# Well, I just read the Harry Potter series (thoughts, questions, SPOILERS aplenty) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 19, 2004, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-just-read-the-harry-potter-series-thoughts-questions-spoilers-aplenty/255751 "2004-07-19T01:17:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Hamish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Hamish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamish)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-just-read-the-harry-potter-series-thoughts-questions-spoilers-aplenty/255751/41 "2004-07-21T01:46:54Z")
> [@SolGrundy](#): > > Well, it couldn’t be Harry, because then the title would be _Harry Potter and Harry Potter_. Shhh! You’ll give away the title of the seventh book! ---
**Author:** ![flamingbananas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f4b2a3/32.png) [@flamingbananas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flamingbananas)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-just-read-the-harry-potter-series-thoughts-questions-spoilers-aplenty/255751/42 "2004-07-21T02:47:02Z")
I’ve got a feeling it will be Nelville Longbottom, because although he doesn’t do a lot for the story, she has still kept him as an character that she mentions quite a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Hamish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Hamish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamish)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-just-read-the-harry-potter-series-thoughts-questions-spoilers-aplenty/255751/43 "2004-07-21T02:58:07Z")
> [@flamingbananas](#): > > I’ve got a feeling it will be Nelville Longbottom, because although he doesn’t do a lot for the story, she has still kept him as an character that she mentions quite a lot. But they made a big production of him being a pure-blood in the last book, and it was mentioned in Chamber of Secrets. So he can’t be the half-blood prince. He is a sort of double for Harry, though. Voldemort could have chosen either one, could have marked either one, thus fulfilling the prophecy. He picked Harry, but there was always the possibility it could have been Neville’s story. Dumbledore: “And notice this, Harry: he chose not the pure-blood [Neville]…but the half-blood, like himself. He saw himself in you…” ---
**Author:** ![flamingbananas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f4b2a3/32.png) [@flamingbananas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flamingbananas)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-just-read-the-harry-potter-series-thoughts-questions-spoilers-aplenty/255751/44 "2004-07-21T03:01:46Z")
> [@Hamish](#): > > But they made a big production of him being a pure-blood in the last book, and it was mentioned in Chamber of Secrets. So he can’t be the half-blood prince. > > He is a sort of double for Harry, though. Voldemort could have chosen either one, could have marked either one, thus fulfilling the prophecy. He picked Harry, but there was always the possibility it could have been Neville’s story. > > Dumbledore: “And notice this, Harry: he chose not the pure-blood [Neville]…but the half-blood, like himself. He saw himself in you…” Ah yes. I completey forgot about that. I need to reread the series. It’s been like…half a year. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-just-read-the-harry-potter-series-thoughts-questions-spoilers-aplenty/255751/45 "2004-07-21T04:17:55Z")
> [@flamingbananas](#): > > Ah yes. I completey forgot about that. I need to reread the series. It’s been like…half a year. I’m thinking I need to reread the series as well. I’ve read through it a couple of times, but I seem to pick something new up each time. My biggest question these days is, what exactly is Professor Snape doing for the Order? It seems he may be a double agent or a spy of some sort, but how does he pull it off. Severus Snape is one of the most interesting characters to me…and not just because he’s play by Alan Rickman (…sigh…). He’s a most complex character. I’ll like to know more about his back ground. ---
**Author:** ![flamingbananas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f4b2a3/32.png) [@flamingbananas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flamingbananas)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-just-read-the-harry-potter-series-thoughts-questions-spoilers-aplenty/255751/46 "2004-07-21T04:28:14Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > I’m thinking I need to reread the series as well. I’ve read through it a couple of times, but I seem to pick something new up each time. That’s exactly what happens to me, which is why I always re-read things. You always understand it if you re-read it. I’ve found that if you read it over then you aren’t so excited for the ending, so you can really take it slow and start to really get the story. ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-just-read-the-harry-potter-series-thoughts-questions-spoilers-aplenty/255751/47 "2004-07-21T11:31:38Z")
> [@Askia](#): > > BtW, I hope it’s NOT wizarding law that keeps Hagrid from using magic simply because he didn’t finish school, because that would apply to the Weasly twins, too. They quit school right before exams. Let’s hope we see some vampires before this seroes is over, eh? Nope. Slight differences here. Hagrid was thrown out of Hogwarts for breaking rules, and in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, it is revealed that Tom Riddle set him up for the murders that occured after the opening of the Chamber of Secrets. Tom (IIRC) knew of Hagrid’s half-giant background, and his fascination with big dangerous beasts. So, Tom basically “caught” Hagrid with the basilisk (I think), and Hagrid was thrown out unceremoniously with no qualifications to be a wizard. The Weasly Twins on the other hand Already have their OWLS. They’re basically qualified wizards who are of age. Therefore, they can still do magic, they haven’t been thrown out, and are allowed to do magic, as they’ve done nothing against Wizard Law. ---
