Harry Potter Questions of canon events...

[Ina_meishou]

Hmm. I have a question, actually. How much did they ever say about the Black's place, the one on...Grimmauld Street, I think it was? How many floors, what all kinds of rooms and artifacts did it have, just how big was it, what sort of neighborhood was it in? Even if it wasn't explicitly stated, what was implied? It's been awhile since I read Order of the Phoenix, and I disliked it enough that I don't really feel like reading through it and the sequels to try and pin that sort of information down, so if anyone happens to know...I'd appreciate it. I've been fiddling with a notion on and off, so...

A brownstone, which is what it's called inthe books, is generaly a tall narrow stone rowhouse that shares a wall with the two identicle houses on either side.

Its not a paricularly large dwelling, and it's actualy rather odd that the Blacks would have one.

Most rooms are small, and the entry hall would be more of an alcove, very cramped for more than a few people.

Basic layout, (Guideline, suported by canon info)

Lower level, Kitchen/larder

Entry level, (Often the second story in this kind of building) entranceway and drawingroom.

upper two levels, bedrooms and washrooms.

In Cannon it's not made clear whether the entrance is on the second level, in which case the kitchen would be on the ground story, and there would be a basement, or if the entrance is at ground level, in which case the kitchen is a basement.

In either case, there are at least two levels of bedrooms, and it's unlikely there are more unless the blacks decided to build, and felt the need for large parties.

Any rooms above the first bed level are likely to be more sleeping quarters, as it's uncomon to have those in the middle of everything.

 

[Luthorne]

Really? How strange, I was under the impression that the Blacks were moderately well off as one of the more prominent dark-aligned families, which would make their choice of a home a bit strange, unless they had a habit of trying to remain more or less low key, which doesn't really seem to match up with the general attitude of Sirius' mother.


Hmm...interesting, all in all. Was there ever anything that suggested that the Blacks had lived there for a long time, or might it have been relatively recent? Could Sirius' mother still be sensitive about a relatively recent decline in fortunes, clinging desperately to their heritage as a means to justify their importance if only in her own eyes? *taps his chin thoughtfully*

 

[Ina_meishou]

Well you have to remember that this is Rowling, who generaly doesn't think things through.

In modern day, owning an entire brownhouse might actualy be a sign of status, given that space is at a premium in big cities.

I always figured that to Rowling, who wasn't really very financialy well off when the series was concieved, a brownstone would be an example of a rather well to do family.

Unfourtunately, that doesn't mesh with the supposedly obscene wealth of the "Purebloods" (Mountains of gold, heaps of silver, piles of bronze (bronze?WTF? that shit's expensive!))

I've always chalked it up to yet another stupid plot mistake.

 

[Nebkreb]

ina meishou, it's canon, not cannon.

Canon is facts from the book.

Cannons are a form of projectile weaponry.


Sorry, it's a pet peeve

 

[Ina_meishou]

Tru, usualy I catch that when I type.

 

[torgrim]

Hey,

I was reading Birds of a Feather and the story pointed out one of the Dumbles is evil examples typical of these stories that I was curious about.

In the story Harry questions if the Fideldous (spelling?) ever fell from around his parents house in Godric's Hollow. The story presents the idea that Dumbles and Hagrid would have needed to be told the secret by Peter before hand in order to pick up baby Harry. Were we told the ward fell in canon?

Eh, even if not JKR could always go with the old Hagrid is a moron and forgot Peter told him, since we didnt see Dumbles go to the house.

 

[tigros40208]

The only explanations I can remember are all fanon. The most accepted was that the Fidelous was more than just a secret and that the act of betrayal caused by
Peter caused them to collapse. I have also seen that Peter was secret keeper but Lily or James cast so upon thier deaths it collapsed but that doesn't float with book 7.
More than likely its let another plothole by JKR

 

[torgrim]

Thanks, I've heard simular things but honestly couldnt remember what was canon or fanon.

I would generaly go for the theory that the ward fell with the death of the people who the secret (ie the address) belonged to, as for it staying up... Well I guess Harry would have needed to be part of the casting for it to be considered his secret?

 

[Darkfiretiger]

It could be that like in OOP the secret was "The potter family lives at....."
Since the potter family no longer existed, the secret no longer existed, and the charm fell but thats just an attempt to cove a plot hole... although it never mentioned if sounds were hidden and Hagrid could have heard Baby Harry crying and found him that way, also someone mentioned Goblin heads on the wall of Grimwauld, it's actually house elf heads... although it could be both.

 

[Croaker]

I really want to say that in OotP, Harry was shown a note (presumably written by Dumbledore) with the address of Grimmauld Place.

