(no subject)

[kippurbird]

With book seven coming out this weekend, I started rereading book one. It's kinda interesting now, looking back at it. The writing is still entertaining, but you can see that J.K. doesn't have the rules completely worked out. Two things I noticed:

First of all, there's the spell that Ron tries on the train where he tries to turn Scabbers yellow. It's a spell in a sentence in regular English, which Ron, who was brought up in a wizarding family, should know wasn't a spell at all. After all most spells in the wizarding world are one or two words in a sort of bastardized Latin. So, Ron shouldn't have even believed his brothers.

Then there's the part where they first meet Hermione. She says that she's read all their text books and has tried out a few spells. Hermione is an under-aged witch. She should have gotten a notice from the Ministry telling her that she's not allowed to do that.

There are probably more, but I haven't gotten that far in my rereading, being horribly distracted.

Comments

[christinaathena.livejournal.com]

Hermione is an under-aged witch. -w +b ;-) Sorry, couldn't resist ^_^

[lauramcvey.livejournal.com]

I'm doing the same thing, and I marvel at how simple the first books are. They're childish- not in a bad way- compared to the later ones.
By the was, OoTP still makes me cry. And that? Is the mark of a DAMN GOOD AUTHOR.

[charliesmum.livejournal.com]

Well, I figured that prior to knowing one is a witch, maybe the Ministry doesn't care?

Also, there was the kid engorging a slug in GOF with his Dad's wand, maybe prior to 11, before you get formal training, the Ministry figures you are being cared for by parents, who are making sure you don't abuse the magic, or something.

[thelittlebudgie.livejournal.com]

Yes, but didn't we also learn that when magic occurs in a wizarding household, it's assumed it was done by an of-age wizard? And if they track wands, well, the kid was using his Dad's, so it wouldn't be registered as the child having done magic.

[jacedraccus.livejournal.com]

I don't think they even go that far. Seems like they pretty much go "OK, magic in this location. Is there a registered adult wizard there? Yes? Must be him then." Considering that kid was doing that in a place surrounded by wizards and magic, it wouldn't even have blipped.

[authoressarktos.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the first one I noticed upon re-reading. Second one I didn't...maybe I need to go re-read the books also!

[dryaunda.livejournal.com]

I'm still reeling at Dumbeldore giving Harry to the Dursleys.

[reverie-shadow.livejournal.com]

Well, there was that blood charm thing, remember? Because of Petunia being his mother's sister, Harry would be protected.

Besides, he'd probably become a little stuck-up prat if he grew up around all the wealth and fame in the wizarding world.

I think they talked about this at some point. Eh. It's been awhile since I read the books.

[lauramcvey.livejournal.com]

Yes, but he's still leaving a baby with people who he pretty much knows are going to be emotionally abusive! Whatever happened to James's parents, anyway?

[jacedraccus.livejournal.com]

Well... he knew , perhaps, that they didn't like magic, but that's the thing with Dumbledore. He ALWAYS gave people a chance, no matter what. However, in Book 6 he does tell them how disappointed he is with them. He doesn't DO anything to them as punishment, though he does imply that Dudley has been mistreated worse than Harry.

[jacedraccus.livejournal.com]

As for James' parents, I don't know if that would work. I'm not sure if the blood charm thing could be ANY relative, or if it had to be someone of Lily's blood because it was Lily's sacrifice that protected Harry...

Besides which, there's absolutely no mention of James' parents, and as far as I know James was pureblood, or at least wizard-born. There is no way or reason for them not to know there son is dead and their grandson is famous. There is no reason for them not to contact Harry... ergo, I suspect they're dead, either of age or Voldemort.

[kd7sov]

A bit after your comment, but...

If I recall correctly, Rowling said in an interview or on her website somewhere that Potters Sr. were dead of dragon pox before James graduated.

[reverie-shadow.livejournal.com]

I think that the part with Hermione was excusable. Since she's technically not a student of Hogwarts yet, it shouldn't matter if she's used a couple spells before they're on the school grounds the firstt ime. Not like she could do any harm at her age, long as she would be under supervision. If that were the case, then Ron wouldn't have been trying out a spell while on the train in the first place.

And Ron...I don't know. I love him to death, but he isn't exactly the brightest bulb in the bunch.

[jacedraccus.livejournal.com]

Come to think of it... it's established right up to the 6th book that young wizards frequently exhibit uncontrolled manifestations of magic. Harry and his hair and the other odd things that happen, Neville bouncing when dropped out a window... and Riddle even learned to control it somewhat. And yet neither Harry nor Riddle heard anything from anyone in the wizarding world until Hogwarts came calling. Hermione's attempts before attending school might have been classed in the same way, I suppose.

[emily-goddess.livejournal.com]

I know this is an old-ish post, but I wanted to say a couple of things about your first point. I think the whole idea of nonverbal spells shows that it's focus and intent that power a spell, not the words (otherwise, how would pre-Latin or non-European peoples do magic?). The words probably just help you focus, distinguish one spell from another, etc. (Jim Butcher uses this idea in the Dresden Files, which is probably where I'm getting it from). This would also explain how people can invent spells a la sectumsempra.