.
Lizo Mzimba: I mean, you say that you don't set out to put particular messages in each book; they grow organically. But do you think it's important to have the right messages there when they do emerge?
J.K. Rowling: Well, I, obviously, in the wizard world passes for racism... that was, that's deeply entrenched in the whole plot, you know... there's this issue going on about the bad side really advocating a kind of genocide to exterminate what they see as these half-blood people, so that was obviously very conscious, but the other messages do grow organically. But I've never set out to teach anyone anything. It's been more of an expression of my views and feelings than sitting down and deciding what is today's message. And I do think that, although I never again sat down and consciously thought about this, I do think judging, even from my own daughter, that children respond much better to that than to 'thought of the day.'


So, like it or not, the Harry Potter books teach. Not generally overtly (although, the stated theme of "It is our choices... that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities," is the most obvious and recognizable), but there are messages given, ideas shared, and lessons to be learned. Sometimes these morals (for lack of a better word) are so minute that it takes several readings to pick up on the nuances; other times, they stare you down and force you to examine them.
Of the "blink and you miss it" variety, the most intriguing lesson (which is by no means fully developped) came in OotP: "Dementors caused a person to relive the worst moemnts of their life.... What would spoiled, pampered, bullying Dudley have been forced to hear?" In fact, Harry did blink, missing this golden opportunity to better understand his cousin. He did nothing (that the readers are aware of) to ponder this perplexing thought. However, if he (or we) follow the thought through to its conclusion, it would lead him to the fact that appearances can deceive. Pampered and petted since birth, Dudley Dursley was so affected by the Dementors that he vomitted and could barely speak. By emphasizing that no one has a perfectly happy past, J.K. Rowling helps us, even for a moment, see beyond appearances.

In fact, the difference between perception and reality is a common theme throughout the series. In PS/SS, Prof. Quirrell masquerades as a rather hapless character, all the time plot with Voldemort. We find out in PoA that Peter Pettigrew's death at the hand of Sirius Black was not as it seemed. And, of course, the greatest deceptive appearance of the series, in the form of Barty "Mad Eye Moody" Crouch, Jr.

Grudges, too, stem from misperceptions. Harry and Ron perceive Snape as being really evil, so they think of him as the first contender for the "bad guy;" or, in exposed Prof. Quirrell's words, "Yes, Severus does seem the type. So useful to have him swooping around like an overgrown bat." In fact, by OotP this misperception, reinforced by problems in class and private lessons, pushes Snape so far from their minds as an ally that they forget to go to him for help. They (or at least Harry) doesn't remember until face to face with Snape himself. And, by that point, it is too late.

But not all lessons found within Harry Potter are serious. There is one, embodied by two people, that helps brighten any day and lifts your spirits. I'm talking, of course, about the power of humor, embodied so well by George and Fred Weasley (although other characters add to the hilarity in turn). In the midst of the unknown threat in CoS, when practically the whole school feared Harry, the twins make it a big joke. In fact, "it made [Harry] feel better that Fred and George, at least, thought the idea of his being Slytherin's heir was quite ludicrous." And, of course, throughout OotP especially, the twins reveled in mischief-making. And, their exit from school is "the stuff of Hogwarts legend." Their joie de vivre loosens tense moments (remember the opening speech in GoF?) and gives people reasons to smile.

There are so many more lessons and uplifting ideas that can be gleaned from the Harry Potter series. Throughout the month, we'll focus on different aspects of J.K. Rowling's "organic morals." But, don't stop there. Each time you read the books, there's something more to be learned.

12/07/03

We all know them and have grown to love them--the infamous HP trio. Whether it be in the books or the movies, Harry, Ron, and Hermione are the superheroes of their time. Their unbreakable friendship and undying loyalty to each other has led to exciting adventures and has carried them over through tough times. Their loyalty and friendship is the stuff of legend.

Numerous examples of their friendship can be found almost everywhere in the HP series. However, only two will be focused on: the beginning of their friendship in Sorcerer's Stone and the tribulations that put their friendship to the test in Order of the Phoenix. Their relationship is at its strongest during the more heated areas in the books, which seem to be the most important and have the most effect on them. Every friendship has a beginning. In Sorcerer's Stone, Harry, Ron, and Hermione's friendship is young and unadulterated. They have not yet seen the hardships they will encounter. Harry and Ron became fast friends, but Hermione took a little more than an introductory handshake. Their first test together was when Professor Quirrell released the mountain troll, and both Harry and Ron set out to find Hermione. This shows but a mere inkling of their eventual relationship with each other. It shows that both Harry and Ron care for Hermione. They risk their lives to save her, and in doing so win her trust and her friendship. Their relationship is basically formed out of sacrifice. Harry, Ron, and Hermione are tested again with their search for the Sorcerer's Stone itself. Both willpower and physical limits are tested in the quest to find the Stone, and at the end, everything turns out alright. Their friendship at the end of SS/PS is the beginning of something bigger.

OotP is probably one of the most difficult times for the trio. Not just because of the dreaded "P" word, but also because of what people think of Harry.

Harry doesn't hear of anything from his friends or Dumbledore the entire summer, and without warning gets attacked by Dementors. He is then accused of using powerful magic outside of school grounds and faces an expulsion from Hogwarts. No one tells him what is going on when he reaches Grimmauld Place, and Hermione is practically in tears when she tells him how much she wants to tell him everything. In addition, Harry is almost declared mentally insane by some, if not many of the wizards throughout the world. Even his fellow Gryffindors don't trust him anymore. The only people who truly stand by him are Ron and Hermione. They are the only ones who do not believe that Harry is crazy. Their loyalty and friendship is strengthened tenfold as they stand firmly at Harry's side.

Even though Harry is jealous of both Ron and Hermione for quite a number of reasons, he still protects them and cares for them. He does not show his anger when Ron and Hermione are chosen to be prefects, or when Ron continues to play as the new Keeper for the Gryffindor team while Harry is banned from Quidditch; yet, he puts his own life on the line when they all enter the Department of Mysteries. Friendship and loyalty are shown both ways when he warns them not to tag along, and yet they still persisted on going with him.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione would not have been the same if they were not friends with each other. The friendship they share and the loyalty they hold are too great for even Lord Voldemort to damage.

12/14/03

We can learn one moral from the Dursley family, the ultimate Muggles. A life without wonder or imagination, without play or fun, without a kind of "magic" (not necessarily in the literal sense of the word) is not worth living.

According to TLC, a recent study showed that adults who watch Oprah are more likely to take medications to relieve stress than adults who read Harry Potter. Why is this? The researcher's conclusion shows his bias: people who read about boy wizards are escapists who live in denial and hide from their problems. Maybe the same data could lead you to conclude-- without showing the same bias-- that people who use their imaginations, who let a little magic into their lives and expect entertainment to take them out of themselves, are better able to COPE with stress. And people who take refuge from their daily reality by dosing themselves with MORE reality-- even in their recreation-- are not helping themselves at all.

I see the Dursleys as model victims of this syndrome. They cannot bear even a word about magic to be spoken in their presence. The kind of people who represent the world of magic are not welcome under their roof. Vernon and Petunia are petrified of the social disgrace if their neighbors should find out they have anything to do with the magical world. Dudley is just plain petrified of magic itself.

It is clear that these attitudes go beyond mere hatred of magic, though. We learn right off that Vernon disapproves of the imagination, and that even interesting dreams seem to him to be symptoms of a break with reality. The Dursleys aren't just foils against which the magical world of Hogwarts shines with greater glory. They are people who have raised mundanity into the realm of sickness.

Some time ago, I wrote for MuggleNet that I think J.K. Rowling has a lot in common with Charles Dickens as a writer. The rich variety of characters and events, the waif-orphan-hero who triumphs over the baddies, the tales of virtue overcoming un-thought-of obstacles, all connect the two authors. But another thing that connects them is their satire of a society that, ironically, resembles many of the people who militate against exposing children to the magic of Harry Potter.

In his rather short novel Hard Times, Dickens aims his satirical barbs at a society that moralizes and rationalizes childhood off the map; that forbids children to believe things, wonder about things, and be afraid of things that go bump in the night... basically anything that can't be scientifically measured or logically demonstrated. You could point the same finger at today's enemies of the fairy tale and young-readers' fantasy genre. People who see no point in Harry Potter or can't conscience exposing their children to it are only depriving their children of things that brighten dull hours and awaken human sympathies.

The moral of Hard Times is that life without magic is not worth living. In Dickens' case, we're not talking about literal magic, but about public entertainment, play, wonder, fanciful thoughts, and tales to stimulate the imagination-- including fairy tales, band concerts, and circuses. For grownups these are things that lighten the burden of lives full of stress and strenuous labor; for children, they are simply the things that really allow them to be children, and the kind of children who may grow up to be good people.

