Where, oh where, have the smart people gone? Where, oh where, Hemione?

Hermione Granger . . .

What can we say about her?
     While being a resident of Gryffindor Tower, Hermione remains to be the smartest girl in Hogwarts -- even smarter than the Ravenclaw students who are sorted into this house primarily by their intelligence.
     More than once she is defined as being the "smartest/cleverest witch of her age."
     Even as a Muggle-born, "there isn't a spell that our Hermione can't do."

Point being, she is smart and we know it -- Rowling has made that perfectly clear through all seven books.

By movie 8, however, Hermione has lost her quick brain in favor of her becoming dependent on  Ron Weasley, who is never noted for being smart, as their relationship turns romantic.
      . . . What the crap is that about?
                 Seriously. . .

The Battle of Hogwarts begins and the golden trio hurriedly runs off to find and destroy the last horcruxes.
     Harry knew where he was going -- to find Rowena Ravenclaw's Lost Diadem.
     Ron and Hermione, on the other hand, had a different idea. Hermione tries to pass it off as her own -- "Even if we found a horcrux, we can't destroy it, so we were thinking . . . rather Ron was thinking that . . . it's brilliant really . . . that we know where a Baslisk fang is . . ."*
          They get the fang; stab the cup; kiss at an awkward moment; and move on to find Harry.
     Ron pulls out the Marauders Map just in time to see Harry disappear. Hermione is confused, but Ron knows the answer. Harry's in the Room of Requirement because it can be unplottable. "You said that last year."  Flummoxed, Hermione nods, "I did say that. Brilliant," clearly confused. 

In the book, none of this happens. Hermione retains her intelligence while Ron steps up to help her work. So why change this in the movie? Is it that big of a deal to have a strong, smart heroine who does not need a man to save her?
     Apparently it is . . .

And that's just sad. Thanks for demeaning women's role in the world again, Hollywood.




*Yes, I am aware those are not the exact words, but it's close enough and gets my point across.

Bellatrix LeStrange Is a Whimp?

Okay.

This post is going to focus on the Battle at the Ministry of Magic in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

In the book, Bellatrix is super demented and insane.
     Duh.
     We know this stuff already.

But why is there a difference in the portrayal of Bellatrix in the book than in the movie.

Bellatrix kills Sirius. Lupin holds Harry back. Harry chases down Bellatrix and uses the Cruciotus Curse on her.
     In the book, Bella laughs her head off, cackling maniacally. She is barely tickled by the curse because Harry didn't mean the curse enough for it to work. She challenges him, enticing him to strike again because the first attempt was just sad. And she knows he can't do it, so why not tick him off more?
     In the movie, however, Harry hits her with the spell once and Bellatrix falls to the ground, pouting and looking like she is about to cry. Can anyone say -- mischaracterization of character? I know I can. That just isn't true to the book or character. I have no idea what they were thinking. Idiots.

Oh well.

Book Bella wins. And that's all that matters.

Book Review: The Mystery of Harry Potter

The Mystery of Harry Potter: A Catholic Family Guide by Nancy Carpentier Brown


I don't have much to say. I mean, the title says everything that needs to be stated. The book, however, is surprisingly supportive of the Harry Potter books, claiming they are Christian in nature. Her goal is to convince her Catholic audience that Harry Potter is an okay book to be read by anyone of any age.

Her reasoning is thorough and logically sound.

If you're curious, give it a read. It's interesting to see Harry Potter from a very specific, narrow view point.

Book Review: Prejudice in Harry Potter's World

Prejudice in Harry Potter's World: A Social Critique of the Series, Using Alport's The Nature of Prejudice by Karen A. Brown

If you are interested in the different prejudices found within the Harry Potter series, this book should be the first one on your list. And that's for a completely reason than reflecting the title. It is full of information on a multitude of prejudicial issues; not just information, but cunning and intellectually curious ideas based on this information.

Brown explores several topics including
     Nature of Wizarding World Prejudice
     House-elves
     Squibs
     Werewolves
     "Mud-blood"
      Inherited prejudices from parents
      Harry

It's well written and a very good source for this information. I highly recommend it.

