Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

In which the Dark Arts enter yet darker territory.

( CONSTANT VIGILANCE! )

Always one of my favourite songs, but one I haven't been able to get out of my head all day after last night's thrilling and thoroughly satisfying climax to the most excellent Life on Mars. In honour of which it earns a permanent spot on my LJ.

1. The location of the scene on the Scholastic cover shows a circular amphitheatre, whereas, in OotP, the veil room is described as rectangular. I guess we can discount it being the veil room - although the ragged "curtains" do seem to fit the description of the veil.

What strikes me about the image is the way in which the "curtains" are drawn and apparently tied back, giving every impression of an audience watching a theatrical performance.

2. Back cover of Bloomsbury childrens' edition - most of the lights are on in the castle, strongly suggesting that Hogwarts is very much open for business.

3. Great Trio cover on the Bloomsbury edition, which really underscores the way in which HBP closed with the promise of a strong trio adventure.

4. Which leads me to the enigmatic symbol on the spine:

( Spoilery spinal image )

And here we go again – for the final time!

Hasty, dirty and unformed thoughts ahead.

It was interesting to note TLC’s report that two titles containing the word “hallows” were originally registered by the enigmatic Seabottom several years ago – the Hogwarts Hallows and the Hallows of Hogwarts. In light of developments in HBP this makes me think of Horcruxes, since I think that it’s generally accepted that the culmination of Harry’s Horcrux hunt will take place at Hogwarts.

I also note with interest Arthurian A2Z, which describes Hallows thus:

The Hallows across most legends are seen to represent the royal regalia carried by the King, or the objects sought by someone such as a 'Grail Quester' in both ancient and modern stories.

It is interesting that in the various incarnations (according to the legends recounted on that particular site) there are always four in number and always relating very closely to the four Tarot suits (four, of course, being the number of Horcruxes which must be found and destroyed). I am pleasantly reminded of a post I made some time ago.

I know that there has, already today, been extensive discussion on the meaning of “hallows”, but - from my point of view – several years of fandom speculation and debate have taught me one thing – the simplest answer is usually the right answer. I feel that it’s far to late in the series for Jo to be introducing any major new concepts. Indeed, the Horcruxes of HBP, are a huge concept which have yet to be resolved.

All of which is a long-winded way of saying that *I* think that the Deathly Hallows are the remaining four Horcruxes.

So there!

A: ( Why, this of course... )

( And did you ever wonder what the shelves were for? )

*hangs head in shame*

...because whilst most of my f-list excelled in their W.O.M.B.A.T.s with Es and Os, I scraped an "Acceptable". :)

I had a feeling that this would be the first in a series of tests. I'm guessing three at most, if only because there's doesn't seem to be enough room on the wall for more than three certificates. One-a-month leading to the Book 7 title in June? 

And gosh! Is it really over two months since I updated my journal. To think I used to be such a great debater!*


*And now my fandom activity is limited to committing minor acts of mischief.

There can never be enough good HP essays to be read and to be written and it’s forever and a day since I wrote one.

Additionally, it seems like everybody except me has works in progress. That is a wrong I am about to right.

Not having anything in particular up my sleeve, I am challenging you to set me an essay. Any HP related subject will do.

Give me the title or a brief synopsis of what you want and I will choose one*.

*You may be really unlucky, I may choose more than one:P

- being the number of consecutive times I just listened to Magic Works.

Just wanted to say this song freakin' ROX!!!



(Beams whilst trying to imagine the accompanying visuals)

Happy Birthday heatherhobbit

Since everybody else is talking about it, can I just say that I’m in a state of utter bewilderment at all the controversy and, well… total wankiness - on the R/H side as well as the H/H side – over these blinkin' GoF pictures?

If you would allow me to whisk you back to 2004 for a few brief moments.

( Remember this? )

( And this? )

( And this? )

( And this? )

‘Nuff said?

Any of you ever put up plaster coving?

No?

Don't bother; it's a total twat of a job!

You know, the funny thing just after reading a new Potter book, is that I always seem not to be able to get stuck into any other decent books. For example, I’ve recently started Kate Mosse’s Labyrinth, which I just know I will find a cracking read, but which I just can’t seem to find the urge to progress past page 60 at the moment.

