Comments on: The Dementor

By: marci

marci — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 02:58:20 +0000

I really like what spider wrote about Remus’ suitcase. I love to think about the Marauders in their happy years! And I could imagine Remus trying to repair his suitcase and it would start eating his clothes or all the items inside would disappear or become wet!

By: Amy

Amy — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:37:31 +0000

I find it interesting that Lupin knows so much about Dementors. He’s a good teacher and researched them but I like to think there is more to it. Dementors are depression in a physical form. Lupin, who has been shunned by society for being a werewolf and lost his closest friends, probably knows a thing or two about depression. Why did he have such a big bar of chocolate on him? I like to think he always carries some around with him. However, I assume it is the day after the full moon (since he is so tired) and he selected a big bar in order to help him cope with what he had just been through.

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 14:34:51 +0000

Two bits of foreshadowing: the sneakoscope going off in the train compartment and Snape casting a loathing look at Lupin.

By: May

May — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 07:02:44 +0000

Re: Something to Remember: Since not only Harry reacted strongly to the dementors but also Ginny, I think it more likely that the dementors were attracted to the scarred memories both have. It’s been only a few months since Ginny was possessed by Tom Riddle, and it’s likely that she’s still traumatized by what happened then. Needless to say, Harry also hasn’t had a pleasant past. Dementors are the core essence of depression and unpleasantness; thus, they are attracted to miserable people or to those who had lived an unpleasant life – sucking in their remaining bits of happiness, in order for them to completely wallow in that unfortunate person’s misery.

Re: Something You May Not Have Noticed. I think what John said is more likely than the theories posted above – that Jo wrote the suitcase part to indicate Lupin’s deprived state and didn’t think about its implications. But it’d be nice to see more off-cam bits about Lupin, no? :)

By the way, the artworks in this chapter are great! The one by Snapesforte is eerily astounding!

By: Gracie-kins

Gracie-kins — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 23:17:53 +0000

In Something You May Not Have Noticed:
I always envisioned Lupin going to a shop and asking for the letters to be stamped on professional-like (otherwise, wouldn’t it just look like his handwriting?). But when he reaches into his pockets to pay he mostly pulls out handfuls of lint and Knuts. The shop keeper frowns, but taken what Lupin has, does it, and gives back the case. A day or two later, Lupin notices that the letters are already peeling, but nothing he does will make them stick.

Either that or his case is just so old, that nothing can make the letters stick to it.

By: Grace has Victory

Grace has Victory — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 07:48:56 +0000

Casey, that’s an excellent point, but the truth is, Harry is quite capable of making those snide comments to people who deserve them (Malfoy, Dudley, even Snape). He becomes less vindictive as he matures, so it’s possible that he’s taking the moral high ground here. But it’s also possible that he’s still too shaken from his Dementor-experience to think clearly.

By: Casey

Casey — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 17:05:24 +0000

I love this site and how it always gives me new insights on the finer details of the chapters! I never really thought about why the Dementors seem to favor Harry, or how it might be because of the real story behind his scar. However, when I read this chapter, it definitely sounds more like the Dementor is merely affecting him more than the others, and it isn’t singling him out. Yet, anyway. There are definitely some later instances that show they favor him (maybe once that first Dementor got that first taste, the seemingly collective knowledge of them all decided they enjoyed his particular flavor?), or they could still have some kind of loyalty to Voldemort, but at this point it seems unlikely to me.

I also really love the idea of chocolate as a remedy. By science alone we know that chocolate releases endorphins in the brain (which is basically the happy/pleasure/love chemical in the brain). So it makes total sense that if you’ve suffered a Dementor attack, chocolate would make you feel better!

One thing I thought about while reading this chapter: Draco having so much fun tormenting Harry about the Dementor, when he himself, as Fred and George tell us in the next chapter, was scared and shaking and nearly wet himself when he came running into their compartment. Draco also seems to forget just how frightened he was in the Forbidden Forest in PS. I find it surprising that Harry doesn’t think of this, or retaliate with any of it. Maybe this is just an example of him being a good person and taking the high road? I know if it were me, I’d be shooting back some of my own snide comments, not to make all of my friends laugh, but to at least make myself feel a little better.

By: Grace has Victory

Grace has Victory — Thu, 26 May 2011 03:44:49 +0000

Deborah, I took it for granted that Ginny was so badly affected by the Dementor because of being possessed by Voldemort (only four months ago, remember!). JKR has stated that Harry and Ginny are both "old souls" who have had to face down great evils, while Ron and Hermione are comparative innocents.

By: Grace has Victory

Grace has Victory — Thu, 26 May 2011 03:39:44 +0000

Spider, I like your idea on the suitcase too. Lupin could not have taught in a Muggle university, or even a secondary school, because he doesn't have any qualification that the Muggles recognise as sa university degree. He wouldn't even have been able to fake his way in with forged papers, because he wouldn't have a sufficient body of knowledge in any subject that Muggles want to learn. But primary school might just be possible; as he's a half-blood, he probably has enough general knowledge to carry it all off. I once wrote a very long fanfic in which Lupin trained as a Muggle teacher and taught a few years in Muggle primary schools. The suitcase was a present from a wizarding relative who didn't know that Muggle teachers are not addressed as "Professor". I also described exactly how it was bashed up, and why Lupin forgot to repair it. But this is contrived - I think Spider's idea is more canon-friendly, and more like the kind of explanation JKR would produce if she were challenged about it in an interview. Douglas, I think the full moon actually fell on 31 August 1993. So last night was the night when Lupin was up howling, and that is why he is so completely knocked out today. That is why he couldn't even pull out a spell to repair his suitcase. I do wonder why he was on the train instead of Apparating or using Floo. Was he really too exhausted even to do that much? Or had Dumbledore deliberately planted him there to keep an eye on Harry?

By: Ari

Ari — Sat, 21 May 2011 01:01:40 +0000

Kayno, I love what you said about Wormtail and how frightened he must be. I never put all that together before, but I’m surprised Ron managed to hold onto him for so long now that I understand all that!
As to Hermione and her Time-Turner, there were certainly other students who would have needed that to get to their many classes. Heck, if I attended Hogwarts I would sign up for extra classes just for the Time-Turner! They really just trust the students to use it properly, but imagine how much work, sleep, and free time you could get done with and have with one of those!! Assuming you were careful with it if course. But you could turn back time if you needed those few extra hours for an essay. Or say you slept through an exam, just whip out your handy-dandy Time-Turner and you’re set to take that test on time!