But some people would take all the "fancy, fantasy, and sentimentality" out of life, and fill everyone's life, young and old, day after day, with a monotonous round of Facts-- sterile, scientific, algebraic Facts. And as Dickens warns-- and the Dursleys prove, in the upbringing of Dudley-- this rigid adherence to "sanity" only leads to madness (like Vernon pulling the hairs out of his moustache) and breeds sullen youths whose only concern is Number One (like both Dudley Dursley and young Thomas Gradgrind of Hard Times).

The moral of the Dursley family saga, then, is about the same as what Dickens put forth 150 years ago. We need magic. It isn't about denial or escapism or hiding from our problems. It's about learning not to be consumed by them, learning to deal with them better, and learning that sometimes it's okay just to let go of them and visit another world. It's about the fact that books, films, and TV programs that tell all the ugly truth and show us nothing but unvarnished reality are not entertainment at all; that sometimes, a gripping story can be more educational than a multiplication table; and that a mind that needs everything to have a rational explanation and an orderly arrangement-- a mind of method and rules and straight-jacketed reason-- is closer than most minds to the cusp of madness.

Robbie Fischer, facial hair donor

12/21/03

Through numerous readings of the Harry Potter series, I've noticed that, time and again, ideas about power, success and abilities are brought up. Each time, the emphasis is on a different facet of these connected ideas. Often, the figurative light is bounced off of a certain facet very quickly, like the sunlight bouncing off of a diamond ring as a woman gestures; you see it as a flash, and it's only when you hold the stone still in just the right spot can you experience that gleam again.

There are four facets I'd like to discuss (some more intensely than others): the power of confidence, the power of preparation, the power of the individual, and the power of unity.

The Power of Confidence

"'I see no reason why everybody in this class should not achieve an O.W.L. in Transfiguration as long as they put in the work.' Neville made a sad little disbelieving noise. 'Yes, you too, Longbottom,' said Professor McGonagall. 'There's nothing wrong with your work except lack of confidence'" (OotP 257).

McGonagall states confidence's power quite clearly. Confidence is the key to success. As a character, Neville exemplifies this. When we meet him in Book 1, he's a timid and clumsy young man who feels overshadowed by, well, everyone. He's afraid of his grandmother, of his professors, even of his classmates. And, this shows up in his work. In PS/SS, he starts to overcome his fear when he fights with Crabbe and Goyle and, later, when he confronts Harry, Ron and Hermione as they go off in search of the Stone. It's not until OotP that he really gains confidence, and that is through the D.A. Neville's transformation from the last of the class to the top is swift. At the beginning of the school year, Harry and Neville are the only ones in class who get extra homework to help them learn a spell. After Valentine's Day, Neville is the fastest learner of defensive spells after Hermione. And that's saying something.

In the Muggle world, time and again experts tell us that confidence is an essential part of success. Are you the best at what you do? Yes (whether you are or not); that's what you have to think. Confidence is not so much believing that you are the absolute best; it's got less to do with ability as it has to do with strength of personality and self. It's the knowledge that you can do what you have to do, and do it well.

The Power of Preparation

"For one thing, [Harry] was confident that, this time, he had done everything in his power to prepare for the task" (GoF 610).

Harry, Ron and Hermione had spent their free time learning defensive spells for the Third Task of the Triwizard Tournament. He knew he had done everything he could to prepare for it; that knowledge gave him the confidence that he could face what was ahead. His fear of the task turned into nervousness, which quickly vanished as soon as he began.

Preparation is only part of this facet, though. Another key point is accepting whatever task is laid before you.

"'Well, now it has [happened], an' we'll just have ter get on with it.... What's comin' will come, an' we'll meet it when it does'" (GoF 719).

While Hagrid may not be the most eloquent and learned character, he has a way of expressing himself that brings it down to the heart of the matter. Preparation is necessary, but it can't be all that's done. Once the situation for which you're preparing happens, you must face it. Preparation must be followed by action; otherwise, it's just something to do to pass the time.

Ultimately, preparation allows you to think on your feet. Preparation gives you the basic tools; acting on them is what will determine how it ends. The relationship between preparation and action is much like jazz musician improvising on a familiar tune. The tune is like preparation; it gives you the basic building blocks. Your course of action is the improvisation; how you use and manipulate the tune becomes what's remembered. Often, it feels like, "'...I didn't know what I was doing half the time, I didn't plan any of it, I just did whatever I could think of...," but the results are usually worth it (OotP 327).

The Power of the Individual

"'Well,' said Riddle, smiling pleasantly, 'how is it that you-- a skinny boy with no extraordinary magical talent-- managed to defeat the greatest wizard of all time? How did you escape with nothing but a scar, while Lord Voldemort's powers were destroyed?'" (CoS 397).

Prophecies aside, one person-- any person-- can make a difference in the world around them. Regardless of your sphere of influence, the power of your being makes a difference in people's lives. Sometimes, it comes through a smile or a kind word. Sometimes it's by example. And, sometimes, it's a great deed that many know about.

For instance, Draco Malfoy had a huge effect on Harry Potter before either knew each other's names. Draco's resemblance to Dudley didn't make Harry warm up to Draco in the first place, but as Draco talked, Harry liked him less and less. Draco's mention of Slytherin helped Harry decide he didn't want to be Sorted there; his talked with Hagrid merely confirmed that decision. Those things, taken together, led Harry to tell the Sorting Hat, "Not Slytherin;" had Harry not pleaded with the Sorting Hat, he could have been in Slytherin, and the story would be substantially different.

The Power of Unity

"'...We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided.... We can fight [Lord Voldemort] only by showing an equally strong bond of friendship and trust. Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open'" (GoF 723).

Perhaps the strongest theme throughout Books 4 and 5 is that of unity. With the wizarding world essentially under attack, small factions fighting against one another and the ultimate enemy is fruitless. By combining resources and strengths, evil can be overcome.

As John Donne said, "No man is an island, entire of itself." Just as one man can make a difference, many men working together can make a bigger difference. The phrase "greater than the sum of its parts" is an underlying principle. Working with people who are strong where you are weak makes the two of you strong together.

To use another musical analogy, music is always greater than the sum of its parts (any alto or bass can tell you that). When heard alone, each part has some strength to it, whether it's a beautiful harmony line or a constant root. But, when all the parts of a song are put together, they become greater than they could be on their own. Somehow, 2 + 2 has equaled 5.

Mixed metaphors aside, Harry Potter, by his own admission, would never have gotten so far without the help of his friends. His friends, too, could never have done what Harry has done. But, when they join forces, they can do everything from defeating a full-grown mountain troll to capturing a killer. And even when Harry faces the final moments alone, he never gets there by himself, and he always has help there with him when he needs it.

The bonds of friendship and coalition are always stronger than the ties of ambition and enmity. When an alliance is formed to get gain, neither side can trust or forgive the other. Friends, however, will trust each other to the death, if necessary, and make allowances for mistakes. As Dumbledore said, "The Triwizard Tournament's aim was to further and promote magical understanding. In light of what has happened-- of Lord Voldemort's return-- such ties are more important than ever before" (GoF 723).

The powers of confidence, preparation, the individual, and unity are only some of the levels of power presented in the Harry Potter series. Each one, taken individually, gives an interesting lesson to the readers. When taken together, these facets of power form a diamond with many more facets to explore and discuss.

12/28/03

The magical world is full of creatures that are half-this, half-that. And most of them are not things you would want to meet in a dark forest. Don't even think about savage manticores and bloodthirsty chimeras, devious sphinxes or (gag me) blast-ended skrewts. No one would be sorry to see the back of them forever.

On the other hand, there can't be many members of any given "magical species," or else it would be very hard to conceal their existence from Muggles. Apparently the wizards' ban on experimental breeding, and controls on the breeding of established species such as dragons, explains this in part. The wizards and witches of Britain keep pretty busy, holding down the population of magical creatures so that they can be the more easily hidden from Muggle witnesses. But as a result, they are purposely creating "endangered species." Wouldn't it be sad if these wonderful creatures died out? Manticores and chimeras excepted, of course...

Naturally, the first species that wizard environmentalists would rush to protect are the cute ones, like nifflers, and the useful ones, like house-elves. And maybe they would also try to provide more room for intelligent species to roam in, such as merpeople and centaurs. But with the spread of urban sprawl, advanced communications, and satellite imaging, the world is shrinking...and so are the number of potential "habitats" for these endangered, magical creatures!

