harrypotter
We're BACK!!
Ch. VIII: Snape Victorious
chapter eightAs the chapter opens, we find our hero still beaten and bloody on the floor of the compartment aboard The Hogwarts Express. We might do well to note the mention of non-verbal spells! Harry attempts to summon his wand, but is unable to speak, so he trys to summon it by thinking the summoning charm. However, he is unsuccessful.
I think we all breathed a large sigh of relief at the words "Wotcher, Harry!" Tonks! Dear Tonks is back! We haven't seen her since Harry arrived at The Burrow. On the way to Hogwarts we find that Tonks is much changed. Not only is she quiet, depressed, and amazingly serious, but her patronus has changed into something four-legged. I don't recall Rowling telling us what Tonks' previous patronus was, but we know from the conversation with our favorite Potions professor that it has changed.
One thing that remains the same is Snape. Bad old Snape. From his entry, he pushes Tonks nearly to the point of tears, and continues to mercilessly torment Harry. The exchange between Harry and Snape is yet another show of Harry's growing maturity. He does not retort, but rather receives Snape's snide comments with silence. One might view this as Snape's victory. His victory over Harry.
However, during the school feast, we find Snape's victory is not over Harry, but over the entire school. He has triumphed even over our beloved Dumbledore. To everyone's shock, he has achieved the position of Defense against the Dark Arts teacher, passing the job of Potions professor to Horace Slughorn.
On a less serious note, we find that Filch has banned everything made by Weasley's Wizard Wheezes from the school! It appears he is still after Fred and George, even though they have left the school. :D
As Harry and Ron walk out of the great hall, we see Ron beginning to grow up as well... He does not laugh at Harry when Harry relates his beating by Malfoy. Yes, slowly but surely, Ron's emotional range grows from a teaspoon to a teaspoon and a half!
When the chapter closes, Rowling leaves us with several things to ponder, not the least of which is Hagrid. Not only will he probably feel neglected by his favorite students not enrolling in his class, but he might gain an assistant! Grawpy, his tree-hugging (and throwing) brother, may train in order to help Hagrid teach. Rather hard to imagine, isn't it?
As always, no spoilers for the following chapters... let's be respectful and not ruin anyone's reading, why don't we?
I think we all breathed a large sigh of relief at the words "Wotcher, Harry!" Tonks! Dear Tonks is back! We haven't seen her since Harry arrived at The Burrow. On the way to Hogwarts we find that Tonks is much changed. Not only is she quiet, depressed, and amazingly serious, but her patronus has changed into something four-legged. I don't recall Rowling telling us what Tonks' previous patronus was, but we know from the conversation with our favorite Potions professor that it has changed.
One thing that remains the same is Snape. Bad old Snape. From his entry, he pushes Tonks nearly to the point of tears, and continues to mercilessly torment Harry. The exchange between Harry and Snape is yet another show of Harry's growing maturity. He does not retort, but rather receives Snape's snide comments with silence. One might view this as Snape's victory. His victory over Harry.
However, during the school feast, we find Snape's victory is not over Harry, but over the entire school. He has triumphed even over our beloved Dumbledore. To everyone's shock, he has achieved the position of Defense against the Dark Arts teacher, passing the job of Potions professor to Horace Slughorn.
On a less serious note, we find that Filch has banned everything made by Weasley's Wizard Wheezes from the school! It appears he is still after Fred and George, even though they have left the school. :D
As Harry and Ron walk out of the great hall, we see Ron beginning to grow up as well... He does not laugh at Harry when Harry relates his beating by Malfoy. Yes, slowly but surely, Ron's emotional range grows from a teaspoon to a teaspoon and a half!
When the chapter closes, Rowling leaves us with several things to ponder, not the least of which is Hagrid. Not only will he probably feel neglected by his favorite students not enrolling in his class, but he might gain an assistant! Grawpy, his tree-hugging (and throwing) brother, may train in order to help Hagrid teach. Rather hard to imagine, isn't it?
As always, no spoilers for the following chapters... let's be respectful and not ruin anyone's reading, why don't we?
a pinch of floo powder
hogsmeade weekends