Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Doesn't Make Sense?

[@TeamSky01]

A school not helping you prepare for the future? Well, looks like the wizarding world and the muggle world aren't so different after all.

[@robbiegarnz7732]

Team Sky lol! Except in the wizarding world they don’t have 100k in student loan debt! Lol!

[@TeamSky01]

@@robbiegarnz7732 As far as we know. All we get to see in the books and movies is essentialy the equivalent to grade. So it's possible that to receive any further education is incredibly expensive.

[@kyriss12]

I always figured the wizarding world was secretly dystopian. Minimal schooling that insures wizards can never integrate into the muggle world. Random hazards placed about that will maim and possibly kill overly inquisitive students who don't take "because I said so" for an answer. Teachers openly abuse the students. Kids are divided into houses based on personality traits, and forced to compete for superficial points. And that's just the shit in hogwarts.

[@mrevilducky]

As an engineer I never understood this sentiment

[@camh3429]

Basically just commented that and then I see this one, glad to see I'm not the only one aware of this by the look of those likes.

[@semir9112]

Maybe Voldemort's brain got split in 7 peaces as well.

[@janasilhava5920]

Hahahahahahah

[@Odinger67]

8* pieces.

[@ximegarcia2080]

That would make much more sense , he’s really dumb

[@Shpektrometer]

@@Odinger67 no seven

[@noorelamir9128]

@@Shpektrometer he made quirrel a horcurux

[@DrTimes99]

Voldemort Book 5: It's too risky for me to try to sneak into the Ministry, despite the government's lax security and belief I'm dead. Harry Book 7: I'll just whip up some polyjuice potion to sneak into the ministry despite being public enemy number one and the government being on high alert.

[@Hugo-G]

That's kind of an established difference between the two characters. Voldemort never puts himself in a position of direct danger if he can get his followers to do his dirty work. He wasn't as concerned about the Ministry but more so having to face off against Dumbledore which he only does once his followers are unable to effectively deal with the Order and Harry. Harry on the otherhand always puts his life on the line to save everyone from Voldemort so he takes a lot more risks than Voldemort throughout the series.

[@tanvi7532]

Mean tbh both failed at being undetected

[@elijahfordsidioticvarietys8770]

And that is why Harry won. Harry was smart, while Voldemort was an idiot.

[@1997lordofdoom]

@@elijahfordsidioticvarietys8770 I wouldn't call Voldemort an idiot, he was winning hard for the whole series but he got screwed by some bs prophecy, he didn't make a mistake, destiny was literally out to get him.

[@moreparrotsmoredereks2275]

Harry didn't have a choice. And he did get caught.

[@mcyt7539]

Something that has never quite made sense to me is why no one brings it up during Harry's hearing that yeah, Harry did magic in front of a muggle, but the muggle was his cousin who already knows about magic! Like one of the charges against Harry was that he performed magic underage, but the other charge was about the International Statute of Secrecy, so shouldn't it matter at least a little bit that the muggle Harry performed magic in front of was Dudley, who already knows about the wizarding world? Obviously the ministry is just against Harry and the hearing isn't actually fair, but it's still never quite made sense to me that no one ever even mentions that Dudley already knew about magic anyway

[@merphynapier42]

Yeah I just chalk that up to the ministry breaking it's own rules to get him expelled. Though it is odd that Dumbledore didn't point this out

[@doomburger8433]

Hagrid does magic in front of the Dursleys in the shack where they hid from all the letters in bk/mv 1. At least to start the fireplace. He even puts a pig tail on Dudley. Who took that off him, and when? And the letters themselves. Neighbors shoulda witnessed impossible letters and owls

[@madethistocomment727]

@@doomburger8433 he was given permission to use it to find Harry and get him his letter. I guess he just hoped they didn't know if he'd finished yet lol

[@mcyt7539]

@@dreamshakejunya I mean, yeah the point is the government is corrupt. But in general, I think there still has to be an exception for muggles who already know because, for example, wizards are allowed to marry muggles. They would then presumably be allowed to perform magic in front of their spouses. Also, there are tons of Muggle-born wizards, who, again, are probably allowed to perform magic in front of their parents/families I don't know what the Astros are so don't know what you're talking about there.

[@phumelela7665]

@@doomburger8433 The pigtail was surgically removed. I think it was around Harry's first night at Hogwarts. They dropped Harry off at the train station on their way to the hospital.

[@ellianamaselli7267]

That Voldemort rant is why you’re my favorite BookTuber. Totally agree, by the way. Voldemort isn’t nearly as scary as Bellatrix or even Lucius or Greyback because he can’t freaking keep his crap together.😂😂

[@docbrown2045]

Voldemort: "I'm the only one who must kill Harry Potter" Also Voldemort: the only person who is literally unable to kill Harry Potter.

[@daniellelarsen9767]

Doctor Emmett L. Brown Yes! Can I get this on a t-shirt? So true! Hahaha

[@berengustav7714]

He was better in the first three. When he was a shadow demon.

[@BlackXSunlight]

I never call their exams by acronyms, I just say “owls” and “newts.”

[@robertgronewold3326]

When I read the books out to family members over the years, I usually went by character. I'd have Harry and Ron say Owls, but Hermione and most teachers would say O-W-L. I always thought that made sense.

[@cjleach3442]

For the longest time, I read them as OLWs. Thought it was a weird acronym. Then...man it might have been when the movies came out....I clicked lol. Always read them as 'Newts' though. no trouble there.

[@sharonr.8840]

For some reason I read them as “o-w-l’s” but I just say “newts”

[@Doctor_Straing_Strange]

Same

[@robertgronewold3326]

@Adam Efimoff Strangely enough as an author myself I am aware of this. My REASONING for having some characters say Owls and other O-W-L's was for the same reason that some teachers will pronounce SAT exams as S-A-T and some others as Sats. Basically, I chose to have more studious people say O.W.L by letter, and the less, such as Ron, as Owls. Plus, when verbally reading something aloud, it can simply matters to just say the letters so as not to confuse the listener between O.W.L tests and the actual feathered owls that are referred to frequently in the books.

[@Tagreese]

One thing the movie did better than the book throughout the serie is how ron's and lupin's bogarts were defeated

[@daniel-vn4ql]

With lupin it was described vaguely. Becouse Rowling wanted people to not realize that what they were seeing was a moon. It was a major hint that lupin was a werewolf.

[@Kalenz1234]

Here is a funny theory: The boggart is really confused with Lupin, because Lupin fears the full moon, but his werewolf persona relishes it.

[@ratsbrain]

this is really good

[@Aman-ds9qc]

Damnnnn...... What a good analogy

[@katevgrady]

I love how well the collective headcanon of the fandom can fix this stuff. Doesn't excuse JK, if she wanted us to understand these things she needed to explain them, but it does help me and my fanfic-writing heart sleep at night.

[@jonzampas7252]

It is always an orb, never called the “moon”. So it already is ridiculous as the moon was turned into an orb.

[@JustJoe10]

I don’t think it really makes sense but I can’t come up with something better so it’s good enough! Thanks for writing this comment and sharing this theory!

[@cmeflywva]

I've started reading the series again to follow your analysis of the series. I have no one to have these conversations with anybody without them being offended as if the series is perfect and the blasphemy of anyone criticizing the books. It is obvious you love the series but I appreciate your ability to be and remain objective. I hope you heal soon.

[@merphynapier42]

I appreciate this. It's true that people can get very defensive about this series as if chatting about this side of it is an insult. I appreciate when people like discussing both sides of it!

[@grayfox6930]

Balance, as all things should be

[@akashreddy3263]

People get offended for small things. They fail to understand that nothing is really that sacred anyways. When you say anything about Harry Potter or stars wars they feel that you are attacking their childhood. Trust me, talking with such people and hoping them to be objective is a lost cause.

[@Shiroiek]

I think that pointing out plot holes in HP is just breaking the magic around it for many people and I get it, since majority of us read the books when we were children and we fell in love with HP as children. So yes, criticizing this particular series is a big blasphemy of you. I think the best way to approach this is making sure someone wants to talk about HP like that beforehand, or just make a youtube video. :D PS. Of course it must have a lot of plot holes when there is time travel.

[@jeddstevie8252]

cmeflywva It's always important to acknowledge that a lot of our favorite books aren't perfect. We're allowed to love something but also acknowledge its flaws... For example I love the Shadowhunter chronicles(with the exception of The Mortal Instruments) and I'm willing to admit that they are flawed in a lot of ways. I enjoy the Throne of Glass series but it is also not perfect and flawed in a lot of ways. Even Harry Potter which is one of my all time favorite series isn't perfect. I love these books, but even I have quite a few criticisms.

