# harry potter stuff that bothers you **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 4, 2014, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-stuff-that-bothers-you/680466 "2014-02-04T00:06:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 17
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2014, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-stuff-that-bothers-you/680466/321 "2014-02-13T01:55:55Z")
I figured maybe it was Nagini’s feeding time or something. ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2014, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-stuff-that-bothers-you/680466/322 "2014-02-13T05:11:32Z")
> [@oft\_wears\_hats](#): > > Voldemort mortally wounding him and then leaving before he breathed his last, while Harry happened to be nearby watching was just a lucky coincidence. Now that I read it, the whole thing does seem awfully convenient. Real life is full of such conveniences. It doesn’t feel like that much of a stretch. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2014, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-stuff-that-bothers-you/680466/323 "2014-02-13T06:13:20Z")
How about in _Deathly Hallows_, where everyone’s asking everyone security questions? Remus almost goes apeshit on Harry, Kingsley makes sure to check who Remus is, etc – but when Tonks and Ron arrive, they’re just accepted? (I’m thinking that maybe Metamorphamagi can’t use polyjuice potion or something like that?) > [@oft\_wears\_hats](#): > > I think Snape didn’t defend himself because he was taken by surprise, first by Voldemort’s unexpected decision to kill him, and second by the unusual method of flinging Nagini at him. Snape wanted to sneak off and find Harry so he could pass on his information. Voldemort mortally wounding him and then leaving before he breathed his last, while Harry happened to be nearby watching was just a lucky coincidence. Now that I read it, the whole thing does seem awfully convenient. Meh, that happens all the time in fiction. Like in _Star Wars_, where the droids just HAPPEN to end up with Luke, who just HAPPENS to be attacked by Sand People, who just HAPPENS to be saved by Obi-Wan, the very person that they need to find. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2014, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-stuff-that-bothers-you/680466/324 "2014-02-13T06:56:49Z")
> [@Deeg](#): > > Real life is full of such conveniences. It doesn’t feel like that much of a stretch. Well the book series was full of last second death defying events. Harry was dying from the basilisk wound, saved. He was drowning while going for the sword, saved. Killing curse from Crouch Jr, saved. Voldemort killing him at Bagshot’s house, saved. Dementors killing him, saved. He was always a second away from death. ---
**Author:** ![KKKK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/48db29/32.png) [@KKKK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KKKK)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2014, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-stuff-that-bothers-you/680466/325 "2014-02-13T14:00:56Z")
> [@the\_diego](#): > > Snape was prepared for a Voldemort hex to the point that he drew his wand. He was not prepared for Nagini coming up from behind and enclosing him partly in her globe. > > Dumbledore’s no-kill style is an aberration for the elder wand’s history. It was repeated more than once that the death stick had a bloody history. > > Minor nit pick: Dumbledore beat Voldemort. Voldemort escaped. One would think that a wizard of Snape’s ability would keep an eye on both potential opponents. So if Dumbledore with an ordinary wand wasn’t trying to kill, and Grindelwald with the Elder Wand was comparatively more OK with killing – shouldn’t Grindelwald have won? Nitpick again. Dumbledore didn’t beat Voldemort. They were fighting fairly evenly when the Ministry wizards turned up and Voldemort skedaddled. ---
**Author:** ![KKKK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/48db29/32.png) [@KKKK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KKKK)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2014, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-stuff-that-bothers-you/680466/326 "2014-02-13T14:04:44Z")
> [@MLS](#): > > Neville did not kill Nagini “easily.” He was able to kill it because he had the Sword of Griffindor. He still had it pretty easy – one swipe and Nagini was dead. If you look at how much trouble Harry had with Nagini (albeit without the sword) and also the way Nagini dealt with Snape, you would figure Neville would at least have had to dodge around and swing a few times. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2014, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-stuff-that-bothers-you/680466/327 "2014-02-13T16:43:29Z")
> [@](#): > > Quoth **cmkeller** : > > He used Gryffindor’s sword. The portrait of Phineas Nigellus Black told Harry and Hermione this (don’t recall if Ron was with them at that moment), that’s how they knew the sword could destroy Horcruxes. No, he stuck his hand (with the ring on it) through the Veil of Death in the Department of Mysteries. I don’t know how we learned that the Sword could destroy horcruxes, but that wasn’t it. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2014, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-stuff-that-bothers-you/680466/328 "2014-02-13T18:18:20Z")
Chronos: > [@](#): > > No, he stuck his hand (with the ring on it) through the Veil of Death in the Department of Mysteries. I don’t know how we learned that the Sword could destroy horcruxes, but that wasn’t it. WHAT??? Let’s try some citing, I hear it’s popular on the internet: > [@Harry Potter and the Deathy Hallows](#): > > “Professor Black,” said Hermione, “couldn’t you just tell us, _please,_ when was the last time the sword was taken out of its case? Before Ginny took it out, I mean?” > Phineas snorted impatiently. > “I believe the last time I saw the sword of Gryffindor leave its case was when Professor Dumbledore used it to break open a ring.” > (snip until bottom of p. 304) > Hermione…raised a shining face to Harry. > “The sword can destroy Horcruxes! Goblin-made blades imbibe only that which strengthens them - Harry, that sword’s impregnated with basilisk venom!” ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2014, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-stuff-that-bothers-you/680466/329 "2014-02-13T19:48:34Z")
