Yes and, I think, this may be another candidate for early themes (from above)
StormCrow Send a noteboard - 14/07/2010 07:43:14 PM
Breaking rules really is a characteristic of the good guys, isn't it? I mean, it is what McGonnagall does and Umbridge doesn't. It is what Dumbledore allows. It is what makes Hermoine acceptable as a friend...
There is a certain anti-authority edge to most of the good guys in the series. I think this plays, slightly, to the underdog card again, because we all pull for someone who's taking on the establishment, "the man" or a bully. This is especially the case with Umbridge and Filtch. We scoff at these rules, as most of them are silly and useless anyway, and everyone can identify with the students against these two. No one wants to be controlled at the level that these two aim for.
I always read McGonnagall as a strict teacher type, not allowing much by way of rule breaking. She gives the trio and Malfoy detention in this one, for being out of bed wandering around. She has her moments were she lets things slide (Harry's broom riding = seeker) and definitely tends to undermine Umbridge.
Dumbledore seems to be more of a break with convention kind of guy, coupled with a learn by experience mentality. He's so in tune with what these kids are doing that he only steps in when it appears one will be really hurt (up until Goblet of Fire anyway). He can't be everywhere at once, right? He did stop Harry from visiting the Mirror of Erised. He breaks with convention on the anti-discrimination stance (Hagrid, Lupin, Dobby, Firenze) and refusing to submit to the Ministry in Order of the Phoenix.
I don't think Dumbledore or McGonnagall want any student to be put in harm’s way, hence the rules to begin with. Dumbledore seems much more tolerant (and sometimes encouraging) in my mind though, especially if he anticipates a positive outcome. The ends justify the means, in his mind, as with saving Sirius and Buckbeek.
This message last edited by StormCrow on 14/07/2010 at 07:44:33 PM
Harry Potter Re-read: The Philosopher's Stone - Final section underway! (& next book plans)
12/07/2010 08:27:51 AM
- 3116 Views
Chapters 1-3: Introducing Harry
12/07/2010 08:28:49 AM
- 1693 Views
Characterisation *NM*
12/07/2010 08:29:02 AM
- 941 Views
My thoughts, such as they are.
12/07/2010 04:09:55 PM
- 1742 Views
Re: My thoughts, such as they are. *spoilers*
12/07/2010 07:43:49 PM
- 1680 Views
Writing style *NM*
12/07/2010 08:29:18 AM
- 929 Views
It is very clear it is a children's book at this time
12/07/2010 07:18:14 PM
- 1760 Views
Vernon's slow descent into madness is great.
13/07/2010 04:03:26 AM
- 1736 Views
Re: Vernon's slow descent into madness is great.
13/07/2010 08:54:40 AM
- 1690 Views
Early themes *NM*
12/07/2010 08:29:37 AM
- 955 Views
Chapters 4-10: Making Friends at Hogwarts *NM*
12/07/2010 08:29:58 AM
- 869 Views
Impressions: thoughts about the school, the teachers, the enemies and the friends. *NM*
14/07/2010 08:29:38 AM
- 912 Views
I'd forgotten how annoying Hermione was
14/07/2010 01:48:13 PM
- 1609 Views

Yep. I like seeing her transformation in this story though.
14/07/2010 04:58:04 PM
- 1603 Views
Re: Yep. I like seeing her transformation in this story though.
14/07/2010 06:13:13 PM
- 1609 Views
Yes and, I think, this may be another candidate for early themes (from above)
14/07/2010 07:43:14 PM
- 1706 Views
Re: Impressions: thoughts about the school, the teachers, the enemies and the friends.
14/07/2010 04:22:54 PM
- 1743 Views
Agree. I loved the instant tension between Harry and Malfoy and with Harry and Snape too.
14/07/2010 05:03:20 PM
- 1876 Views
Some thoughts before I run off to the library again
14/07/2010 06:11:45 PM
- 1737 Views
It's interesting to look at the beginning of the story from Draco's point of view.
26/07/2010 03:08:38 PM
- 1835 Views
Re: It's interesting to look at the beginning of the story from Draco's point of view.
26/07/2010 03:18:02 PM
- 1483 Views
What about the magic?
14/07/2010 08:58:51 AM
- 1609 Views
The magic wasnt really developed at this point
14/07/2010 02:13:41 PM
- 1538 Views
Re: The magic wasnt really developed at this point
14/07/2010 08:53:08 PM
- 1776 Views
I think
14/07/2010 04:34:30 PM
- 1537 Views
Diagon Alley - Olivander's Foreshadowing
14/07/2010 05:11:40 PM
- 1824 Views
I really need a remembrall.
14/07/2010 08:57:10 PM
- 1687 Views
But it doesn't tell you what you've forgotten!
15/07/2010 02:51:47 AM
- 1821 Views
Chapters 11-17: Harry the Hero *NM*
12/07/2010 08:30:29 AM
- 891 Views
What'd you think of the ending? *NM*
15/07/2010 05:21:38 PM
- 851 Views
Two separate things:
15/07/2010 07:14:08 PM
- 1586 Views
Lovely
15/07/2010 09:00:11 PM
- 1650 Views
Haha
15/07/2010 09:16:16 PM
- 1748 Views
Re: Haha
15/07/2010 09:24:06 PM
- 1628 Views
But I thought all girls were made of sugar and spice and everything nice?
15/07/2010 09:26:53 PM
- 1538 Views

