Fifth book anniversary

[lavivi]

Today is the second-year anniversary of the fifth book's birth into bookstores all over the world.  (Or it will be in less than an hour - give me some slack.)  I'll always remember it because eight hours after we picked it up at midnight, my parents were married.  Or actually, that's a lie - five days ago, I just remembered their anniversary because the fifth book's anniversary was coming up, and I had a Yahoo!reminder sent to me.

Anyway.  I am a faithful reader of daily_snitch, and I've read a lot of essays and rants and discussions and things on...a lot of things about the books.  Not necessarily just the fifth book.

But on this anniversary of the fifth book, and as we pass into the final month before the sixth book, I would like to conduct a little survey.  Especially relying on how many of us are re-reading the fifth book, in preparation for New Canon.

What are your favorite passages, quotes, scenes, etc. from the fifth book?  What you liked the best, thought were the most profound, thought were the best written.

*bows out, and goes to put the finishing touches on a certain anniversary gift*

Comments

[sweetdarkness87.livejournal.com]

Okay, just from memory, one of my favorite lines from OotP.

"This is night, Duddykins. That's what they call it when it goes all dark like this." - sarcastic!Harry.

I'm going to look through the book and pick out my favorite things.

[ladylorien142.livejournal.com]

I'm planning on rereading OotP sometime before July, so I'll try to remember to write down favorite parts.

[calliopeia17.livejournal.com]

My favorite part will always be Hermione pretending to start crying to trick Umbridge into going into the Forbidden Forest with the centaurs.

Weasley is our King!

[jazzypom.livejournal.com]

That song was inspired. I mean, in high school we'd have songs over every crazy little thing.

I also liked the pensieve scene because it showed that James and Sirius were sixteen year old little shits. I like them both, but they were tosspots of the highest order, and reminded me of the boys I used to teach back in the day.

I thought that the pensieve scene was brilliant, because there comes a time in a child's life when he finds out that his parents are human, and when that time comes, it's rather sobering and headspinning, and things aren't the same. Especially when Harry has been told nothing but good stuff about his parents only to discover that they were human after all.

At the start of the book Harry is a snarky assed sixteen year old, with a lot of lip. There's a part in the passage (page 23 UK edition, I think) when he's getting smartassed with his Aunt Petunia. When she asks him why he's listening to the news today, he's like 'because it changes everyday, y'know?'

There's a line in the OoTP I like when Harry sees his father for the first time in the pensieve scene, and Ms. Rowling describes James looking like Harry but 'with deliberate mistakes'. I thought that was a nice line. Then when Lupin is actually quizzed on the werewolf question and he's like 'well...' and he ends with 'I know this because I'm a werewolf'. So smart, so high school. Young Mr Lupin has the sense to laugh at himself.

Wow. It seems that I don't totally hate the book after all?

Re: Weasley is our King!

[forluck-yousaid.livejournal.com]

when he's getting smartassed with his Aunt Petunia. When she asks him why he's listening to the news today, he's like 'because it changes everyday, y'know?'

*smirks* i know i loved that too. Smart ass Harry rocks

[augustfai.livejournal.com]

-The first part--when Harry and Dudley get back and tell Vernon and Petunia--that was really good, I liked it. I guess because Harry was finally revealing a part of his life to his aunt and uncle, and explaining Dementors to them, and how Vernon kept messing them up. ("Dementoids?")

-Well, the DoM scene really made me like Luna, and this wasn't until I re-read it about the twelfth time. ;) Don't ask me how this is significant to this--I just like the scene because it made me like Luna. (Though it took awhile.)

-Oh, and Sirius..that goes under most profound. Because--well--you know.

-And a piece of subtext from an H/D shipper:

"You wait. I'll have you." - Draco; to Harry

Yaaaay for readingbetweenthelines! *throws confetti*

[girlandetc.livejournal.com]

dementoids! :D i loved that scene. and then petunia is getting things RIGHT, and is all shocked :)

[lavinialavender.livejournal.com]

As my friend said:

DEMENTIODS: THE CURIOUSLY DEPRESSING MINT.

Here from daily_snitch

[roz-mcclure.livejournal.com]

The whole DA subplot, but mostly the scene in the Hog's Head. The students knew something was up, they knew they had to do something, and...they did it.

Also, McGonagall telling Peeves that the chandelier unscrews the other way. :D

[moonytoes.livejournal.com]

I've just finished re-reading it, so I'll give you a few off the top of my head.