Not to worry; it’ll pass. I guess my head must still be abuzz with thoughts and ideas inspired by HBP, and it would be quite rude not to share them with you.

So – Relics. Wands.

I’m quite sure that I am not the only person who sees the relics of three of the four Hogwarts-founders – a sword, a cup and a locket – and immediately thinks of the four Minor Arcana in the Tarot deck. Well now I know I’m not, because it has been discussed in some of the debate forums. But since it’s such a fascinating subject, who am I not to take an opportunity to leap on the bandwagon?

If you are familiar with the Tarot, you will know that each of the four Minor Arcana (suits) represents one of the four elements:

Earth – Disks^*
Fire – Wands
Air – Swords
Water – Cups

^* Also known as Pentacles, Coins or Stones

We know, too, that the Hogwarts houses are also supposed to symbolise the four elements:

Earth – Hufflepuff
Fire – Gryffindor
Air – Ravenclaw
Water – Slytherin

( Here be the dilemma )

Happy Birthday connielane

And though the thought of being in your 30s probably seems quite horrendous right now, I promise you that it'll be the best decade yet.

Over the past year or so, I've noticed many of you mention Lost in your journal entries. And I've often wondered what this show was.

Well, Lost finally arrived on UK TV screens last night for the start of (I think) a 24 week run of the first series. In fact the first two episodes were screened last night and I quite enjoyed it.

Now, I know absolutely nothing of the plot or the characters other than what I saw in those two episodes but I'm assuming that this is no Castaway and there is a bit of a mystery going on here.

For example, I'm guessing that (and obviously these theories can't all be right):

1. The plane crash was no accident.
2. The island is some sort of laboratory or alternative universe or some such.
3. The survivors are unwitting participants in a social experiment or a game or are (equally unwittingly) dead.
4. That the survivors have previous and unknown/unrecognised associations with one another or that they share a common history.
5. That there is some symbolic significance to Mr Orange Peel's backgammon game.

Or am I looking beyond the obvious? :P

Whatever - it looks highly watchable, which is very rare these days on British TV, so I think I'll stick with it.

(I'm also guessing that there is a wanky fandom associated with this show.)

Google Earth ROX!!!

Just sayin'.

I am unusual position of disagreeing with the entire contingent of my f-list which responded to my last post.

I suppose I should explain.

You see, I don’t think that the Sectumsempra spell was invented to cut open humans (and I know we apparently (probably) saw Snape use it in Snape’s Worst Memory). But a spell for scratching peoples cheeks? Dark Magic? More like schoolboy high jinks. As for it being designed for ripping a body wide open – too messy.

No. I think that it was designed for rendering open far more interesting objects than mere human bodies. Like lockets and cups, for instance.

It seems that Horcruxes don’t actually get destroyed in order to get the piece of soul out of them – despite what Dumbledore says. The ring for instance was cracked when first seen on Dumbledores finger (clearly after he had attended to its Horcruxy innards), though not actually destroyed. And the diary was definitely not destroyed – it was relieved of its resident by being pierced with a Basilisk fang. Our fabled locket, having gained its notoriety by being unopenable, must - surely - be begging to be opened.

That being the case I have a hard time imagining that other Horcruxes will be dealt with by merely destroying them. And how do you destroy them anyway? I mean a Hufflepuff cup which has seven bells beaten out of it is still a Hufflepuff cup, albeit a battered Hufflepuff Cup.

No. The soul-pieces entered the objects; they must be released from the objects. Using a suitable opening-up spell, of course.

I don’t have nearly as hard a time imagining a scenario such as this:


Everything they tried had no effect on the locket which remained determinedly shut tight.

"Think Harry." said Hermione in an exasperated tone, "There must be something that you learnt last year. What about the Prince’s…I mean…Snape’s book? Is there anything you can think of that he might have scribbled which could work?"

"Well you’ve changed your tune!" spluttered Ron indignantly.

Harry might have noticed Hermione’s eyes flash dangerously at Ron had it not been for the memory which came flooding back into his mind at the sound of her words; a memory he would have preferred to forget. On that occasion he had used one of Snape’s spells, though he had no idea at the time what its devastating effect would be.