[@colin_d_smith]

Hey, Merphy! I don't know if other commenters addressed this, but I think it helps to understand Hogwarts if you know something about the British school system. I'm an ex-pat Brit who went to a very old English public (i.e., private) school--the kind upon which Hogwarts was modeled--from ages 11 through 18. Very briefly (you can research further if you're interested): Years 1 & 2 were foundation years where we studied a wide range of topics. Year 3 we chose subjects for "O Level" (later known as GCSEs), what Hogwarts calls OWLs. Some subjects were mandatory (iirc, Math, English, and at least one science), but we could choose from a range of additional subjects. Most took around 10-12 O Levels. The Hermiones would have taken 14 or more. At 16, you could leave school with your O Levels and get a job, or go on to Sixth Form and take A Levels (NEWTs). You would take 3 or 4 subjects at A Level (Advanced Level). Getting A Levels could get you a better job. If you wanted to go to university, the subject you study and which colleges accepted you would depend on your A Level results. That may not answer all your questions about Hogwarts. It does seem strange that 13/14 year olds would be expected to know what they want to do for a career and hence take appropriate O Levels/GCSEs. However, I think the idea is that by the time you choose your O Level/GCSE subjects, you already have an idea of your strengths and weaknesses. Those strong in STEM are going to choose more science/math subjects, and those strong in humanities/arts are going to pick more subjects in that area. Anyway... sorry for the long comment, but I hope that helps or at least piques your interest to research further. Feel free to ask questions if you have any. 😀 I hope you get better soon and have a blessed 2020!!

[@Jehayland]

It actually makes sense that you’d want the kids to pick subjects that interest them and then pick their occupation based on their interests rather than taking subjects they are not keen on because they think it will help them get to an occupation that they really know nothing about and likely wouldn’t enjoy doing (as it involves magic they are not really drawn toward)

[@isabelconnolly3015]

i was just about to comment this!! i chose my gcses a few years ago and all the parents found it bonkers that we were expected to know what we wanted to do in the future by one options evening and ticking boxes, and i guess it kinda matches the british school system so that's why rowling included it?

[@AmazingKevinWClark]

@@isabelconnolly3015 Rowling was structuring it from something she was already familiar with which often makes the best story elements. Something that's ground in reality but has a fictional spin on it.

[@fantasyfiction101]

Thank you so much! I was like isn't this based on the british education system. Thanks for clarifying.

[@hannahsonnenburg7718]

I’m a bit late to the discussion but I wanted to add that German highschools are very similar in that matter and it’s easier to get into certain courses in university if you’ve had certain major subjects in high school before. That doesn’t mean that you can’t do them without these subjects but it’s recommended because the course will contain a lot of stuff that you would have to know from a certain subject.

[@emmaelizabeth3373]

This isn’t a plot hole, and I suppose it’s really more an issue with the later books, but it always bothered me that Ron and Hermione never faced long-term consequences for their injuries in the Department of Mysteries, given how strange they were. I think Hermione’s curse in particular was supposed to be quite serious, plus no one really knew what it was. I was sure it would come back to haunt her at some point, but nope.

[@shabsjourney]

Yea exactly. It was such a good way to make one of them have a disability and then have her learn to deal with it too. There were so many things that could've been explored more. The thing that frustrates me the most though, was draco's arc. I thought it could've been done SO so much better. ESPECIALLY because they explained why snape was such a bully, they could have explained it for draco too. It would have made such an interesting parallel thing. It was a missed opportunity and I will never not feel bitter about that

[@amalgam777]

To quote Robot Chicken: Dumbledore: "Children, have you learned nothing from your annual near-death adventures? Magic fixes everything!! (Kind of makes it hard to care about the consequences, frankly)..."

[@squirrelfriend6064]

Yes, I thought so, too. Especially Ron's contact with that brain tentacle was a missed opportunity to give him some special lasting feature or skill, like extraordinary memory, knowledge, mind reading or some sense of foreboding.

[@sharonr.8840]

Wait what was Hermiones injury? I forgot

[@migs6917]

@@sharonr.8840 I think dolohov(?) used a non verbal spell that resemble a whip or something and hit Hermione on the chest and she fell unconscious because the spell wasn't powerful enough to kill her

[@newschoololdschool]

This is 100% a theory, but I’m going to say that Lupin’s boggart acts weird because his greatest fear is also his deepest desire. As a werewolf even a boggart image of the moon must hold a very powerful instinctual draw. The ridikulous spell would work well enough to get a boggart’s attention, but it’s entirely possible that the boggart reads his fear, generates the moon, and is then stuck fast because Lupin the man is afraid and Lupin the wolf has its attention firmly fixed on that moon. Could he banish a boggart? Sure. I have no doubt he could pull that off. But diminishing it might be impossible.

[@josephoyek6574]

Oh shet

[@RexxyRobin]

Cool thesis

[@CedarvilleOhio]

Another question - we know boggarts take on the ability of the form they become (The psuedo-dementor is able to use the same abilities as a normal dementor, to a lesser extent, and Lupin's remedy is still to give Harry chocolate), so why does the full-moon boggart not have any effect on Lupin?

[@robertmcgehee5049]

@@CedarvilleOhio Maybe Boggarts only have limited magical abilities and the magic that is with in a celestial body like the sun or moon are too powerful to copy? Dementors are only casting drain life or drain happiness that is reasonably low level magic.

[@JustJoe10]

But why did the boggart vanish? The redikulus spell is only used to turn the boggart into something ridiculous. The laughter is what the boggart fears. Lupin casted the spell but the boggart just turned into smoke. Idk about you but i don’t think that’s funny.

[@TalibHOB]

I never found dark lord to be dark enough

[@jordanthomas7798]

High on Books Melkor>Sauron>Voldermort

[@jordanthomas7798]

nomar Dinkleberg Yeah,but Melkor is his name given to him by Eru,Morgoth is given to him by the Elves(Feanor)

[@waynicliz]

More like a kids storybook attempt to a villain, the Joker is wayyy darker than voldy

[@waynicliz]

@ WTF do you live under a rock how don't you know the joker? Hope you are being sarcastic you don't have to read comics to know him. He already has a movie!

[@levi1929]

I never found him to be “lord” enough

[@tjcool3440]

Never rely on Voldemort to plan your wedding

[@McMerlin11]

Tj Cool 7 MONTHS IN ADVANCE we will invite the guests-

[@jenniferwilson6412]

I've always wondered why Sirius could never use Polyjuice Potion to go out. Then he wouldn't have got cabin fever, could have been helpful and therefore avoided being driven to take extra risks, which ultimately lead him to death.

[@somethingabstractiguess]

!!!

[@jackwriter1908]

Because... logic. Wizards don't have it. Hermione says so in the first book and a few books later she has the same magic infused stupidity when it's about logic...

[@trumanway3763]

I kind of get it, the potion is hard to make and the ingredients are hard to get. Plus it takes a awhile. And it only lasts a little bit before having to brew more.

[@jackwriter1908]

@@trumanway3763 okay, so three second years were able to make it, I don't think that the guy who managed to become an Animagus at fifteen would have that much problems. And if Dumbledore ordered it, Snape would have made it. Secondly, it can't be that hard to get or that fast to be depleted, when Crouch Junior was able to use it for an entire year. The reason why he didn't do it, was because Rowling didn't think of anything else but the story at the moment. She created an impressive world, but she created far too much without recognizing what that would imply until it was too late, or to have the characters actually use it despite it existing. I mean she even claimed that all Time Turners were destroyed in the battle of the ministry, because she recognized how damaging it could be for her story, but that was far too late. Voldemort had people in the Apartment of Mysteries for a whole year at that point and I doubt that a guy who ripped his soul apart just so he could live longer would stop because of the space-time whatever. The question _why did someone not use this useful item that was created for exactly that purpose?_ is something you can ask most of the time, Rowling needed something specific, so she ignored the possibilities of her world to make it so. Harry and Hermione decided to randomly forget the Invisibility Cloak so they could get caught. I mean it was on the top of a tower, the wind could have dragged it away, resulting in them trying to sneak back without any protection, but instead they "forgot" it. I love the Harry Potter series, but I accept that there are flaws in it. I think it's one of the reasons why there are so many Fanfics about it. What if Sirius Black a supposedly brilliant wizard was smarter? What if Harry Potter had actually a drive to learn after discovering the most dangerous wizard regained his body and was after hin? What if Ron Weasleys strategic thinking that he showcases with his ability in Chess, would actually be used instead of sidelined? It's because of so many questions and possibilities that there are still new Harry Potter Fanfictions coming out every day. ...sorry for tha rant. All I wanted to say was, that I don't think your reasoning doesn't hold up that well and that Rowling just wanted to have Sirius locked away, which is why he didn't use it.

[@zuhalter0071]

I always thought house elves were like a system of Alexa's. They're always listening, and can be summoned at a moment's notice. So, Umbridge just knew they overheard her conversation. They didn't have to be in her office to hear it.

[@mariabeasley643]

One other thing that never made sense to me was Sirius's mirror. Harry conveniently forgets about the magic mirror Sirius gave him when he needs it most. Man that scene angers me every time I read it! He could have simply just used the mirror instead of Umbridge's office, and Sirius might still be alive. Sigh

[@thomaskirkness-little5809]

Yeah, I never got that.

[@ismaelsolis28]

And it's even sadder knowing that Sirius probably waited obsessively over the mirror since he was locked up in his mother's house, and not being able to leave for anything. It seriously makes me blame Harry for Sirius's death, even Hermione told him it was a trap. Ugh, just thinking about it gets me even madder :@@@@@@

[@vasundajay]

Why didn't he send Dobby to Sirius to find out about him? Why didn't he just use floo powder to get to grimauld place instead of just sticking his head in? Couldn't they have used the coins to communicate if the area was clear for him to come back? I never understood why he was sticking his head in there letting umbridge find his ass sticking out of it! Everything about that ending annoys me.