Dobby, the Free Elf, Will Always Be There for His Friend, Harry Potter

Anyone who has seen Chamber of Secrets knows that Harry and Dobby do not necessarily get along. Dobby ends up getting Harry both into trouble and hurt while trying to protect / save him. Dobby appears the night Harry must spend in the hospital wing to regrow the bones in his arms. That night, he makes Dobby promise to never try to save his life again.

If Harry was Dobby's master, he would have had to listen . . . and Harry would be dead.

In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (book), Dobby is the one who gives Harry the gillyweed for the second task. Without it, he would not have been able to save Ron (and Gabrielle) or survive the task if he tried to save them anyway.

In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (book), Dobby is the one who warns Harry and the other members of Dumbledore's Army that Umbridge and the Inquisitorial Squad were coming to attack / capture them. While this may not have been a life or death situation, Dobby still showed up to save Harry. Harry's capture by Draco was unfortunate, but Dobby at least gave Harry the opportunity to run to safety.

In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (book), Harry sends Kreacher on a mission to follow Draco and find out what he is up to, certain that Malfoy is a Death Eater and dangerous. Dobby joins in the quest because he wanted to help Harry. The spying worked to a certain extent and, again, even though it was not a life or death position for Harry, Dobby's information allows Harry to leave the Felix Felicis for his friends so they would be safe.

Finally, in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Dobby saves Harry and the others at Malfoy Manor at the cost of his own life. Dying this way makes Dobby's death one of the saddest moment in the entire series. He wasn't required to do so; he freely chose to help Harry.

But take a moment and think . . .

Dobby was only able to save Harry Potter (after Chamber of Secrets) because he was free. Free from the Malfoys and free from Harry, so he could act on his own and do what he loves -- helping / saving his friend Harry Potter, no matter the cost.

Point being -- Harry is lucky Dobby didn't answer to him, otherwise he would be dead due to the above situations.

But Dobby is a free elf and he will always be there to help his friend, Harry Potter.

Battle of Hogwarts -- Death to ALL Twins?

Okay. 

This isn't going to be a long, thought out post. It's more of a question.

Of course, we all remember (and probably cried) when we found out that Fred Weasley died. Some of us even set the book down for a while to grieve. 
     Its perfectly understandable.

What about the Patils?
     According to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, one of them dies. There is no other explanation for one Patil being comforted by Trelawney because "she" is gone. 

Here's the problem . . . 

I've read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows at least 20 times. I have searched the last few chapters at least twice that many times, but couldn't find any reference to either Padma or Parvati dying.

Does anyone out there have information on this because it's driving me nuts not knowing. 

Please help.

Whose Wand Is It Anyway?

alrighty . . . 

Jumping into the Deathly Hallows . . . one in particular -- the Elder Wand.

A friend and I argued about the Elder Wand and whether or not the wand exists given the confusion of Elder Wand Mastery in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. 
     She ended up winning because I couldn't figure out how to phrase my views. I've been thinking about it ever since and I've finally found my words. 

So here we go . . . 

At the time, it sounded like I didn't believe the wand existed at all. Instead, the right of Mastery is passed down to people and there is no official, tangible Elder Wand in existence . . .
     but that's not what I was trying to say. 

I acknowledge that the wand exists and truly is the most powerful wand in the world BUT you don't need the wand to be master.   

As we all know . . . 

Draco never touched the Elder Wand in his life, but the Elder Wand aligned itself  to him anyway. Therefore, the power of the Elder Wand was given to Draco. 

In that same fashion, Harry stole Draco's unremarkable wand and earned Mastery of the wand at Malfoy Manor.

Again . . . this is stuff we already know.

The confusing part is what happens from this point. I am probably weird and odd in my thinking, but here it goes anyway. 
     Draco doesn't touch the Elder Wand, but he has mastered it, therefore  Draco's wand is the new Elder Wand.
     In taking Draco's wand, Harry becomes master of the Elder Wand.
     Also, the actual Elder Wand never works for Voldemort. It's power comes solely from Voldemort, a great wizard. So, wouldn't Voldemort need Draco's wand to be master?

I know I'm crazy -- In the book, Harry puts the wand back with Dumbledore. In the movie, Harry breaks the wand in half. 
      Meaning that there MUST be a tangible wand, but the mastery doesn't necessary rely purely on ownership of the wand.

Does that make any sense at all?  Or have I honestly lost my mind?

Thoughts?