Harry Potter Underused Canon Titbits
- Thread starter Glimmervoid
- Start date
Yes, he did.
Dementors joined Voldemort in the summer between Order of the Phoenix and Half Blood Prince, though they probably would have joined immediately after his resurrection if he had asked.
Considering that the Ministry of Magic was able to ally with them during the first Wizarding War, however, it would seem that he didn't use them the first time around.
Dementors joined Voldemort in the summer between Order of the Phoenix and Half Blood Prince, though they probably would have joined immediately after his resurrection if he had asked.
Considering that the Ministry of Magic was able to ally with them during the first Wizarding War, however, it would seem that he didn't use them the first time around.
I keeping with the original post query.....
I see two things in the stories that few have picked up on.
1) The execution of Barty Junior by the Minister with little to no repercussions.
(Summary Execution at the highest levels, and no one seems to care???)
I recall one story that picked that up (herms decides to run off and hide).
2) The other is the blatant stupidity of wizards, and yet they seem to not be un-intelligent.... so what's the deal?
A couple of stories have pointed out the use of oaths, and I wonder if something in the oath of office to the ministry/other governmental bodies is providing this dichotomy....
Again, I've seen one story where the oath people make to get government jobs and/or rewards has strange implications on the individual concerned, but one usually does not realize it until after the oaths are in place.
I see two things in the stories that few have picked up on.
1) The execution of Barty Junior by the Minister with little to no repercussions.
(Summary Execution at the highest levels, and no one seems to care???)
I recall one story that picked that up (herms decides to run off and hide).
2) The other is the blatant stupidity of wizards, and yet they seem to not be un-intelligent.... so what's the deal?
A couple of stories have pointed out the use of oaths, and I wonder if something in the oath of office to the ministry/other governmental bodies is providing this dichotomy....
Again, I've seen one story where the oath people make to get government jobs and/or rewards has strange implications on the individual concerned, but one usually does not realize it until after the oaths are in place.
Something I realised rereading PS:
A lot of fanfics have Hermione owing a life-debt to Harry because of the troll incident, which is fine, but then they continue by saying that she doesn't owe one to Ron because it was his fault she was in danger in the first place.
Why does nobody realise that:
1) It was not Rons fault she was in danger: he didn't force her into the bathroom, nor did he let the troll in.
2) By that logic it would be Harry who put her in danger since he was the one to lock the troll in the bathroom.
Of course those fanfics go further in the Ron bashing by saying Harry had to force Ron to follow him, which isn't true.
A lot of fanfics have Hermione owing a life-debt to Harry because of the troll incident, which is fine, but then they continue by saying that she doesn't owe one to Ron because it was his fault she was in danger in the first place.
Why does nobody realise that:
1) It was not Rons fault she was in danger: he didn't force her into the bathroom, nor did he let the troll in.
2) By that logic it would be Harry who put her in danger since he was the one to lock the troll in the bathroom.
Of course those fanfics go further in the Ron bashing by saying Harry had to force Ron to follow him, which isn't true.
Probably this.
Ron seems oblivious to Harry's turmoil, and quite usually adds to it.
Hermione usually means the best and acts like it.
Ron's faults are never pointed out, and he kinda just gets away with being an average pureblood without ever bettering himself.
Hermione does change somewhat over the series, it might not always be for the best, but she changes and isn't static.
Ron is a fairweather friend. Yeah he goes and does dangerous stuff with them, but when public opinion is thrown in the mix, he has left Harry to sink or swim several times.
Hermione's loyalty is never really in question.
Ron is a one of the crowd. The crowd is usually made of up of dicks
Hermione is an outsider. She's an individual who doesn't go with the flow all the time.
Ron was happy to make friends with somebody famous initially.
Hermione was happy to have friends.
Ron seems oblivious to Harry's turmoil, and quite usually adds to it.
Hermione usually means the best and acts like it.
Ron's faults are never pointed out, and he kinda just gets away with being an average pureblood without ever bettering himself.
Hermione does change somewhat over the series, it might not always be for the best, but she changes and isn't static.
Ron is a fairweather friend. Yeah he goes and does dangerous stuff with them, but when public opinion is thrown in the mix, he has left Harry to sink or swim several times.
Hermione's loyalty is never really in question.
Ron is a one of the crowd. The crowd is usually made of up of dicks
Hermione is an outsider. She's an individual who doesn't go with the flow all the time.
Ron was happy to make friends with somebody famous initially.
Hermione was happy to have friends.
You are at least exaggerating some things.
When did Ron add to Harrys turmoil?
Ron has left Harry to 'sink or swim' exactly two times and neither of those had anything to do with public opinion, and the second time he immediately regretted it, but couldn't find them again.
