I've been reading the mistakes and realised a few of them didn't really make that much sense. The one I think I will quote here is this one for book 4,

Oh here we go again....Well, about the Playstation thing; The books take palce in the 1990s. How do I know this you ask? The answer is found plainly in Chamber of Secret's at Nearly Headless Nick's Deathday Party. He was celebrating his 500th deathday. When Harry,Ron, and Hermione head to the snake table, they find a replica of Nick's tombstone. On it, like all tombstones, shows the date of birth and the date of death. Nearly headless Nick died in 1492. Therefore his 500th deathday would be 1992, and so therefore Chamber of Secrets took place in the 1992-1993 schoolyear.

About the boggart; when Mad Eye looked to see what was in the cabinet, he most likely saw his worst fear...just scrunched up becuase it was in a cabinet . I believe I read in an interview that JKR said that or something...

And about the Wolfbane Potion..if he has to take the the entire week leading up until the full moon, perhaps he has to take it on the date of the full moon also. Perhaps Snape was just bringing him that day's doseage, and brought it every day previous, but we just didn't read about it.

MOD EDIT : Minor netspeak spotted - "O" should have been "Oh". Please be more careful next time okay?! Your post has been edited.

yeah, so what, she mad some mistakes. In one of the books she used the book title 1000 magical herbs and fungi (sorry, my memory is blank i cant remember which book it was, then in another book(i feel so stupid) she said the book was called 100 magical herbs and fungi. I dont blame her though, its a lot to keep track of.

i am sure many people have noticed that there are a few holes in the books (not literally, or we wouldn't be able to read them) No no no! i am talking about [I]unexplained phnomenon[I] yes...
Starting in book two, when nearly headless nick was attacked, how was he fed the madrake draught, ghosts can't drink...
in GOF, harry lights up his wand at the Quidditch world cup. Magic outside school. Harry has beeen a naughty boy, but nobody mentioned it!
In POA, we are told noboy knows what a boggart looks like on its own...bit in OOP, moody looks up ionto the cabinet and is not scared. But he says it is a boggart.. he knows, just ask old mad-eye...
there are tonnes more, if you figure any out, then let me know, or try to solve the inigmas i have already told you...

May I take a stab at these?

The reason that Harry was never notified about the use of magic was because there were so many people using magic there at that time that it would have been impossible to pinpoint one underage wizard..where as when it was the magic that Dobby performed that got Harry in trouble the ministry saw where the magic took place and they knew that Harry was supposed to be the only one there at that time...so they just assumed it was him since they didnt believe house elves could do that kind of magic...same thing with the patronus it was in a muggle neighbourhood where harry was the only known wizard to be...I mean there was ms. Figgs but she is a squib who cant perform magic....so the ministry automatically linked it to harry...so really its not a mistake on JKR's part...its just how the ministry goes about seeing underage wizard stuff...for example Ron would probably never get a letter about underage use of magic because he lives in a house with like 5 people who ARE of age..it would be impossible to tell who did the magic unless as you said someone ratted on him...

I think it is a mistake when anybody says they are going up front to talk to the driver on the Hogwarts express. You can't get to the driver on a steam train. Hermione was one of the ones who was going to do it in POA, so apparating is not an option.


I also think Dumbledore performing magic in front of the Dursleys was a mistake, since it is against the law even if they know about magic.Re-read the bit in oopt during Harry's trial where fudge says "in fact, the more impressive the worse it is, I would have thought, given that the boy did it in plain view of a Muggle!". Fudge knew Dudley knows about wizards. He would not have said this if Harry's defense could have been that Dudley already knew about magic.
Of course there must be exceptions, like when the minister visits the prime minister, but unless Dumbledore was above the law, he was willfully breaking it when he came to pcik Harry up in HBP.

About the magic outside school...
I think it's that they can't do magic near muggles - or in a muggle populated place. Since at the Quittich cup all the muggles fleed, and there was hell from the DEs, I think it didn't matter. Everyone used magic - they couldn't ping everyone.

About Nick and the drink...
I don't think he was pertified, (being a ghost) I think it only just spooked him. The movie took it overboard. I'm sure it just rubbed off in a few hours.

About Moody and the boggart...
I think that Moody did see the boggart in the form that it would take if it was infront of him. He wasn't afraid of it because he had faced a boggart many times, perhaps?

Just my guesses, you can disagree, but make sure you tell me what and why.

Nick definately wasn't made solid in COS:
"...Professor McGonagall conjured a large fan out of thin air, which she gave to Ernie with instructions to waft Nearly Headless Nick up the stairs"
So he couldn't have drank the potion, but it doesn't say how they fixed him does it?