If I had any pull with the Wizengamot, I would propose...well, not a solution, but maybe the beginning of one. Perhaps there are some species of magical creatures that the world is ready for. Perhaps under cover of "genetic engineering" or "cloning" or even exploring uncharted forests, we could introduce to the Muggle world species that were previously believed to exist only in myth and legend. And perhaps, if they were useful enough and likeable enough, the Muggle world would join in concern for their preservation.

I think the equestrian races-ones that have a bit of "horse" in them-are probably prime candidates for this program. Horses have been, historically, the most useful and accepted animal, most carefully bred and protected, most highly respected, and most nearly thought of as human, of all animals known to man. And until the internal combustion engine eclipsed the age of the horse and carriage, horses were always needed for their...er... horsepower. Maybe some of the specialized equestrian races, currently known only to wizards and witches, could raise the image of the horse again, and make it valuable and worthy of protecting for more and more reasons.

Of course the centaurs have no interest in human affairs, wizard or otherwise, but maybe it's time to add their wisdom to the collective knowledge of our world. Maybe it's time for mankind to hang up on the psychic hotline and plug in to the deeper celestial musings of these ancient, thoughtful beings. And they could probably find work, for instance, as Grand Canyon tour guides and park rangers, going where wheeled vehicles cannot go. It would be an economically sound idea, anyway. Unlike regular horses, they wouldn't make any mess that they couldn’t clean up themselves...

Then there are unicorns. I'm not saying anything so crass as to suggest raising them as a cash crop. But there are uses for their horns and tail hairs, and the field would be particularly open to women-a rare line of work in that regard, that promotes a young woman's sense of self-worth, and also (if what they say is true) provides incentives for sexual abstinence. Anything so clearly innocent and defenseless needs care, and maybe if the public were better educated about unicorns, they would be safer from crass exploitation.

How about thestrals? They say that adopting a pet is good therapy. And some people find horse riding to be an especially helpful escape from everyday cares and pressures. Suppose we tried incorporating thestrals into grief counseling? Think of it as losing one thing, and gaining another in the process. Plus, a thestral corps could bring back the old Mounted Police, and give helicopters a run for their money.

But I think the species that especially needs protecting is the hippogriff. They aren't people who can look out for themselves, like the centaurs. They aren't protected by the same powerful magic as unicorns, and though they can fly to escape from predators and so forth, they don't have the advantage of invisibility that thestrals have.

On the other hand, they would make much, much better pets than any of these other equestrian beasts. Just try suggesting to centaur that he become someone's pet, or submit to a breeding program, or wear tags, etc. You probably wouldn't live to try it again. As for unicorns, they simply wouldn't be good with families, considering the high percentage of families that have male members. And while thestrals might be handy companions for people recovering from traumas (war veterans, widows, orphans, etc.) and possibly even blind people, they are unnerving for the many people who can't see them, and carry the stigma of being considered unlucky.

Hippogriffs, on the other hand, have none of these disadvantages. Sure, they are fiercely proud, but if you handle them respectfully they are no more dangerous than any ordinary horse or giant eagle. Sure, they have a vast appetite for bird-of-prey type cuisine, but a rural setting (and even some urban ones) can provide ample sustenance for a free-range hippogriff. Sure, they make a BIG mess when they molt, and their claws and hooves are hard on carpets and polished surfaces, but who apart from wanted fugitives keeps their hippogriff inside a house anyway?

But consider the advantages of owning a hippogriff. Cowboys, for instance, would be able not only to ride around the edges of their herd, but could actually fly above them and thereby have greater control while gittin' them li'l dogies along. Again, police and rescue personnel would be able to revive the Mountie concept (only without the stealth features of the thestral) and save tons of Diesels a year, compared to flying helicopters around. Riding schools would make tons of money selling lessons and rides to people who will now not only want to gallop along the ground, but soar over the countryside and even, perhaps, parachute down to the ground. This would be safer from the back of a hippogriff anyway, since your mount could catch you if your chute didn't open. And besides, the riding schools would make more profit, since they would only spend half as much on horseshoes.

But hippogriffs are especially good pet material. You already know how dangerous they are if they are handled disrespectfully. Suppose you trained them to guard your family and property? No one would want to mess with them! Meanwhile, your children would learn good manners REALLY FAST, perhaps from painful (though, probably, quite harmless) experience. They wouldn't soon be grieving for their deceased or lost pets, because (1) a hippogriff is not hard to find against any given background; (2) a hippogriff only has to fly a little higher to see home; and (3) hippogriffs live longer than dogs and cats, and probably don't have as many natural enemies, at least none that will trouble them twice. Also, hippogriffs have ways of avoiding moving vehicles that dogs and cats do not. Really, choosing any other pet is merely gambling with a broken heart. Unlike many dogs and cats, hippogriffs "know how to take care of themselves."

I'm sure the discerning breeder and connoisseur will be intrigued by the different breeds and varieties of hippogriffs, just as there are different kinds of eagles and horses. Whether purchasing your hippogriff for the family or for the business, you can get exactly the kind you want, and breed them for the traits you desire. And if you are ever captured by an evil wizard and locked in a topless tower, you will be thankful for the faithful hippogriff-companion who comes to your rescue.

If all else fails, you can turn your hippogriff into a racing steed. Imagine the effect wings would have on the Races!

I think the time has come for the Muggle world to become acquainted with the wonderful stock animal, working animal, and potential household pet known as the hippogriff. There may be no other way to save this noble, beautiful creature from extinction. If the wizarding world plays its cards right, this could be a revelation that Muggles can actually accept-and more than accept: embrace!

Robbie Fischer, Arizona USA

01/04/04

The centaurs in the Harry Potter series are definitely an interesting and complex species. We see Firenze; undoubtedly the friendliest of the lot, save Harry in the first book, and appear again in Order of the Phoenix as the new Divination teacher. Apparently, his willingness to help humans has alienated him from his herd, making him a sort of black sheep, or black centaur if you will. This kind of individualism brings back visions of another freethinking entity, Dobby. Both Dobby and Firenze are one of a kind and receive criticism from the other members of their kind, yet they still persist in their beliefs. This kind of acceptance of change could assist Hermione in her quest for equality amongst the races of the magic world, something that seems almost inevitable at this point in the series.
Now onto the friend or foe aspect of this article: In general, the centaurs fancy themselves as a superior race, one of peace and understanding, even going as far to say their “intelligence far outstrips” that of humans (pg. 754 US edition). They obviously have a greater method of observing possible events of the future, a method not involving the tricky, ambiguous workings of crystal balls and tealeaves. Within this method is a hint of their connections with nature. Instead of using extraterrestrial methods that have no physical connection whatsoever to the real world, these centaurs use natural elements to determine what possibilities lie ahead. This connection with their surroundings and their foresight of events could definitely pose a benefit to Harry and crew as they attempt to fight Voldemort, sorry, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, in the future.

However friendly Firenze might be, the other centaurs are very temperamental and quick to attack, as demonstrated in the fight between Umbridge, Grawp, and the Centaurs. In my opinion, it is entirely plausible for (here’s a stretch of a theory...) Firenze to join forces with the humans in a fight against Voldemort, even possibly bringing a few willing centaurs along with him. Yet I get the impression that Centaurs are naturally power-hungry. With them being half-animal, they do fight for the position of Alpha-male and that kind of quest for importance could translate into a fight for a greater kind of power, the kind that only Voldemort can give them.

Regardless of if they turn to the Good or Bad side of the magic community, their benefits are clear. They are obviously great warriors and have the ability to predict the future… but always pose a threat to stage a mutiny. If they decide to aid the Order in a fight to defeat Voldemort, the outcome would definitely be desirable, yet if they turn to Voldemort during their quest for power, the end of this upcoming war could go terribly wrong.


01/11/04

"Last Time I Eat Them"
- Ron Weasley's Comment (Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them)

To:
Minister of Magical Control and Regulation
Department of Magical Control and Regulation

CC:
Office of Misinformation

From:
Ministerial Assistant, Magical Control and Regulation

RE:
Billywig Importing Problem

As recent activities by merchants of illegal magical goods indicate that illegal Billywig importing has grown exponentially over the past few weeks. For those within the Department of Misinformation who are unfamiliar with the Billywig, here is a quick profile of the insect:

Name: Billywig
Native Home: Australia
M.O.M. Classification: XXX
Notes of interest:

-Stings known to cause feeling of giddiness and levitation
-Dried Billywig stingers can be used in potions
-Component of Fizzing Whizzbees (Classified as per agreement in 'Fairness of use of Magical Goods' Act)
-For additional information please consult Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them

As part of the ministerial task force in charge of locating the source of this problem, we have made several shocking discoveries. The recent increase in Billywig importing can be directly related to the recent problems at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Recent ministerial intelligence indicates the increase in importing began shortly after confirmation of the return of You-Know-Who. Upon further research ministerial agents have discovered that the illegal imports have been linked to two primary locations in England. Our task force has found that some of the Billywigs are destined for sale in Diagon Alley, but the majority has been shipped to several illegal dealers within Hogsmeade.