I don't know how you get that Ron is one of the crowd, since he doesn't have any other friends outside Harry and Hermione, nor how you get that he was friends because of the fame. I don't think he ever mentioned it again after their introduction.
When did Ron add to Harrys turmoil?
Ron has left Harry to 'sink or swim' exactly two times and neither of those had anything to do with public opinion, and the second time he immediately regretted it, but couldn't find them again.
I don't know how you get that Ron is one of the crowd, since he doesn't have any other friends outside Harry and Hermione, nor how you get that he was friends because of the fame. I don't think he ever mentioned it again after their introduction.
Points in Ron's favour: Had no reluctance in finding Hermione during the Troll incident.
Sacrificed himself during the chess game.
Tried to stand on a broken leg when he thought Sirius was going to kill Harry.
Went with Harry to MoM after Harry's vision in Book 5.
Points not in Ron's favour: Technically caused Troll incident in the 1st place (OMG, an 11 year old boy was insensitive to an annoying girl. Alert the media.)
Abandoned Harry during Triwizard. Was a hypocrite, by continuing to embellish his story of the second task (claimed to have battled merpeople, and this is after he abandoned Harry for thinking that he was a glory hound.)
Dated Lavender pretty much as a reaction to Ginny's taunting and learning that Hermione kissed someone two years prior. Pretty much did his best to rub it in Hermione's face.
Abandoned Harry during Horcrux hunt.
Note that almost all of Ron's positive traits that I've mentioned are from the 1st three books, while the less negligible negative character traits are from the 4th book onwards.
When I was 11-13, I would had no problem being friends with an 11-13 Ron Weasley. I can't say the same for GoF-DH Ron.
Sacrificed himself during the chess game.
Tried to stand on a broken leg when he thought Sirius was going to kill Harry.
Went with Harry to MoM after Harry's vision in Book 5.
Points not in Ron's favour: Technically caused Troll incident in the 1st place (OMG, an 11 year old boy was insensitive to an annoying girl. Alert the media.)
Abandoned Harry during Triwizard. Was a hypocrite, by continuing to embellish his story of the second task (claimed to have battled merpeople, and this is after he abandoned Harry for thinking that he was a glory hound.)
Dated Lavender pretty much as a reaction to Ginny's taunting and learning that Hermione kissed someone two years prior. Pretty much did his best to rub it in Hermione's face.
Abandoned Harry during Horcrux hunt.
Note that almost all of Ron's positive traits that I've mentioned are from the 1st three books, while the less negligible negative character traits are from the 4th book onwards.
When I was 11-13, I would had no problem being friends with an 11-13 Ron Weasley. I can't say the same for GoF-DH Ron.
I never thought of Ron as just a hanger on. Ron was simply more pragmatic and provided an insight to the wizarding world that Hermione didn't provide. He also has his own fears and insecurities.
In PoS Ron realizes that he's not the hero and that ultimately he can be sacrificed so that Harry can defeat Voldemort.
In CoS Ron rescues his friend from the bad muggles, and then stands by Harry's side when everyone thinks that Harry is the heir of Slytherin. He goes into the forest with Harry despite his fear of spiders, and when he discovers that Ginny is in trouble prompts Harry to confront Lockhart so that they can save his sister.
In PoA Ron and Hermione get into a spat with each other, but he always stays by Harry's side, helping watch over his friend while the threat of Sirius Black is out there.
In GoF Ron and Harry have their first significant tiff, which ultimately leads to Ron confronting his own insecurities regarding his role as second fiddle to the hero. When Ron realizes that Harry really doesn't want to be famous and isn't willing to casually sacrifice his friends, Ron again stands by Harry's side. Again Ron has a tiff with Hermione, but ultimately he supports Harry as much as possible.
In OotP Ron stands by Harry's side, but it is Harry who needs to overcome his insecurities. Harry initially fells jealous of Ron being selected as Prefect, and when Ron does what he can to support his friend, it is Harry who does not open up.
HBP sees Ron maturing, though straining his relationship with Hermione once again. Harry turns to Hermione more as Ron/Lavender gets too overwhelming, but Ron is there when needed.
And finally in DH we see Ron dealing with his insecurities about his family and the two not being able to truly understand and empathize with each other because of the differences in their family structures. Yet despite their issues, Ron does come back, and even saves Harry's life.
Ultimately Ron and Harry's relationship is limited by the fact that they're both boys. It's hard for men/males to truly open up to each other. Male friends support each other, though we don't always explain things to each other, but when family is involved sometimes men have to choose between friends and family. You also have to understand that sometimes a man's loyalty can waver, but ultimately Ron did come back to support his friend.
