Comments on: The Worst Birthday & Dobby’s Warning

By: May

May — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 06:29:06 +0000

In chapter one, it says “Countless times, Harry had been on the point of unlocking Hedwig’s cage by magic…” How could he even think of unlocking the cage via magic if his wand is locked up inside the cupboard under the stairs? “Alohomora” certainly requires the use of a wand.

I agree with both Reanne and SueDeNym. It is truly very much like the Malfoys to look down upon house-elves and underestimate their capabilities. I bet Lucius would never even have thought about the possibility of Dobby having a direct connection with the boy his master wants to kill.

NicoPony’s artwork left me dumbfounded! :)

By: Amy

Amy — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 22:31:55 +0000

I know Harry was mistreated by the Dursleys but I still can’t believe Petunia in chapter 1. She “knew he hadn’t really done magic, but he still had to duck as she aimed a heavy blow at his head with the soapy frying pan”. It makes me wonder what the full story is with his childhood.

By: Lewis

Lewis — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 23:51:09 +0000

Ok thanks, It does make sense that Rowling killed his Grandparents off for necessity. It is a much more interesting back story if he is raised by the only people who wouldn’t want him to fulfil his destiny, and also probably contributes to what type of person Harry turned out to be.

By: John Kearns

John Kearns — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 13:00:41 +0000

Lewis, thanks for posting! I posted this response once before but it was on a very random page so I’ll re-post here:

There’s a great quote from Rowling that gets at your question, when she was asked specifically about Harry’s grandparents:

“As a writer, it was more interesting, plot-wise, if Harry was completely alone. So I rather ruthlessly disposed of his entire family apart from Aunt Petunia. I mean, James and Lily are massively important to the plot, of course, but the grandparents? No. And, because I do like my backstory: Petunia and Lily’s parents, normal Muggle death. James’s parents were elderly, were getting on a little when he was born, which explains the only child, very pampered, had-him-late-in-life-so-he’s-an-extra-treasure, as often happens, I think. They were old in wizarding terms, and they died. They succumbed to a wizarding illness. That’s as far as it goes. There’s nothing serious or sinister about those deaths. I just needed them out of the way so I killed them.”

So none were killed off by Voldemort, they just all happened to be gone. I think it’s likely the death certificates list “literary necessity” as the cause. ;)

By: Lewis

Lewis — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 10:30:31 +0000

I know this is strange posting this here, but I just thought of it. I’ve wondered why the Dursleys were Harry’s closest relations when his parents died. From what I can gather from the time frame of the series, Lily and James could not have been much older than mid-20s when they died, and it seems quite unlikely that all 4 of Harry’s middle aged grandparents died in the few short years between Lily and James leaving school (they were all alive then) and the time when Voldemort attacked them. Does Rowling ever explain how this scenario came to be???

By: Pam

Pam — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 21:43:54 +0000

Char-lez – I don’t remember ever seeing anything which said house elves can disobey a direct order. They have to punish themselves if they speak ill of their family or if they do something they know their master (mistress) would disapprove of; but a direct order is different and must be followed, as it is a house-elf’s highest law.

By: Char-lez

Char-lez — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 03:44:43 +0000

Regarding Dobby disobeying….Its pointed out later that house elves CAN disobey they just choose not too. Out of fear (In Dobbys case) or Loyalty (in winkies case) but also just out thinking that its their duty and that they want to do obey.

By: Billie

Billie — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 01:51:01 +0000

I can easily imagine that if Lily did magic at home two or three times, Petunia would magnify that in her mind. And if Lily brought home things she had transfigured at Hogwarts and showed them to Petunia, Petunia would remember that as Lily “turning teacups into rats.”

Petunia and Lily’s parents were very supportive of Lily and proud of her abilities, and I’m sure they were very much aware of Petunia’s resentment and hostility. They wouldn’t let Petunia know about the warning letters if they could help it. It’s really possible that Petunia never knew Lily had received warnings from the ministry.

By: Pam

Pam — Tue, 31 May 2011 21:33:38 +0000

Grace has Victory – Do you remember where JKR states this? I was just curious.

By: Grace has Victory

Grace has Victory — Tue, 31 May 2011 11:33:12 +0000

JKR does answer the question about Lily doing magic in the school holidays. Basically, it was not allowed, but Lily did receive the occasional warning letter for breaking the rules. However, Petunia's "always" is clearly a jealous exaggeration. She's probably talking about something that only happened, maybe, twice.