[@moonlightriverra6019]

When I read that part in the book I thought about the EXACT same thing

[@therealfirelord3359]

When Sirius gave him the mirror, it was right before Harry left for something important, I can't remember what. He was nervous and said himself he didn't really hear what Sirius had said and shoved it away. Later in the books he beats himself up for not remembering it, he knows it would have been simpler to use it, but when he received it he barely registered it.

[@geonunes10]

Voldemort never keeps it simple, his sense of self importance blinds him for easy solutions

[@merphynapier42]

Which is why he's such a silly villian. No real fear when he's twarting himself with those choices 🤪

[@geonunes10]

@@merphynapier42 we will talk about Horcruxes on the road, he was his own undoing.

[@kvan8046]

@@merphynapier42 Voldy child play compared to umbridge the real potter villain 😂

[@AshenVictor]

Voldy really really should have read the Evil Overlord List. www.eviloverlord.com/lists/overlord.html He even does the one about turning into a snake, and that one's hard to collect.

[@elizalagonia1049]

His delusions of grandeur make him want elaborate plans

[@ammalyrical5646]

What if Umbridge called a house-elf to look for the inquisitorial squad asap? Which would mean several elves could be involved and Umbridge told the one she called it had to stay top secret.

[@NeuroArrow]

Maybe umbridge even called some house elves to help look for the members of the DA together with the inquisitorial squad

[@ammalyrical5646]

@@rohitdas623 that just doesn't seem very practical. I mean, she could be seen by other people and they would wonder what was going on. Plus how would the house-elves know to the point of being forbidden to speak about it? House elf can just poof to you if you call them by name and they're bound to you.

[@sath2749]

What if some house-elves were in her office cleaning up after she ate and overheard? There is a lot of possibilities.

[@g.g.3262]

I thinks that would be something out of character: Umbridge hates every creature that isn't human, so I don't think she ever even thought about getting helped by some house elves

[@ammalyrical5646]

@@g.g.3262 Umbridge views them as lesser creatures that are supposed to do what she says they should do. You could be right, or not. We'll never know because JK's twitter isn't reliable with her adding of random things to canon.

[@GoandDo]

My biggest issue is when Harry and Hermione are using Umbridge's fire to see if Surius is at the Ministry, why didn't they just step through right then and there. They could check to see if Kreacher was lying and if Sirius is indeed trapped at the Ministry, they are SO much closer to the ministry, not to mention the headquarters of the Order where they can at least leave a message for other Order members to find.

[@Ninjamanhammer]

My guess is you can talk to or from Hogwarts using floo powder, but not travel.

[@mrhermannen]

They actually can travel from hogwarts, they do it from dumbledore's office at christmas time to get to sirius his house and return to mcgonagall's office afterwards

[@Ninjamanhammer]

@@mrhermannen With a port key. Those are more restricted I think, the students definitely wouldn't be able to just make one. It's possible only Dumbledore can make port keys work out of Hogwarts.

[@mrhermannen]

@ninjamanhammer I just checked, but they travel with a portkey in ootp because of the ministery is in control and they take the knightbus back to school, but in hbp they travel back from the burrow to hogwarts with floo powder, so they can travel with floo powder to and from hogwarts

[@Ninjamanhammer]

@@mrhermannen I think it's a question of the connections not always being open. Though if you can use floo powder to get into Hogwarts that does beg the question why didn't the Death Eaters just do that? It is mentioned to be a one off connection to allow students to safely return to the school, but that doesn't mean the Death Eaters couldn't use that connection.

[@Simbabweman]

The career knowledge and elective classes part feels true to me tbh. I'm from Scotland and the school system I remember being pissed off with because they wanted us to choose our classes after our second year of high school and I didn't know what career I wanted to pursue. We were never informed of what subjects would help us get what career or help us get into which courses in university until about fifth year. So I'd blame the school system rather than J.K. as is reminds me it's all messed up irl too.

[@spartanworrior4519]

The point is you are supposed to take the classes you enjoy and not focus too much on what career you want to do. This is to avoid people steering their lives towards a career they don’t actually enjoy and to instead give options in fields they do enjoy.

[@theduelist92]

Thinking it back, mabye the Trace works differently than what we assume. Even assuming the trace doesn't trace (excuse me) Apparition, because if it did all the wizards monitoring Harry, especially in book 5, would create a huge mess in the Ministery, but there are instances in wich wizards perform magic at the Dursleys while Harry is over there and nothing happens. Tonks packing his shit in book 5 is the easiest one to point at, but in book 4, when the Weasley's go to take Harry for the World Cup, Arthus performs quite a bit of magic, and when Dumbledore goes at the Dursley's he conjures the bouncing glasses and does other small spells. Even in book 7, when they go on the mission to move Harry to the BUrrow, some kind of magic is performed im pretty sure. Harry is only accused when he does Magic or when Dobby does magic around him. This makes me think that the Trace can actually figure out if an adult Wizard is performing a spell near a student, but it cant recognize the kid's magic from the magic of a non wand user. The amount of "errors" and "plotholes" and straight up nonsense from the magic at Dursely's situation is so large we cant just assume it's a bunch of errors IMO. As i pointed out in the Book 3's video, i think the whole Remus character is explained in his "weird" interaction with Boggarts; he can fight them off, because they are just a harmless monster and he knows what to do, but his condition shapes his life so radically, and he lets it control him to much, he cant really defeat it or laugh at the Boggart. Lupin is someone who truly never went past his trauma and lets it control his existence, so he can't properly fight Boggarts. I'd assume Voldemort himself could never pop a Boggart either, since he cant dominate his fear of death, but he would be far from defenseless against a Boggart. For the records, i tried to explain Voldy's extremely convoluted plan in book 4, saying that mabye is not the best plan but it's definitely a reasonable one, but his plan in book 5 is just riddiculous. I mean, even as a teen, when Bellatrix was talking about how stupid and risky it would be for voldy to sneak in, i was like "wait, you are in right now... doesn't seem like you had ANY problems sneakin in, thefuck are we talkin abou?!?" I mean, the employee of the ministery only show up after they literally destroy half of the Department of Mysteries, a grand scale battle between tens of capable wizards occurred, DUMBLEDORE sneakd in when he was still wanted, i mean how silly can you be Voldy? Especially since it would've been so easy for Harry to check on Sirius' well being after seing the vision, based on what Voldy knows. He knows the Order of the Phoenix exists, and it's only a fucking coincidence that McGonagal is at the hospital and Harry doesn't give a shit about Snape. And dont let me started on the mirror!.

[@NeuroArrow]

If youre talking about the mirror he has with sirius thats literally the thing that has bothered me the most every single time i finish book 5 like i can not get over the fact that harry didnt use it i just get so frustrated sometimes i almost wish he uses it the next time i read that book yet somehow it never happens...

[@theduelist92]

@@NeuroArrow That is the one explainable thing i can accept in this whole situation. I dont like it, but i understand it. Harry was so focused on his shit and so absorbed by everything that happened around him, that he could've EASILY forgot about the present's existence. Also, if you recall, Sirius gives it to Harry and he's like "use it if you eed help from me" and Harry is like "yeah sure thing!" but he's actually thinking "whatever this is i'll never use it, because it may push sirius to do some crazy risky thing to help me". Harry is so worried about Sirius' wellbeing and freedon that he pretty much instantly forgets about the mysterious pack, and in a sense doesn't trust Sirius to be a responsable adult. It's cruel to harry, it's cruel to the viewers, but it is clearly intentional and it has a meaniing behind, and i can respect that.

[@justinchew2062]

It could be that ministry officials know how to 'fix' the trace. Mr weasley is with the ministry and most of the order like Tonks are Aurors.

[@MajkaSrajka]

I think it may simply be Bellatrix shit-talking Harry or something, because plan really doesn't make sense lol

[@migs6917]

In The Half-blood Prince, Dumbledore tells Harry the trace is capable of tracing magic not who performed it

[@geonunes10]

Believe me, I studied high School in a country with a school system where you should choose among 3 options of career path. Teenagers even knowing how it affects your career, they will study the subjects they feel interested in.

[@caseyc2497]

Yup, this is basically the uk GCSE/a-level system because it's the UK and therefore actually makes 100% sense, it's just not american

[@callumarcher8111]

HP seems to be a lesson for future author's in either A: plotting your series more thoroughly, or B: getting your work proof read before having it published.

[@NeuroArrow]

None of the publishers even liked harry potter though all the way in the beginning +plus i know for sure that every book will have plot conveniences and plot holes and inconsistencies even if it's been checked before it was published because people will always find thing that are wrong and also harry potter is amazing and almost all of it is still plotted extremely well

[@SomeGuyWhoPlaysGames333]

Kaelan Richardson I love the Harry Potter series and the universe and the characters, but it has a lot of plot holes and inconsistencies. Also, if I wrote it, books 5-7 would be far different.

[@linkAKAdude]

Lol okay guys come back to the comments section after you’ve published your new and improved book series.