I don't believe that Ron befriended Harry just to be close to someone famous. I think that they just happened to cross paths at the right time. Ron offered valuable insights to the Wizarding world that Harry craved, and was very humble about it.
You see in many fanfics Harry befriending Draco early in PoS because Draco provides those insights that Harry craves, but in cannon Draco's lack of humility and arrogance are what keeps the two from becoming friends.
In PoS Ron realizes that he's not the hero and that ultimately he can be sacrificed so that Harry can defeat Voldemort.
In CoS Ron rescues his friend from the bad muggles, and then stands by Harry's side when everyone thinks that Harry is the heir of Slytherin. He goes into the forest with Harry despite his fear of spiders, and when he discovers that Ginny is in trouble prompts Harry to confront Lockhart so that they can save his sister.
In PoA Ron and Hermione get into a spat with each other, but he always stays by Harry's side, helping watch over his friend while the threat of Sirius Black is out there.
In GoF Ron and Harry have their first significant tiff, which ultimately leads to Ron confronting his own insecurities regarding his role as second fiddle to the hero. When Ron realizes that Harry really doesn't want to be famous and isn't willing to casually sacrifice his friends, Ron again stands by Harry's side. Again Ron has a tiff with Hermione, but ultimately he supports Harry as much as possible.
In OotP Ron stands by Harry's side, but it is Harry who needs to overcome his insecurities. Harry initially fells jealous of Ron being selected as Prefect, and when Ron does what he can to support his friend, it is Harry who does not open up.
HBP sees Ron maturing, though straining his relationship with Hermione once again. Harry turns to Hermione more as Ron/Lavender gets too overwhelming, but Ron is there when needed.
And finally in DH we see Ron dealing with his insecurities about his family and the two not being able to truly understand and empathize with each other because of the differences in their family structures. Yet despite their issues, Ron does come back, and even saves Harry's life.
Ultimately Ron and Harry's relationship is limited by the fact that they're both boys. It's hard for men/males to truly open up to each other. Male friends support each other, though we don't always explain things to each other, but when family is involved sometimes men have to choose between friends and family. You also have to understand that sometimes a man's loyalty can waver, but ultimately Ron did come back to support his friend.
I don't believe that Ron befriended Harry just to be close to someone famous. I think that they just happened to cross paths at the right time. Ron offered valuable insights to the Wizarding world that Harry craved, and was very humble about it.
You see in many fanfics Harry befriending Draco early in PoS because Draco provides those insights that Harry craves, but in cannon Draco's lack of humility and arrogance are what keeps the two from becoming friends.
Ron is a boring character. He's Average Joe with nothing that makes him stand out in particular, and the fact that Dumbledore accurately predicted that Ron would throw a fit and abandon his friends (thus the Deluminator).
It also doesn't help that of the three people around the Horcrux, Ron, with arguably the least baggage, fell under the thing's sway.
It also doesn't help that of the three people around the Horcrux, Ron, with arguably the least baggage, fell under the thing's sway.
This sums it up quite nicely. Its how I feel, though I had forgotten a few.
This as well. Its one of the main reason I don't like him.
And hilariously enough, this. I try to keep my canon and fanon straight. I don't like Ron not because of what Fanon has done to him. I don't like Ron because of what Canon has done to him.
This as well. Its one of the main reason I don't like him.
And hilariously enough, this. I try to keep my canon and fanon straight. I don't like Ron not because of what Fanon has done to him. I don't like Ron because of what Canon has done to him.
Time for another interesting and underused canon titbit: spells can merge to provide complex and unforeseen effects.
As we can see above, Harry casts the 'Furnunculus Curse' on Crabbe, which seems to be the same thing as a 'Pimple Jinx'. George casts the Jelly-Legs Jinx. The spells combined to cause face tentacles.
The fact that spells can merge like this is quite interesting. It makes enchantment a lot harder than it first might seem. You can't just cast a dozen spells on someone or thing and expect them to all keep working. Those dozen spells are going to be interacting in complex and unforeseen ways, possibly even merging to form a single unified meta-spell based upon but septate to its individual components.
As we can see above, Harry casts the 'Furnunculus Curse' on Crabbe, which seems to be the same thing as a 'Pimple Jinx'. George casts the Jelly-Legs Jinx. The spells combined to cause face tentacles.
The fact that spells can merge like this is quite interesting. It makes enchantment a lot harder than it first might seem. You can't just cast a dozen spells on someone or thing and expect them to all keep working. Those dozen spells are going to be interacting in complex and unforeseen ways, possibly even merging to form a single unified meta-spell based upon but septate to its individual components.
Titbit/Theory time!
The idea that having authority over something/one gives you power over it is an old old idea but one at first absent from Harry Potter. But some resent discussion over at DLP has caused more to re-evaluate my position.