1. Fred and George leaving in such style. The way JKR wrote it was brilliant- especially with Peeves giving some amount of respect.
2. Seeing how the magical community disguise the MoM and St. Mungo's.
3. McGonagall encouraging Peeves's reign of terror.- she has an amusing side. I adore the quick fire talking between her and Harry. 'Have a biscuit.'
4. Seeing James's teenage self. And Lily.- it was good to see that Harry now knows what his father was like his own age.
5. 'Who do you know who's lost a buttock?'
6. The fountain coming to life- also relates back to the examiner talking about how she examined Dumbledore herself: 'did things with a wand I've never seen before'.
7. When Harry is experiencing Voldemort's manical laughter, when the DE's escape- scariest part of the book, in my opinion.
8. Fawkes in general- especially when he swallows one of Voldemort's spells whole.
9. The 'Weasley is our King' song.
10. The length of it- not only is it a book, but a weapon, propper-upper-of-things, cushion...

:D

[alchemy-gryph.livejournal.com]

Hands down, the open revolt of the school against Umbridge, Peeves "determinedly wrenching" off one of the chandeliers, and McGonagall passing by only to tell him "It unscrews the other way." The HP books are often at their most memorable when JKR just lets the humor out of the weirdest places.

And you gotta love both the Pensieve stuff and Ron becoming more confident.

Character-wise, Heroic!Neville carrying Hermione toward the end. I don't ship 'em, but that was a lovely grace note for Neville's character, who appears to be the Samwise Gamgee more and more of the HP universe.

- Madox

[-pennyfeather.livejournal.com]

"Potter, is it?" said Professor Tofty, consulting his notes and peering over his pince-nez at Harry as he approached. "The famous Potter?"
Out of the corner of his eye, Harry distinctly saw Malfoy throw a scathing look over at him; the wine glass Malfoy had been levitating fell to the floor and smashed.

<3 Love that scene. Snotty little evil-wannabe brat...

- The entire 'Career Advice' chapter. 'May I offer you a cough drop, Dolores?' was priceless. McGonagall is so my favorite Professor.
- Umbridge's detentions. One of the most chilling things in the books yet. Pure genius for JKR (she did have her moments).
- God Rest Ye Merry Hippogriffs. Oh and, 'Of course, he might have crawled into the airing cupboard and died...But I mustn't get my hopes up'. Seems like such a thing for Gary's Sirius to say actually...
- Phineas Nigellus, 'Stay where you are.' 'I haven't moved! So what's the message?' 'I have just given it to you, dolt'
-'But the unsightly blemishes upon your visage, young master!' 'They're freckles!'

So...those are a few :D

here via d.s.

[prettyveela.livejournal.com]

"S'up Figgy?"
~Mundungus Fletcher

Re: here via d.s.

[grrliz.livejournal.com]

I concur, that part killed me!

Re: here via d.s.

[yaycoffee.livejournal.com]

GREAT line. Great.

Re: here via d.s.

[lavinialavender.livejournal.com]

That is truly worthy.

(And nice to see you on Livejournal, PrettyVeela.)

Re: here via d.s.

[prettyveela.livejournal.com]

Hee I've been on LJ since 2003 :P

[taira602.livejournal.com]

My favorite scene has always been the one with Luna and Harry at the end. Their interaction is so perfect, it meshes well with Harry's grief over Sirius and it's just... poignant, I guess. I love reading it over and over.

And the joint presents, of course. What R/S shipper doesn't like that scene?

From Hogwarts Today.. or the snitch, i'm not sure actually.

[forluck-yousaid.livejournal.com]

Harry's rampant sarcasm throughout the book is great.

"Harry, don't go picking a row with Malfoy, don't forget, he's a prefect now, he could make life difficult for you..."
"Wow, I wonder what it'd be like to have a difficult life?" said Harry sarcastically.

I love the Twins and their send off, "give her hell from us Peeves", and Peeves listening.

I like the DA and the hogs head part, and how they all list harry's achievements with awe. It makes me happy for him.

I like Luna. She makes me smile.

I like Harry and the twins fighting Malfoy, there is just so much- anger. I would have smacked Malfoy too, he's such an arrogant little shit.

I like Hermione just being Hermione, i like when she threatens to write to Mrs. Weasley:

Hermione drew herself to her full height; her eyes were narrowed and her hair seemed to crackle with electricity.
"No," she said, her voice quivering with anger, "but I will write to your mother."
"You wouldn't," said George, horrified, taking a step back from her.
"Oh, yes, I would," said Hermione grimly. "I can't stop you from eating the stupid things yourself, but you're not giving them to first years."
Fred and George looked thunderstruck. It was clear that as far as they were concerned, Hermione's threat was way below the belt.

I like poor Neville and his gum wrappers, it breaks my heart. God, that poor kid.

[cecilydolce.livejournal.com]

Neville and his parents. There's a line about how 'Neville looked at them as if to dare any one to laugh. Harry didn't think he'd ever seen anything less funny in his life.'

