# 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:** 9
**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 6, 2014, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-stuff-that-bothers-you/680466/161 "2014-02-06T07:30:15Z")
I think she said she’s going to reveal how horocruxes are made on Pottermore eventually. (I hope so!) ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-stuff-that-bothers-you/680466/162 "2014-02-06T07:34:42Z")
^ Or anytime, like when the chamber of secrets was opened, or when the Headmaster was murdered. Nah, wizards are likely more accustomed to the do-it-yourself system compared with muggles. Besides aurors have been dispatched to escort students at times of emergency. ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-stuff-that-bothers-you/680466/163 "2014-02-06T07:36:06Z")
BTW, she avoided mentioning whether or not Jesus, or Santa, or any biblical or religious figure was a wizard. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-stuff-that-bothers-you/680466/164 "2014-02-06T07:56:28Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > I would consider Snape more of an “anti-hero” type. Dude was still a total asshole. Even Rowling has said so. His treatment of Neville, getting Lupin fired, the way he mocked Hermione for being a “know it all” and having big teeth, having no problem lying to the ministry about Black’s guilt, even though it meant he’d get his soul sucked out by the Dementors – I don’t think that makes for a hero. Sure, he was not a nice man, but what he did, being Dumbledore’s spy, long term, in the heart of Voldemort’s camp, took tremendous courage and self-control. Also, in large part his assholery was all part of his cover for that role. Of course, he was also tremendously bitter about how James and the other marauders had treated him, and how Lily had broken his heart, and he takes that out on Harry in particular and on his students in general, but he still ultimately does the right thing at tremendous personal risk and cost. Unlike Harry, he does not get the hero role handed to him on a plate, and he does not wind up with the glory, the admiration, or the girl, but, yeah, he is the true hero of the story, and certainly the character with _by far_ the most depth. ---
**Author:** ![vontsira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/51bf81/32.png) [@vontsira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vontsira)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-stuff-that-bothers-you/680466/165 "2014-02-06T10:22:54Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > As for a wizard (or a squib) working at the train station, JK blew it on that one. They only needed an agent there 4 days a year; the beginning of the school year, the beginning of Exmas holidays, the end of Exmas holidays, and the end of the school year. Those are the only times I can think of the Hogwart’s Express needing to go to London. > [@Magiver](#): > > 6 days, they could leave for Easter. I being a railway nut, I perhaps take a disproportionate amount of interest in the Hogwarts Express. I don’t have the books in my possession at present; but I seem to recall – I think at the time of the Triwizard Tournament, with visitors coming to Hogwarts from the two wizarding schools on the European continent – somebody asks, “are they coming on the train, or…?” (IIRC, in fact they arrive by some other method of magical travel.) This mention suggests to me that – as on railways “in our world” – over and above the regularly scheduled train services: those who operate the Hogwarts Express can and do, on occasion, run one-off special train workings for special purposes. Thus, there could be activity at Kings Cross on more than just four, or six, days in the year. ---
**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 6, 2014, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-stuff-that-bothers-you/680466/166 "2014-02-06T11:41:58Z")
Guinastasia: > [@](#): > > -When Voldemort came to the Potters’ house to kill them that night, why didn’t they apparate out of there? (I believe you can Side-Along Apparate a child) Because performing a spell in the Dursley house before Harry turned 17 would have triggered the Ministry’s “trace” on underage magic, and since the Ministry had a lot of Death Eaters in it at that point, they would have immediately known that Harry was on the move and unprotected. Magiver: > [@](#): > > Also, there was nothing stopping his mother from killing the current body of Voldermort while he was attacking her husband. He then floats away looking for another body. She really didn’t explain how that process worked. The Potters intentionally sacrificed themselves to save Harry because that’s the only magic that could have protected him from Voldemort, and according to the prophecy, he’s the only one (well, he and Neville, but I have to assume that until the Potters were killed, Neville’s parents had similar instructions from Dumbledore) who could eventually kill Voldemort for good. They knew this, it was all part of Dumbledore’s plan. ---
