Twins: I think the moment they decided that they would no longer care about getting into trouble is the moment I realised this would be one of my favourite books of the series. I love the havoc they wreak. And how they set the stage for the teachers' banding together. And then when they finally decide to leave … the conversation they hold between themselves. It is adorable. And then the final moment of advertisement (and the excellent discount idea) -- and Peeves' salute. It all has me giggling like a madwoman. It makes me happy. It is the perfect counterpoint to the horror and Evil that is Umbridge. Once again, breaking the rules entirely is the only way out of her world.

The teachers: I have said it before, and I will say it again. Nothing quite warms my heart like the teachers of Hogwarts banding together with the students to make Umbridge's life miserable. I like Flitwick's pointed comment. It sums up very neatly the trouble with totalitarianism. But the finest moment is probably McGonagall telling Peeves that the chandelier unscrews the other way.

Cho: I feel it is saying something that when Cho and Harry argue, I am on Harry's side. She really is quite astonishingly dim and irrational at times. I am glad Harry switches her in for a more sensible girl.


Snape: Harry interprets him as the weak victim of strong bullies in the memory. I think that is a mistake. And not just because of the ``Harry is always wrong'' rule. First of all, we are given this out of context. It is one memory, which does not provide us with the story of earlier encounters. I feel fairly certain that there is a varied pattern there. I don't think they are picking on him because he is weak; quite the contrary, I think they are doing what the twins did to Dudley in an earlier book (although as I see it in a less problematic way): they are picking on him for being part of a group which picks on the weak -- for being associated with the dark arts. The particular comments may not be related to that, but they are the superstructure, not the motivation.

The fact that Snape attacks James when his back is turned backs this up and serves as direct provocation for the more humiliating retaliation. Sirius' impedimenta spell merely held him down; Snape draws blood (to be fair, he is probably also spurred on by the proximity of Lily). His reaction to Lily's help (calling her a mudblood) is also somewhat explained by his embarrassment at this point, but it still speaks volumes about what he considers acceptable.

James: He is a little full of himself, and clearly approaching Lily in entirely the wrong way, but I don't think his comment to Lily that his motivation for mistreating Snape is merely ``because he exists'' is something to be taken at face value. I stick to my reading as I explained it above. James is arrogant, but he is not bad.

Sirius: I like that everything he does is done in a dashing way. His comment about Wormtail wetting himself with excitement is cutting, but at this time Harry (who is our resident standard of morality) has been annoyed for a while and thinking that James should ``tell Wormtail to get a grip on himself''.

His comment that he wishes it were the full moon is more problematic, in a way, considering how horrible that is for Lupin. But it serves to establish him even more as someone who lives for daring adventures and danger. Possibly because everything is too easy -- he is not the least worried about his exams.

Wormtail: He is showing all the traits we have come to expect, being weak and sycophantic. It is perhaps a little too exaggerated -- it makes it less likely that James would trust his life to him.

Lupin: Lovely as always. Level-headed. I have heard him called weak because he does not stop the scene, but if my reading is right and this is part of a larger feud, his staying out of it makes sense.

Lily: She is cool. I like both her standing up for Snape and her ultimate rejection of him.

Harry: I like how he takes Snape's side in the memory. Especially as I don't. It is a side to his character that … I suppose it is what makes him the hero -- especially in Rowling's universe. It is interesting that he thinks that it would be acceptable to do it to Malfoy.

I am a little annoyed that he does not think of the mirror when he is so desperate to talk to Sirius. Yes, I know I said it was part of a beautifully structured plot, but on the level of character it is a little unsatisfying.

His whole expedition really is problematic. As Hermione points out, Dumbledore's sacrifice would be in vain if he got caught. And he shows that he is aware that it would reflect very badly on McGonagall. Not to mention that this is not vital stuff. The only possible upshot will be to ease his mind. It is on par with running around risking his life in book 3 (before we knew Sirius was a good guy).

McGonagall: Reading her interaction with Umbridge is a joy. Her mix of ignoring her, correcting her and being downright rude (in a polite way) is wonderful. And when she finally snaps, there is that feeling of unleashing of power which I like so much in Dumbledore. Yes, I gush ' />