nm, cmkeller beat me to it. ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2014, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-stuff-that-bothers-you/680466/330 "2014-02-14T06:13:09Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Well the book series was full of last second death defying events. Harry was dying from the basilisk wound, saved. He was drowning while going for the sword, saved. Killing curse from Crouch Jr, saved. Voldemort killing him at Bagshot’s house, saved. Dementors killing him, saved. > > He was always a second away from death. But that kind of stuff happens all the time in real life. George Washington survived numerous close deaths including one battle during the F&I war when four bullets ripped holes in his jacket. Harry’s survivability isn’t all that crazy. For me the closest the stories come to raising an eyebrow is that BC Jr. is masquarading right under Dumbledore’s nose and Dumbledore–the greatest wizard alive–doesn’t realize it, even though Mad-Eye is a friend of his. Still, plenty of plausible excuses can be supplied and it isn’t that big of a deal. It certainly doesn’t ruin it for me. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2014, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-stuff-that-bothers-you/680466/331 "2014-02-14T12:21:39Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > They’re allowed to tell their _spouses_, and some close relatives, I believe (siblings, parents,) After all, Petunia was able to tell Vernon. (Yes, she told him BEFORE they took in Harry, if you’ll recall) > > One thing that bothered me, and I know Rowling only did it so the story would work, but Voldemort having Nagini kill Snape rather than just Avada Kedavra-ing him. I know otherwise Harry wouldn’t have been able to complete his quest, but I can’t remember if there was an explanation for why Voldemort did it. Was Nagini hungry, or did Voldemort maybe suspect and wanted Snape to suffer? Remember that Nagini is a horcrux, and Voldemort can see through its eyes. So he would have got more pleasure out of killing the traitor Snape with Nagini than with a wand. It would also signify Snape’s worthlessness - not even fit to be killed with a wand. There are stories, some probably apocryphal and some probably true, of real-life dictators using animals to kill their opponents, because it’s more gruesome and dehumanising than simply using a gun or sword. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2014, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-stuff-that-bothers-you/680466/332 "2014-02-14T14:00:09Z")
SciFiSam: > [@](#): > > So he would have got more pleasure out of killing the traitor Snape with Nagini than with a wand. He didn’t know Snape was a traitor at the time. After setting Nagini on Snape, he said “I regret it.” ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2014, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-stuff-that-bothers-you/680466/333 "2014-02-14T14:08:34Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > SciFiSam: > > He didn’t know Snape was a traitor at the time. After setting Nagini on Snape, he said “I regret it.” Did he? I don’t remember that. Talking you at your word, it’s still him using an animal to vanquish a powerful opponent, which has apparently happened with real world dictators. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2014, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-stuff-that-bothers-you/680466/334 "2014-02-14T17:32:13Z")
OK, so apparently I misremembered… But what was it that withered Dumbledore’s hand, then? ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2014, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-stuff-that-bothers-you/680466/335 "2014-02-14T17:39:43Z")
[This wiki](http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Curse_on_Marvolo_Gaunt%27s_ring) says he tried to wear the ring to bring back his family, and there was a curse on it. That sounds familiar to me. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2014, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-stuff-that-bothers-you/680466/336 "2014-02-14T18:38:10Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > OK, so apparently I misremembered… But what was it that withered Dumbledore’s hand, then? > [@chrisk](#): > > [This wiki](http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Curse_on_Marvolo_Gaunt%27s_ring) says he tried to wear the ring to bring back his family, and there was a curse on it. That sounds familiar to me. I’m not sure it’s established exactly why he wore the ring, but yes, that’s what caused it. It’s a critical plot point; Snape manages to contain the curse to Dumbledore’s hand, but only temporarily. He only has a year to live at that point, which is why Dumbledore makes Snape promise to be the one to kill him before the curse takes him. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2014, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-stuff-that-bothers-you/680466/337 "2014-02-14T18:42:04Z")
Come to think of it, I think what I was remembering might just have been fan speculation which made sense at the time. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2014, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-stuff-that-bothers-you/680466/338 "2014-02-14T19:33:32Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > Did he? I don’t remember that. > > Talking you at your word, it’s still him using an animal to vanquish a powerful opponent, which has apparently happened with real world dictators. Voldemort didn’t have Snape killed because Snape was an opponent. Volde thought Snape was the Master of the Elder Wand. ---
**Author:** ![expectopatronum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/expectopatronum/32/173_2.png) [@expectopatronum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/expectopatronum)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2014, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-stuff-that-bothers-you/680466/339 "2014-02-15T01:50:49Z")
> [@fachverwirrt](#): > > I’m not sure it’s established exactly why he wore the ring, but yes, that’s what caused it. it is, actually. in the “king’s cross” chapter of deathly hallows (when harry and dumbledore have their in-limbo powwow) he says when he realized the ring contained the resurrection stone, he lost his head a little and put it on, forgetting for a moment that the ring was a horcrux and was surely cursed. (“i was a fool…sorely tempted”) and yes, voldemort does say “i regret it” when he kills snape. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Goob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@Mr.Goob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Goob)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2014, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-stuff-that-bothers-you/680466/340 "2014-02-15T02:00:00Z")
Somewhwere during one of Dumbledores monologues to Harry he said he gave in to temptation and put on the ring. I understood the wand thing in Voldy’s reasoning that Dumbledore was master of the wand by defeating Grendlewald. (sp?) Snape killed Dumbledore; ergo killing Snape the wand would automatically be under control of Voldy. He didn’t use the wand on Snape because he thought that the wand thought of Snape as it’s master. The snake was the handiest weapon on hand. Because Draco disarmed Dumbledore, the wand’s power shifted to Draco. Harry disarmed Draco and the aliegence then went to Harry afterall. Thus during the duel it wasn’t that effective weilded by Voldy against where it felt its loyality lie. A pretty fickle wishy washy little stick. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-stuff-that-bothers-you/680466.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-stuff-that-bothers-you/680466.md?page=18)