**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 6, 2014, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-stuff-that-bothers-you/680466/167 "2014-02-06T11:45:39Z")
Ranger Jeff: > [@](#): > > B. As for a wizard (or a squib) working at the train station, JK blew it on that one. They only needed an agent there 4 days a year; the beginning of the school year, the beginning of Exmas holidays, the end of Exmas holidays, and the end of the school year. Those are the only times I can think of the Hogwart’s Express needing to go to London. I was of the impression that the Hogwarts Express is a special-run train on a track that routinely goes from London to Hogsmeade. Remember that after the kids get off the train, they have some additional travelling to do to actually get into the school. ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-stuff-that-bothers-you/680466/168 "2014-02-06T12:31:00Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > Guinastasia: > > Because performing a spell in the Dursley house before Harry turned 17 would have triggered the Ministry’s “trace” on underage magic, and since the Ministry had a lot of Death Eaters in it at that point, they would have immediately known that Harry was on the move and unprotected. > > Magiver: > > The Potters intentionally sacrificed themselves to save Harry because that’s the only magic that could have protected him from Voldemort, and according to the prophecy, he’s the only one (well, he and Neville, but I have to assume that until the Potters were killed, Neville’s parents had similar instructions from Dumbledore) who could eventually kill Voldemort for good. They knew this, it was all part of Dumbledore’s plan. You quoted **Guin** ’s question but answered a different one, I think…? The Potters weren’t living in the Dursleys’ house! Did the Potters know about the prophecy? Why would they be staying in their own home if they knew V. was looking for them? Anyway I figure they just got caught by surprise and, well, froze. Maybe they couldn’t concentrate well enough to Disapparate, maybe they were too stunned and frightened and just couldn’t believe they were about to die… ☹ ---
**Author:** ![vontsira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/51bf81/32.png) [@vontsira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vontsira)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-stuff-that-bothers-you/680466/169 "2014-02-06T14:33:14Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > As for a wizard (or a squib) working at the train station, JK blew it on that one. They only needed an agent there 4 days a year; the beginning of the school year, the beginning of Exmas holidays, the end of Exmas holidays, and the end of the school year. Those are the only times I can think of the Hogwart’s Express needing to go to London. > [@cmkeller](#): > > I was of the impression that the Hogwarts Express is a special-run train on a track that routinely goes from London to Hogsmeade. Remember that after the kids get off the train, they have some additional travelling to do to actually get into the school. My theory is that the Hogwarts Express, and its theorised other-train counterparts, are “wizarding” simulacra of Muggle steam trains, basically running on magical principles which are radically different from those of Muggle railroading. I actually doubt whether railway tracks for the HE et al. to run on, are permanently physically there. I see the features of the Hogwarts Express sharing a small and hidden corner of the Muggle rail terminus of Kings Cross in London; and the last non-rail stretch from Hogsmeade to Hogwarts; as flourishes thought of by the author, to “have some fun by complicating things a bit”. I admit that I spend more time obsessing about the wizarding world’s railways, than any sane-ish person should probably do… ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-stuff-that-bothers-you/680466/170 "2014-02-06T14:38:45Z")
> [@a35362](#): > > Did the Potters know about the prophecy? Why would they be staying in their own home if they knew V. was looking for them? Anyway I figure they just got caught by surprise and, well, froze. Maybe they couldn’t concentrate well enough to Disapparate, maybe they were too stunned and frightened and just couldn’t believe they were about to die… ☹ They knew. That’s why they did the Fidelius charm. James for sure was without his wand when Voldemort attacked (which seems very strange, now that I think about it). I can’t explain why Lily didn’t apparate out of there. ---