I think once they knew it was a Basilisk they figure out how to make him right. Maybe they steamed it through him!

First, im completely new to forums in general, so im sorry if i do anything wrong.

These are things that have bugged me in the books

1:
Whenever Harry says Voldemort, Hermione flinches like everyone else.

This bugs me because hermione comes from a muggle family, so she should'nt flinch,this is either a mistake or a clue supporting the sibling theory.

2:
JK wouldnt answer when asked about wether there was anyone else at godricks hollow, could it be hermione? another sibling theory

3:
This is pure speculation:
the weasly clock,after book 6, has all the family members in "mortal peril"
and mrs weasly wonders if anyone elses clock would say this if they had one.
Im not sure, but maybe something terribles gonna happen to the family
think about it, so far most of the weaslys have had very bad things happen,
Ginny in the CoS,Ron gets poisoned, Mr weasly almost gets killed, and Bill gets savaged by greyback, whats next?

sorry if i did anything wrong

please share your thoughts or any corrections you can think of, i just like getting replies! (you might have gathered that i support the sibling theory, and the snape isnt evil theory, but i do think dd is dead)
and please, please share your thoughts, im dying of boredom waiting for replies. heh

1. Just because a witch/wizard comes from a muggle family doesn't mean they don't fear Voldemort's name. Even Harry, in Sorceror's Stone (before deciding he would always cal Voldemort by his own name) was described as feeling "a bit of fear every time he heard or thought of the name". The only wizards we know who consistantly use Voldemort's true name are Dumbledore and Harry. Should Hermione be in that list too? Then what about all the other muggle-born wizards in the wizard world, should they all say his true name too, because they are from muggle families?

2. I see there being four possible people: 1: Snape; 2: Dumbledore; 3: Hermione; or 4: someone who hasn't been introduced or entirely introduced to the plot yet.

I do not really believe in the sibling theory, but I must say, it has its merits. I would definitely say it is possible.

3. This one's interesting. I would say that a wizard family that is so deeply involved in the anti-Voldemort regime is in particular danger. That is why the clock is always in mortal peril. I don't think the clock necessarily predicts the future though. Like, if it says mortal peril, then at that particular moment, the person is in mortal peril. It doesn't mean that at a certain time in 2 months, they will die or be injured. Obviously though, if the clock is constantly on mortal peril, it is more than likely that some bad things are bound to happen.

Here's my take on things:

1) This has been trotted out by the Sibling Theorists (which I am most definitely not) as yet more evidence that Hermione is Harry's sister as she knows far too much about the wizarding world for a muggle born. Personally, I think this argument is rather tenuous. Right from her first appearence in the PS, Hermione is portrayed as the sort of person who reads widely and takes 90% of what she reads on board (signs of a photographic memory - could explain how quickly she picks things up). While she developes a more critical approach in OotP (when he disagrees with the DADA text book), in her early days she tended to take the text books more on gospel faith.

Therefore, is it not reasonable that her flinching at Voldermort's name comes from an 11 year old girl reading about someone who did what he did. I remember reading an article about Jack the Ripper at a similar age and spent the next few months walking very nervously past an unlit section of my street when coming home after dark.

You can also note that , with the passage of time, she has managed to master her fear of the name to some degree and, like Harry, is encouraging Ron to do the same.

2) Actually, in my opinion, there is a fourth person who has already been featured who may have been at Godric's Hollow - Peter Pettigrew.

If you remember, in GoF, he had Voldemort's wand. How else would he have been able to get a hold of it except from the ruin of the Potter's house before he was tracked down by irius Black?

3) The comment in HBP is, if memory serves, that all the hands on the the clock are pretty much on 'Mortal Peril' permanently (although we do see Arthur's breifly move onto travelling). I don't think this is a prediction, more a general indication of the the way the world is.

As prominent members of the Order of the Phoenix, all of the Weasleys are going to be in danger until Voldemort is defeated so I don't think too much can be read into it.

The clock has always confused me, mainly because of something I mentioned at another thread I started. Just what happens if one of the Weasleys dies? Does their clock hand disappear? Does it get stuck at Mortal Peril? Is there a position for Dead? (how macabre.)

i was reading some of the hp books last night and i noticed something,
if hermione is flinching at the word voldemort, whether it be because shes trying to fit in or has just built it into her psyche (or of course the sibling theory is right) then why isnt she ofended by being called a mudblood all the time?
i mean, flinching every time you hear a word but then not caring when someone horribly insults you is a bit strange, UNLESS, she knows shes harrys sister and so clearly knows shes not "mudblood" and so doesnt care.
remember reater skeeters articals saying that harrry and her were dating?
she was completely unfazed because she knew they werent!

