Fred and George's bet, their winning, the leprechaun gold and their being paid, the explanation for much of their later odd behaviour, is all here in these three chapters. I don't really see the point of this plot line. The only reason for it that I can see is to make us think that they are the strange thing that goes on at Hogwarts. But to introduce a whole extra plot line for that...
The leprechaun gold will also be a contributing factor for the big fight between Harry and Ron later on, and I think this whole plotline is meant to underscore the poverty of the Weasleys and how that does affect them (although you have to wonder, if even a public servant doesn't make enough to live decently, when it seems widespread in the wizarding world to have stay-at-home-mums, why there isn't much more poverty). And it doesn't make much sense for Harry to give them the gold at the end if they haven't been shown beforehand to be in need of it.
True. Although it has been well established already that the Weasleys have little money. But I suppose driving it home isn't a bad idea.
I was also surprised to realise that both the mascots actually are relevant for the later story (Veela ->Fleur, and Leprechauns->Bagman's & Twins' plot).
Good point.
A few more things:
- The Trio actually stumbles upon the kobolds with their (fake) gold that they've just gotten from Bagman. By throwing the Veela's inbetween that and the Bagman meeting, Rowling obscures the connection that might otherwise have been a tad more obvious.
I noticed that.
- Percy mentions Mermish as one of the languages Crouch speaks
I did not notice that.
- First mention of the Department of Mystification, and iirc one of the guys mentioned here will be Imperiused by Voldemort in book five
I noticed that. Perkins, was it? Also, I have a nagging feeling we should know who Basil is, but I can't think of any.
- Before Crouch realizes Winky and his son are involved, he shows a little of the mentality that so abhorred Dumbledore and his sympathizers - and Harry, in the Pensieve - thirteen years before.
Yes.
- Fudge almost directly admitting that Malfoy obtained tickets for the Top Box through a generous donation to St. Mungo's, not for the last time; you have to wonder if some of those generous donations don't stick to Fudge's fingers in the process, considering how thick they are
Yes, and he doesn't even seem to realise it is problematic. Although, I suppose giving sports ticket for a major donation to a hospital is not really terribly problematic. But you are quite right that it sounds like a pattern.
- Re: sexism among Death Eaters and friends: Fudge has never met Narcissa yet? Seriously? What, does that woman ever even leave her house?
I know. It is a little odd.
*MySmiley*
structured procrastinator
structured procrastinator
The Great Harry Potter Re-read: Book Four Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- 16/08/2010 09:28:48 AM
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Chapters 1-3: A different beginning
- 16/08/2010 09:30:26 AM
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Early characters
- 16/08/2010 09:32:12 AM
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Re: Early characters
- 16/08/2010 11:02:23 AM
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Early plotting.
- 16/08/2010 09:32:52 AM
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Re: Early plotting.
- 16/08/2010 11:02:09 AM
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It's the things behind the scenes setting up the big plan (spoilers for this and later books)
- 16/08/2010 11:38:14 AM
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Re: It's the things behind the scenes setting up the big plan (spoilers for this and later books)
- 16/08/2010 11:47:16 AM
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Re: It's the things behind the scenes setting up the big plan (spoilers for this and later books)
- 16/08/2010 12:16:16 PM
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Re: It's the things behind the scenes setting up the big plan (spoilers for this and later books)
- 16/08/2010 12:36:30 PM
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Re: Early plotting.
- 17/08/2010 01:15:43 AM
2784 Views
Any other comments/observations
- 16/08/2010 09:33:34 AM
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Mob mentality and British euroscepticism.
- 16/08/2010 10:37:10 AM
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people in groups and baffling violence. And the godawful recaps
- 16/08/2010 11:03:09 AM
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Yeah, I agree about the recaps, they're pointless at this point. *NM*
- 16/08/2010 11:17:37 AM
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Good news! HP really caught on after this book and so the last books don't have a recap! *NM*
- 16/08/2010 03:27:24 PM
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Chapters 4-6 - The Weasleys
- 16/08/2010 09:33:57 AM
2760 Views
Characters - a few new ones
- 17/08/2010 08:22:33 AM
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Re: Characters - a few new ones
- 17/08/2010 11:07:43 AM
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Re: Characters - a few new ones
- 17/08/2010 12:18:30 PM
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Re: Characters - a few new ones
- 17/08/2010 12:24:41 PM
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Also on the topic of Amos' talk of Cedric and Harry... (spoilers for end of book)
- 17/08/2010 12:44:19 PM
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Re: Also on the topic of Amos' talk of Cedric and Harry... (spoilers for end of book)
- 17/08/2010 12:47:29 PM
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Oh, I can think of a few more things that will prove relevant. But that's for tomorrow.