Oh, we are.
15/07/2010 09:35:17 PM
- 1433 Views
Honestly, dumbledore is a bit of an ass...
15/07/2010 10:48:32 PM
- 1445 Views
The decades of manipulation of a child doesn't bother you, but the House Cup does?
*NM*
15/07/2010 11:37:54 PM
- 825 Views

Overall thoughts for the book
12/07/2010 08:31:37 AM
- 1622 Views
Foreshadowing and setting up the future
12/07/2010 08:32:10 AM
- 1536 Views
Harry's anger management issues?
12/07/2010 07:14:58 PM
- 1590 Views
Heh.
12/07/2010 07:40:40 PM
- 1632 Views
Nah, not deliberate.
12/07/2010 09:14:20 PM
- 1691 Views
Re: Nah, not deliberate.
12/07/2010 09:55:32 PM
- 1605 Views
I noticed a lot of this.
12/07/2010 07:22:54 PM
- 1716 Views
Re: I noticed a lot of this.
12/07/2010 07:39:25 PM
- 1659 Views
Re: I noticed a lot of this.
12/07/2010 07:45:32 PM
- 1635 Views
On Ginny:
12/07/2010 10:36:47 PM
- 1661 Views
This was my interpretation too and why I didn't pay much attention to it at the time. *NM*
13/07/2010 02:53:08 PM
- 785 Views
I've noticed a lot of the same things, probably because I've reread this book so many times...
13/07/2010 04:45:28 AM
- 1859 Views
Re: I've noticed a lot of the same things, probably because I've reread this book so many times...
13/07/2010 08:58:10 AM
- 1609 Views
So much (chapters 1-3) *spoilers*
12/07/2010 07:35:57 PM
- 1826 Views
I missed the school roof thing this time around too! Good catch there. *NM*
12/07/2010 09:22:21 PM
- 861 Views
The thing that tipped me off
12/07/2010 09:53:01 PM
- 1598 Views
Imagine how easy his test would have been if he remembered he'd done it as a child! *NM*
13/07/2010 03:20:27 PM
- 849 Views
You have to wonder why Hagrid and Dumbledore didn't suspect the truth about Sirius.
26/07/2010 04:04:05 PM
- 1533 Views
I re-read a couple weeks ago, and I was highly amused by all the little things she worked in
14/07/2010 04:09:19 AM
- 1668 Views
Some stuff (chapters 4-11)
14/07/2010 09:18:35 PM
- 1789 Views
Re: Some stuff (chapters 4-11)
14/07/2010 10:30:23 PM
- 1612 Views
I can answer your consistency question!
15/07/2010 02:35:42 AM
- 1726 Views
More stuff (chapters 12-17)
15/07/2010 08:55:34 PM
- 1481 Views
Tiny tiny inconsistency (?) in Ch. 12
17/07/2010 04:23:15 PM
- 1675 Views
What made this book (and the rest of the series) such a success?
12/07/2010 08:33:00 AM
- 1692 Views
I think it was mostly because it was a simple narrative with an identifiable protagnonist.
13/07/2010 11:59:06 PM
- 1689 Views
It has tons of things in it that every kid dreams of doing
14/07/2010 01:56:05 PM
- 1698 Views
It's a simple, well-done little book.
12/07/2010 07:46:48 PM
- 1683 Views
you don't read instructions, do you?
12/07/2010 07:49:24 PM
- 1747 Views
When did you pick up this book?
12/07/2010 11:30:46 PM
- 1622 Views
I was 10.
13/07/2010 04:13:44 AM
- 1778 Views
Ah book orders...man you just brought back nostalgic memories. I miss being a kid
13/07/2010 04:42:12 AM
- 1827 Views
1999
13/07/2010 09:03:03 AM
- 1687 Views
What do you mean by adult version?
13/07/2010 02:15:40 PM
- 1809 Views
They started publishing copies with 'adult' covers so people wouldn't be caught out reading
13/07/2010 11:53:46 PM
- 1749 Views
Got a boxed set for Christmas when Order of the Phoenix came out in hardback.
13/07/2010 03:06:42 PM
- 1738 Views
The first five were out, waited for HBP.
14/07/2010 06:20:39 AM
- 1845 Views
Very early. Beginning of 1999, so it had just come out in the States. *NM*
14/07/2010 08:54:06 AM
- 1049 Views
I held out quite awhile because I don't like "fads"
14/07/2010 02:04:37 PM
- 1653 Views
I did the same thing.
15/07/2010 06:39:16 AM
- 1768 Views
I would have, if I had known there was hype. I know I would have.
15/07/2010 03:28:50 PM
- 1792 Views

