OotP Chapter 32 - Out of the Fire

[quartertofive]

Harry rushes out of the exam to the infirmary, looking for professor McGonagall, but she's been trasferred to St. Mungos. The next step is to grab Ron and Hermione, inform them of Sirius alleged capture, override any attempts at rational thought or common sense on their parts, and start planning

Comments

[cadesama]

You know, even panicked, Harry tries. He goes for McGonagall, an Order member who he actually trusts and who hasn't recently thrown anything at him. If Hagrid'd been there, he probably would have tried him, too. He doesn't want to be reckless, or to play the hero. It's no fault of his that he has no reliable support system at Hogwarts, or any means of contacting the Order on his own. And dude, how huge an oversight is that? Even if Harry's not a member of the Order, he's supposedly under their protection. What kind of bodyguard doesn't give the person he's guarding a phone number?

Again, I find Hermione's arguments specious. Why would they have heard about Voldemort getting into the Ministry? He could easily kill everyone there if he chose (Aurors included), and Hogwarts doesn't have any means of instant communication with the outside world. And they don't even come close to having enough information about any situation to judge where Sirius is, why he's kept inside, or why Voldemort would want him. They just don't have

[cadesama]

You know, even panicked, Harry tries. He goes for McGonagall, an Order member who he actually trusts and who hasn't recently thrown anything at him. If Hagrid'd been there, he probably would have tried him, too. He doesn't want to be reckless, or to play the hero. It's no fault of his that he has no reliable support system at Hogwarts, or any means of contacting the Order on his own. And dude, how huge an oversight is that? Even if Harry's not a member of the Order, he's supposedly under their protection. What kind of bodyguard doesn't give the person he's guarding a phone number?I totally agree. Harry wasn't really reckless here. He tried his best to find out it his vision was real, he even tried Snape, and went to the ministry after everything else failed. And I agree that the order should have left Harry some way to communicate with them, how could they leave him and the others completely at Umbridge's mercy? Well, I admit that they probably didn't think McGonagall will be attacked and out of Hogwarts (they usually don't think at

[darkeyedwolf]

When exectly did Harry tried to save people when it wasn't needed?

Well, he stayed behind in the second task to make sure all the hostages were rescued, but he honestly thought something horrible would happen to them if no one came. I agree that Hermione's comment was badly timed -- he *does* want to keep everyone safe, but like he said himself, Hermione didn't seem to have a problem with it when she was the one in trouble.

[cadesama]

Even with the Second Task, I don't think there's any reasonable way for the Champions to have known the hostages would all be safe. The First Task was dragons and however many safeguards they said they had, they were still endagering the lives of all the Champions, as well as the audience. Harry shouldn't have believed that the hostages would be killed as part of the Task, but it's naive to say that they were perfectly safe.

And I still think Hermione's looking at it from the wrong direction. It's not about saving people -- it's about the world being utterly untrustworthy and dangerous.

[schtroumph_c]

* Luna immediately knew they’re talking about Sirius black, and not another Sirius.

* Harry understand he can’t say too much before Umbridge, but not that Snape can’t show he understood before and Umbridge, and Malfoy (who never miss a chance to talk to Daddy. Even if it won’t happen this time.).

* …even the Hog’s Head-[…] --Dumbledore won’t be sitting in a pub…

Who want to bet he was with his brother?

[marie_j_granger]

Luna immediately knew they’re talking about Sirius black, and not another Sirius.

Is it a common name in the WW? Maybe or maybe not, but between her knowing he's "on the lamb" and believing he's actually a harmless pop star, it doesn't really surprise me that she gets this quickly. Besides, Luna is far from unintelligent; she's just unusual.

Harry understand he can’t say too much before Umbridge, but not that Snape can’t show he understood before and Umbridge, and Malfoy (who never miss a chance to talk to Daddy. Even if it won’t happen this time.).

Well, right now he's panicked, so I wouldn't expect him to think of that. I hope he eventually realizes it, but I'm not sure how soon he will (if he does).

