Harry Potter: Halloween = Not His Best Day

[Maleficent13]

Did you ever notice how Halloween is not Harry's best day? I know I can't have been the first.

Of course, it was the date of Voldemort's first attack on Harry, and his parents were killed.

Years One through Four are concrete about the date:

Year 1: Troll attack

Year 2: First attack of Basilisk

Year 3: Sirius Black tries to break into Gryffindor common room/slashes portrait

Year 4: Goblet of Fire spits out his name

Years Five through Seven are not exact, but the following occur around the date:

Year 5: Banned from Quidditch

Year 6: Ron and Hermione begin their extended feud

Year 7: Ron leaves Harry and Hermione in the woods.

I just started re-reading the series and the Halloween trend always stands out to me.

 

[MineMail]

I noticed that, too. Poor Harry.

You're re-reading, right? I don't have my list in front of me, but at some point I realized that most (if not all) of Ron and Harry's Divination homework predictions came true eventually. They had just made them up on the fly without trying.

 

[Maleficent13]

HA! I just started Book 3 again so I'll have to pay attention to that!

 

[SandrA9810]

You're good. I never paid attention to it.

I found it kind of strange that it took him and Ginny like 6 years to have kids. Not that 25/26 is a bad age... just a little strange for the "destine to be together". And I like how it's 19 years later... not 15 or 20 or 10, the usual "years".

 

[MineMail]

Don't forget - wizards and witches live longer than us muggles. They're not in as much of a rush to get married and/or have kids. Add in the fact that none of them had graduated by the end of Book 7 and they have other things to take care of first.

I love the Harry Potter series. Can't wait for the IOA land to open.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

Seems like the end of the term right before the feast is even worse:

Year 1: Confronts Lord Voldemort growing out the back of Quirrell's head

Year 2: Fights memory Riddle and the Basilisk to save Ginny. Bonus points for permanently addling Lockheart.

Year 3: Saves his Godfather but allows Wormtail to escape, thus enabling Lord Voldemort's Return.

Year 4: Sees Lord Voldemort return, need I say more?

Year 5: Confronts Lord Voldemort and death eaters at ministry, loses Sirius, and discovers that he is destined to either kill or be killed by Lord Voldemort.

Year 6: Dumbledore dies.

Year 7: Defeats Lord Voldemort, but not without heavy personal casualties.

So Halloween and the end of the term should be avoided at all costs!

 

[Joanna71985]

Dang! Poor Harry. That is crazy how so much has happened to him around Halloween.

 

[MineMail]

So Halloween and the end of the term should be avoided at all costs!

Break out the time turner! Maybe it does forwards as well as "rewind." lol


They just put up a website for the new movie, but I think there are a few glitches. You have to turn off your popup blocker for the site in order for it to work properly.

http://harrypotter.warnerbros.com/harrypotterandthehalf-bloodprince/

 

[Imzadi]

You're good. I never paid attention to it.

I found it kind of strange that it took him and Ginny like 6 years to have kids. Not that 25/26 is a bad age... just a little strange for the "destine to be together". And I like how it's 19 years later... not 15 or 20 or 10, the usual "years".

I thought that was one of the best things. Even though they knew they were "destined to be together," that they could then take their time and grow into mature adulthood, live a little together, create careers, etc., before starting a family. It was actually a mature, responsible message on JKR's part to kids reading the books. You have all the time in the world.

Also, remember, Harry never did have a good childhood of his own. he had t learn to take care of himslelf in spite of living with the Dursts. And when he entered Hogwarts and encountered all those problems, he had to grow up pretty quickly. Harry, himself, grew up to be an "adult child" at a young age. I'm glad he & Ginny took time to just BE together.

 

[Nie0214]

You're good. I never paid attention to it.

I found it kind of strange that it took him and Ginny like 6 years to have kids. Not that 25/26 is a bad age... just a little strange for the "destine to be together". And I like how it's 19 years later... not 15 or 20 or 10, the usual "years".

I pretend the Epilogue doesn't exist.

 

[wickey's friend]

Break out the time turner! Maybe it does forwards as well as "rewind." lol


They just put up a website for the new movie, but I think there are a few glitches. You have to turn off your popup blocker for the site in order for it to work properly.

http://harrypotter.warnerbros.com/harrypotterandthehalf-bloodprince/

Did you go to the site and look at the Gallery? Very cool way they've done it. Or, as the trio would say, "Brilliant!"

 

[SandrA9810]

Ok, so I picked up two tickets from work for AMC. They're generic tickets that can be used for any movie, and you trade them in at the counter for the movie you want to see.
When can I take those tickets to the window to trade it for HP tickets? I know it'll be a mad house on the 15th. I hope Kari get's that day off, they've been flip flopping her day off, either tuesday or wenesday.