I love when Harry goes to Nearly Headless Nick and asked about ghosts- that was gut-wrenching also.

For funny bits, I liked the waterskiing budgerigar- simply because I have no idea what the hell a budgerigar is but it has a cute name. Snarky!Harry= wicked awesome.

[kayling.livejournal.com]

Just so you know, I think a budgerigar is a parakeet/parrot... possibly. (Anyone who might actually know for sure, please feel free to let us know).

[cecilydolce.livejournal.com]

Really?

I thought it might be a squirrel type animal. I was way off, lol. But thank you!

[kayling.livejournal.com]

I thought it was a squirrel at first too! I think I read online that it was really a parakeet way back when the book first came out.

[yaycoffee.livejournal.com]

You are correct. (I actually looked this up when I first read OotP)

Budgies: My Hermione moment.

[(Anonymous)]

Budgerigars are what we call parakeets in the US, and I'm betting most of you Americans either owned one when you were a child, or knew someone who did/does. The bird was/is probably named Petey.

Budgies are in nearly every pet store in the US, and sell for around $19.95. The birds are about 7" long. They are striped on the wings and backs, and most of the head. The stripes are black. The most common color is yellow with black stripes and green, but they also come in white and blue, white and violet, yellow and blue, yellow and violet, white and turquoise, etc. In short, anything but orange and red. Some of them have amazing vocabulary, but don't necessarily use it with meaning the way the bigger birds do, such as quaker parrots or African Grey Parrots.

The reason the rest of the world calls them budgerigars instead of parakeets is because parakeet is a general term applied to long tailed parrots, of which there are many. They consist of about 120 species with many sub-species. The parakeet genera are found in various parrot sub-families. They are some of the most gorgeous birds in the world.

The bird nerd will shut up now.

[a-t-rain.livejournal.com]

For some reason the Quibbler headline, "SIRIUS -- Black as He's Painted? Notorious Mass Murderer OR Innocent Singing Sensation?" always cracks me up. I'm not sure whether it's the phrase "innocent singing sensation" OR the randomly capitalized OR.

And I love all the backstory, especially the Noble and Most Deliciously Gothic House of Black and the Pensieve scene, and Tonks and Luna, and Ginny turning out to have a personality, and McGonagall vs. Umbridge... (I'm so glad we got some decent female character development -- most of the women did feel rather underdeveloped and archetypical in the first four books.)

And the Veil -- I do think JKR's best magical inventions are the ones with an allegorical dimension, like the Mirror of Erised and the dementors, and I really like what she's done with death.

[marginaliana]

For some reason the Quibbler headline, "SIRIUS -- Black as He's Painted? Notorious Mass Murderer OR Innocent Singing Sensation?" always cracks me up. I'm not sure whether it's the phrase "innocent singing sensation" OR the randomly capitalized OR.

YESSSSSS! I laughed sooooo hard.

[yaycoffee.livejournal.com]

Here are the first things that came to mind:

--McGonagall giving Peeves her cane to beat Umbridge on her way out, and then acting all coy-like.

--snarky! Harry at the beginning

--"Have a biscuit, Potter." (McGonagall again)

--"'I feel I owe you another explanation, Harry," said Dumbledore hesitantly. "You may, perhaps, have wondered why I never chose you as a prefect? I must confess. . .that I rather thought . .. you had enough responsibility to be going on with.'

Harry looked up at him and saw a tear trickling down Dumbledore's face inot his long silver beard." *sobs* Best. Scene. Ever.

[nellie-darlin.livejournal.com]

Completely favourite bit? Career's Advice. McGonagall just rocks my socks. "Are you sure I cannot offer you a cough sweet, Dolores?"

Other favourites - McGonagall telling Peeves that the chandelier unscrews the other way (that made me squee!). McGonagall - "Have a biscuit, Potter". All the teachers suddenly getting helpless and asking Umbridge to help them get rid of the fireworks. And The Swamp. Definitely the Swamp. And McGonagall giving Peeves her cane, and saying that she would run after Umbridge whooping, but she needs her stick...

McGonagall seems to be a theme, doesn't she? She's my favourite character since OotP. Along with Ginny and Remus.

[nellie-darlin.livejournal.com]

And reading over the other comments has made me think of others:

Neville at the DoM - that makes me well up everytime I read it, the way he's still shouting Stupefy even though his nose is broken. He's so brave... And with his mum, and the sweet wrapper, I nearly cried.

And Tonks is a wonderful new character, that scene at the beginning with Moody and the buttock...

I love the DA meetings, and Harry's exams are also cool.

Oh, I just love the whole book. It's my favourite by FAR. Because it's so funny, yet at the same time has the most heart-wrenching scenes ever.