[@callumarcher8111]

@@linkAKAdude As the audience we have every right to critique and criticise an author's works, our apparent lack of skill in their field doesn't detract from that.

[@rizon72]

First off, doesn't matter how much you plot, there will be problems. Second, your assuming proof readers have brains to see these plot holes. I haven't seen a popular book yet which didn't have plot holes.

[@canal404]

Another thing that doesn't make sense: after the Umbridge being carried by the centaurs, Luna, Neville and Ron show up and say to Harry and Hermione how they escaped from the Inquisitorial Squad. Then, they start a conversation about how to save Sirius, but here is the thing: no one told to Neville about Sirius being friendly and also being Harry's godfather. At that time, Sirius still was known as the crazy murder that escaped Azkaban and that the Ministry of Magic was still seaching for him! And that is what Neville obviously knew, he didn't know that he is Harry's godfather, and doesn't make sense him not to argue something like "Why we need to save that crazy murder? Let's tell the Ministry of Magic about it!" at that time

[@therealfirelord3359]

They had a long walk from Umbridge's office to and through the Forbidden Forest. Neville and Luna being the most loyal members of the DA, it makes sense for them to trust Harry's judgement and his best friend. Luna wouldn't be hard to convince of anything, Ginny is still in love with Harry, and Neville trusts them wholeheartedly.

[@junior523]

@@therealfirelord3359 that's all well and good but when Sirius actually does die the first thing Neville asks is whether Sirius was a friend of Harry's and he says it a way that if I hadn't read book 3 I would assume Neville didn't even know who Sirius was.

[@Ironoclasty]

Regarding the house elves being "warned not to tell," it would make sense to me that this was more of a standing order rather than being specific to the incident, and Dobby overheard the conversation while doing his normal duties (such as handle food service during mealtimes). I think it's not unlikely that Umbridge would have extended her control-freak behavior over the house elves. Not telling students about anything would probably be just one of several new restrictions the house elves had to follow. She had already forbid teachers from discussing topics outside their courses.

[@jamessmith8233]

Dobby also mentions to Harry in Goblet of Fire that house-elves sometimes overhear the teacher's conversations whilst they're doing their usual duties, like mopping the floors or stoking the fires. It's more than likely that Dobby just overheard Marietta's confession to Umbridge. 🙂

[@BookishRealm]

Lmao I never thought about the fact that Voldemort never keeps it simple. That’s such a good point and that’s why he can never get it right.

[@daniellelarsen9767]

Dream Shake Junya Maybe not children’s stories. I think the whole popular children’s plot with an altruistic protagonist and an irredeemably bad antagonist constantly struggling forever in super complex plots isn’t really realistic and that’s why it bothers us as adults. We know that life is more complicated than that and we’ve experienced more conflict in our lives that had nothing to do with a big bad guy. I think it might have been better if Voldemort weren’t evil just to be evil. We almost got a satisfying backstory in the sixth book, but it still made him out to be an evil jerk from birth and undeserving of anyone’s sympathy. I think being able to sympathize or being able to relate to the bad guy always makes them more scary.

[@S.D.323]

@@daniellelarsen9767I dont totally agree for me some of the scariest fictional characters such as michael myers amon goeth (yes I know hes based on a real person) johan liebert and the pale man from pans labyrinth are just pure evil although you could argue johan is sympathetic

[@dcembervesalius]

I'm surprised you didn't include the plothole that even the author knows of and shared with us in her notes on old Pottermore, that The Marauder's Map was back on Harry's Possession when he gave it to Moody on Year 4. From what I remember he didn't get it back

[@adambliefernicht181]

Thank you for addressing the fact that hogwarts students don’t learn math, literature, etc because during my recent adult read this bothered me beyond reason. How they become full functioning adults given the education they get I don’t buy for a minute.

[@aberdeen0107]

Adam Bliefernicht I think their parents are supposed to homeschool them until they’re 11 so at least they’ll know the basics lol

[@JonathanSmith-ge4pi]

on pottermore it says they use magic to do math. Not sure bout reading tho, but really what wizards needs to infer anything about a piece of text? They have basic home-schooling for 11 years prior, and we see they do know how to read.

[@Jake0666]

Exactly. Like ur telling me that essentially I’m a smarter person than dumbledore since he has a 10 year old level education outside of wizard subjects

[@fatimashah935]

@@Jake0666 We're smarter than Dumbledore bc we have common sense and know that his 'Greater Good' agenda could have very easily flopped.

[@LightsOnTrees]

He took a really long, elaborate and ultimately self defeating route when there was an easier option right in front of him... I work with people like this...

[@graham.crakaaa]

I saw this on hp wiki, if Sirius was getting tortured in the department of mysteries the ministry would find Sirius and arrest him. Harry is so dumb sometimes, gets it from voldemort I guess.

[@lexxy8897]

My issue with the department of mysteries, along with what you said, is that there has been this HUGE emphasis on how highly protected it is... but it was super easy for the kids to just walk right in. Another thing for me is with the two way FaceTime mirror thing Sirius gave harry. If all Harry had to do to contact Sirius was call him through the mirror, why did they go through all the trouble of contacting each other through the fire? They could’ve made daily Mirror calls but chose not to... this whole thing could’ve been avoided if Harry had just called Sirius on the mirror. I wish Rowling had just left Harry rediscovering the mirror out of the ending altogether because it really annoyed me... and not once did Harry go “Hey! I could’ve just called him”... EDIT: I just watched your review lol. Didn’t realize that Harry just didn’t open it til then. Which is rude of him.. why didn’t he open it? But still, Sirius should have told him what it was and that they needed to start talking that way. Whatever. Still pissed lol

[@geonunes10]

Yes, you are right, Fudge should be grasping for any excuse to expel Harry, for me order of the Phoenix is the worst offender on the trace inconsistencies subject.

[@Ironoclasty]

Although, Tonks was an auror. They may have been so adept at wand-work that they could cast spells undetected by ministry means. After all, these are supposed to be very highly trained officers of the ministry and would need to have scored at least 5 Exceeds Expectations for their NEWTS, and Charms is one of the recommended courses to pursue.

[@bluwusky5167]

@@Ironoclasty Unless the ministry were somehow aware that the Dursleys were gone by then, and therefore knew that there were no more Muggles in the house, meaning there was less reason to take disciplinary action? I don't know, I haven't read the book in a few months, I'll have to go back to it.

[@Ironoclasty]

@@bluwusky5167 My point is more that aurors may be skilled enough (and know the workings of the bureaucracy enough) that she could evade detection altogether. And don't forget, Moody cast a Disillusionment charm on Harry while they were still at the Dursley's. Mad eye would not be one to make a mistake like tipping off an enemy by casting a detectable spell in a monitored location.

[@bluwusky5167]

@@Ironoclasty Good point. It's just one of those things that was never quite explained, so there could be any number of viable reasons.

[@Lav428]

What if Umbridge gave the elves a general notice that they should not talk to the students in general?

[@lisa-ut1rz]

With the career thing, that's actually mostly how it works in the UK- You pick your GCSE subjects as a 13 year old in year 9, and then your A levels, which will determine your uni subject and potential career, at 16 in year 11. Most people have an idea of what they want to do with their lives, so will pick accordingly even though career advice etc starts at 16. It doesnt make sense looking at it from the outside, but in the system's defence, there are around 8 compulsory subjects like English, maths, science etc which means you tend to be well rounded in your GCSEs no matter what you choose.

[@caseyc2497]

Yup. 100% makes sense

[@TheEddie1910]

I always thought about Harrys departure from Nr. 4. My guess is, despite the Order and the ministry not being on good terms at the time, Dumbledore still could have informed them about which evening they would come and get him, thus explaining the use of magic on said evening. This was before the ministry was infiltrated by Death eaters and when Miss Hopkirk and/or Fudge were informed that Harry was escorted somewhere else, they propably could not send him another letter for it. For the House elves; I think they were told by Umbridge to not warn any students of anything that Umbridge was up to beforehand, maybe even at the start of the term or when she started to fight for power over the school. Then all DObby had to do for things to happen as they did was to overhear the conversation with Marietta by accident or maybe he even spied on Umbridge all the time in an effort to help Harrys cause.

[@merphynapier42]

I *think* they were moving Harry without the ministry's approval that night. Which is why using magic doesn't make sense. Though I could be wrong

[@arksine]

I think Eddie is right. But let's say, he's not. Maybe after they left, an Owl came to an empty Nr 4 saying he's expelled and his wand will be broken 😅 and later Dumble explained the situation to the ministry cus they had to use magic to move Harry anyway.

[@karthikayanedathodathu1337]

Dobby was also told not to inform the DA about what Umbridge was up to... harry also forbids him from punishing himself at that time

[@NinjaBearFilms]

krishna sai The Owls can deliver a letter anywhere no matter who or how they are hiding.

[@brybjarn3358]

I have a question. Why weren't the others alarmed that Marietta didn't come to the DA meeting, she was the most likely to tell on them. + I agree. Voldy is so dumb

[@Aromatherapist_tris]

Their dislike for her probably outweighed the concern tbh. As I recall she wasn’t a very like-able character.