Upon further research bulk of the sales are made to several students of Hogwarts. Correspondence with Albus Dumbledore has revealed several startling facts. The discovery of these facts has prompted this internal memo, as any publication of these facts could be embarrassing to the British Ministry of Magic, the Minister of Magic and the British Wizarding Community.

The increased Billywig importing has been linked to Harry Potter and several other Hogwarts students. According to an internal investigation conducted by Albus Dumbledore has shown that Harry Potter is responsible for the increased consumption of the Billywigs in question. It is probable that Mr. Potter has turned to stinging himself with the Billywigs for the associated effects. Given Mr. Potter’s fame it is probable that has actions have convinced several other students that the use of Billywigs in this fashion is considered acceptable.

Further investigation by ministerial officials has confirmed Dumbledore’s investigation. Talking with Arthur Weasley (Department of Muggle/Wizard Relations) has revealed several alarming letters from his son Ron Weasley concerning Mr. Potter’s increasing Billywig use. The younger Weasley has mentioned increasing concern over Mr. Potter's use of the Billywig, despite Mr. Potter's assurances that he uses the effects to only calm himself down. While we cannot deny the effects of a Billywig sting, a study conducted by physicians at St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries cannot confirm whether the stings are actually medically beneficial. Also, a consultation with physicians indicates that possible side effects and dependence on the Billywig may result from constant use.

It will be very embarrassing that one of England’s most famous wizards has turned to using Billywigs. Considering the ministry cannot suffer another blow after confirmation of the return of You-Know-Who, the ministry must act to suppress this information immediately. Also, a meeting must be arranged to discuss options on how to deal with the situation with Mr. Potter. The task force also recommends that the students of Hogwarts be told of the danger of the overuse of Billywigs and that ministerial agents move to stop the illegal import of Billywigs before the situation spirals out of control.

Regards,
Ministerial Assistant, Magical Control and Regulation


Author's Notes:

This article was written for participation in Mugglenet's Burrow Section, January Edition. Subject: Favorite Fantastic Beast, Animal, Etc.

Now you may be asking what, this article has to do with anything. This is easy, the short book Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them describes almost all of the fantastic beasts, animals, creatures and whatnots that appear in J.K. Rowling's magical universe. However, the Billywig caught my eye as interesting because of the description. Basically, to me, the Billywig shows the dark side of the wizarding world. The Billywig is like a drug, pure and simple. Young people take it to feel the effects, regardless of consequences. The intent of my article is to show that even something as simplistic as getting addicted to a few stings can have dire consequences.

Now, you are probably also asking who Harry Potter is the addict. This part's a little simpler if you remember the ending of Order of the Phoenix. Considering the impact the death will have on Harry's life, it's probable that something like this could happen. As it goes, if Harry didn't turn to Billywigs the only other thing we could currently think of him doing in the next book is crying all day (in the bathroom) with Cho Chang.

So why the boring Ministry of Magic Memo? Well, originally it was going to be a letter from Ron to his father, but we couldn't include all the facts about Billywigs unless it was written by an authority figure. But, we didn't want one who was high in the chain of command or we could say they would all know these facts.

Well, hopefully this article has given you a fresh outlook on another piece of J.K. Rowling's interesting books and till next time: Don't Do Billywigs!

01/18/04

“His body was monstrous, horrible and vast, Swollen with wrath and poison and with bloody gore; And over all with brazen scales was armed, Like plated coat of steel, that nothing might pierce it, Nor could his body be harmed with dint of sword, Nor push of pointed spear. His wings were like two sails in which the hollow wind is gathered full, And work speedy way. His huge long tail, wound up in hundred folds, Spread across his long back. Spotted with scales of red and black It sweeps all the land behind him far, And at the end two stingers: Both deadly sharp - sharper than steel, by far. His deep devouring jaws Gaped wide, like the grisly mouth of hell, And in either jaw were three rows of iron teeth In which, still trickling blood and raw guts, Recently devoured bodies did appear.”

By Edmund Spencer



Who feels that dragons are dangerous foul creatures? Many feel this way; Edmund Spencer was one of those people. I do not however share his opinion. I love dragons and I feel it’s very unfair how they are treated. So to everyone who feels otherwise, I hope by the end of this article I can convince you that you need not fear these magnificent creatures. Of all the creatures in the Harry Potter world the Dragon is one of my favorites (of course). I love the mystical nature that they have. Their beauty is something that should never be taken for granted, but it has.

They have many ways to defend themselves. They shoot fire through their nostrils, they have skin that is stronger than any other species, and they have teeth and horns that can be deadly to anything in their path. Most dragons do not prefer to prey on humans; they instead live on other animals such as sheep and other smaller animals. They usually will only attack a human if provoked. They have low trust to others and because of this most of them live alone instead of living with others of their own type.

They have been hunted and killed by wizards for their organs and their skin. And then they have been given the title of monsters; I feel this is a great injustice to their species. These beautiful creatures are greatly misunderstood. They deserve more respect than they receive. Those who get to know dragons and their nature grow to understand them. They understand that under the rough exterior lies a creature that is extremely faithful to whoever can prove them self. This may not be an easy task but it is worthwhile. There are people who spend their lives studying dragons; these are people that understand the greatness of the dragon and want to learn more about them.

Dragons are not always the enemies of humans. In Asia, dragons are beloved creatures. They are a symbol of strength and leadership. They are highly respected for these qualities. Other nations of wizards have yet to understand and respect the dragon. Hopefully with time, this may change.

01/25/04

JKR created a new and intriguing world of fantasy when she wrote HP. Where as the books are works of creative genius, not all of it came from the author’s head. To younger readers, and maybe to even for older readers with whom Hp is the only fantasy they’ve made contact with, they may not know the references to several myths. Some of these references that I am writing about come in the form of creatures. The Sphinx, Cerberus (Fluffy), the Redcap, and the Kappa will each have a summary of their original myths as well as a description of their appearance.

Cerberus: Appearing in the Hp series as Fluffy, Cerberus is the three-headed dog of the Underworld. The popular myth that most know him by is the Twelve Labors of Hercules. A quick look at Cerberus’ role in that myth is that Hercules had to take him out of his underworld home and to the surface to King Eurystheus. Hercules achieved this by simply out-muscling the enormous dog, subduing all three heads. After Hercules completed the task, he returned Cerberus safely back to the realm of Hades. Remember how Harry had to play for Fluffy to get past? Cerberus makes another mythical appearance in the story of Orpheus and Eurydice. When Orpheus descends into the underworld in an attempt to retrieve his departed wife, he too gets past Cerberus by playing music.

The Kappa: This creature dwells in the rivers of Japan. A small greenish creature, it has a tortoise-like shell on its back. It also has a hollow in the top of its head that must be filled with water. According to it's myth, it’s a creature that eats people who come too close to the river bank. It also says that, should you come across one, bow to it. In return, the Kappa will bow back; this causes the water to pour out of it’s hollow and leaves it helpless.

The Redcap: This little gnomish creature has a beak and talons like a hawk, but looks very much like a bearded old man. The name comes from it's tendency to dye it’s cap in it’s victims blood. The defense against this creature (you would find one is a ruin) is to quote a few words from the bible or to reveal a cross.

The Sphinx: A lionesses’ body with a woman’s head and eagle wings, the sphinx was sent as punishment to Thebes. Her purpose was to stop all travelers and ask a riddle; if they answer correctly they live, wrongly and they don’t. We all know that Harry got past the sphinx by answering a riddle, and so did Oedipus. The sphinx asked Oedipus, “What creature walks on four legs in the morning, two legs at midday, and three legs at night?” Oedipus answered correctly, can you? (The answer is below if you high-light it)



A human; babies crawl on all fours, adults walk on two legs, and the elderly need a cane.

2/1/04

Martin Luther is reported to have said, “Why should the devil have all the good songs?” Even if there is something evil about the magic of Harry Potter—as some Christians fear there is, though I doubt it—there is no denying its popular appeal, and the fact that kids of all ages are reading these books. Meanwhile a lot of kids—and some grown-ups even—could obviously stand to brush up their Scripture. So why not alter the Luther quote a bit. Why let the devil have all the good stories? Why not take advantage of their popular appeal to draw young eyes from the ripping good fun of Harry Potter to the dwell on the Good Book itself?