**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 6, 2014, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-stuff-that-bothers-you/680466/171 "2014-02-06T14:46:37Z")
You’re right, for some reason, I thought Guin was referring to when the Order of the Phoenix came to get Harry from the Dursleys house. I was clearly misreading. I’m pretty sure the Potters did know about the prophecy, but they were caught by surprise when it happened, because they thought they were well-hidden through the Fidelis charm. Also, they didn’t know for sure it would be Harry that Voldemort came after, it might have been Neville. They had Dumbledore’s plan of what needed to be done if and when Voldemort came, but they were trying to keep themselves alive as long as possible until that time, if it were to come at all. ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-stuff-that-bothers-you/680466/172 "2014-02-06T14:59:59Z")
D’oh! :smack: Fidelius charm. I knew that. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-stuff-that-bothers-you/680466/173 "2014-02-06T15:12:20Z")
> [@Bozuit](#): > > \ > Voldemort = Sauron. > > Evil Guy comes along, almost wins, gets beaten back and “killed”, which actually turns out to mean he becomes disembodied and kept alive by another physical object (or objects) which contain his essence in some way. Evil Guy lies low for a while, during which time everyone thinks he’s dead. Then some wizard (Dumbledore = Gandalf) comes along and realizes he’s in hiding, rebuilding his strength slowly and secretly as a non-physical form, gathering his allies, so the wizard tries to tell people. “Ha ha! Evil Guy is dead, shut up silly wizard!” the people say. Evil Guy grows in strength, becoming more and more open, while people continue to deny it, more and more fruitlessly. Fortunately, in the end Evil Guy loses thanks to someone who is obviously completely unsuited to taking him down after getting pushed into it thanks to bullshit excuses from people who really should be dealing with it themselves. This is brilliant! I have never thought about that, but you are entirely correct. I am so stealing this in conversation tonight. My sis is a real HP fan and a LOTR true believer kind of fan. So, I can’t wait to get her take on this. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-stuff-that-bothers-you/680466/174 "2014-02-06T15:21:19Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > This is the most awesome thing I have read in ages. Thank you so much for the link! That is easily one of the best pieces of fanfic ever, and better than most commercial fantasy fiction out there. And, dang if the author isn’t still writing this opus since the last update was 13 Dec 2013. Chapters: 101 - Words: 561,089 That is one labor of love. Started this on 28 Feb 2010. This one is probably worthy of a thread of its own. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-stuff-that-bothers-you/680466/175 "2014-02-06T15:42:52Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > Since we’re discussing the ending, before DH came out I was certain what I knew (approximately) what the ending was going to be, which was building on two things that I felt needed to be built on: > (1) the brief and never-mentioned-again scene where the muggle prime minister meets the magic prime minister > (2) Voldemort’s hatred and scorn for muggles > > So what I thought would happen is that Harry and co would square off again Voldemort and co in some dramatic battle or whatever, and over the course of the battle, all the horcruxes would be destroyed, leaving Harry alone standing vs Voldemort. And Voldemort (who does like his monologue-ing) says something like “I may not be immortal anymore, but I’m still 100 times more powerful than you… shall we duel?” and he raises his wand, and KABLOOM his head explodes because he was shot by an SAS sniper from 1000 yards away. > > And as the smoke clears, the wizards realize that muggles are clearly good for something after all, and Harry and Hermione lead them to a new age of openness and love. > No one else seems to think that would have been a good ending, however. [Not quite no one…](http://www.sluggy.com/comics/archives/daily/080425) ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-stuff-that-bothers-you/680466/176 "2014-02-06T16:03:18Z")