**Author:** ![Hamish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Hamish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamish)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-just-read-the-harry-potter-series-thoughts-questions-spoilers-aplenty/255751/48 "2004-07-21T12:29:14Z")
> [@Angua](#): > > Hagrid was thrown out of Hogwarts for breaking rules, and in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, it is revealed that Tom Riddle set him up for the murders that occured after the opening of the Chamber of Secrets. Tom (IIRC) knew of Hagrid’s half-giant background, and his fascination with big dangerous beasts. So, Tom basically “caught” Hagrid with the basilisk (I think), and Hagrid was thrown out unceremoniously with no qualifications to be a wizard. Nope. The half-giant thing seems to have been only known by Hagrid until he tells Maxime, and Rita Skeeter, Harry, and Ron overhear. Tom never caught Hagrid with a basilisk. Tom caught Hagrid with Aragog, the giant spider, and claimed that Aragog was the monster in the chamber. Hagrid had been raising Aragog in a cupboard. I agree with you about the OWLs, though. Never clearly explained, but I think “Ordinary Wizarding Levels” means you have the right to use that magic away from school (if you pass the test related to it, and if you keep it secret from Muggles). If our theory’s right, it’ll make the next couple of books interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-just-read-the-harry-potter-series-thoughts-questions-spoilers-aplenty/255751/49 "2004-07-21T12:35:13Z")
> [@Hamish](#): > > Tom never caught Hagrid with a basilisk. Tom caught Hagrid with Aragog, the giant spider, and claimed that Aragog was the monster in the chamber. Hagrid had been raising Aragog in a cupboard. Good point. I haven’t read CoS for a while. > [@](#): > > I agree with you about the OWLs, though. Never clearly explained, but I think “Ordinary Wizarding Levels” means you have the right to use that magic away from school (if you pass the test related to it, and if you keep it secret from Muggles). Yeah, that’s what I thought. It seems to me that the OWLs are essentially the wizarding version of GCSEs - you get your basic training, can go out into the wide world, can open a joke shop etc, but can’t do any of the “hard” professional wizardy type things. NEWTs appear to be more like the A-levels - you can use them to do slightly more ambitious things, but mainly, if you want to say, be an aurorer, you use them as a stepping stone to further study. In fact, I reckon Rowling’s deliberately made them analogous to GCSEs and A-Levels, in keeping with the theme that the wizard world runs parallel to the Muggle world, but with some points of similarity, and to emphasise that Hogwarts is similar to a Muggle boarding school, but magic. > [@](#): > > If our theory’s right, it’ll make the next couple of books interesting. Yup. Should be good. Hurry up and write, Ms Rowling!! ---
**Author:** ![Hamish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Hamish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamish)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-just-read-the-harry-potter-series-thoughts-questions-spoilers-aplenty/255751/50 "2004-07-21T12:45:36Z")
> [@Angua](#): > > In fact, I reckon Rowling’s deliberately made them analogous to GCSEs and A-Levels, in keeping with the theme that the wizard world runs parallel to the Muggle world, but with some points of similarity, and to emphasise that Hogwarts is similar to a Muggle boarding school, but magic. I figured they were analagous to some form of standardized test, but I hadn’t heard of GCSEs or A-levels. ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-just-read-the-harry-potter-series-thoughts-questions-spoilers-aplenty/255751/51 "2004-07-21T12:47:26Z")
> [@Hamish](#): > > I figured they were analagous to some form of standardized test, but I hadn’t heard of GCSEs or A-levels. GCSEs and A-Levels are exams taken here in the UK at the end of Year 11 (5th year in high school) and the end of Year 13 (Upper Sixth form). Generally, one tends to be about 15/16 when GCSEs are taken and 17/18 when A-Levels are taken. ---
**Author:** ![Hamish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Hamish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamish)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-just-read-the-harry-potter-series-thoughts-questions-spoilers-aplenty/255751/52 "2004-07-21T18:10:45Z")
For anyone who’s interested, [Mugglenet](http://www.mugglenet.com/books/booksix/facts.shtml) has a list of information on the seventh book, plus things Rowling had said about the story that don’t appear in any books. ---
**Author:** ![fizzestothetop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e79b87/32.png) [@fizzestothetop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fizzestothetop)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-just-read-the-harry-potter-series-thoughts-questions-spoilers-aplenty/255751/53 "2004-07-21T19:58:53Z")
I just read the series for the first time this summer and I absolutely adore it (re-reading now actually, I’m on PoA again). I just really want to know, will Snape ever get the Defense of Dark Arts job and why does Dumbledore keep getting other people for the job when Snape so clearly wants it? Is there something with Snape’s background with Voldemort that is keeping him from the position or is he just much better at making potions? That said, wonder who will be the next Defense of Dark Arts professor? ---
