Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Chapter Notes

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Chapter 30: Grawp

• “For one thing, they had not left instructions on how to remove the swamp that now filled the corridor on the fifth floor of the east wing. Umbridge and Filch had been observed trying different means of removing it but without success. Eventually, the area was roped off and Filch, gnashing his teeth furiously, was given the task of punting students across it to their classrooms. Harry was certain that teachers like McGonagall or Flitwick could have removed the swamp in an instant but, just as in the case of Fred and George’s Wildfire Whiz-bangs, they seemed to prefer to watch Umbridge struggle.” – It is somewhat a repeated theme that Umbridge isn’t actual a very talented witch, which is interesting considering her pride in being a pureblood. Harry’s assumption later turns out to be right, as it only took Flitwick seconds to remove the swamp.

• “None of the staff but Filch seemed to be stirring themselves to help her. Indeed, a week after Fred and George’s departure Harry witnessed Professor McGonagall walking right past Peeves, who was determinedly loosening a crystal chandelier, and could have sworn he heard her tell the poltergeist out of the corner of her mouth, ‘It unscrews the other way.’”- I mean like it is impossible not to love McGonagall, especially in book 5.

• “He also suspected that part of his mind – the part that often spoke in Hermione’s voice – now felt guilty on the occasions it strayed down that corridor ending in the black door, and sought to wake him before he could reach the journey’s end.” – So Hermione is Harry’s Jiminy Cricket then?

• “Although Slytherin had been narrowly defeated by Hufflepuff in their last match, […]” – As a Hufflepuff this completely random information makes me very happy.

• “‘You know,’ said Hermione, as she and Harry walked down to the pitch a little later in the midst of a very excitable crowd, ‘I think Ron might do better without Fred and George around. They never exactly gave him a lot of confidence.’” – I would agree with Hermione. As much as I love Fred and George, but they haven’t exactly been known to be the most supporting brothers. Their tough love might work on others (Ginny perhaps?), but certainly not on Ron. It is not what he needs.

• “Lee Jordan, who had been very dispirited since Fred and George had left, was commentating as usual.” – Did Lee actually had any other friends than Fred and George though? At least he only had to spend a couple of weeks without them.

• “‘Anyway,’ he said, breathing a little more heavily than usual, ‘since then the other centaurs’ve bin livid with me, an’ the trouble is they’ve got a lot of influence in the Forest … cleverest creatures in here.’” – Shouldn’t Acromantulas be at least equally intelligent as centaurs? And if anything much more frightening? And obviously Aragog would be on Hagrid’s side. Still, imaging the entire Forbidden Forrest would revolt against Hogwarts/the humans.

• The entire thing about Hagrid bringing Grawp into the Forbidden Forrest is just wrong. Hagrid justifies his action because apparently Grawp got bullied by the other giants, but Hagrid usually knows well enough not to interfere in such things. I think the real reason Hagrid brought him along was because Grawp is the only family he has left. And Hagrid for all of his life felt isolated, like he doesn’t belong, neither a giant or a human/wizard, but always somewhere in between. But Grawp didn’t want to leave and it doesn’t do him good to be in a foreign country, tied up, with no company except Hagrid. And Hagrid believes that he can teach him English and some manners, and that he can prove that Grawp is harmless, that Grawp in short is much more like him than their mother. Because Hagrid’s view on monsters is how he wants to world to seem himself: as a misunderstood harmless creature. Hagrid’s love for monsters is always a reflection about himself.

• “‘You ought not to have meddled, Hagrid,’ said Magorian. ‘Our ways are not yours, nor are our laws. Firenze has betrayed and dishonoured us.’” – And that is another thing. Like obviously I get why Hagrid interfered and saved Firenze, but the centaurs have a culture and laws of their own, and it is up to the humans to respect that. Interesting enough though Dumbledore therefore should have known better than to ask Firenze to take over as Divination teacher, knowing how the other Centaurs would react to it.