Who want to bet he was with his brother?*raises hand* I would definitely say he spent part of his time there. If they look enough alike/used polyjuice etc, he might even have filled in for dear Aberforth for a while. I doubt he was there the whole time, but its proximity to Hogwarts makes me think he was there some. (

[house_elf_44]

Luna immediately knew they're talking about Sirius black, and not another Sirius.

Is it a common name in the WW? Maybe or maybe not, but between her knowing he's "on the lamb" and believing he's actually a harmless pop star, it doesn't really surprise me that she gets this quickly. Besides, Luna is far from unintelligent; she's just unusual.

I took it as a reminder from Jo that Sirius is a pawn (stubby boardman) who is not where is is thought to be.

[trash_addict]

Jeez, i hope after this Harry starts properly listening to Hermione and taking her advice, because she really is on the ball, and he lets his feelings get in the way of her reason.

[lawofsyllogism]

Hmm, I think it would be better to hope Harry starts developing his own latent powers of common sense, and not relying on Hermione's for the rest of his life. :) That said, I don't know a single human being who could claim that, at fifteen, they wouldn't have done exactly as Harry did. Had it been loved ones of Hermione's, do you think she'd have been as calm and reasonable about it?

[trash_addict]

I didn't mean it as an attack on Harry, simply that Jo has Hermione spot on in just about all of her explanations for a reason. Personally, as I reader, I know I'm gonna start paying a lot of attention to Hermione's explanations of things.

[trash_addict]

Knowing how it ended it easy to say that Hermione was to one who acted logical, but Harry had no way of knowing his vision was wrong. His actions, while prove to be mistaken at hindsight,were unlogical. He though Sirius was in trouble. Would any one acted differently if they saw what he saw about someone they loved? Hermione wasn't the one who actually saw the vision nor was it one of her family who was seen tortured, so it's easy for her to say they don't need to do anything. The fact that the vision proved to be wrong in the end, doesn't mean that Hermione is more right in general or that Harry's actions weren't logcial, given the information he had.

[house_elf_44]

There's a swimming thread going now. Tofty offered Harry water, Harry's head swam, and he dove into a classroom. I think this might go with Harry's watch stopping in the lake, and the final battle.

Harry recognized Hermione's offer to accompany him as solidarity and loyalty, and thanked her. Is that a first

[cadesama]

Harry recognized Hermione's offer to accompany him as solidarity and loyalty, and thanked her. Is that a first?

First time thanking her, or first time thanking someone for helping on an adventure? He's definitely thanked her for schoolwork related stuff (he does it in Percy and Padfoot this book). For adventure stuff? That probably is the first time. He's usually either trying to talk Ron and Hermione out of helping, or they're unavailable, or they've been ordered. This is really the first time that he's asked for help from them.

I think Hermione and Harry making some mistakes along the way makes it more realistic and believable, and everyone has their blind spots. They are incredible enough as it is.

Absolutely agree. I even like the mistakes they make, because I think they display some interesting attributes for both of them, and actually highlight their better points.

[annearchy]

I think Hermione and Harry making some mistakes along the way makes it more realistic and believable, and everyone has their blind spots. They are incredible enough as it is

Agreed. They're not supposed to be superheroes, "just" witches and wizards. They're fully human yet also magical (and I'm convinced that magic is a form of psychic energy, but that's another discussion). Also, Harry's not yet 16 (and still in his raging teenage hormone mode) and Hermione is a few months shy of 17. Despite all they've been through, they really don't know a lot of things, and they're acting on incomplete information. So I think they did remarkably well under the circumstances. But oh, if Harry had only thought to open Sirius' gift at Christmas...how many problems would have be averted. *sigh* Humans are all too fallible, and Harry all of his friends as well as enemies) are all too human.

[house_elf_44]

There were 6 members of the Inquisitional Squad who captured and held Harry and company, and 6 DE's that were waiting at the DoM for a total of 12 bad guys.

Actually, there were 12 DEs: Nott, Bella, Rodolphus, Crabbe, Rabastan, Jugson, Dolohov, Macnair, Avery, Rookwood, Mulciber and Lucius.