[@CharliArmstrong]

My guess is this: Marietta would seem the most likely to rat them out as she was “pressured” by Cho to join, but they didn’t think that much about her because she kept her mouth shut. Zachariah-the openly critical one-they would keep an eye on. I think the lesson there was sometimes it’s the quiet ones you have to watch out for. I still hate the movie for making Cho take the fall. Edited to add: Harry was so Cho-struck at that point, he wasn’t going to object even if she brought a Slytherin along. 😂 Which is probably why the movie let her take the fall even though it was painfully cliche.

[@brybjarn3358]

@@CharliArmstrong I understand why they didn't think of her I'm just a bit annoyed that of all of them not one, one person, was like. Hey where is Marietta, Cho why isn't she here? Just a tiny alarm, enough for them to say. We should leave, just in case. If I was holding a secret meeting that if found out I'd be expelled I'd have my eye open all the time, especially because of Umbridge. Edit: Yeah I hate the change in the movie too. Cho didn't deserve being done dirty like that

[@adameastment]

They didn’t notice because whilst she was missing, Seamus joined, if everyone had been there Neville wouldn’t have partnered Harry as normal. As far as the trio were concerned everything was normal.

[@stardusstie]

Also Hermione did that jinx where if anyone told on them about the DA the words “snitch” would appear on their face so maybe Hermione wasn’t worried bc they would all know if she betrayed them. Which she did

[@kingmalcolm8695]

Just a few random thoughts. The problem with the Tri-Wizard plot can be easily solved with a simple re-writing of the spell used to regenerate Voldermort. The line that involves Harry is: "Blood of the enemy, forcibly taken, you will resurrect your foe." Just take out "forcibly taken," and substitute "fresh from a triumph." Bingo! Now Harry having to win the Tri-Wizard Tournament before being whisked away by portkey make sense. Harry, IIRC, has Dobby spy on Malfoy in book six so the problem about Umbridge and the house elves can be solved in a similar manner. Harry, earlier in the book, could set Dobby to spying on Umbridge - something Dobby would gladly do for the "my friend, great Harry Potter." Hermionie would, no doubt, sputter with indignation but Harry need not tell her. The whole security system for the prophecies makes no sense. Only those who the prophecy is about can remove it from the shelf? What if the prophecy is about people who won't be born for decades or even centuries later? This means that, once the prophecy is put on the shelf, no one can take it down and study it - which renders the whole point of having a prophecy moot. As for how to solve the whole mess that is the fight at the Ministry of Magic - that eludes me at the moment. Nothing sort of a serious rewrite could do it.

[@therealfirelord3359]

When it comes to the prophecy, Dumbledore says that a prophecy is always made to someone, it is always told in the presence of someone else. That means that if they need to study the prophecy, they can just study the memory of the person the prophecy is made to without needing to take it down.

[@JuniperGre]

For the house elf issue there is a possible explanation. The DA meetings take part in the evening if I’m not mistaken and it is mentioned in book 4 that house elf’s light the fires in the offices and common rooms and that they also light the torches in the hallways during the evenings so it is possible that on her way to the room of requirement with the Slytherins she was informing them of the DA and some house elves who were lighting torches or doing some other mundane task overheard who were then told to keep quiet.

[@michaelroywright9975]

I'm glad someone else thought about other classes like math. How do they know? Great series review and get well soon.

[@shadowscythe11]

How does Professor Binns mark papers? He's a ghost. He can't write. The idea of "History of Magic" being taught by a ghost is comical but, logistically, it makes no sense. How are they being graded in the subject, if their teacher is unable to give them any grades or written feedback for their work, save perhaps for the O.W.L.s, which I believe are graded by external assessors. And before you say it's probably done through magic.. again; he's a ghost. He is unable to hold a wand, let alone cast a spell.

[@lotta_kannfastalles]

I‘d say he can maybe affect the world around him a little bit (typical ghost stuff: gusts of wind, levitating objects like a pen) but we have Peeves who is described to do stuff like that and it‘s made clear that he is no real ghost and much more physical than the others. Also in book two Nic reads his ghost letter from the headless riders and I had to laugh so much thinking about how they had to dictate the letter and then someone had to „kill“ it like in that one Diskworld book where a medium smashes a whisky glass for a ghost

[@jadeenright6272]

I think that the trace must have some kind of knowledge of the people around the magic user. For instance even though Harry and Dudley were in the middle of nowhere the trace knew that Harry performed the charm in the presence of a (singular muggle) indicating that the trace knew there was a muggle nearby. However the trace didn't pick up the dementors or dobby so it mustn't pick up magical creatures just humans. So in this case the trace would've picked up Tonks in the vicinity of Harry but no muggles. It's also possible with the Tonks thing that Dumbledore told Fudge he was sending people to go pick up Harry and had made them somewhat aware of the plan.

[@merphynapier42]

This is possible, the problem is that minors aren't aloud to use magic at all outside of school so regardless of if they aren't around it's still breaking the law!

[@jadeenright6272]

​@@merphynapier42 if the Trace detected Harry and Tonks as being there either by the trace or by Dumbledore notifying the minister of his plans, but couldn't identify who cast the spell, the ministry would be unable to prove that Harry cast the spell and this case probably wouldn't have held up in court. This is why in the Deathly Hallows they say that the ministry doesn't even bother monitoring wizarding families because the trace can't tell who cast the spell, so there is precedent for this kind of legal defense.

[@BatBrickzzz]

I love this woman

[@ActiveAdvocate1]

For the House Elf thing, you have to assume they aren't under her authority. If anything, Dumbledore probably told them specifically not to obey her orders, and they'd have to obey his, right? Otherwise, she could use them for all manner of evil, since their magic can't be stopped. I get the impression that, maybe, Dobby was eavesdropping on her for Harry's sake, and then tipped off the other Elves. It's possible, anyway, but yeah, that's definitely a plot hole.

[@GreywolfConstruction]

After thoroughly breaking down “crimes of grendolwald” and it’s massive plot holes and continuity issues, I’m starting to be disenchanted by J.K. Rowling’s spells.

[@hanburgundy4317]

I've always said that the world she created and the characters in it are better than the story itself.

[@KamKing19]

The newest movie was meh at best. She ruined her own good characters. And I started seeing the story as separate from her. The books and what they taught are definitely bigger than her at this point.

[@MajkaSrajka]

For me it got downhill during reading the books, most of the magic fell off ~5/7, my brother haven't finished the series (ended up on 5/7 i think).

[@jovanym2931]

@@MajkaSrajka hater

[@SomeGuyWhoPlaysGames333]

Another plot hole is when Harry contacts Lupin and Sirius through Umbridge’s fireplace, why doesn’t Sirius mention the mirror to Harry?

[@wariolandgoldpiramid]

That was a huge problem, yeah

[@olandir]

I can actually think of a reasonable scenario where Dobby himself would be in Umbridge's office when Marietta was there. In book Four Dobby explicitly states just before the second task in the lake: "“Dobby hears things, sir, he is a house-elf, he goes all over the castle as he lights the fires and mops the floors," and that's how he overheard about the Gillyweed. Now we know from Fake-Moody's confession later in that same book that he purposefully summoned Dobby so that he could overhear, but the fact still remains that house elves are around during the day, doing their duties, it's just that they are small and quiet and wizards and witches don't pay attention to them because they are "servants." It's highly possible that Dobby was in Umbridge's office, it's highly possible he was there for the sole purpose of spying on Umbridge for Harry's sake (he's very loyal to Harry after all), or it could have been random. Either way, it's possible he was there without much suspension of disbelief. When Marietta came to the office to begin with Umbridge, being the hater of all things not-human, wouldn't have even thought twice about a a lowly house-elf. However, upon hearing what she had to say, she may have had the forethought to remember his presence and turn to him and forbid him from telling, just out of precaution or maybe she was aware of the elf's connection to Harry, who knows. Because Dobby is a house elf, his ability to appear at the room of requirement before Umbridge was easy. Not only do all house-elves know the castle better than any teacher, but it's canon that a house elf can apparate on hogwarts grounds because house elves magic is different. So he could easily reach Harry first.

[@linkAKAdude]

If house elves are just 24/7 eyes and ears around the castle, then all of the plots in the first four books would have been undone. Quirrel and the Basilisk and time-hopping Hermione and Barty drinking polyjuice could have been discovered at any time, because nobody took extra precautions and nobody indicated they knew elves were watching.

[@olandir]

@@linkAKAdude we're not talking about house elves (plural) but one house elf, Dobby, who is a free elf, who has always operated differently than other elves. We've seen how subservient and docile and unassuming the Hogwarts elves are. They aren't going around spying on people, that's not their function. Dobby however is different. He always actively seeks to help Harry, he also can clearly come and go as he pleases (in Book 7, Aberforth had him go to Malfoy Manner to help Harry). And he's willing to break the rules even if it means punishing himself. As Hagrid said "You get an odd one now and again in every breed" (when referring to house elves and telling Hermione why he wouldn't join SPEW).

[@54raynor]

I always took the Umbridge warning to the house elves as a general warning not to communicate with Harry or his friends, which could have happened at any time between the Hog's Head and the last DA meeting.