*NM*
- 17/08/2010 12:51:50 PM
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*NM*
- 17/08/2010 12:51:50 PM
1565 Views
And arguably another one of those fun names with a hidden meaning...
- 17/08/2010 07:47:43 PM
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Plotting - anything of note?
- 17/08/2010 08:23:53 AM
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Re: Plotting - anything of note?
- 17/08/2010 11:10:22 AM
2863 Views
The Lovegoods? This is why reading in translation can be annoying...
- 17/08/2010 12:29:50 PM
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Re: The Lovegoods? This is why reading in translation can be annoying...
- 17/08/2010 12:38:09 PM
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I thought that might be it. Yeah, different names in the Dutch translation then. *NM*
- 17/08/2010 12:40:45 PM
1495 Views
Any other comments/observations.
- 17/08/2010 08:24:20 AM
2838 Views
Chapters 7-9 - The Quidditch World Cup and Death Eaters
- 16/08/2010 09:34:26 AM
2705 Views
Characters: Ministers, Mothers, other important people.
- 18/08/2010 12:44:16 AM
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Plotting
- 18/08/2010 12:44:48 AM
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Re: Plotting
- 18/08/2010 09:41:56 AM
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A few more...
- 18/08/2010 02:00:17 PM
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Re: A few more...
- 18/08/2010 02:13:25 PM
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Other stuff.
- 18/08/2010 12:45:13 AM
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Krum Catching the Snitch
- 18/08/2010 02:28:58 AM
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It makes a certain amount of sense, I think...
- 18/08/2010 01:23:46 PM
2747 Views
Clothes and other schools
- 18/08/2010 09:44:02 AM
2745 Views
There's a first mention of Beauxbatons in chapter nine.
- 18/08/2010 01:37:14 PM
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Re: There's a first mention of Beauxbatons in chapter nine.
- 18/08/2010 01:45:58 PM
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Chapters 10-12: Back to Hogwarts and the Tri-Wizard Tournament. *NM*
- 16/08/2010 09:34:48 AM
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Characters: introducing Rita Skeeter and Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody. *NM*
- 19/08/2010 11:21:29 AM
1540 Views
Re: Characters: introducing Rita Skeeter and Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody.
- 19/08/2010 05:23:11 PM
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Any other comments, observations or revelations? *NM*
- 19/08/2010 11:23:48 AM
1514 Views
There was that Durmstrang reference I was waiting for.
- 19/08/2010 04:23:16 PM
2513 Views
Re: There was that Durmstrang reference I was waiting for.
- 19/08/2010 05:41:04 PM
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Chapters 13-15: First lessons, and the arrival of the foreign guests *NM*
- 16/08/2010 09:35:09 AM
1478 Views
Characters: The Trio, Neville, Moody, first impressions of Karkarov and Maxime *NM*
- 20/08/2010 11:49:04 AM
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Hagrid, Rita, Moody, Neville, Harry, Hedwig, Cedric, McGonnagall, Hermione and Madamme Maxime
- 20/08/2010 12:59:41 PM
2892 Views
Re: Hagrid, Rita, Moody, Neville, Harry, Hedwig, Cedric, McGonnagall, Hermione and Madamme Maxime
- 20/08/2010 02:10:03 PM
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Re: Hagrid, Rita, Moody, Neville, Harry, Hedwig, Cedric, McGonnagall, Hermione and Madamme Maxime
- 20/08/2010 02:20:22 PM
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Re: Hagrid, Rita, Moody, Neville, Harry, Hedwig, Cedric, McGonnagall, Hermione and Madamme Maxime
- 20/08/2010 02:33:04 PM
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Re: Hagrid, Rita, Moody, Neville, Harry, Hedwig, Cedric, McGonnagall, Hermione and Madamme Maxime
- 20/08/2010 02:36:50 PM
2722 Views
Plotting and writing. *NM*
- 20/08/2010 11:51:43 AM
1496 Views
Plotplotplot (plot makes a funny noise if you say it like that).
- 20/08/2010 01:04:01 PM
2783 Views
Re: Plotplotplot (plot makes a funny noise if you say it like that).
- 20/08/2010 01:55:29 PM
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Re: Plotplotplot (plot makes a funny noise if you say it like that).
- 20/08/2010 02:04:07 PM
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Anything else to add? *NM*
- 20/08/2010 11:52:05 AM
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Yes. Five things, actually. Magic, Snape, idiocy, apparating while presumed guilty aaand evil films.