Aged 13 or 14 - a while before the first movie (which was Christmas 2001). *NM*
26/07/2010 04:13:55 PM
- 1026 Views
Jesus Christ.
26/07/2010 05:04:46 PM
- 1795 Views
^That was me. *NM*
26/07/2010 09:55:49 PM
- 1021 Views

Aw. I was just feeling flattered as I didn't think Tor had read that many of my posts.
*NM*
27/07/2010 12:15:52 AM
- 1042 Views

Suggestions for the Re-read
12/07/2010 08:33:25 AM
- 1724 Views
This is my first official time participating and its been fun so far!
14/07/2010 05:16:48 PM
- 1666 Views
Unfortunately, no. (Silly me, pretending someone's still going to read all my posts...
) *NM*
26/07/2010 04:20:35 PM
- 1042 Views

Inconsistencies Re: the Potter's death...
15/07/2010 05:16:45 AM
- 2047 Views
Because they were tricked? They considered Peter and Sirius to be brothers.
15/07/2010 07:05:27 AM
- 1700 Views
That's nonsense..
16/07/2010 01:08:40 AM
- 1622 Views
Take it up with Rowling, since you don't believe me. *NM*
16/07/2010 08:19:58 AM
- 943 Views
What's there to believe?
18/07/2010 06:03:13 AM
- 1710 Views
Peter + Sirius = family. I don't know how to explain it more simply. *NM*
18/07/2010 08:58:20 AM
- 1064 Views
Re: That's nonsense..
16/07/2010 09:37:59 AM
- 1838 Views
Also
16/07/2010 11:17:51 AM
- 2054 Views
Huh?
18/07/2010 05:57:58 AM
- 1630 Views
But Camilla explained it!
18/07/2010 09:27:55 AM
- 1956 Views

I'm fairly certain you guys have that totally wrong...
18/07/2010 05:42:18 PM
- 1646 Views
Re: I'm fairly certain you guys have that totally wrong...
18/07/2010 05:51:36 PM
- 1663 Views
Re: I'm fairly certain you guys have that totally wrong...
18/07/2010 06:17:04 PM
- 1962 Views
Re: I'm fairly certain you guys have that totally wrong...
18/07/2010 06:28:27 PM
- 1656 Views
That bothers me too.
18/07/2010 07:17:14 PM
- 1727 Views
Re: That bothers me too.
18/07/2010 07:20:44 PM
- 1594 Views
Again...
18/07/2010 07:35:10 PM
- 1902 Views
Re: Again...
18/07/2010 08:00:55 PM
- 1688 Views
Re: Again...
19/07/2010 06:33:13 AM
- 1887 Views
Re: Again...
20/07/2010 04:45:16 PM
- 1703 Views
Yet another load of bosh.
21/07/2010 01:00:14 AM
- 1688 Views
It was just the sort of things these two daredevils would do...
14/09/2010 12:11:20 AM
- 2135 Views
Re: It was just the sort of things these two daredevils would do...
14/09/2010 09:20:46 AM
- 1597 Views
You have to wonder if that's actually true.
26/07/2010 04:23:31 PM
- 1665 Views
Since Lily and James were unable to leave the house
18/07/2010 07:14:21 PM
- 1650 Views
Re: Since Lily and James were unable to leave the house
26/07/2010 05:07:48 PM
- 1972 Views
^ And this, too, was me.
26/07/2010 09:58:07 PM
- 1693 Views