[@lateralhistory]

It's probably a reach, but I just had a thought about the Lupin boggart situation. Maybe Lupin is able to confront his greatest fear calmly because he confronted it in real life. He and the Marauders made light of the full moon when they became Animagi - more than that, they made it FUN. Maybe Lupin doesn't need the cathartic moment of laughing every time, because he already had it in reality. Or maybe his Patronus is more subdued to reflect the complicated feelings he has about those years. Sirius says that he is able to resist the Dementors in Azkaban by holding onto one obsessive thought, so we know they can be held off in other ways. And we know not all Patronuses take a full animal form. Some are just mist. Maybe Lupin's boggart is the way it is (kind of meek and tame) because it's such an old fear it has become familiar to him. It's still a fear, but not as shocking or immediate as the fears other people have. It's been with him so long and he knows it so well, time has dulled its impact. And maybe his Patronus is subdued because the happy memories he's calling on are bittersweet now. James is dead. Sirius is deeply damaged. Peter is a betrayer. The happiest time of Lupin's life is behind him (as far as he knows in OotP) and the memories are tinged with sorrow, drawing on them now after so many years. I don't know, I just like the idea that Lupin has a special, complicated relationship with his fear, and that Patronuses can fluctuate according to more than just the strength of the memory invoked. I love overthinking Harry Potter 😅

[@TransV1000]

Hermione's scheme for stopping people from ratting them out was kind of meh as well. She could have just said "Hey I've put a jinx on the piece of parchment you all signed - rat us out at your own risk" rather than keep from everyone and the jinx only kicking in AFTER someone has ratted them out. She could have also just forced them all to take Unbreakable Vows that they cannot tell any teachers about the DA. Can you imagine if Marietta goes to Umbridge to rat them out only to just drop and die as she's doing it?

[@bloodtasteslikecookies6640]

Yeah or at least not be able to speak or something. I mean you'd think that since they have to spend seven years learning magic that there'd be a spell for that, plus Hermione's the smart one lol

[@Ninjamanhammer]

Unbreakable vow seems really extreme, risky, and probably illegal.

[@JonathanSmith-ge4pi]

I'm pretty sure unbreakable vow is very high-level magic, and very hard to perform, and not to mention probably highly illegal without ministry permission. But she could have just told them there was a jinx of the parchment like you said.

[@kiter.]

The unbreakable vow makes it harder to use magic because a part of your magic is always focused on the vow.

[@thorthewolf8801]

@@Ninjamanhammer being in a club was illegal at the time.

[@cassianladue9493]

I’ve been re-reading HP at about the same pace you have been, and watching your reviews after each book has been a delight!

[@stormydavis5860]

I could see Umbridge making house elves serve her in her office in person to make herself feel important.

[@merphynapier42]

Fair, but I just don't see her allowing a few house elves to stick around whole she gets sensitive info from a student ya know?

[@stormydavis5860]

@@merphynapier42 if she doesn't see them as anything but an extension of her importance I think she'd enjoy them being there while she had meetings with students. In my mind it also might be a bit like nobility in the past not truly seeing servants as people and so they'd be in the background ignored yet privy to very private information. I think Rowling kind of set it up this way in Chamber with Dobby and the Malfoy's. All that being said I agree it is a plot hole still and would be much better explained with Dobby just overhearing something himself. Even better the house elves taking part of a behind the scenes war between Umbridge and the teachers. They've been spying on her for a while and she'd just figured it out and forbidden them to talk but Dobby has reveled before so he's just like no thanks I got free will.

[@robertgronewold3326]

@@merphynapier42 Most people who live with servants have a bad habit of treating them like furniture, not people with minds and ears.

[@333pinkelephant333]

@@stormydavis5860 This seems like the most logical explanation. The book never goes in depth about this but Umbridge doesn't seem like richy rich person like the Malfoys or the Blacks who could afford to keep one or more house elves. She probably always envied those noble houses and when she got to Hogwarts, she could "play" nobility by having Hogwarts house elves be her personal butler or something.

[@iwannawatchDavid]

Great discussion & points. Can't wait to hear what you have to say about book 6 - probably my second favourite book. Happy New Year!

[@UdyKumra]

What do we do at 3am? Sleep? Nah. We watch Merphy Napier.

[@smritychoudhary2472]

Lol it's 6:44 pm in India, too bad for u

[@missdollycollector9687]

3:17 am here now~!

[@MajkaSrajka]

5am -.-'

[@cyborgwerewolf]

About the house elves. Umbridge is the type of person who would have a house elf "assigned" to her. (after all they are a perk of her office). I can see her telling that elf to get other elves to tell the students she trust why they need to meet her at a certain time and place. Every thing else you have brought up is spot on.

[@rizon72]

I do find the more critical I become of something I read or watch, the less I enjoy it.

[@xMRxZEROx]

That's an excellent point about Tonks doing magic around Harry. Never really thought about that despite how many times I've read the series. And as far as Lupin's boggart, it doesn't specify its a moon. It does say a "silvery orb". So maybe for some reason Lupin lacks imagination on what to turn his moon into, so he merely makes it a silver orb. You'd think if it were still a moon after him using the RIDIKULUS spell, it'd just say moon. But I get your point. 🤷‍♂️ Also, I get your point about the classes and career choices. But I think the classes relevant to their careers are the NEWT classes. Not their OWL classes. Becuase after 5th year it's all NEWT classes. But I could be wrong. And about how Umbridge apparently warned the house elves not to say anything about her finding out about the DA before she crashed their meeting. There's any number of unexplained reasons. Perhaps there was a house elf, even Dobby, in her office at the time delivering her food, cleaning, etc. Or maybe even after Marietta freaked out because Hermione's jinx triggered and wrote SNEAK on her face they brought her to the hospital wing, where I'm sure there is a house elf or two puttering around helping Madam Pomfrey, and they heard it there becuase she was still being questioned. Who knows. I know the speculation doesn't matter if it's not mentioned in the books. But in my mind there's any number of reasons.

[@pranjalpatankar5566]

Voldemort is really cared about harry's studies cause he ALWAYS comes at the end of the school year. Great! Voldys really caring about education here

[@davidprec2180]

9:01 these 30 seconds are probably my favorite part on this whole Harry Potter series

[@abrilakgun]

"because he is dumb" you killed me with that line hahahaha so true

[@robinlawnmower42]

I didn't even think about the electives and not being able to know which ones would get you to your dream job until you mentioned it. I agree, it is very illogical and can set many students to screw themselves over in life later on.

[@Lystosmom]

Ah! Been waiting for this video lol. I’ve been loving this series ❤️

[@TheWeco]

Lupin did know how to get rid off boggards. In PoA he was supposed to make the boggard that he trained Harry with dissappear but instead took it for the lessons.

[@UdyKumra]

Also Merphy get well soon! :)

[@barrygormley3986]

On "the trace": it's possible that Dobby was somehow able to trick the system so that it looked as though Harry was the one who performed the magic. After all, we're never shown what the limits of a house elf's magic are (we're just told that they have "strong magic of their own"), and it's probably quite unusual for an elf to go rogue and visit the house of a kid they have no prior connection with. Much less to perform magic with the intention of getting that kid in trouble.

[@avatarmufasa3628]

I disagree with the classes issue, several reasons (this is basically what hermione did in 3rd year) 1) Doing every class as compulsory has massive drawbacks, including having a very broad timetable that is streched very thin. The more subjects you do, the elss you can specialise ps (training to be a maths teacher, their lack of maths skills disturbs me) 2) In the UK, we choose twice, once for GCSE (year 9 at end) and then 6th form( 17-18 year olds). Realistically most students dont know their careers at year 9 which is the age of 3rd at hogwarts (most students dont know it at at 18 even). Not all subjects have prior knowledge either including business studies 3) NEWT subects reduce your changes further, so that the subects you are most competent in are selected first. The only difference is that 6th and 7th years are compulsory at hogwarts, but subjects are chosen the same time as the UK curriculum even if the corresponding years in the UK are optional to learn in (often needed for university or more academic jobs) ps, nothing stopping students asking teachers

[@alysonserenastone2917]

I love how you are able to point out how some of your favourite books don't make sense. I love this series, but you are right, there's a lot that doesn't make sense in this series. I love both videos you are posting for these books. :)

[@natasagajic1061]

Hmmm, for the house elves thing: how about that she had troves & troves of students that she was torturing daily in her office (which she had at that point in the book, if I remember correctly - it has been a long time since I have read the series) and had beforehand instructed the elves to clean up all the blood and mess from her office daily and so they have overheard the conversation by chance and before she left the office she have forbidden them to tell anything to anyone?

[@fenrismarks876]

The other thing about voldemort never going to the ministry is ridiculous Lucius regularly hangs out with fudge it's not like he could just take a hair they make a poly juice potion and he walks in as fudge

[@hassanmouradmohammedabo-el4647]

okay, i have been thinking about that boggart lupin thing ever since i watched ur doesn't make sense video regarding prisoner of azkaban , and i think i have a way to interpret it. so , a boggart when faced by a wizard , it turns into the thing that he/she fears the most, but what if turned to someone's fear and that someone couldn't handle it ? how can another wizard "gets its attention" to transfer to his own fear , so that he then can handle it ?! i think the answer is "Riddikulus" that would make PERFECT sense ! lupin wanted to get the boggart attention in BOTH situations u r referring to, first with harry in the class and second in the grimmauld place. and in BOTH situations the boggart has already transformed to someone other than lupin's fear and that someone couldn't handle it. so lupin steps in and cast riddikulus to get the boggart attention , and transfers to the orb/moon. and in both situations he cast Riddikulus again and he handles that boggart , the first he turns it into a cockroach and in the second he turns it to puff of smoke.

