Chapter 29 -- The Phoenix Lament

[gehayi]

In which Fleur shows class, Tonks makes a scene, Harry is stupid, selfish and insensitive, and we are told repeatedly that Gandalf Rasputin Dumbledore is DEAD.

Comments

[underlucius]

Brilliant spork as ever, and omg yes, it is SO the Dead Headmaster sketch all the way through.

The one line that irritated me BEYOND BELIEF and left my jaw on the carpet was:

"His Hand of Glory," said Ron. "Gives light only to the holder, remember?"

Because harking back to my earlier spork NO-ONE knew that Draco had such an implement. Harry may have told Ron and Hermione that Draco WANTED one, and might have told them what Borgin had said about it "gives light only to the holder" but Lucius had told Borgin "I'm not buying today, Mr. Borgin, but selling," so why they all have this idea that Draco had one, I don't know

[author_by_night]

Oh, and ignoring the fact that Remus, a very private man, is stricken with grief and not at all in a mood for a relationship talk? Tacky, Tonks. Very tacky.

Actually, Tonks is probably stricken with grief too. So I say her emotions took her to extremes. And she did shut up.

I dunno, haven't we all had outbursts about stuff at inappropriate times, when it wasn't just the thing we had the outburst about?

But that's just me. I have a more elaborate Tonks essay on LJ.

"You thought I would not weesh to marry him? Or per'aps, you hoped?" said Fleur, her nostrils flaring. "What do I care how he looks? I am good-looking enough for both of us, I theenk! All these scars show is zat my husband is brave!

Go, Fleur!

Agreed there. That was the scene where my respect for Fleur grew by a heck of a lot.

[gehayi]

I dunno, haven't we all had outbursts about stuff at inappropriate times, when it wasn't just the thing we had the outburst about?

I don't know. I mean, I've gotten upset, sure. And what I've been upset about has sometimes been cumulative. But I don't remember going so totally off-topic. I just get really, really upset about what's currently going on. If I were Tonks, I'd probably have ranted about Dumbledore's death, since that was the immediate crisis. There would be other issues under the surface, sure, but all my attention would be focused on the last straw, not all the stuff that had been bugging me for months.

And I wouldn't have been tearful. I'd have been MAD.

I'd like to read your essay. Could I have the link, please?

That was the scene where my respect for Fleur grew by a heck of a lot.

Mine too.

[author_by_night]

Well, here's my Tonks essay: http://author-by-night.livejournal.com/104385.html Not one of my better essays, but it further states what I've said here.

I like your icon, btw.

[amanuensis1]

Certainly not as close as Harry and Sirius--and Harry got over Sirius's death in about two weeks.

Exactly. For me, Dumbledore's death should have occurred before Sirius's, in terms of continuing to up the anguish on Harry. Dumbledore dying got to me, sure, but I kept thinking, this should have happened LAST book.

[gehayi]

For me, Dumbledore's death should have occurred before Sirius's, in terms of continuing to up the anguish on Harry.

You know, you're right, and I didn't see that till now. It wouldn't have been, as Nanny Ogg would say, "as miffic, with extra miff," but it would have made infinitely more sense from an emotional standpoint. And it probably would have improved the story, too.

[tiferet]

Well, unless someone wants to write a book entitled 101 Uses For a Dead Wizard.

With illos of dead!Deadlybore? I would so buy that.

Also, can I just say that thinking about Slughorn sweaty and ejaculating is worse for my sex drive than a solid pound of Prozac?

[gehayi]

With illos of dead!Deadlybore? I would so buy that.

Oh, definitely! An illustration for each use. And an index.

Also, can I just say that thinking about Slughorn sweaty and ejaculating is worse for my sex drive than a solid pound of Prozac?

Oh, I hear you, believe me.

The line about Slughorn was so slashy that I think we'd have to say with Rupert Giles in the BtVS episode Ted, "I-I believe the...subtext here is, is, rapidly becoming, uh, uh, text."

[fera_festiva]

I could be totally off here, but I have a theory that in this chapter, JKR is trying to tell us that DUMBLEDORE IS DEAD. Just thought I'd mention it. [/sarcasm]

I love Fleur's reaction--"What do you mean, 'WAS'?" She then delivers a smackdown that Molly and Ginny--who have been utter bitches toward her for the entire book--richly deserve

Yes yes yes. Fleur was pretty much one of the only women - hell, one of the only characters full stop - I had any respect left for by the time this book finished. She put up with so much crap and still came out looking much cooler than anyone else. I was like, "You go, girlfriend!"

I really got the impression here that [Tonks] DOESN'T care--at least not about how Remus feels. This is all about her. She wants what she wants. What she wants is Remus. And she wants him NOW.Agreed. Veruca Salt is about right - her behaviour is utterly inappropriate. Are we really supposed to approve of it? I too hope that it all turns out she wasn't really Tonks in this book, but I suspect that won't be the case

[woman_ironing]

Re Slughorn and ejaculation - gigglesnort!

I bet JKR has been longing to do this through all the other five books but knew that only Slughorn could give it that essential je ne sais quoi.
Enid Blyton is turning in her grave.

[gehayi]

I like that theory, but she's used the word before:

"We're not going to use magic," Ron ejaculated loudly. (OotP, page 242.)

You can find other comments that sound slashy and/or sexy out of context here:

Order of the Phoenix Fun-tastic Innuendo List

Prisoner of Azkaban Fun-tastic Innuendo List