Comments on: Dobby’s Reward

By: May

May — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 02:16:59 +0000

Both sides are plausible enough to be considered as the true subplot of this book. John’s stance that the diary was originally meant for Harry, as well as the others’ view that it was meant for Ginny, both have justifiable reasons. I guess this will be simply one of those off-cam moments that will be left unanswered (unless Jo gives a thorough explanation someday). ;)

The prejudice against house-elves still infuriates me. If only Lucius hadn’t looked down on Dobby, he might well have succeeded in his plot of ruining the Weasley reputation. Serves him right, I say.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 03:46:52 +0000

Re: Dobby: Great insights (as always), John! I like the idea of why Dobby was being sent to Privet Drive, but I’m a little torn reading the comments… I also think maybe the Malfoys don’t think so much about their servants, much less keeping an eye on them all the time. Just like Voldemort, they underrestimate their servants. And I can just imagine there being human servants at their mansion as well, not only Dobby. I don’t know – to be fair they are only three people in the family, but would one house elf be enough if they were throwing huge dinner parties and such? I think Dobby could sneak off, and return immidiatley when he is called, just as he comes to Harry when he calls for him in HBP.

Otherwise, I find CoS being a pleasant re-read, maybe the nicest in the series, since this book contains so much that is essential to the last books, things we didn’t notice the first time we read it. While PS is more of an introduction, CoS presents so much we will see more of later. Not only the diary or the sword, but also the whole concept of house elfs, a closer look at the prejudices and unfairness in the wizarding world concerning pure-bloods and Muggle-borns, not to mention a few spells that will come in real handy soon. I just think this is the one book in the series that opens up the most to the reader when re-reading it.

By: Amy

Amy — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 21:14:58 +0000

After reading this chapter again I’m starting to disagree with you John on your views on Dobby. I think the diary was always intended for Ginny. Malfoy and Arthur seem to know each other from work so I can see Malfoy wanting to discredit him. I think Dobby just overheard the plan and wanted to protect Harry since he had defeated Voldy the first time which made life better for many house elves. Dobby has heard of how great a wizard Harry Potter must be (even before he started school) and thought that he would be the one to warn in order to prevent Voldy from gaining power again. Although there are many times where everything isn’t explained in the books I don’t think this is one of them.

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 14:33:36 +0000

Two things to remember.

1. This passage between Dumbledore and Harry:

Dumblebore: Unless I’m much mistaken, he transferred some of his own powers to you the night he gave you that scar. Not something he intended to do I’m sure….

Harry: Voldemort put a bit of himself in me?

Dumbledore: It certainly seems so.

2. It is mentioned that Harry was getting good ay disarming.

By: Billie

Billie — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 15:01:37 +0000

Harry asks Dobby to promise never to try to save his life again – what a good thing Dobby doesn’t promise that!

By: Grace has Victory

Grace has Victory — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 07:26:30 +0000

Ari, that bothers me too, but I’ve always attributed it to the British school system. We almost never make a student repeat a year, no matter how little he has learned. We just push him forward, hope he learns something and then let him leave school at 16 if he’s obviously not suited to those last two years. There isn’t any real concept of “failing” a year. The annual exams (which not all schools have) are just progress checks: there is no actual consequence for performing badly unless you fail your GCSEs (OWLs).

By: Grace has Victory

Grace has Victory — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 07:22:46 +0000

Ari, that point bothers me too, but you can attribute it to the British school system. It's almost unheard-of to hold a student back a year, no matter how little he learns. The annual exams are really just progress checks: there is no actual consequence for failing them. Only if a student fails his G.C.S.E.s (O.W.L.s) is there any talk of his repeating a year.

By: John Kearns

John Kearns — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 23:13:13 +0000

Jose Lopes, you’re right that that was corrected in later editions. As far as the book having value, though, depends a lot on which printing you have. The UK first edition only had 10,000 printed, so one in pristine condition is fairly valuable. The US first edition, meanwhile, had 250,000 printed, so no error is ever going to make them the slightest bit valuable.

By: Jose Lopes

Jose Lopes — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 21:31:30 +0000

I know this site almost two years now, and I just found the time to scan all three first books and the beginning of book four. Until now I had only seen scattered chapters… I noticed something that should be mentioned on this one:
“You can speak Parseltongue, Harry,” said Dumbledore calmly, “because Lord Voldemort – who is the last remaining ancestor of Salazar Slytherin – can speak Parseltongue.”
I think this has been corrected on recent editions: should be “descendant”, not “ancestor”. I read somewhere that JKR said that you should keep those editions, you never know if this error might be valuable in the future :)

By: Casey

Casey — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 00:13:21 +0000

Billie, you are correct. I completely forgot that Dumbledore doesn’t actually take out the diary in HBP. Too many times watching the movie on my part, I guess xP