Wednesday 6 July 2016

The most memorable HP revelations, part 1

I dedicated my two previous posts to new HP stuff to look forward to. So I’ve decided that it’s only fitting to dedicate my next I-don’t-know-how-many posts to looking back. HP has a very long history and obviously much to look back on and remember. I want to start with going back to each book, remembering their most shocking, interesting and fascinating revelations. Today I’ll be looking at books 1-3. 

Philosopher's Stone

In the first book everything was new, unusual and unexpected. So, basically, everything there was a huge giant revelation. 

“Harry – yer a wizard.” ‘Nuff said. 

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is a revelation in and of itself. Quidditch. Classes. Oh, yes, let’s not forget about a giant and deadly three-headed dog whose name turned out to be Fluffy, who belonged to Hagrid and who fell asleep when you played him a bit of music.

But I think that the biggest revelation for me was the fact that Quirrell and not Snape turned out to be the bad guy (possessed by Voldemort no less!) and that Snape was actually trying to save Harry all along. 

“Severus?” Quirrell laughed and it wasn’t his usual quivering treble, either, but cold and sharp. “Yes, Severus does seem the type, doesn’t he? So useful to have him swooping around like an overgrown bat. Next to him, who would suspect p-p-poor st-stuttering P-Professor Quirrell?”

Who indeed! I was completely thrown off the trail there. 

Chamber of Secrets 

In the second book there were a lot more revelations. The most shocking for me was the truth behind Ginny’s diary: 

“They had almost reached the motorway when Ginny shrieked that she’d left her diary.” 

Now, tell me, who would have thought that this unobtrusive sentence, thrown among other sentences of similar nature, would have such a profound effect on the whole plot? I still can’t wrap my mind around the way J.K. Rowling plants her clues throughout the story. I mean, really! 

Another shocking revelation was that Harry could talk to snakes! I just love that scene during the Duelling Club when he can’t for the life of him understand why everyone is staring at him like that. Poor boy. Similarly shocking was the fact that model student Tom Riddle turned out to be Lord Voldemort. That Moaning Myrtle was more than just a sulky ghost that haunted the girls’ bathroom but actually Basilisk’s original victim. And that Hagrid was expelled from Hogwarts because he was wrongly but deliberately accused by the boy who was to become the most feared wizard of all times. Hagrid and Voldemort went to school at the same time! Just think about that!

But I must confess that my favourite revelation was actually the story behind the names of the four Hogwarts Houses and that they belonged to Godric Gryffindor, Salazar Slytherin, Rowena Ravenclaw and Helga Hufflepuff. I don’t know but it just gives me so much feels. What can I say, Hogwarts: A History would be my favourite bedside table read :D 

Prisoner of Azkaban 

In the third book things began to get a lot more complicated. I think it was while reading the third book that I started realizing just how tightly everything was linked and interconnected. Now, where to begin… 

Messrs Mooney, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs - the creators of the Marauder's Map - are actually Remus Lupin (Harry's DADA Professor!), Peter Pettigrew, Sirius Black and James Potter. It so happened that they all became animagi in their fifth year, having broken not only about a thousand school rules but wizarding laws too. Sirius and James were best friends. Sirius is Harry’s godfather. Sirius betrayed his parents to Voldemort. Sirius is innocent. Sirius is a giant bearlike dog. Ron’s rat Scabbers is not a rat at all but Pettigrew. Pettigrew is a Death Eater who actually betrayed Harry’s parents to Voldemort. Lupin is a werewolf. James saved Snape from being savaged by the said werewolf after Sirius pranked him into going after it. Whomping Willow! Crookshanks! Firebolt! Hermione’s Time-Turner. Harry’s Patronus! Professor Trelawney can actually produce prophecies once in a while! Whew, this book is a rollercoaster of revelations! 

Have I missed anything? I’m sure I must have… 

So what are your most memorable revelations? Revelations that shook you to the core?

P.S. I just love these new ebook covers from Pottermore. Especially the third one. Do you? 

7 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness! I never thought it was Quirrell either. I didn't necessarily think Snape was the bad guy because all signs were pointing that way, but Quirrell didn't have my notice until further along. I also noticed that sentence about the diary and had much the same thought. There were SO MANY revelations in PoA. I was absolutely SHOCKED to learn that Scabbers was not a rat. It actually really grossed me out that he was living with those kids for so long as a pet.

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    1. That's the creepy and despicable guy he is. Poor Ron, to realise that your useless but beloved pet is actually a turncoat and a man!

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  2. I would have NEVER guessed Quirrell either! I know Snape was almost too obvious at times but I relate with Harry so much that I just thought what he thought about Snape - ESPECIALLY at first! The diary most certainly slid past my radar too! AND OMG PoA was FULL of major revelations...I think that's why I love it so much. The Marauders are probably my favorite ♥ And the time-turner :D Oh and LOVE those new covers. I wish they'd come out with physical books for those...but then I'd end up needing to get my hands on those too XD

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    1. I LOVED the revelation about the Marauders. I know that Harry greatly admired Lupin before that but to actually find out that he was one of the Hogwarts mischief-makers, his father's friend and the creater of such a map!

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  3. I was always surprised when Snape turned out not to be evil. SS sets it up perfectly for him to be a villain and then it's QUIRRELL! And I feel like Draco would be an easy guess for CoS and then it's Ginny! I also loved the small foreshadowing throughout. I never would have guessed it was her and I am in awe of the author.
    I love finding out about the Marauders in PoA. I already loved Lupin to begin with, but learning about his backstory and his connection to Harry's parents is amazing. And the whole book is basically just revelations about Sirius (both true and false) and then we get the whole story in the Shrieking Shack. There's just so much revealed in that book, and it's the only one without a version of Voldemort!
    Those covers are pretty amazing. I love the simplicity and mysteriousness of them.

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  4. Those covers are incredibly sharp! I love them. I totally agree with the Professor Quirrell revelation! Rowling's writing is so incredibly good, I never suspected it was Quirrell. I mean right from the beginning we villainize Snape and so there's never any thought to it being someone else, especially not Quirrell. It's amazing!
    Prisoner of Azkaban is my favorite book because of all the revelations and history we get. Like you said, this is the book where we discover just how intertwined this story and the world is. It's crazy and I love it!

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  5. Oh my gosh. You have just floored me. Because I didn't put it together. It didn't click. Grant it, I've only read it once, but that line from Chamber of Secrets? "...Ginny shrieked that she'd left her diary." I DIDN'T NOTICE THAT! I can't wait to re-read these and pick up what I missed!
    I do the minimalist style of those covers; little beauties.

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