[lyras.livejournal.com]

Hi, here from the Snitch, and this is a lovely idea :).

My favourite parts/things:

Petunia having all this unexpected knowledge of the wizarding world.
Christmas in the closed ward.
Ginny (even if I have problems reconciling her with her previous incarnation).
Snape's worst memory.
Sirius falling through the veil and Remus diving to stop Harry following him, his voice cracking as he tells Harry it's no good.

I love this book. I know people complain that it needed editing, and about capslock!Harry, but I love all the extra details we get.

[lyras.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes, one more, sorry! McGonagall telling Umbridge where she gets off during her "inspection" and the careers advice scene.

[mereol.livejournal.com]

god, i totally thought i really disliked book v until i saw your post and read the comments. i'm like, yes i loved that!

so here's mine:
-smartass harry at the dursleys', "well the nuthouse has chucked me out"....then a few pages later..."right, i'll be staying then."

-"s'up figgy" (i think this was already mentioned), mrs. figg pelting mundungus with her bag of cat tins

-caps locked harry at 12 grimmauld place with ron/hermione. lord i bet it felt good for harry to shout at someone. him noticing the scratch marks on their hands from hedwig and not being able to bring himself to feel bad about it.

-ron being a prefect and harry's reaction to it

-mundungus in general. being awoken after an order meeting ended and him muttering, "i 'gree with sirius"

-when he gets back at school and there's a group of hufflepuffs eyeing him as though "he might attack stragglers."

-umbridge's detentions, this to me was one of the darkest parts of the book

-care of magical creatures class with grubbly-plank, harry was "well aware he had just had an exemplary lesson and" not being happy about it

-although i really disliked it, harry/hermione meeting grawp with hagrid and harry, at least, finally realizing that hagrid might just be a few sandwiches short of a picnic

-harry and one of the twins whoop-assing on malfoy. there's an awful lot of pent up rage in harry, i'm surprised malfoy escaped alive

-the da

-the "explanation" scene with dumbledore and harry at the end made me bawl like a baby-headed death eater

-moody/remus/order members threatening uncle vernon at the end

so i guess i really did like the book. hmmm... may have to revisit before july 16.

[mellafe.livejournal.com]

"Snape's Worst Memory"
I've read it more times than all the books together. I hope JK writes something else like it in HBP. HOPE.

[lavinialavender.livejournal.com]

What aspect of it do you like? Just the general view of the Marauders-era?

[mellafe.livejournal.com]

Yes. It's just a glimpse to the part I like the most about the books. To get to see all these adults that are so important to the entire story, and seeing them like teens... it's priceless.

[madam-marozi.livejournal.com]

Things that made me laugh:

Tonks: "Both buttocks still on? Okay, let's go."

F&G: "Hello Harry, we thought we heard your dulcet tones."

Lupin and Sirius struggling to close the curtains while Mother Black screams abuse at them. Awk. WARD.

Kreacher. I know he's awful, but his not-so-sotto voce cracks me the hell up.

Ron, exulting in Harry's vindication: "I knew it! You always get away with stuff!" I love Ron. After the Divination OWL: "From now on I don't care if my tea leaves spell 'die, Ron, die.'"

Luna crushing on Ron and Ron being clueless.

The Quibbler. I'd subscribe if I could.

Kitten plates.

St. Mungo's. The third floor treats "Rashes, regurgitation, and uncontrollable giggling." The return of Gilderoy Lockhart (and his joined-up writing).

Mounted elf heads wearing Santa hats.

[girlintheattic.livejournal.com]

Here via DS
I love Luna's apparent crush on Ron, mainly because I adore Ron and WANT PEOPLE TO LOVE HIM DAMMIT!
Also snarky!Harry, though at times he pissed me off...
Neville is my hero.
That scene in the common room after Cho and Harry and the smoochies "Well...How was it?" "Wet". Oh the love, with Ron rolling around on the rug and no nonsense Hermione getting all the details. I love me some good trio bonding.

Here via the daily_snitch

[rane-ab.livejournal.com]

"'I have no idea,' said Snape coldly. 'Potter, when I want nonsense shouted at me I shall give you a Babbling Beverage. And Crabbe, loosen your hold a little. If Longbottom suffocates it will mean a lot of tedious paperwork and I am afraid I shall have to mention it on your reference if ever you apply for a job.'" (p.657, UK version) The sarcasm!

And

"'Thank you so much, Professor!' said Professor Flitwick in his squeaky little voice. 'I could have got rid of the sparklers myself, of course, but I wasn't sure whether or not I had the authority.'

Beaming, he closed his classroom door in her snarling face." (p. 558, UK version)

And, yes, of course, so many of the things others have mentioned!