There are a lot of Bible stories you can tie in with the Harry Potter phenomenon. For example:

• “Harry and Voldemort as David and Goliath.” Heap big powerful bad guy is running rings around all the good guys, terrorizing them so that no one is brave enough to come forward and face him. Then along comes a little boy, too small to walk in a grown man’s armor, and fells him like an oak tree. Of course in the Bible, Goliath didn’t come back for a second helping. But David had already survived the threats of wild animals before he went to face Voldemort. King Saul (say, Cornelius Fudge) may have thought he was sending the boy to his death, but he could not deny that the boy was a survivor. As David (Harry) said, “The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul (Fudge) replied, “Vaia con Dios!” Take a lesson, Cornelius!
  
  
• “Harry and Dudley as Jacob and Esau.” What can I say? Their father Isaac loved Esau rather than Jacob. But Mom (and God) had it the other way around. Jacob turns out to be the man of a great destiny, whose descendents would turn a pivot point in world history. Esau sells his destiny in order to fill his tummy. Hmmmm....Sort of like how Vernon Dursley puts all his bets on the wrong kid, too....
  
  
• “Harry and the Dursleys as Jephthah and the sons of Gilead.” Jephthah’s father Gilead was a happily married man with oodles of sons, but Jephthah was, ahem, an illegitimate child. So when they grew up, Jephthah’s brothers drove him out saying, “You shall have no inheritance in our father's house, for you are the son of another woman.” But a little time goes by and they’ve changed their tune to, “Come and be our commander, that we may fight against the people of Ammon.” Isn’t that rich! So Jephthah becomes a great war hero, and he does OK without help from the folks who brought him up. Kind of like Harry, maybe? Maybe the Dursleys aren’t the only ones who will come to depend on the child they rejected to save them. Maybe Fudge should take note of this, as well!
  
  
• “Peter Pettigrew as Judas Iscariot.” Do I have to explain this one at all?
  
  
• “Sibyll Trelawney as Balaam.” You remember Balaam, from the book of Numbers? Most of the time, his Ass was a more accurate prophet than he was. But when it came to the Chosen People, he couldn’t help it; he even tried to curse them, but got carried away by the Spirit of prophecy and blessed them instead. And bad King Balak, after trying several times, finally had to give up on using Balaam to his advantage.
  
  
• “Tom Riddle as Lucifer.” The Star of the Morning has fallen. He who was once bright, beautiful, and full of promise, has turned toward darkness. The former Head Boy and Prefect has become the rallying-point of all the foul and evil creatures in the world. Yeccchhh.
  
  
• “Neville Longbottom as Doubting Thomas.” Thomas was a pretty gloomy guy. He always sounded like he was preparing for the very worst, and when the very best happened, he was the last person to get excited about it. For instance, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.” (John 11:16). And then, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” (John 14:5). And everyone’s favorite: “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” (John 20:25). But once he saw, he believed! (John 20:28). After that, his confidence grew and grew, apparently. He fought fearlessly for the Lord, finally laying down his life for the truth. Legend has it that he did some really cool things. It’s amazing what suddenly seems possible when you have hope and a purpose. Right, Neville?
  
  
• “Ron Weasley as Simon Peter.” They’re pretty close, aren’t they? And Ron can get pretty rough-and-tumble, can’t he? And when Ron separated himself from Harry, and sort of “denied” him (in Goblet of Fire), it was one of Harry’s darkest hours, wasn’t it?
  
  
• “Cedric Diggory and the Slaughter of the Innocents.” Like the innocent babes in Bethlehem who got in the way when King Herod was looking for somebody to take it out on, only the one he was really after (Jesus) got away. Voldy got Cedric, but not Harry.
  
  
• “Dumbledore as Pharaoh’s Daughter.” Now this one is really going out on the limb. But Pharaoh’s daughter saved the baby Moses from being drowned in the river, or worse, and brought him into her own house. Sort of like how Dumbledore keeps looking out for people who have deadly enemies after them (like Harry) and inviting the outcasts to live under his roof (like Firenze).
  
  
• “Sirius Black as Samson.” For a biblical hero, Samson comes off as a pretty dumb guy, all brawn and no brains. And his behavior is rather poor, and his downfall comes about because of one weakness: love for a woman. Now, no one will deny that Sirius acted unwisely and immoderately, and this got him into a lot of trouble. According to Snape’s memory that Harry saw in the Pensieve, Sirius sometimes acted pretty badly. But in the end his true weakness turned out to be his love for Harry, for whom he blindly and intemperately rushed into danger, to his doom. But maybe his death will be a catalyst that leads to the downfall of the dark wizards, by setting Harry on the path of vengeance.
  
  
• “Dobby the house-elf as an angel of the Lord.” This is pretty thin, but have you noticed that Dobby always shows up to warn Harry about something that’s about to happen? He’d make a pretty ugly angel, though.
  
  
• “Centaurs as the Magi from the East.” You know, all that stargazing and stuff. Though Harry has yet to see the tiniest bit of gold, incense, and myrrh from them.
  
  
• “Dumbledore as Solomon.” Wise man, that Dumbledore.
  
  
• “The Wizengamot as the Sanhedrin.” That would make Fudge and Umbridge the High Priests, Caiaphas and Anna(s). Didn’t they seem determined to find Harry guilty of something? Umbridge in particular just wanted to shut him up, and they would believe anything anyone said against him but wouldn’t listen to anything said in his defense. Fortunately we saw “Dumbledore as Gamaliel,” counseling the Sanhedrin to leave the Christians (Harry) alone, and persuading them for the moment. Too bad we also had to see “Percy Weasley as Saul of Tarsus,” holding Fudge’s lime-green bowler hat while he persecuted Harry, as Saul held the coats of the Sanhedrin as they stoned Stephen to death. Then there’s “Hagrid as Elijah” (they’re both hairy, anyway), “Kingsley Shacklebolt
  as Elisha” (they’re both bald, but you’d best not mention it), “Filch as Belshazzar” (they were both unnerved by the handwriting on the wall), “Prof. Binns as St. Paul” (someone fell asleep during one of Paul’s sermons and fell out of a second-floor window), “Delores Umbridge as Jezebel” (ish!), and “Moaning Myrtle as the Flood of Noah,” until I finally come to “Lily Potter as a Christ figure.” By willingly giving her life for her child, she gave him such a protection that the enemy could not touch him. And as long as Harry makes his home where his mother’s blood is, he is still protected from the evil one. So you see, you can weave a lot of “Harry” threads into your Sunday School lessons, to help young readers of good books pay more attention to the Good Book. Why let the opportunity go to waste? As Ron memorably said, “Accio brain!”
  

During our time in the Harry Potter universe, we have been exposed to Hippogriffs, Dragons, Puffskeins, and all sorts of other magical creatures. But the one that keeps subtly sneaking up on us, in many different forms be it real, ornamental, or metaphorical, is the serpent. In Book 1 we met the Boa Constrictor "Thanksss, amigo," in Book 2 the basilisk stole the show, in Book 4 we saw Nagini for the first time, and in Book 5 we spent quite a considerable amount of time in number 12 Grimmauld Place - a house displaying an amazing amount of snake paraphernalia.

But Salazar Slytherin was not the only wizard to use the serpent as his emblem. An Asp was the traditional emblem of Egypt, conspicuous on the royal diadem. No one bitten by an asp survived, and it was therefore an appropriate symbol of the invincibility of the Egyptian rule.

In the classical world the snake was thought to be wise, an idea continued in the Gospels: "Be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." However, in the Old Testament, the serpent had been synonymous with evil, and it's wisdom was the cunning of the Devil: "the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field." In Greek mythology Medusa was the only one of the three Gorgons (three sisters who had snakes for hair and the power to turn anyone looking at them to stone) who was mortal, the sight of her head was so terrible that even after her death anyone who saw it was turned to stone... Or were they petrified? Her name is used allusively with reference to her snaky hair and stony gaze.

There is also a serpent gazing down at us from the night sky. The constellation Serpens 'The Serpent', and Ophiuchus, 'The Serpent Holder,' originally formed one constellation. The Serpent appears to be cut in two by Ophiuchus, with Serpens Caput (representing the head of the snake), to the west, and Serpens Cauda (representing the tail of the snake), to the east. Always related to the healer Aesculapius, a serpent's venom can cure as well as kill, and the shedding of its skin is representative of the renewal of life, two factors which strengthen this association.

The basilisk (also known as the King of Serpents) was according to Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, by Newt Scamander: "first bread by Herpo the Foul, a Greek Dark wizard and Parselmouth". Muggles may not know this but they do know that the basilisk was a mythical serpent hatched from a ****'s egg, the king of serpents, which could reputably strike someone dead with it's stare. In fact, Pliny suggests that it is so called from a spot, resembling a crown on its head.