> [@Gagundathar](#): > > That is easily one of the best pieces of fanfic ever, and better than most commercial fantasy fiction out there. And, dang if the author isn’t still writing this opus since the last update was 13 Dec 2013. > > Chapters: 101 - Words: 561,089 > > That is one labor of love. Started this on 28 Feb 2010. > > This one is probably worthy of a thread of its own. [There is one.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=585918&highlight=harry+potter+methods+rationality) ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-stuff-that-bothers-you/680466/177 "2014-02-06T16:06:08Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > Sure, he was not a nice man, but what he did, being Dumbledore’s spy, long term, in the heart of Voldemort’s camp, took tremendous courage and self-control. Also, in large part his assholery was all part of his cover for that role. Of course, he was also tremendously bitter about how James and the other marauders had treated him, and how Lily had broken his heart, and he takes that out on Harry in particular and on his students in general, but he still ultimately does the right thing at tremendous personal risk and cost. Unlike Harry, he does not get the hero role handed to him on a plate, and he does not wind up with the glory, the admiration, or the girl, but, yeah, he is the true hero of the story, and certainly the character with _by far_ the most depth. This isn’t true of much else, but I actually thought the Snape portrayed in the movies was better and more believable than the one in the books. In the movies he was an asshole, sure, but he also showed flashes of decency (for example, when he wished Harry luck in his first Quidditch match) and just wasn’t as over-the-top _eeeeevil_ as he was in the books. I chalk this up to the fact that Alan Rickman knew the whole story of Snape from the beginning (Rowling took him aside, swore him to secrecy, and told him where the character was going) and thus injected small glimmers of decency into his portrayal. ---
**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 6, 2014, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-stuff-that-bothers-you/680466/178 "2014-02-06T16:24:16Z")
The Potters couldn’t have Apparated Harry out, or at least, it would have been quite risky. Side-by apparation is possible, but it’s something that has to be practiced by both parties: The passenger isn’t doing the bulk of the work, but also isn’t just a passive rider. Trying it with a baby would probably be likely to get the baby lethally splinched anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-stuff-that-bothers-you/680466/179 "2014-02-06T16:31:10Z")
> [@Rysto](#): > > I was about to make the same point. The entire plot of GoF makes no sense because of this. I fanwank it by saying that the Cup was supposed to be a portkey, and while the Ministry would detect and investigate an unauthorized portkey they won’t notice if a legitimate portkey has its destination changed. While we’re at it, ok…Harry was entered (against his will) in the contest. Why didn’t he just agree to throw the contest. For example, just say “Gosh, I can’t figure out how to get the golden egg from the dragon. I guess I forfeit”. Even if Harry couldn’t think of that idea, certainly Dumbledore, the Russian and French school heads could, and Prof. McGonnigal certainly could have. End of problem One of my biggest problems is the idea that the wizard world was that they were so completely unaware of the Muggle world. It’s impossible that they had no idea what cars, (for example) were. Many of them lived in London–how could you not at least have seen one? For that matter, King’s Cross Station is near several busy streets. You can’t GET there without seeing cars. So why was Ron’s dad so amazed by them? Ditto radios/cell phones/tvs, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-stuff-that-bothers-you/680466/180 "2014-02-06T16:34:18Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > The Potters couldn’t have Apparated Harry out, or at least, it would have been quite risky. Side-by apparation is possible, but it’s something that has to be practiced by both parties: The passenger isn’t doing the bulk of the work, but also isn’t just a passive rider. Trying it with a baby would probably be likely to get the baby lethally splinched anyway. Well, yeah, but it’s _Voldemort_. James has no wand so he can’t hope to do more than hold Voldy off for a few seconds. What’s Lily going to do if she stays? I guess if she planned to die to save Harry then that would make sense, but wouldn’t it be better to take a chance, especially since she didn’t know her sacrifice would even work? Surely she didn’t know about the curse backfiring on Voldy. And besides, I don’t remember where it said that side-along Apparition required anything of the passenger. There’s also the Floo Network–don’t relatively well-to-do British houses have fireplaces in more than one room? If there was one upstairs, Lily could have just taken Harry and gotten out that way. Surely there was a friend’s house somewhere (or even Hogwarts) where they could have gone? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-stuff-that-bothers-you/680466.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-stuff-that-bothers-you/680466.md?page=10)