So it would seem that you can get allowed through a Fidelius without direct contact with the secret keeper.

I'm kind of skeptical about it, but eh.

 

[ceyx0991]

You guys are missing the point that Dumbles had volunteered to be the Secret Keeper, and probably told them to go into hiding. The way I think about it, it is possible to know where the house is prior to the Fidelius, but once it is cast, it doesn't matter, because the area is removed from space. You need to be told that it is in space by the secret-keeper in order for you to be able to access it.

 

[Dassadec]

Whatever the case may be about the Fidileus (SP?) falling in 1981 or not, it was certainly gone by Book 7 since Hermione could see the house and grounds.

Is it fannon or cannon that Harry broke his arm before he went to Hogwarts? If it is cannon, then does it mention what age Harry was at the time? Please provide page reference.

 

[Kernom]

Whatever the case may be about the Fidileus (SP?) falling in 1981 or not, it was certainly gone by Book 7 since Hermione could see the house and grounds.

Is it fannon or cannon that Harry broke his arm before he went to Hogwarts? If it is cannon, then does it mention what age Harry was at the time? Please provide page reference.

Until I read your question I was certain I had read that he broke his hand.
I am pretty sure that Harry broke his hand sometime before Hogwarts, but as I have no immediate access to the books I cannot provide the page number. Sorry :huh.: :huh.:

 

[torgrim]

Were the rumors of goats, and the Dumbledore family canon or fanon?

If so is that the reason people found it hard to believe a troll would get into Hogwarts?
(ie. Three billy goats gruff).

 

[bissek]

In book 4, Dumbles said that his brother had been accused of casting 'inappropriate charms' on a goat. What those charms were is never said. That's the extent of the connection between that family and goats.

How does the whole 'If you defeat a person, you become their wand's master' from book 7 mesh with the 'wand picks the wizard' from book 1? If a match between wizard and wand can be forced, then there's no real point in students spending an hour trying to find the perfect wand at Ollivanders. If nothing else, it implies that half of a class on dueling would lose ownership of their wands after every lesson. That is the second stupidest idea that JKR had in book 7.

 

[Nebkreb]

I thought the whole wand-defeating inheritance thing only applied to the Elder Wand

 

[Glimmervoid]

I thought the whole wand-defeating inheritance thing only applied to the Elder Wand

It seems the Elder Wand is the only one with the total loyalty switch thing, but other wands will work better if you won them than if you are given them, but still not as well as your own wand.
Weather normal wands have diminished response to there real owner after being won is unknown but seems unlikely.

Whatever the case may be about the Fidileus (SP?) falling in 1981 or not, it was certainly gone by Book 7 since Hermione could see the house and grounds.

Is it fannon or cannon that Harry broke his arm before he went to Hogwarts? If it is cannon, then does it mention what age Harry was at the time? Please provide page reference.

I am fairly certain that it is Fandom (or at least I can not remember it happening), we know very little about HarryÆs pre-Hogwarts life apart from him sleeping in a cupboard.

 

[Nebkreb]

not 100% on this - but I think its canon. I ahve some vague recollection of reading him at least spraining his elbow badly and the Dursleys ignoring it

 

[nuclear death frog]

There's nothing like that to my knowledge, but I can check. I'm betting on fanon, personally.

 

[tsukiyomi]

Unless it is in book 6 or 7, there is never anything concrete said about his time before Hogwarts, other than he slept in the space under the stairs. From some of the things that happen, such as the locks on the door when he got moved to the spare bedroom and the bars on the windows, you can assume it was not a pleasant time, but that is about the extent of it.

 

[Bruce]

If that is really the extent of it, then does that mean that the idea of Dudley or any of his friends beating up Harry and the parents ignoring it is fanon?

 

[pjanimation]

I looked at the first book, and it doesn't mention that the parents ignore them beating up Harry.

Harry was glad school was over, but there was no escaping Dudley's gang, who viseted the house every single day.? Piers, Dennis, Malcolm, and Gordon were all big and stupid, but as Dudley was the biggest and stupidest of the lot, he was the leader.? The rest of them were all quite happy to join in Dudley's favorite sport: Harry Hunting.

Straight from the American version of the Novel, third chapter, second paragraph. Earlier in the book it also mentioned that Piers was the one who held people's arms behind their back's while Dudley punched them, so it seems like Harry at least has some experience being beaten up by the group. But we don't know anything about the reactions of the parents.

 

[Ina_meishou]

Harry was running from Dudley's gang when he suddenly apeared on the school roof.

 

[Nebkreb]

Turned his teacher's hair blue in like second grade

 

[Ina_meishou]

Turned his teacher's hair blue in like second grade

? what has this to do with Harry being bullied by Dudders?