From the information gathered above, it is obvious that Salazar Slytherin chose correctly. But it is also interesting to note that although the serpent has been given quite a bit of negative press throughout history, it has also received a respectable amount of positive coverage. Thus proving the point that the world really "isn't split into good people and Death Eaters" (Book 5), nor is divided by lions and snakes.

I leave you with this charming quote from William Shakespeare's Richard III (1597):
Gloucester: Thine eyes, sweet lady, have infected mine. Anne: Would they were basilisks, to strike thee dead!

2/14/04

The first time we met dementors was in the third book when they stopped the Hogwarts Express for a check. Dementors are repulsive creatures. Whenever they approach someone, he/she feels that he/she will never sense happiness again. Even Muggles can feel their presence, though they can’t see them. They nourish from happy emotions of people around them and they are guarding Azkaban’s jails. We can say that dementors are something between erinnyes and vampires. They have characteristics of both the above-mentioned “existences”. We’re going to explain the similarities between dementors and vampires in order to extend later to erinnyes.

General information about Vampires: Vampires are creatures of darkness. They live drinking blood from the living, and by using their two overgrown teeth they bite their victim to suck blood from it. Their appearance is 80% human; the only things that differ are the eyes, the teeth, and the ears. It is said that they die forever if they are nailed in the heart, see the daylight, drink blood from any dead, or touch a rose. It is also remarkable that they can live drinking blood from small animals such as mice and dogs. (The information is from the article of Orpheus Spiliotopoulos)

After a vampire attacks its victim, what is left behind is a lifeless and “cursed to hang around body”. They haven’t got will neither conscience, their only aim is to satisfy their necessity for nourishment. We believe that something similar happens with dementor victims. Rowling hasn’t yet explained to us what really occurs with them. Naturally, if vampire victims don’t turn into a vampire, they must die in 3-5 days because of lack of water. We don’t want to believe that dementor victims end up like dementors, and we think you agree!!

General information about Erinnyes: Erinnyes were Gods in Greek mythology. In Greek language, “erinnyes” means “remorse”. They punished every immoral action. Erinnyes were said to be older than the Gods who dominate with Zeus. Their appearance was horrifying. From their eyes came out fire and poisoned scum. From their mouth came out fire too, and they had a smelly breath, unbearable even for Gods. Their skin was dark like their clothes. They ran after the criminal on earth, in the sea even in the underworld, where they live. It was pretty easy to catch the criminal as they captured him in his remorse. They chased and punished him without caring for the reasons or the circumstances which dictate the crime (sometimes they ran after innocent people too). When they approached the guilty, they cut off his head, uprooted his eyes, whipped him, threw stones at him, and drank his blood.

Petrified? Well, it is pretty obvious that dementors are more like erinnyes. They, like erinnyes, capture the soul into the body and make it think of all the bad moments it had lived (perhaps those while it had been committing the crime); namely, they captured it in its remorse. Also, like erinnyes, dementors don’t care for the occasions of a crime neither, if the person said to be guilty is really one.

Finally, we put all of these together in order to get the general meaning of all the above:

1) Dementors look like Vampires in the way of “eating” their victim (“bite it”).
2) But they are more like Erinnyes in the reason of eating their victim (“punish it”).


2/23/04

Editor's note: We realize that JKR recently said that Percy was acting of his own accord. However, this was written well before anything was known for certain. Plus, it's just fun to speculate.


Of all the theories that have come forward to explain Percy Weasley's behavior in Order of the Phoenix, perhaps the one that gets the least respect says that Percy is not his own man; he has been put under an Imperius Curse.

To be sure, there are other and simpler explanations for most, if not all, of his changed attitude toward Harry and his strange conduct toward his own family. His own ambition has blinded him. He has a tendency to believe the "party line," such as what the Ministry was publicizing about Harry. He shares the attitude with many of your darker wizards and witches, that the dignity of old wizarding blood (and galleons) counts for something. Or perhaps he has really gone over to the dark side of his own free will. Any of the same things could be (and have been) theorized about Fudge too. But the Imperius Curse? If Dumbledore didn't think Fudge was under one, why believe that Percy was? And where is there any evidence that Percy has been bewitched?

Okay, I'll admit, the positive evidence is a bit thin. But let's not be too hasty in dismissing this theory from view. It is, after all, possible. And until we have more information, until we see evidence that proves this theory impossible, we should keep it open and give it due consideration.

After all, Percy's behavior and attitudes in Book 5 really are shocking. Even taking into account his pompousness and ambition, and his refusal to apply critical thinking skills to anything that the Ministry says or does, it's hard to understand how this young man could much such a clean break from his family and Harry. How he could think the things of Harry that he expressed in his letter to Ron-— the one advising his brother to break off relations with that "deeply troubled boy"—- is beyond understanding, apart from some powerful force working on Percy's mind.

Percy must remember that Harry saved his sister from the basilisk in her first year at Hogwarts. And that Harry enabled him to win a dishonest bet against his girlfriend in the Quidditch season of Harry's third year. And that Harry has been all but a foster child to his parents, from whom Percy has heard all that Harry has gone through with his Muggle relatives and his confrontations with the Dark Lord. Percy must recall how Harry performed in the second task of the Triwizard Tournament, proving not only that Ron is the most important thing in Harry's world, but that Harry would even risk losing 1000 galleons to help the mer-people's hostages to safety.

All these things from Percy's own experience, besides all Harry's triumphs and goodness that the Weasley family has discussed over the previous four years, ought to give Percy a good idea what kind of boy Harry is. How could he set aside this firsthand knowledge and simply, suddenly, adopt a completely opposite view—- even on the say-so of his hero Fudge? Either Percy has lost his mind, or he has made up his mind to be unjust to Harry (either out of self-delusion or pure evil), or his mind has been taken out from under his own control. Or of course, Percy could be faking the whole thing for any of several reasons. Any of these, really, is equally possible. We only lack specific evidence to point toward the Imperius theory. But we may find it in due time!

But who could have put Percy under the Imperius Curse... and when and how... and why?

As fans of detective fiction know too well, you need to know about Motive, Means, and Opportunity to answer these questions... or at least, to narrow down the list of suspects. When you don't even know whether the crime has been done, this is only a first step—- it proves nothing. But it may steer us toward the real evidence.

Motive is simple. What's in it for whoever might have bewitched Percy? What would they gain from having a member of the Weasley tribe under their thumb? Well, someone might want a spy inside the Arthur Weasley household. But if that's what they wanted, they haven't gone about it the right way; Percy couldn't have distanced himself more from the Weasleys without changing his name and leaving no forwarding address. He has moved out and has nothing to do with them, other than to write Ron pompous letters. He didn't even visit his father in the hospital, and he slammed the door in his mother's face.

More likely, the motive is to have somebody looking over Fudge's shoulder, and perhaps feeding Fudge shrewd ideas and deceptions to weaken the Ministry from the top down. Maybe Percy is a spy inside the highest levels of the Ministry... or maybe he is a saboteur, a mouthpiece for the Dark Side. Is his enthusiasm for destroying Harry Potter's reputation inspired by Fudge and Umbridge, or is he the one inspiring them? And is he blindly going along with Fudge's missteps and self-delusions, or is he the one putting the blindfold on Fudge? And if spying on the Weasleys or the Order isn't the motive (which now seems really unlikely), how do you suppose he rose so quickly in the Ministry anyway?

So there is a Motive, and it points to the Dark Side. How about Means and Opportunity? When and how could Percy have been bewitched? It seems to have happened sometime after the last time we saw him in Goblet of Fire, which (if I remember correctly) was at the judging of the Second Task. At that time, you remember, his boss Mr. Crouch was under the Imperius Curse, being held as a prisoner in his own home by Wormtail, who had also helped put the real Alastor Moody under an Imperius Curse and who further showed his readiness to do Unforgivable Curses when he killed Cedric Diggory. Maybe, some time after the Second Task, Percy made a call on the ailing Mr. Crouch and got himself Imperioed.

But it also could have been done to him at the Ministry, where dark wizards like Lucius Malfoy and Walden Macnair were frequently seen—- the former paying numerous visits to Fudge's office, the latter working in the same building and perhaps finding himself alone in an elevator with Percy. Even if Lucius didn't nail Fudge with an Imperius Curse, he might have stuck one on Percy. Or it could have happened in any number of other places, times, and ways that we don't even know about. But if Percy has been bewitched, I think we'll learn that either Lucius cursed him at the Ministry, or Wormtail at Mr. Crouch's house. And if they had meant him to turn spy against the Order of the Phoenix, they would have been more careful to make him stay undercover. His mission, instead, had to do with Fudge's office, and particularly Fudge's campaign to smear Harry.