[@merphynapier42]

This is solid, except, in neither situation does he perform the spell a second time. Every time he says it once, it transforms into the moon, then he just tried to shove it into a trunk or waves his wand and it disappears. Which just isn't how they work!

[@artwriter76]

@@merphynapier42 Maybe he doesn't need to say it aloud a second time. Really skilled wizards can perform spells without speaking them aloud. I think that becomes a thing in the later books.

[@beachgirl4583]

Nonverbal spell, because Lupin is very self conscious about his furry little problem.

[@amblynnn]

Feel better soon!! Loooove this one as much as the others and looking forward to HBP and DH 💝

[@arksine]

Here is something that bugs me: Could Nagini take the prophecy? If yes, then why did it not go ahead and do so, after it attacked Mr. Weasley? Surely there was enough time to get past him before Dumbledore's interference? If NO, then what was it doing there, taking a night stroll? Also, if only Harry or Voldy could retrieve the prophecy, what was the point of the normal members of the Order standing guard? Death eaters can't take it, they had no reason to believe that Harry would come and they all knew they don't stand a chance against Voldy himself.

[@ispyviidz8069]

It wasn't a confirmed thing that only Harry or Voldy were the only people that could retrieve it. This is obvious as they use Imperius on Bodrick Bode to get him to try to steal it. Perhaps it is a result of him ending up in St Mungos that they realise it has to be Harry or Voldy.

[@felixstuber8046]

The two things that bugged me the most: 1) Voldi won't sneak into the ministry of magic, besides nobody believes he is back and him thinking to be the most capable wizard in history. But he allows Bellatrix to go although the wizarding world is fully aware that she is out of jail. If he has no fear that she is caught, then why his fear about him getting caught. 2) When Dumbledore hears about the fight, he immediatly interrogates Kreacher. What are you doing there? There are lives at risk, especially the life of one Harry Potter, and you do something you could totally do after the battle is over? And when he finally shows up, he ends the battle with about one whip of his wand. Sirius could still be alive, if Brian got his priorities straight.

[@flaviocardosu]

I love your analysis and recently have just read this book again and I'm just wondering HOW 5 teenagers were able to enter the ministry of magic through the visitor's entrance????? So is it so easy to just go in the ministry and take the elevator and just go wherever you want? They can keep an eye in the whole country but they just have no security in who gets in and out their own ministry? That pisses me off!!

[@dhruvbharija172]

Because Death eaters already entered

[@gabrielrodriguez9733]

What you say from 12:45-13:08 is exactly what I have been saying about GOBLET OF FIRE for years!

[@kacektv9405]

I always felt like a chapter or paragraph was missing or even a sentence where Dobby could have mentioned that the house elves were also being evaluated by Umbridge and him and a few others were in a meeting when Marietta burst into the office. But like that is a super interesting concept so why not mention it if so. Including her foresight that dobby was friendly with Harry but i guess that would be weird for her to be SO insightful when near the end of the book shes all "Follow the smartest girl in hogwarts to the very dangerous forbidden forest full of my sub human adversaries? Well sign me up"

[@axelf8557]

I always assumed that Aurors magic couldn’t be detected or was harder to detect. So when Tonks did the magic around Harry, the ministry wouldn’t know. I know it wasn’t explicitly said but that was my assumption, I don’t know why, guess I never really thought of it lol 😄

[@dmitriliu5777]

If Voldy broke in himself, and was undetected, then Harry would've for SURE gotten arrested when the Ministry found out the prophecy was missing. I doubt even Dumbledore would've been able to keep Harry safe.

[@ArrowOdenn]

I always assumed the House Elves as a group have been told not to tell anyone if ANY secret groups are discovered. Like, when Umbridge instigated her "no groups" rule, she told the House Elves that their loyalty was to Hogwarts (read: herself) and not to tip off the students if any groups were discovered.

[@thegeek4145]

Umbridge was probably telling the house elves to serve more "Ministry" approved meals or meals she would rather eat than what the students would want-banning puddings and such lol

[@merphynapier42]

Fair, but I just don't see her allowing a few house elves to stick around whole she gets sensitive info from a student ya know?

[@thegeek4145]

@@merphynapier42 well she views non humanoid creatures as disgraces (didn't she try to kick out a pod of mermaids or something like that) she probably thought that they wouldn't have any idea what they where doing or wouldn't understand but just to be sure she told them to shut up. I might just head canon this terrible joke into the story now tho lol

[@Osricb83]

When Lupin yells Riddikulus it turned from Harry being dead which was Molly's fear, to now deal with him, showing his fear. He yells it again and gets rid of it. The spell works just fine for him. If it were facing him first and he said the spell and it didn't work then you could say it doesn't work right for him but he generally comes in after it is already dealing with someone else.

[@AD240pCharlie]

I openly said in class a couple of weeks ago that while I am a huge fan of the series and have been since I was 10, there are so many plot holes, continunity errors, plot conveniences, and just other things that are simply examples of poor writing. Even classmates who never even read the books came at me, and it was hilarious.

[@uptown3636]

Sorry you're sick. Thanks for pushing through your discomfort and making this great HP content!

[@user-vx7do5sr5q]

What if Lupin's fear is a werewolf. And the Moon is the "funny" form,bc it looks so inocent

[@NeuroArrow]

You make such great videos and you're also really funny and the way you get so hilariously annoyed and frustrated by all the things that don't make sense eventhough you also love harry potter make these videos super relatable You're just amazing to watch Thank you for making these videos

[@CJCroen1393]

Unpopular opinion: The whole situation with Marietta Edgecombe was a situation where no one was the good guy. > Cho is the most blameless, but was still defending someone who sold all of them out. Cho insists that Marietta had a good reason for her actions, ignoring the fact that Cho herself was one of the people who would suffer consequences (which would include detention with _Dolores freaking Umbridge_ or even expulsion) just so Marietta could save her own skin. > Speaking of which, let's talk about Marietta! True, she didn't deserve to get scarred for life (literally), but she still sold out her so-called "best friend" and the others just to save her own reputation. At this point, there's no way that Marietta doesn't know what Umbridge does to students who displease her; we already know that Harry and Lee Jordan were both forced to carve up their hands like a Thanksgiving turkey, it can be inferred that at it this point, she had already done this to more students and even if she hasn't, Lee must've said something even if Harry didn't. Marietta is evidently willing to let _the entire DA,_ (including her "best friend") be potentially subjected to literal torture at Umbridge's hand, just to save her own skin. Also, it kinda makes Marietta look really stupid, as she should know by now that Umbridge is a lying, untrustworthy individual, so she would likely be willing to punish Marietta as well. The excuse Cho gives is that Marietta is trying to protect her mom's job at the Ministry, and even if that's true, Marietta's still being stupid because again, Umbridge is a liar and a bully. How does she know Umbridge won't just sack Marietta's mother anyway as a punishment for Marietta aligning herself with filthy rebels? > Hermione cursed the scroll without telling anyone. Nuff said. I honestly think this whole thing could've been avoided if Hermione had just told everyone about the scroll being cursed into a magically binding contract. Slight sub-unpopular opinion, but I don't think it was _completely_ unjustified for her to make the curse in the first place; they were, after all, starting a secret society that had to hide from a totalitarian dictator who would have all of them tortured if she found out they were doing this in the first place, so betrayal shouldn't be tolerated in this case as it puts all of them in very real danger. But again, Hermione could've _told_ everyone all of this like "Hey, btw, if you don't wanna end up with hideous boils on your face forever, you'd better not rat any of us out!" and the whole thing would've been avoided. This is partially on _you,_ Hermione. Marietta would likely have never ratted you guys out if she'd known about the curse. > Harry deciding to break off his relationship with Cho over this whole thing feels really petty on his part. Don't get me wrong, Harry's relationship with Cho was kind of a trainwreck that was doomed to fail anyway, but while I do think Cho's trust in Marietta was misplaced, I feel like this shouldn't have been the thing that ends their relationship. It just feels cheap, especially considering the fact that they already had a disastrous date before this that just already proved them to be totally incompatible and likely unhealthy together. Still, it's leagues better than the utterly stupid decision the movie made, where Harry dumps Cho because he _thinks_ she ratted them out and then it turns out she was forced to under truth serum...and we never get a reconciliation between them until like, movie 8. Idk, those are just my thoughts on that little subplot.

[@gerritdeman6410]

Completely agree. I just finished reading the Order of the Phoenix for the first time and while it actually made me realize that I really like how they translated it into film, my biggest gripe with the film is and has always been that Harry seemingly never even tries to make it up with Cho in some way or another (even if they don't get back together, at least just say "hey sorry I was such an ass to you even though you didn't do anything wrong"). The first time they talk to each other again is in the last film and it's only because everyone's talking about Ravenclaw's diadem. About the Hermione thing though, I'm not sure if it was mentioned in the book but I'm pretty sure madam Pomfrey is able to cure the boil curse so I wouldn't call it permanent. You're still probably right that mentioning it to everyone would have made it much less likely for them to be ratted out though.