 

[GoodFairies]

I haven't completed the HP series since I read the first ones about 10 years ago, but could the "19" years be an homage to Stephen King? After all, he paid homage to the HP books in his 7th and final Dark Tower novel. "19" is a major theme in this series. It would be funny if so.

 

[MineMail]

I pretend the Epilogue doesn't exist.

Shipping problem or just in denial?

Did you go to the site and look at the Gallery? Very cool way they've done it. Or, as the trio would say, "Brilliant!"

It WAS very cool, once I turned the popup blocker off, lol.

Ok, so I picked up two tickets from work for AMC. They're generic tickets that can be used for any movie, and you trade them in at the counter for the movie you want to see.
When can I take those tickets to the window to trade it for HP tickets? I know it'll be a mad house on the 15th. I hope Kari get's that day off, they've been flip flopping her day off, either tuesday or wenesday.

I think you'll be waiting on line, but I've purchased tickets a day or two in advance at the box office. Maybe you can use the generic ticket online to buy and print your tickets at home?

I finally figured out which theaters in my area have midnight showings, so I'm going to buy the tickets online in advance.

DH pointed out that the IMAX version doesn't reach the theaters for over a week after the first run date. He thinks it's to make viewers buy tickets to see the same movie twice. I don't need the incentive, I saw HP3 about five times, haha.

I haven't completed the HP series since I read the first ones about 10 years ago, but could the "19" years be an homage to Stephen King? After all, he paid homage to the HP books in his 7th and final Dark Tower novel. "19" is a major theme in this series. It would be funny if so.

That's an intriguing idea. It would be cool if it were true.

 

[Missy1961]

I'll have to bring this up to my niece. She loves to discuss HP, and this will start an interesting conversation!

 

[Missy1961]

I noticed that, too. Poor Harry.

You're re-reading, right? I don't have my list in front of me, but at some point I realized that most (if not all) of Ron and Harry's Divination homework predictions came true eventually. They had just made them up on the fly without trying.

Oh, that's interesting. Find your list, I'd love to see that!

 

[Nie0214]

Shipping problem or just in denial?

Shipping. I can't believe Ron/Hermione. She'd eat him alive.

 

[MineMail]

Shipping. I can't believe Ron/Hermione. She'd eat him alive.

Nah, it's a match made in heaven, or whatever passes for heaven in the wizard world, lol. I always knew they'd end up together. They each bring something different to the relationship. Hermione brings responsiblity and committment, Ron brings humor, fun and social skills. They complement each other.

 

[HerdOHuds]

I read a book (and gave it away so I don't have the exact title or anything) that listed the 'rules' for HP. It was published after book 4 so some rules have been broken since (I think JK read it and decided to change things up!) but most hold true.

Hermione is always right-unless it has to do with emotional things like love.

Ron is always wrong-unless he is joking.

If a character is interrupted while saying something, then what they were about to say is a big clue to the major or minor plot lines. Hagrid gets interrupted several times throughout the series. Sirius as well.

If JK repeats something, then it is very important and you should really pay attention. For instance, in Chamber of Secrets there are a ton of references to 'spidery' things in descriptions. Then later you meet Aragog. Or in the whole series vampires pop up when talking about Snape and then in the 6th book...well you know. (I was disappointed after what I thought was a big build-up and the big moment was just Snape turning into a bat.)

I think there were other things mentioned in this book I read. I would really like to look at it again. I read an update later on and it wasn't nearly as enlightening. It was also dead wrong about Harry and his father. They suggested that Lupine was actually James.

Another cool bit is that the book pointed out a bunch of references to classical literature. Reading this hints book made it much more interesting to re-read all the Harry Potters.

DH and I listen to the books on CD nearly every night. We are listening to 6 now, in anticipation of the movie. I imagine we have listened or read the whole series more than 20 times. I think listening helps me notice something new every time. And after years of reading aloud to children, I really find it luxurious to listen to someone else read to me! I am a Jim Dale fan!

 

[Nie0214]

Nah, it's a match made in heaven, or whatever passes for heaven in the wizard world, lol. I always knew they'd end up together. They each bring something different to the relationship. Hermione brings responsiblity and committment, Ron brings humor, fun and social skills. They complement each other.

I knew they'd end up together in Book 4. I still don't think they're the best for eachother. I predicted Snape loving Lily from "I heard that awful boy telling her!" I wish he had lived. I think JKR only killed Snape because she hated that the fans love him.

Or in the whole series vampires pop up when talking about Snape and then in the 6th book...well you know. (I was disappointed after what I thought was a big build-up and the big moment was just Snape turning into a bat.)

Snape turned into a bat? I thought they just said he seemed batlike. He was able to fly like Voldemort, I think that's what you're thinking of. I don't remember him turning into a bat.