Motioning Ron and Hermione away from the locket, Harry raised his wand.

"SECTUMSEMPRA!"

In an instant, the locket split apart. As it did so, a blood-curdling scream filled the common room and a dark liquid spurted out of the now open locket, cascading off the edge of the table and soaking the rug underneath.

Of course, it might be good on the DoM door, too. :P

I was wondering what my friends list thinks that the originally intended purpose of the SECTUMSEMPRA spell was.

I mean, we are all agreed that it was never designed to split open a human being.

Aren't we?

I was very impressed with angua_9’s most excellent posts on the fascinating subject of Horcruxes.

It should be stated here and now, that I am firmly in the Harrycrux ™ camp. As far as I can see, the only real mysteries for us – the readers – in relation to Horcruxes 1 – 5 is the wherabouts of Hufflepuff’s Cup, the identity of Ravenclaw’s Something, and how long it takes Harry to remember that he saw Aberforth Dumbledore acquiring Slytherin’s Locket from Mundungus Fletcher outside The Three Broomsticks.

I am equally certain that, in Book 7, each of these roads will very rapidly lead to Hogwarts (one of them, at least, must lead to Hogsmeade).

In this entry, I am far more concerned with the vastly more interesting Horcrux #6 (H6?) and more specifically - how and why Harry comes to be H6.

( It's all here in your head )

( Thickets of wildest guesswork )

( You have your mother’s eyes )

Sins are being committed on a daily basis. Why are these idiots being permitted to continue with their blatant dissembling?

*pokes you*


FIRSTLY, JKR did not call H/Hr shippers “delusional”.

JKR: Well no, I'm not going to - Emerson, I am not going to say they're delusional! They are still valued members of my readership! I am not going to use the word delusional.


SECONDLY, neither JKR nor Emerson nor Melissa, referred to H/Hr shippers as “militant”. Both were referring to the online fandom in general.

ES: They seem more prominant online, but that’s just because the online fandom is very -

MA: Militant was the best word I heard -

JKR: Militant is a beautifully chosen word. Energetic. Feisty.


THIRDLY, why do you even care about Emerson’s and Melissa’s opinions? You’ve never given a rat’s ass about any other fandomers’ opinions.


FOURTHLY, who the fuck died and made thereader such an authority on the literary merits of HBP. Call me Mr Picky, but wouldn’t the first prerequisite for that accolade be that the person claiming such authority has read the damn thing?


FIFTHLY:

"The HMS Harmony is a reality-based vessel. Unlike other ships, we don't have our heads in the clouds. We can accept the truth about a situation and move on. We've never had to alter things (text, scenes) or create our own (fics) to justify, satisfy and provide proof of our ship. We ship H/Hr mostly because we feel the characters are best suited for each other. If in the end JKR decides that's not the case, so be it. We'll move on.

Personally I find it very disturbing some fans are so intent on seeing the couple they want together they'll completely disregard JKR's canon. If people truly loved the world of Harry Potter and all the characters within it like they say, they'd realize the best way to honor it would be to keep everything within the parameters JKR has set.

That would be the best way to show respect for the material and that's what we do on the Harmony. No more, no less." (Mad Eye Mike)

*stares in disbelief*

It’s always a funny feeling straight after a HP book release. The book’s been read twice and has now taken up its permanent residence in the 2 ½ inch space to the right of OotP, which was lovingly prepared on July 15th. And that leaves a bit of a void in my life, just at the moment, which probably won’t start to be filled until sometime towards the end of next year. I’m quite sad that the shipping debates are over, really. If nothing else, they tended to maintain a degree of currency of whatever the latest book happened to be.

*sniffs*

Look at me being a sentimental old booby. Heck, I’m just going to have to start writing essays about Snape and Horcruxes.


In related news, I know that delemtri has mentioned The Guardian’s Alternative Potter in his journal, but it really does warrant another mention. If you haven’t read the article yet, I would thoroughly recommend it.

Basically, it’s a series of alternative ****’s death endings written in the style of other well known authors. Some of my favourites:

( Geoffrey Chaucer )

( Irving Walsh )

( J.D. Salinger )

( Enid Blyton )

There are loads like this. Very clever and very funny. Thoroughly recommend.