[@CJCroen1393]

@@gerritdeman6410 IIRC, Pomfrey was only able to reduce the pimples slightly (if that) and Marietta still has them in book 6. And Rowling confirmed that they left permanent scars after they healed.

[@gerritdeman6410]

@@CJCroen1393 Damn, well in that case I completely agree with you on that as well.

[@Jehayland]

I always assumed, with the Boggart, that Lupin had the force of will to cast the spell without the need for alternative visualization. Like it’s a fear that, while he still has, he has also come to terms with. In a way, it’s as if the thing he transforms the boggart into is the moon and he laughs at it in his mind, laughing directly at his fear itself. (perhaps this is something the average person can’t do since they likely avoid their fears while Lupin is forced to face his fear constantly)

[@MatejKostoski123]

About the Bogart, maybe the first time, the spell just failed, it may have a chance of failing, depending on the competence and concentration of the wizard. I like to imagine at like this: Lupin burst in, and upon realizing what happened, he shouted the spell, but since he wasn't fully concentrated, we can see that he did it emidiately after he realized what has happened, or maybe even the Bogart was very powerful, so the spell failed. The Bogart, finding itself threatened, aquired a new target it's attacker and turned into a moon. Having regained full composer Lupin executed the spell better. It's just my opinion, but I would love to hear what you think.

[@sydhamelin1265]

This was recommended by KZbin (never read the books), but I like hearing people take stuff apart. Obviously it's tough to create a world that exists by imaginary law, and maintain any verisimilitude (i.e. why does The Force only work in certain ways at certain times). I always appreciate fans who really dig into these types of fictional worlds; it's a testament to how much the author put into the writing. Also, even though I have never read the books, this was presented in a way that I still understood the content.

[@sarahmontsinger5506]

I completely agree. Voldemort loves dragging things out much longer than necessary. Honestly, in every single book, if he hadn't relied on a crazy elaborate scheme and had just done it himself, he never would've died. When he kills James and Lily Potter, he's vanished and loses power and everything, but he could've just had his death eaters come and kill them instead, which would've killed Harry. Then, Voldy would still be alive and would have all the power that he could possibly want. Voldemort really is his own worst enemy because he's so prideful that he can't do anything the easy way.

[@MikeTall88]

He's an adult targeting a school and kids to begin with. Thanos targeted the universe and it's greatest defenders. This tells a tale on it's own :P

[@sabatinetobias]

I like to think Umbridge was questioning the house elves when this happens and like Voldy cares so little about them doesn’t think to make them leave

[@GoggyL29]

I’m calling him Voldy from now on

[@beachgirl4583]

Who doesn’t?

[@hams2410]

I like the way you said 'Voldmort' as 'Voldy'🤣 Nice nickname! "Because you are mad"! I love that about Vody

[@robertgronewold3326]

Several things: Arithmacy is wizarding math, so really the only subject they are absolutely missing is English. Really, these wizards need some English lessons. A house elf, even Dobby, could have brought Umbridge some food in her office, where they overheard.

[@Dunstan9]

Arithmacy is basically just divination by way of numbers. It... honestly comes off as a tad simplistic to rank having it's own class, but perhaps wizards view it as hard. What with them all going years without basic math classes before being asked to take it.

[@deebo429__]

About the House Elves. She could have been letting the higher ranking house elves know that she was cutting their pay and generally changing things with them. She did become headmaster around that time, being able to change things as she finds out about them

[@christeascozycorner]

"he's so dumb" LOL

[@mando1964]

Honestly, it'd be much easier if JK would just wrote: Well the prophecy is for those involved, but the Ministry will exclude Voldemort in this case, as an special case. So ONLY Harry could lift the prophecy. Like, the orbs are just recordings human-made and so are the protections. So much easier to explain why the so complicated plan

[@axelf8557]

You see, when Voldemort does dumb stuff like this, it only further proves my and many others beliefs to be true. Sauron is the one TRUE dark lord!

[@Mario1099l]

house elves can be summon in Hogwarts, Crouch Jr. called Dobby to clean the teacher's lounge so he can hear his discussion with McGonagall about gillyweed. Umbridge is the kind of person who thinks she's above those labors, like cleaning, so she obviously call some house elves to do it, Edgecombe rushes in, talk to her, and Umbridge forbids them to tell, and spread the order.

[@nehakotak27]

I just discovered your channel and these “not make sense” videos and I couldn’t resist commenting because of the fabulous job you’re doing. I know this isn’t related to book 5, the subject of this video but I have some issues overall with the series that I can’t help but point out too, the primary being the way the books deal with the parents of the muggleborns. 1) Rowling laid so much stress on how having muggles learning magic was the deal breaker for one of the founders of the school, so much so he quit the same and left but his thought process lives on and we see that’s what Voldemort creates his own legacy on. We see two polar opposite pure blood families and are immediately to take a liking to the Weasleys who are more relaxed as opposed to the Malfoys as they don’t discriminate. Yet we never see a much needed third POV, that of the non-magical parents of a witch or wizard who feel out of depth in this new world and yet this is what their child has chosen and was chosen by and for, for some reason and they are not sure how to process it. Magic is a wonderful thing but if you’re a muggle it can be scary too especially when you don’t have it in a world like this. The magic fearing folk need not be the Dursley’s kind but the scared parents of a young woman who is a brilliant witch who had to know that their daughter, their ONLY child was facing dangers and horrors since the first year of her school. We never see them freak out when Hermione was petrified or get angry upon learning she’s being bullied by Malfoy. We don’t have a single instance where we see these people so frightened out of their minds, that they wish to get Hermione out of Hogwarts and enroll her in a normal school and ask her to live in the normal world where she’s free to pursue whatever career she so chooses because they’re too scared to lose her and just want her safe and be there for her should something ever go wrong where she needs them. I think rather than the whole time turner thing that ended up being Deux ex machine, it would have been better if Hermione’s strange behaviour during her third year was owing to tension at home with her parents because of the petrification earlier. Her desire to attend Hogwarts and continue her magical education perhaps understood and supported by her mom and her dad opposing it leading to a rift between the parents and Hermione feeling guilty owing to being the reason why her parents are having this phase in their marriage. Her dad comes around finally because he wants Hermione happy at the end of the day more than anything and maybe a prophecy of how she’s got a vital role to play in bringing about the downfall of the evil that is a threat to the world - magic and muggle - could also happen. 2) Hogwarts is brimming with teens living in close quarters most of the year we don’t hear more about teen issues that deal with teen pregnancies, underage wizards who are into substance abuse or tend to develop alcoholic tendencies or facing discrimination owing to their sexual preferences. The love potion is basically a date rape drug if you ask me, so when we don’t see any disastrous results except for Voldemort when it is so freely available is also beyond me. When Ron gets high on the love potion meant for Harry by Romila Vane, we see no consequences for it faced by Romilda at all. I don’t know how there’s no other muggleborn who isn’t bullied by someone by being labelled as a mud blood or how we don’t have teens suffering from anxiety during exams or cabin fever since they are more or less expected to stay within the castle all the time barring the Hogsmeade weekends, which only happen with the permission of the parent or a guardian and only from the third year. Like how the hell are those kids and teenagers not going out of their mind getting cooped up in there? 3) Lily gave Harry a protection that saved him from Voldemort but she isn’t the first or the only mother who would have done this, any loving mother would have sacrificed her life to save her child’s. So what exactly is so special about Lily getting herself killed to save her son that stops even a dark wizard who is so powerful like Voldemort? Did Lily perform some sort of ritual that would protect her son, once she’s dead as is James? 4) the dementors cause Harry to lose consciousness on the train and the others around him feel cold and like they’ll never be happy again and blah blah. But are we really supposed to believe that there’s no other kid on that train who has an awful experience at home or otherwise too? Why don’t we hear about kids who have been say abused or assaulted or have unwittingly witnessed something horrible? Once again why is Harry the only one singled out when there’s a school full of children on that train and there’s no way that ALL of them have a good life going on now!

[@merphynapier42]

These are all super valid points! The only thing is that other students to have similar reactions to what Harry has with the dementors. Specifically Ginny, who was once possessed by Voldy. Which leads me to believe that it's in part due to trauma and partly due to being touched by the "darkest wizard" in all the town 🤪

[@nehakotak27]

Merphy Napier Oops I forgot about Ginny’s reaction honestly, never really been her fan so...

[@takix2007]

3) is kinda explained in the book (it is a stretch) : Lily was given the choice by Voldy to step aside and let him kill the boy, but she sacrificed herself. There would not have been many instances in which someone would have wanted to kill a 1-year-old, given the mother the choice to let him kill the child (btw, why would he give her ghat choice? Because Snape asked him to spare the mudblood?) AND the mother stepping in the line of fire.

[@caseyc2497]

I always just kinda assumed boggarts act that way with Lupin because he has never/can never get passed his fear of what he is, so even when he tried ridikulus it doesnt change because he cant see past his fear but yeah it doesnt make sense.