Don't take the Imperius option off the table. We know that You Know Who's crowd used that curse more than once during Harry's fifth year. They bewitched Broderick Bode and probably Sturgis Podmore in their efforts to get the Prophecy from the Department of Mysteries. I think security wizard Eric Munch might have gotten hit with a load of dark magic too, considering that he was conveniently away from his post when the Ministry was crawling with Death Eaters, half-cocked kids, and Order of the Phoenix members dueling it out for all they were worth. So why not Percy?

The thing to look for, as we wonder about this possibility, is if... and how... Percy comes to his right senses in Book 6, and what he says about it. Other signs there are none. Since he didn't look at all sick when he stood at Fudge's elbow at the hearing and at the attempt to arrest Dumbledore, we can assume that if Percy is under the Imperius Curse, he hasn't learned to fight it yet.

But if the person who put the curse on him is Lucius Malfoy, and being taken to Azkaban has any influence on Lucius' ability to maintain the curse, we may see Percy coming to himself early in Book 6. If, however, Wormtail put the monkey on Percy's shoulder, we may not yet have seen the last of the tragic consequences. Like for instance, someone in the Weasley family being hit by a deadly curse that would have been avoided if Percy had been himself. And Percy getting clear, only in time to regret what he has done...it would be the very sort of twist to make the final chapters of Book 6 or 7 really emotionally intense. And on those grounds, I wouldn't put it past J.K. Rowling, consummate storyteller, to reveal that Percy has been Voldything's puppet all along.

03/08/04

"You may belong to Gryffindor, where dwell the brave of heart.
Their cunning, nerve and chivalry set Gryffindors apart."
SS/PS, the Sorting Hat


Thus begins the first magical year of Hogwarts for young Harry. Also, it begins a very small thing that takes up less than a page in the book, but is mentioned approximately once in the majority of the series. Of course, I am speaking of the dilemma of Gryffindor and Slytherin to Harry. "But where to put you?" asked the Sorting Hat. In the end, he is placed (thankfully) into Gryffindor, and all has been well since. Yet, you must keep in mind one thing: he had traits of both houses.

The same case goes for Hermione. Jumping forward about four books and a few chapters, we find out that the Sorting Hat had also seriously considered placing her in a different house, because she had traits of both. Of course, any person with enough sense knows that a personality isn't bound to one area, or in this case, house.

I believe that the Sorting Hat looks at almost every single major or important character and personality trait in the wearer as he tries to decide which house best suits him or her. Whichever house's description best fits the mind, or if a majority of them are in favor of that house, this is where he or she is placed. We all know why Harry and Hermione were debated over in their cases much too well. One's a teen genius and the other is, well... just remember the second book. The whole trading some of Voldemort's (gasp and shush) powers for a very bad life as a ghost-like figure thing should be some reference, I hope. Of course, I'm not here to analyze the Sorting Hat. I deemed it necessary to explain this, however, before reaching my actual point: if it happened once or twice here and now, it may have happened before and may happen again. The same problem must be held, shorter or longer, with many of the students (except Draco Malfoy, but we all know him).

So why not Percy Weasley?

Admit it. Ever since Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, most people spit at the mention of that name! I probably would, too! We've now seen a side that we've never seen before from a Weasley child. Now, I know that there are many speculations that it was all a set-up, but it would have to be a VERY good one. All of his expressions fit a pure, go-happy, will-be top of the class soon if he plays his cards right, person.

Basically, I believe that Percy could've been placed in another house. Before I delve into that, however, I will have to recap on the rest of the Weasley family. There's Arthur, Molly, Bill, Charlie, Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny. All are loyal, brave, they'll stand and fight, and they have a strong nerve to pluck. The four eldest are in the Order, one of them being a curse breaker and the other a dragon tamer (you have to be brave for that, I'd say). The 'Gred and Forge' twins are also in there. They'll stand up for anyone who doesn't deserve a picking at, and, let's face it, they aren't afraid of getting in trouble. Ron and Ginny have proved themselves a number of times, along with Harry, to fit perfectly into the Lion's den.

What about Percy? We don't know a lot about him, except that he's a rule-leader and -enforcer, has been a prefect and Head Boy, gets annoyed by the younger Weasleys, and loves his job. Before OotP, we knew only this much. Yet the newest release has opened up many points of young, foolish Percy that we have never known before.

Below, I have made a compare and contrast chart of Gryffindor and Percy.

Gryffindor:
1. Loyal
2. Strong
3. Brave
4. Makes the 'better' choices
5. Knows when to break the rules, but not always
6. Stands up for others
7. Has plans, but works things out when he get there
8. Strong Nerve
9. Works hard for what she wants/needs, but knows where the line is

Percy:
1. Rejected his family
2. Goes with the flow
3. Let's face it... he's kind of a wuss
4. Makes choices that go with the law and rules
5. Never, ever wants to break the rules
6. Gets people in trouble
7. Makes everything neat and perfect, then fumbles off somewhere else when it messes up
8. Cracked under pressure of the Ministry and went with them
9. Ambitious; will do anything to advance in his job


I'm sure that he must have some of the family traits, but I listed what some of the ones the Sorting Hat would look at to place him in a house. Does anyone see it yet? I believe Harry and Percy have something in common. I think the Sorting Hat may have considered placing Percy in Slytherin. As much as any good fan of Harry Potter likes to think it, we weren't there in the past of Hogwarts, even only a few years back. There is no way we could've seen or known how long Percy's Sorting took. How should we know how Percy's placement of all time went? I am assuming it was something like Harry's. But why was he put in Gryffindor, then? I shall quote good old Dumbledore when I saw that it was Harry's choice that caused the hat to place him in Gryffindor. Could the same be for Percy?

His entire family had been and is in Gryffindor, so it is obvious that he, as Ron had, was feeling anxious to be in this house, too. A sign of family loyalty, perhaps, it was? A choice based on loyalty may have altered the hat's view, but we will never know.

No one but Percy would know, obviously, because he would definitely wish for the secret to be kept on tight watch by him. Maybe he asked Dumbledore. Maybe not. It may all be his choice whether or not we ever know.

This probably brings more comparisons to mind. Neville and Hufflepuff could be the next wonder, but for now, my thoughts are on the Git Percy, Personal Assistant to the Minister and Weasley disowner. I wish him the best of luck and some sense kicked into his little noggin. If any readers are fans of Percy and/or believe he is misguided, I realize this, too, and not only apologize for any offense taken, but think this, too.

Is he really lion-hearted, or do his eyes cry snake? We may never know...

03/14/04

In a recent online chat, J.K. Rowling said that, in Order of the Phoenix, Percy was acting entirely of his own accord. This rules out one popular theory: that Percy had fallen victim to the Imperious Curse. But another theory exists that hypothesizes that Percy is secretly working for the Order.

Admittedly, evidence to support this theory is scarce, but it is there if you look hard enough. The most commonly sited piece of evidence is Percy's letter to Ron. It's true that Percy lets Ron (and by extension Harry and Hermione) know about the upcoming Daily Prophet piece, as well as in imprisonment of Sturgis Podmore; he also hints at Umbridge and Fudge's plans to replace Dumbledore within the year. He has the letter delivered at night so Ron can "read this away from prying eyes and avoid awkward questions," which could mean one of two things: he either wants to avoid Harry seeing the letter or Umbridge seeing the letter.

Either version is a little hard to understand. If Percy wants the letter to stay hidden from Harry... well, he should honestly know better. Percy's been with Ron and Harry; he knows they share everything, that they stay up late together in the common room. However, why Umbridge would be particularly interested in any letter Ron gets seems a bit of a stretch, too; she's far too concerned with Harry to be bothered about Ron. The delivery time, therefore, is shaky evidence at best.

Setting the letter aside, Percy still has moments that seem suspicious, for good or ill. His comments as reported in the Daily Prophet are among those moments. Again, this could be interpreted in two different ways. One is that he's a pompous "Big Head Boy" who will say and do most anything for attention and power. The other is that he's again subtly giving subversive advice and information to the members of the Order. For a news source, he's awfully resourceful. He knows a lot about what's happening and isn't shy about sharing it. He knows the whys and wherefores of Umbridge's appointment to Hogwarts; he knows that she sends reports to Fudge about what happens at the school; he knows about Fudge's "plan to get to grips with" a Hogwarts education (at least he knows about its phases). All in all, regardless of where Percy's loyalties lie, he is exceptionally good at giving out a lot of information.