See this quote from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban:
Snape seems to think that being the Hogwarts potions master should help his magic in overcome the Marauder's Map's protections. We see other examples of this too.
In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Ron says:
The Trace breaks at seventeen because that's when a wizard child because an adult. The Ministry simply lacks the ability to Trace an adult because they lack the authority. Governments can act in the best interests of children, regardless of their wishes. Their abilities to do the same to adults are far more limited.
The Taboo could be another example. Maybe Voldemort could only cast the Taboo after taking over the Ministry of Magic because only they had the ability to cast it. Only the government of magical Britain could cast such as spell over magical Britain.
Speculation but interesting speculation IMO.
The idea that having authority over something/one gives you power over it is an old old idea but one at first absent from Harry Potter. But some resent discussion over at DLP has caused more to re-evaluate my position.
See this quote from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban:
Snape seems to think that being the Hogwarts potions master should help his magic in overcome the Marauder's Map's protections. We see other examples of this too.
In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Ron says:
The Trace breaks at seventeen because that's when a wizard child because an adult. The Ministry simply lacks the ability to Trace an adult because they lack the authority. Governments can act in the best interests of children, regardless of their wishes. Their abilities to do the same to adults are far more limited.
The Taboo could be another example. Maybe Voldemort could only cast the Taboo after taking over the Ministry of Magic because only they had the ability to cast it. Only the government of magical Britain could cast such as spell over magical Britain.
Speculation but interesting speculation IMO.
Something I find a little bit underused are the members of Tom Riddle's old gang. Avery Sr. is confirmed as a member and I don't think a distinction is ever made in most of the books if it's him or his son in the latter day. I was just kind of thinking it'd be a little bit interesting if a Death Eater or two knew Voldemort's real name since they were buddy-buddy with him back in the day.
Some things I find that are often underutilized is the spell petrificus totalis aka the "Full Body-Bind" that Hermione used on Neville in first year. Many authors forget about it when they want to immobilize someone or make them shut up, they stun them, then whine that the person won't be able to hear what is being said next.
If they used petrificus totalis, it would solve the problem. It seems they forget about it from the first book.
Another thing I find underutilized is the Head Auoror or just the normal auorors when Harry wants to get a crime reported. It's almost always Amelia Bones, if he's not using Tonks as a go-between.
I can understand bringing the issue of Sirius Black to the attention of the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement as it is more than just the police, but when he wants to report anything else, why does he always have to go directly to Amelia? Why not try Rufus Scrimgeour to report the dark artifacts under the floorboards in Malfoy's house or the crimes Dumbledore's been committing. Maybe owl Rufus when Umbridge is using the blood quill, or the other things she did after exposing Voldemort and now the Ministry would be on his side?
Foe glasses and sneak-o-scopes, if they actually work rarely get used in fanfics other than mentioning Barty/Fake-Moody possessing them at Hogwarts.
Those mirrors that Sirius provided Harry for communication. THAT has such great potential, but so few authors exploit them. I can think of a couple fics, but not many. bellerophon30's "Final Straw" used them effectively to coordinate the defense of Hogwarts in the "final battle", but not many others.
Omnioculars seen only at the Quidditch World Cup have so much potential use particulary during a war that it's a wonder we don't see more of them. Also they show the capability to make movies, but we don't know how long the recording lasts or how long it can be.
Just a few thoughts.
If they used petrificus totalis, it would solve the problem. It seems they forget about it from the first book.
Another thing I find underutilized is the Head Auoror or just the normal auorors when Harry wants to get a crime reported. It's almost always Amelia Bones, if he's not using Tonks as a go-between.
I can understand bringing the issue of Sirius Black to the attention of the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement as it is more than just the police, but when he wants to report anything else, why does he always have to go directly to Amelia? Why not try Rufus Scrimgeour to report the dark artifacts under the floorboards in Malfoy's house or the crimes Dumbledore's been committing. Maybe owl Rufus when Umbridge is using the blood quill, or the other things she did after exposing Voldemort and now the Ministry would be on his side?
Foe glasses and sneak-o-scopes, if they actually work rarely get used in fanfics other than mentioning Barty/Fake-Moody possessing them at Hogwarts.
Those mirrors that Sirius provided Harry for communication. THAT has such great potential, but so few authors exploit them. I can think of a couple fics, but not many. bellerophon30's "Final Straw" used them effectively to coordinate the defense of Hogwarts in the "final battle", but not many others.
Omnioculars seen only at the Quidditch World Cup have so much potential use particulary during a war that it's a wonder we don't see more of them. Also they show the capability to make movies, but we don't know how long the recording lasts or how long it can be.
Just a few thoughts.