- 20/08/2010 01:05:06 PM
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Trelawney, or how one can be a Seer and not even know it.
- 20/08/2010 01:46:09 PM
2795 Views
Chapters 16-18: The Tri-Wizard Tournament begins *NM*
- 16/08/2010 09:35:31 AM
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Characters: The Champions, Hagrid, Karkarov, and of course Rita Skeeter in person *NM*
- 21/08/2010 01:10:53 PM
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Karkaroff, Moody, Fleur, Krum, Ron, Hermione, Snape and Rita
- 21/08/2010 01:50:12 PM
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Re: Karkaroff, Moody, Fleur, Krum, Ron, Hermione, Snape and Rita
- 21/08/2010 04:24:02 PM
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Re: Karkaroff, Moody, Fleur, Krum, Ron, Hermione, Snape and Rita
- 21/08/2010 04:40:39 PM
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Re: Karkaroff, Moody, Fleur, Krum, Ron, Hermione, Snape and Rita
- 21/08/2010 05:06:43 PM
3014 Views
Re: Karkaroff, Moody, Fleur, Krum, Ron, Hermione, Snape and Rita
- 21/08/2010 05:10:53 PM
2768 Views
Oh, you're right, it is then. I thought you meant she said it to Harry.
- 21/08/2010 05:31:49 PM
2987 Views
Re: Oh, you're right, it is then. I thought you meant she said it to Harry.
- 21/08/2010 05:41:44 PM
2862 Views
The teeth comment was by far the best Snape one liner in the series.
- 23/08/2010 09:20:18 PM
2764 Views
- 23/08/2010 09:20:18 PM
2764 Views
Re: The teeth comment was by far the best Snape one liner in the series.
- 23/08/2010 09:22:26 PM
2951 Views
- 23/08/2010 09:22:26 PM
2951 Views
Definitely true
- 23/08/2010 10:02:46 PM
2973 Views
Re: Definitely true
- 24/08/2010 06:20:53 PM
3065 Views
Plotting and writing.
- 21/08/2010 01:12:24 PM
3060 Views
plotting both for the book alone and the series as a whole
- 21/08/2010 01:39:10 PM
2809 Views
Other comments, small details you noticed,...? *NM*
- 21/08/2010 01:12:53 PM
1522 Views
House-elves, Hufflepuff and minds in gutter.
- 21/08/2010 01:35:38 PM
3080 Views
Re: House-elves, Hufflepuff and minds in gutter.
- 21/08/2010 04:55:10 PM
2936 Views
Re: House-elves, Hufflepuff and minds in gutter.
- 21/08/2010 04:59:55 PM
3047 Views
I love the bouillabaisse thing.
- 21/08/2010 05:02:47 PM
2981 Views
Re: I love the bouillabaisse thing.
- 21/08/2010 05:08:40 PM
3009 Views
I associate blancmange more with Britain than with anywhere else...
- 21/08/2010 05:26:17 PM
2813 Views
Re: I love the bouillabaisse thing.
- 21/08/2010 05:12:54 PM
2721 Views
No, no, the pudding and the bouillabaisse are two different things.
- 21/08/2010 05:24:50 PM
2700 Views
Re: No, no, the pudding and the bouillabaisse are two different things.
- 21/08/2010 05:39:06 PM
3005 Views
Hermione really comes into her own in this book.
- 27/08/2010 11:30:38 PM
2611 Views
Agreed, but spending really all her time with those two boys does make it easier...
- 27/08/2010 11:36:20 PM
2792 Views
Re: Agreed, but spending really all her time with those two boys does make it easier...
- 27/08/2010 11:48:19 PM
2816 Views
Chapters 19-21: The first task and House-Elves at Hogwarts *NM*
- 16/08/2010 09:35:53 AM
1507 Views
Characters: The Trio, the Champions, Moody, Dobby and Winky,...
- 23/08/2010 10:40:21 AM
2754 Views
The trio, Neville and the House-elves.
- 23/08/2010 11:07:50 AM
2776 Views
Re: The trio, Neville and the House-elves.
- 23/08/2010 11:35:56 AM
2905 Views
Re: The trio, Neville and the House-elves.
- 23/08/2010 11:44:08 AM
3066 Views
Ron and Harry, Winky, various other thoughts.
- 23/08/2010 11:19:21 AM
2718 Views
Re: Ron and Harry, Winky, various other thoughts.