Another two-sided moment comes before the school year even begins, at Harry's hearing. Percy is there, of course, as official court scribe. He's been working for Fudge for about six or seven weeks by now. To Harry, he appears very cold and distant, not even looking at Harry. Percy could be acting like that to impress his new boss, which is entirely likely. Then again, if he's working with the Order, he'll have been in contact with Dumbledore. Perhaps Dumbledore warned him not to look in Harry's eyes for fear of him (or even Voldemort through Harry) guessing at the intrigue. If Percy is working undercover, then the fewer people who know or guess, the safer the espionage is. Imagine if Fudge saw Percy looking over at Harry, hoping to catch his eye. It would compromise Percy's position. In cases like this, it's best to avoid the eyes.

Unfortunately, this theory is not without its holes, the biggest of which is the fight between Percy and his parents. According to Ron, it was a pretty intense row, which seems rather unlike Percy or Arthur. After Arthur's attack, Percy doesn't visit. Percy sends back his Christmas presents. His photographic self walks out of the family portrait. This is all pretty ominous behavior. However, it doesn't necessarily have to read that way.

Let's assume that Percy is working undercover for the Order. Obviously Dumbledore knows about it. Who else would know? Though everyone is trusted, it's simply not safe to have an entire organization know who their mole is; it could potentially jeopardize the mission. What if Dumbledore and Percy are the only ones who know about this mission? Wouldn't it be simpler and more secure for Percy if he didn't live at home? Living at home promotes an ease of conversation, which isn't something you want in a spy. But, his parents wouldn't really be too keen on his leaving, seeing as how it would leave just them in the house for the majority of the year. Really, if Molly thought it was a bad idea, she could probably convince Percy out of it. So, the best way to break out of the house is to break off relationships. It's harsh, but it has to be done. Besides, if Percy had already decided on leaving, regardless of his parents, he very well may have gotten into a fight with them (though perhaps not as large a one). A fight makes the parting much easier if you can be mad at them; you can't miss someone you're mad at.

Percy is an enigma wrapped in a mystery (covered in a secret sauce ) throughout Order of the Phoenix. His behavior is at once so like the character we'd grown to tolerated yet so unexpected. Needless to say, we won't know for certain what was going on in Percy's head until J.K. Rowling tells us (hopefully) in the sixth book.

03/22/04

Although I was not surprised by Percy's actions in Book 5, I found myself cursing the rat-faced weasel. Why? Percy has shown signs from Book 1 about how far he takes his ambition. Ron has even taken the time to warn us that Percy would betray his family for prestige and power. Why should I be angrier at Percy than I am at Voldemort or even Umbridge? What is it about this character's betrayal that cut at me deeper than Umbridge's conniving smile?

After my third read, and hours of thinking, I believe I finally understand why Percy gets to me. Unlike Umbridge or Voldemort, Percy has shown redeeming qualities since day one. Although ambitious, Percy has always tried to do what is right and has shown care for his family. When I think of Percy, I think of the middle of Book 4 when Ron comes out of the water after the second task. Percy turns pale as he runs to see if his brother is okay. He forgets about his demeanor and his place at the tournament, he throws all appearances away to make sure that Ron is okay. But, how can I reconcile this image with the heartless Percy in Book 5?

Thus, it occurs to me that we are given two separate Percy's throughout the five books. On one hand we have the Percy that embraces pride. This is the ambitious Percy that follows rules stringently and looks down on anyone that crosses even the thinnest line. This is the Percy that lusts for prestige and sides with those who have power. On the other hand we have the Percy that embraces love. This is the Percy that had (has?) a girlfriend. This is the same Percy that drops everything to make sure Ron is okay. Now that I recognize these two very different and opposed facets of Percy's character, the question remains of how to reconcile them into the one person.

It is my belief that we cannot simply take Harry's view of things as the only view to understanding the characters. Through Harry's eyes, Percy is an older brother, the Head Boy that went off to work for the Ministry, and the boy that sat at Harry's hearing as though Harry and Percy had never before met. But who is Percy through Percy's own eyes?

True, Percy is one of Ron's older brothers, but Percy is also a younger sibling. How easy was it for him to follow in Bill and Charlie's footsteps? Bill and Charlie were the first two children that got to grow up before the house filled with five other children. Both Bill and Charlie were successful, though perhaps a little rebellious (fang earring, anyone?). How would this middle position make Percy feel and act? With Percy growing up with both younger and older siblings he had to do well and set examples. Like many older siblings, Percy took the role of father when the kids were away at school. In Book 2, he forces Ginny to take medicine and lectures Ron about going into girls' restrooms. Perhaps this is a large part of where Percy's ambition came from. It's not easy growing up in a big family, much less getting lost somewhere in the middle. True, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley have always given their kids lots of love, but was it that way from Percy's view? Did he feel that he had to do well to earn attention? It is a large possibility.

Whatever Percy's reasons for wanting prestige, it is clear that this is a defining part of his personality. Percy wants not only power, but he wants a clear-cut world where all rules are followed and those deemed important and leaders are out to do what is right. And there perhaps is the real reconciliation of Percy's character. While he wants power and admiration, Percy wants to do what is right. Yes, he may feel important for little things such as working on shabby cauldron cases, but he does mention that it bothers him because people might get hurt. Yes, Percy may have sided with the Ministry, but doesn't he make it clear that he does this not out of hate for his family, but because he feels the Ministry is correct.

Take a look at the letter Percy sends to Ron. We can learn multiple things in this letter, such as the fact that Percy still cares about Ron, warning him about what Percy thinks is a danger. Remember, Percy has cut off all ties to his family in order to remove the stigma of being a Weasley (298, US Edition), but yet he is trying to reach out to Ron; if caught he might be re-stigmatized. Also, Percy truly believes the Ministry that Dumbledore is wrong. "I am sorry that I was unable to see more of you over the summer. It pains me to criticize our parents, but I am afraid I can no longer live under their roof while they remain mixed up with the dangerous crowd around Dumbledore...." This line may drive us to punch the nearest wall, but in Percy's eyes he is only saying what he feels is true. "I sincerely hope that, in time, they will realize how mistaken they were and I shall, of course, be ready to accept a full apology when that day comes." Again, Percy is removing himself from those he feels are breaking the rules.

Taken from this view, perhaps Percy is not so evil after all. Perhaps Percy's real flaw is naivety. Striving for power and ambition, Percy has blinded himself to what is real. He honestly believes that people in high places are there because they are honest and good men. He looks up to them, and wants to follow in their footsteps. Examining Book 4, we see much of this in how he hero-worships Crouch. How many times does he defend Crouch and blindly believe whatever is happening? When it comes to Winky picking up a wand, Percy is all about the rules and image. He truly thinks that Crouch is blameless as long as he follows the rules. So what happens when Crouch turns out to have broken some major rules? What happens when the letters start coming with orders? Percy follows the letters to his own detriment. Surely someone in a high position couldn't hurt him, right? Yet, Crouch did break rules, and everything fell apart. This, more than being a Weasley, stigmatized this once prefect.

After years of searching for ambition, trying to do what is right, and living with the Weasley name, Percy is foiled by his own ignorance. How low must this have made him feel? How angry must he be at his father for adding to this stigma? In Percy's eyes, he has done nothing wrong, has followed the rules, but yet he has constantly been pushed down.

Now take this same ignorant Percy and look at how his character acts in Book 5. It starts to make a lot more sense. "I count myself very lucky to have escaped the stigma of association with such people-- the Minister really could not be more gracious to me-- and I do hope, Ron, that you will not allow family ties to blind you to the misguided nature of our parents' beliefs and actions either" (298).

After all the bitter disappointments in Book 4, Percy finds himself at a crossroads. He can either believe that world is upside down with corrupt leaders and evil men, or he can choose to remain ignorant and believe the world is as it ought to be. When Fudge offers him an assistantship, it was a saving grace to Percy. His career is not only not finished, but he can even be promoted. He can have the prestige he always wanted, and someday outdo Bill and Charlie in excellence. True, his parents would look down on him now, but from his view this would change when they learned the error of their ways.

So Percy, believing (or convincing himself) that he is right, continues to work for the Ministry. He enters a world where it is all or nothing, and he must cut familial ties to survive. He sends back the Christmas sweater and doesn't even visit Arthur in the hospital. It makes us as a reader mad, but not necessarily surprised. Yet, there is comfort in knowing he is doing what he feels is right. This means that once he learns that he is in fact the one in error, he may find redemption in the love of his family. For even if he is willing to turn his back on them, I do not believe Mr. and Mrs. Weasley could ever turn their back on Percy.

Perhaps my first inclination to be madder at Percy than at Voldemort or Umbridge is a hasty one. Percy is not yet a bad guy, just misguided. He angers me bec