**Author:** ![Hamish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Hamish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamish)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-just-read-the-harry-potter-series-thoughts-questions-spoilers-aplenty/255751/54 "2004-07-21T20:22:05Z")
> [@fizzestothetop](#): > > That said, wonder who will be the next Defense of Dark Arts professor? It’s always an unknown, so there’s a good chance it will be again. Apparently, Rowling mentioned there would be a new Minister for Magic (maybe Fudge loses an election?), so I’m wondering who that is. Any speculation on the major surprise about Lily? All Rowling’s saying is that it’ll be huge, that Lily is not alive, that she was never a death eater, and she is not related to Voldemort. So what’s left? ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-just-read-the-harry-potter-series-thoughts-questions-spoilers-aplenty/255751/55 "2004-07-22T06:18:19Z")
> [@Hamish](#): > > Any speculation on the major surprise about Lily? All Rowling’s saying is that it’ll be huge, that Lily is not alive, that she was never a death eater, and she is not related to Voldemort. So what’s left? I think it’s going to turn out that she was much a more talented witch than James was a wizard. I think maybe she was one of the highest ranked aurors, right up there with Mad-Eye Moody. Or that she was maybe second only to Dumbledore in the original Order of the Phoenix. It’s clear that she has played a much more important role than James. After all, it was Lily who died protecting Harry and gave him the magic that protects him, not James. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-just-read-the-harry-potter-series-thoughts-questions-spoilers-aplenty/255751/56 "2004-07-22T06:57:52Z")
> [@Hamish](#): > > I agree with you about the OWLs, though. Never clearly explained, but I think “Ordinary Wizarding Levels” means you have the right to use that magic away from school (if you pass the test related to it, and if you keep it secret from Muggles). Hmm. 1. If you don’t pass an OWL in that subject does that mean you can’t use that form of magic as an adult? So if for instance you didn’t pass an OWL in potions does this mean you can’t use potions anywhere in the wizarding world? 2. Do you have to attend a school of magic to be allowed to use magic? 3. Is there a wizarding form of college or university? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-just-read-the-harry-potter-series-thoughts-questions-spoilers-aplenty/255751/57 "2004-07-22T08:25:28Z")
P.S. GoF was all about getting Harry to grab a portkey. An elaborate, year-long, rife with opportunities to fail plan to get him to the cemetery. WTF? Why not just turn a chocolate bar or something into a portkey and offer that to Harry? Poof! Zap! Slash! Dead. Or not, but it just seems like a bizarrely elaborate way of getting Harry to portkey out. Voldy suffer from Evil Supervillian Syndrome? Why use the KISS principle when a incredibly complicated plan _might_ do almost as well? ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-just-read-the-harry-potter-series-thoughts-questions-spoilers-aplenty/255751/58 "2004-07-22T09:47:04Z")
> [@lavenderlemon](#): > > Hmm. > > 1. If you don’t pass an OWL in that subject does that mean you can’t use that form of magic as an adult? So if for instance you didn’t pass an OWL in potions does this mean you can’t use potions anywhere in the wizarding world? Presumably, it means that if you don’t get your OWL, you can’t do anything _professional_ that involves Potions… > [@](#): > > 1. Do you have to attend a school of magic to be allowed to use magic? One would assume that the wizards/witches have to, but there are magical creatures, such as house elves, which use magic, but presumably never had to go to school. > [@](#): > > 1. Is there a wizarding form of college or university? I would wager a guess that there is, particularly, since in OotP, McGonagal tells Harry that if he wants to be an aurorer, he’ll have to put in three years (I think) of extra study after his NEWTs. ---
**Author:** ![Jenny\_Haniver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Jenny\_Haniver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenny_Haniver)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-just-read-the-harry-potter-series-thoughts-questions-spoilers-aplenty/255751/59 "2004-07-22T14:17:47Z")
I almost started a new thread for this, but I figured two Harry Potter threads active at the same time would be a bit much, so I apologize for totally hijacking the thread here. But… Does anyone here read Neil Gaiman’s blog? Check out Mr. Gaiman’s [blog](http://www.neilgaiman.com/journal/journal.asp) from yesterday. It just so happens it was his son’s birthday, so he posted a picture. OF HARRY POTTER, my hand to God. Seriously, am I crazy? Is anybody else struck by this _disturbing similarity_? And what can it portend? (And the obligatory conspiracy theory - does this mean Tori Amos is Harry’s mom? I’d say being a rock star is a suitably big secret for Lily to have. ) 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-just-read-the-harry-potter-series-thoughts-questions-spoilers-aplenty/255751/60 "2004-07-22T14:25:08Z")
Whoa. Gaiman based Tim Hunter’s appearance on his son?! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-just-read-the-harry-potter-series-thoughts-questions-spoilers-aplenty/255751.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-just-read-the-harry-potter-series-thoughts-questions-spoilers-aplenty/255751.md?page=4)