- 23/08/2010 11:56:37 AM
2837 Views
Plotting and writing: the first task and other events *NM*
- 23/08/2010 10:41:20 AM
1529 Views
Good plotting in this section
- 23/08/2010 11:08:50 AM
2884 Views
Anything else you want to comment on? *NM*
- 23/08/2010 10:41:39 AM
1491 Views
I love that there is a book called Men Who Love Dragons Too Much. *NM*
- 23/08/2010 11:09:15 AM
1428 Views
Chapters 22-24: The - rather eventful - Yule Ball *NM*
- 16/08/2010 09:36:30 AM
1408 Views
Characters: The Trio, Champions and their dates, Karkarov, Hagrid and Olympe,...
- 24/08/2010 11:09:33 AM
2914 Views
Ron and Hermione, mainly.
- 24/08/2010 11:47:49 AM
3003 Views
Makes sense.
- 24/08/2010 01:15:37 PM
2738 Views
- 24/08/2010 01:15:37 PM
2738 Views
Re: Makes sense.
- 24/08/2010 03:53:20 PM
2708 Views
- 24/08/2010 03:53:20 PM
2708 Views
Re: Makes sense.
- 24/08/2010 05:00:59 PM
2808 Views
- 24/08/2010 05:00:59 PM
2808 Views
Plotting and writing: a bit of a lull in the tension, perhaps, but there's still a lot going on. *NM*
- 24/08/2010 11:11:49 AM
1562 Views
Yule Ball, preparation and aftermath
- 24/08/2010 11:48:30 AM
2955 Views
Re: Yule Ball, preparation and aftermath
- 24/08/2010 02:18:04 PM
2774 Views
Whatever else you want to say about these three chapters. *NM*
- 24/08/2010 11:12:33 AM
1573 Views
Gender roles, Dobby, national stereotypes, creepy magic and gobbledegook.
- 24/08/2010 11:49:16 AM
2872 Views
Re: Gender roles, Dobby, national stereotypes, creepy magic and gobbledegook.
- 24/08/2010 02:27:51 PM
2785 Views
Re: Gender roles, Dobby, national stereotypes, creepy magic and gobbledegook.
- 24/08/2010 04:15:15 PM
2841 Views
Ron's lasso comment is brilliant. Absolute genius.
- 24/08/2010 02:23:37 PM
2779 Views
Lasso comment?
- 24/08/2010 04:20:35 PM
2841 Views
When discussing methods to separate girls from their gang.
- 24/08/2010 04:27:47 PM
2791 Views
Ah. Hehe. Yes.
- 24/08/2010 04:30:34 PM
2874 Views
It's not really a humourous pun, just a nice find by the translator.
- 24/08/2010 04:45:34 PM
2993 Views
Re: It's not really a humourous pun, just a nice find by the translator.
- 24/08/2010 04:48:50 PM
2850 Views
Holy crap.
- 25/08/2010 02:44:57 PM
2772 Views
Yeah, I don't know if the Google pictures are entirely representative...
- 25/08/2010 03:06:25 PM
2874 Views
Chapters 25-27: The second task and Padfoot's return
- 16/08/2010 09:36:55 AM
2768 Views
Characters: The Trio, Krum, Fleur, Sirius,... *NM*
- 25/08/2010 11:18:49 AM
1459 Views
Snape, Percy, Hermione, Ron, Mrs Weasley and Sirius.
- 25/08/2010 05:31:18 PM
2695 Views
I'm a bit worried about people's reactions to Snape during these discussions
- 25/08/2010 05:41:43 PM
2990 Views
Re: I'm a bit worried about people's reactions to Snape during these discussions
- 25/08/2010 05:45:30 PM
2730 Views
Agreed. Snape is one of the most fascinating characters I have ever read
- 25/08/2010 05:57:12 PM
2845 Views
Fleur shows that, when push comes to shove, she has her priorities straight.
- 26/08/2010 10:54:11 AM
2671 Views
Re: Fleur shows that, when push comes to shove, she has her priorities straight.
- 26/08/2010 11:21:59 AM
2791 Views
Plotting and writing: clues, red herrings and recapitulation *NM*
- 25/08/2010 11:19:47 AM
1505 Views
Merpeople and the second task.
- 25/08/2010 11:34:40 AM
2809 Views
And something else I never understood about the second task
- 25/08/2010 02:32:51 PM
2835 Views
That's a good point, yeah...
- 25/08/2010 03:07:30 PM
2688 Views
Maybe they should have had a magical big screen projection of what was going on in the lake lol
- 25/08/2010 03:57:48 PM
2801 Views
Lots of stuff -- I may have to change my opinion of Rowling's plotting in this book.
