The mandrakes. I like how far Rowling takes it when she plays with the notion that mandrakes look like humans by transposing teenage behaviour onto them. Yet nobody has any qualms about cutting them up and stewing them.

The Valentine's Day bit was lovely. Mainly because of Snape's reaction. He really should join Harry for a "We detest Lockhart" club. I am sure the dwarves-cum-cupids would join in as well.

Ginny's Valentine poem was lovely. I giggled for a while and read it five times or so. I wish people would compare my eyes to fresh pickled toads more often.

Riddle's diary reminds me of the Pensieve in later books. I never made the connection before, or at least not that I can remember. Ever since we found out that the diary was a Horcrux I have assumed that was where the memory comes from, but the Pensieve-ness of it makes me question whether that was all there was to it. Could a piece of a soul share its memory in a way similar to what the Pensieve allows you to do? Was the diary created for a specific purpose other than the Horcrux? I forget.

I like how Rowling has Harry sympathise with, even identify with, Riddle, not knowing he would grow up to become Voldemort.

When in doubt, go to the library.

Azkaban. The horror of it is much more developed in a reread, since the dementors were introduced. Looking back I should have taken it as an indication of a very, very bad place when Hagrid, who is not afraid of GIANT EVIL SPIDER THINGS was terrified to go there, but the first time I read it I did not make the connection. I think I just thought he would not like to be locked up. And I suppose that is part of it. But poor Hagrid!

Although, I use all sympathy for the man when I think of how he sent Harry and Ron after the spiders. *shudder*
I do like the car, though.