We have reached the end of Prisoner of Azkaban and have
therefore been introduced to the majority of the major characters in this
series. Sure, there are a few more to come – some of them near and dear to my
heart – and some who appear minor FOR NOW and will become major later.
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This is the genius of JK, my friends. Drink it in. |
I have another issue I’d like to address: I know we’ve sort
of beaten the money thing to death, BUT! What if tuition at Hogwarts were paid by
wizard taxes? Harry and Hermione and Dean Thomas would go to Hogwarts
essentially for free (I guess?) but then when they got out they’d have
wizarding jobs and would then pay wizard taxes – not the regular Muggle ones.
This could explain why no one mentions the actual tuition –
just paying for books and wands and stuff. Also, it upholds principles of
education with which I agree.
Wizard taxes and dragon heartstrings are the things that
keep me up at night, friends.
Okay, so are we ready to jump on our respective Sirius
hating/loving bandwagons? Personally I think he’s a terrible role model for
Harry and doesn’t consider his safety as a godfather should. On the other hand,
let’s do a little Googling:
Ok, so Lily had Harry when she was 20, and Harry is now 13,
so Sirius is 33 years old when PoA takes place, but ONE COULD ARGUE that he’s
really still only 20ish, as it’s pretty well established (by me) that one does not
mature properly when one is being tormented by dementors. Plus his own
childhood was mumbleBOOKFIVEmumble, so I’m filing him under “doing the best he
can with the little he’s got.”
Point of Order #1: we are all older than Lily and James when
they died, and I (at least) am older than Sirius. This freaks me out a little. (Also, the Marauders were awful but they were children. Many of whom never had the opportunity to mature for one reason or another, and we will talk about this later.)
Point of Order #2: If Hagrid was a 3rd year 51
years ago (in CoS), then he’s something like 64, and while I think he was VERY
well cast in the movies, there is no way that Hagrid is 64 years old. Conversely, Gary
Oldman is SO OLD to play Sirius. The casting director played a little fast and
loose with the adults, is what I’m saying. Not that I object, but it
does make me feel ancient to think that Sirius is supposed to be MY AGE in
these movies and look at Gary Oldman in the role. It’s like thinking you’re
going to be played by Emma Stone and instead it’s Glenn Close. Still amazing (actually more so),
just… we’re not in Kansas or our 20’s any more, children. Someone bring me some Botox.
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BRING ON THE QUIDDITCH WORLD CUP! |
What Red Read 121p · 647 weeks ago
I am so torn on the casting in the movie cos I LOVE Oldman and Rickman but yeah, they are both way too old to play these 33 year olds. ALSO I read something that Bill & Charlie Weasley would have been at school with the Marauders, which seems like some odd overlap there. And a big age gap between Bill and Ginny. Poor Mrs. Weasley.
Tikabelle 87p · 647 weeks ago
What the hell.
What Red Read 121p · 647 weeks ago
Tikabelle 87p · 647 weeks ago
I think we could probably bump it forward a year or two - Charlie could have been in his, say, 5th or 6th year when they last won the cup. But EVEN SO, Bill would still have been at Hogwarts at the same time as the Mauraders.
So weird.
Laura · 647 weeks ago
I JUST DON'T KNOW THE ANSWERS TO ALL OF YOUR QUESTIONS TIKA!
Tikabelle 87p · 647 weeks ago
And you are British! Why don't you know these things?!? LAURA!!! All that real Cadbury's and clotted cream is fogging your brain. Get it together.
Laura · 647 weeks ago
LOOK all I knows is that we have BOTH schools you have to pay for and schools you don't! So... I'm thinking the wizard government funds Hogwarts, there I said it!
What Red Read 121p · 647 weeks ago
...Who the hell was paying for that school...
Meg · 647 weeks ago
jennysbooks 89p · 647 weeks ago
Emily · 647 weeks ago
Tika, wizarding taxes and their equivalent have keep me awake nights ever since I read these books. I think we're in good company.
Laura · 647 weeks ago
What Red Read 121p · 647 weeks ago
readingrambo 112p · 647 weeks ago
Favorite.
Ok. OKAY. I'll buy that argument about Sirius. But he's still not an appropriate guardian for Harry. His suckiness is just understandable.
Kayleigh_M 92p · 647 weeks ago
I tried to sort out whether Bill and Charlie would have been at school with the Marauders after the re-read of the first book and it just made my head hurt because I'm pretty sure JK didn't plan for them to, but there is definitely an overlap.
I also don't think she considered the ages of the Marauders/Snape until much later, so they read as much older adults than they actually are (the Dursleys especially) and I think that's why they were cast as so much older in the films.
Love that final gif btw!
What Red Read 121p · 647 weeks ago
Tikabelle 87p · 647 weeks ago
Although the other things - like her telling World Book Night that Bill, Charlie, and Percy are all 2 years apart - point to just bad math. Which is FINE because HP is GREAT over all.
Kayleigh_M 92p · 647 weeks ago
JK should take a night class in basic addition. Jeez.
raychraych 52p · 647 weeks ago
Good call on the taxes.
Kayleigh V · 647 weeks ago
I think your school explanation makes complete sense.
@jaimeedrew · 647 weeks ago
etudesque 73p · 647 weeks ago
I'm TOTALLY with you on the casting - yes, Gary Oldman and Alan Rickman are AWESOME, but I was expecting hot British 33 year old professors! Boo.
june79 16p · 647 weeks ago
Jennifer · 647 weeks ago
You make a good point about Sirius's level of maturity. If anything, I'd imagine that he would regress in Azkaban, which could explain why he's not as great a role model for Harry as he could be. I don't think he's terrible, but he's not the best. He's nowhere near Lupin levels.