- 25/08/2010 05:23:30 PM
2809 Views
Re: Lots of stuff -- I may have to change my opinion of Rowling's plotting in this book.
- 25/08/2010 05:40:39 PM
2851 Views
Re: Lots of stuff -- I may have to change my opinion of Rowling's plotting in this book.
- 25/08/2010 05:42:52 PM
2735 Views
Re: Lots of stuff -- I may have to change my opinion of Rowling's plotting in this book.
- 26/08/2010 11:09:20 AM
2764 Views
Re: Lots of stuff -- I may have to change my opinion of Rowling's plotting in this book.
- 26/08/2010 11:17:36 AM
2884 Views
Marauder's Map.
- 05/09/2010 05:27:17 AM
2787 Views
Other comments. *NM*
- 25/08/2010 11:20:11 AM
1506 Views
Two completely unrelated things.
- 25/08/2010 05:24:26 PM
2798 Views
Re: Two completely unrelated things.
- 25/08/2010 05:36:29 PM
2815 Views
Re: Two completely unrelated things.
- 25/08/2010 05:42:20 PM
2906 Views
Chapters 28-30: Moving towards the climax *NM*
- 16/08/2010 09:37:22 AM
1440 Views
Characters: The Trio, Krum, Karkarov, the Crouch family,... *NM*
- 26/08/2010 12:15:59 PM
1541 Views
Madame Maxime, Crouch, Snape, Twins, Fudge and Neville
- 26/08/2010 02:48:04 PM
2823 Views
Plotting and writing: increasing signs of danger, and revelations about the past. *NM*
- 26/08/2010 12:16:50 PM
1507 Views
Some good plotting here, and some recurring issues.
- 26/08/2010 02:50:29 PM
2781 Views
Re: Some good plotting here, and some recurring issues.
- 26/08/2010 03:38:53 PM
3016 Views
Re: Some good plotting here, and some recurring issues.
- 26/08/2010 03:51:32 PM
2841 Views
Chapters 31-33: The third task
- 16/08/2010 09:38:01 AM
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Characters: The Trio, the Champions, Voldemort, Wormtail,,... *NM*
- 27/08/2010 01:32:11 PM
1526 Views
Ron, Mrs Weasley, Madame Maxime, Wormtail, Voldemort, Quirrel
- 27/08/2010 03:50:03 PM
2726 Views
Re: Ron, Mrs Weasley, Madame Maxime, Wormtail, Voldemort, Quirrel
- 27/08/2010 05:09:48 PM
2698 Views
Re: Ron, Mrs Weasley, Madame Maxime, Wormtail, Voldemort, Quirrel
- 27/08/2010 05:23:14 PM
2763 Views
Plotting and writing: thrilling action, but also a fair bit of infodump/flashback. *NM*
- 27/08/2010 01:34:13 PM
1515 Views
Stuff happens.
- 27/08/2010 03:50:33 PM
2765 Views
Riddle Family.
- 05/09/2010 05:39:29 AM
2771 Views
Anything else to add? *NM*
- 27/08/2010 01:34:39 PM
1493 Views
Chapters 34-37: The climax and the aftermath *NM*
- 16/08/2010 09:38:22 AM
1482 Views
Characters: Well, pretty much all of them, I guess. *NM*
- 28/08/2010 11:04:41 AM
1485 Views
Voldemort, Harry, Dumbledore, Snape, Ron and Hermione
- 28/08/2010 11:57:25 AM
2855 Views
Plotting and writing: tying up, explanations and setting up the future books. *NM*
- 28/08/2010 11:05:33 AM
1492 Views
Revelations and then some
- 28/08/2010 12:02:36 PM
2796 Views
Any other thoughts? *NM*
- 28/08/2010 11:06:03 AM
1503 Views
Two questions and one other thing.
- 28/08/2010 12:03:14 PM
2912 Views
The book as a whole: overall thoughts, comments and obversations
- 16/08/2010 09:39:24 AM
2759 Views
What do/did you think of Rowling's writing in this book?
- 16/08/2010 09:40:03 AM
2861 Views
I think she has more room to display her talent in this book.
- 28/08/2010 11:27:20 AM
2934 Views
Suggestions for the re-read.
- 16/08/2010 09:41:01 AM
2923 Views
Is it possible / easy to make the post an Announcement while it's ongoing?
- 17/08/2010 03:08:31 PM
2773 Views
When should we start the next book? And at which pace?
- 28/08/2010 11:09:07 AM
3056 Views
Re: When should we start the next book? And at which pace?
- 28/08/2010 12:05:31 PM
3038 Views

