It's not as if there are many people to choose from - about five, if that assumption about the average numbers is correct, and two of them are Crabbe and Goyle. Blaise Zabini seems like a marginally better candidate, but we only get to know him in book six and I suppose Rowling didn't want someone the readers didn't know at all for Slytherin. The male Ravenclaw one is mentioned for the first time, I think?

But yeah, it might be more for reader convenience and plot convenience then for in-story reasons.

Yeah. The train scene marks the formation of the Second Trio, so to speak, the core group of the DA that will back up the Trio at the end of the book. And of course Ginny is closer to the main Trio than the other two are, thanks to being a sister to one, confidante and best female friend to another and future love interest to the last.

And by her being more observant than she seems, as proven by the Thestrals comment.

Good point.

Hehe. That is a nice touch. I kinda sympathize with Seamus in that scene, though. He's clearly hesitant about where he stands, not fully buying his mother's views but unsure about what exactly is going on. Can you blame him? But then he gets one of Harry's temper tantrums hurled his way, and it's no wonder he gets less inclined to see Harry's side at that point, rather than more. Though he'll come around later.

Which reminds me of the thing I'd forgotten in the other reply, will add it in a sec.

Seems likely.


Aye. Fantastic villain.

The key word there is "attempts". She knows she isn't getting through, she knows she has to put it to him straight or he won't understand. But she doesn't. Why? Surely she's not afraid or having to watch her step - not yet, not at this point. There is absolutely no reason why she can't tell him how it is in terms a five-year old could understand. Dumbledore isn't the only one failing Harry in this book, if you ask me.