Share your thoughts

p.s

i rule

Flinch at mudblood? Nah --- the reason Hermione doesn't flinch at that is because she doesn't care. She knows the people saying that (Malfoy) are jerks, so why bother? You know --- cool as a cucumber --- not gonna let it affect her.

yeah but surely for someone who flinches at the name of a person supposedly long gone, but doesnt care in the slightest when she's terribly insulted.
Is it just me or is it strange?

Share your thoughts ^^

p.s (i hope that ^^ doesnt count as an internet abbreviation)

It's all just conditioning. All of it. Hermione's decided she's not going to care about being a called a "mudblood" so she's not going to flinch or otherwise react to it. Meanwhile, she's learned that flinching, etc. is a normal response in the wizarding world to hearing Voldemort's name and so she's internalized that behavior. Later, in the fifth book, she starts reconditioning herself not to let that affect her either.

Hermione is a very strong female character. She shows a ton of self-control, so she knows when NOT to overreact. Bein called a "Mudblood" is not very offensive to her because she really does not care. Its is just like somebody calling you names like 'stupid'...sometimes it really gets you started, but most of the times you just look at them thinking "grow up!"

I definitely do not disagree with the Sibling Theory at all, and your second comment about Hermione being at Godric's Hollow is quite possible. I still believe that it was Wormtail, though, either in human or Animagus form, so he took Voldemort's wand. I also see the possibility of a portrait being there, and the person inside it having had witnessed it is a large possibility. Sir Cadogan (sp?) has been suspected of being in the room where Lily savd Harry and deminished Voldie, and was later found by Dumbledore and brought to Hogwarts where he now stands.....who knows!?



_daviD

exactly, she knew about voldemort before she went to hogwarts, but imm sure we'll find all this out if we ever see the creevy brothers shudder at voldemorts name.

I have a question about what magical things Squibs are able to see. We know that there are spells on the castle so that only magical people can see it, and everyone else just sees a set of old ruins.
So, if Squibs can see what magical people see, then why can't Mrs. Figg see the Dementors in OOTP?
And if squibs can't see what magical people see, then how can Filch work at Hogwarts?

Since when can Mrs Figg not see dementors? lol. She clearly saw them in HBP. She kept telling Harry that she couldn't fight them as she can't do magic but she could clearly see them. She also testified well enough at Harry's hearing to make it obvious she saw them. Filch would be the same way. He can see the same things as Wizards but can't perform magic so working at Hogwarts wouldn't be an issue for him.

I read on another site a few days ago that JKR had said that Mrs. Figg could not see the dementors. She could feel the effects of them, just as muggles can, but she was guessing at what they look like. If you read the trial scene in OoTP, you will see that her description is fairly vague, and even Harry thinks she sounds as though she has never seen one, except in pictures. I can't remember where that site was, but I will look for it, and when I find it, I will edit this post to let you know where it is.

EDIT: JKR's website, under "Extra Stuff", "Miscellaneous", "Squibs" - this is where JKR herself states that Mrs. Figg did NOT see the dementors.

Was this a mistake or did I just miss something? At the end of GOF, after the incident with Cedric in the graveyard, the trio are still waiting on the "horseless carriages" at the end of the book...Why doesn't Harry see the thestrels then? Can someone please tell me so I can finally sleep at night?

This question has been asked by many people and JKR has answered it on her website. To see thestrals requires that you have not only seen someone die, but have also had time to let the death "sink in", and you've accepted it. Also, she didn't want to introduce a new concept at the end of a book, when she wanted to have everything wrapped up.

Check out this wierd mistake. Professor Binns told in Chamber of Secrets that nobody but Slytherin has been in the chamber itself (McGonnagal told in the movie). Then he said that there is some sort of beast in there, never mentioning that its a serpant, basilisk, or anything that had to do with fangs.

So later on, before the basilisk is even thought of, on page 210 of the American hardback edition, it says:



Only thing I can think of is that Harry was talking to the snake in the duelling club and thats what they were getting at. However, they mention the Chamber of Secrets, kind of implying that the fanged servant is in there. Seems like a mistake to me.

A fanged servant can be anything. It does not necessarily mean a snake. Now, if you had a monster that you could control (servant), wouldn't it have fangs? Honestly, isn't the fang a traditional part of any monster? Monsters just aren't monsters without fangs, you know.

I know that this topic has probably come up many times before, but I couln't find it anywhere.....

I just re-read the chapter in HBP where Harry and the Weasely's come back from X-mas break and they don't know the password. And the thought came to mind: how do the student's know when the password changes to their commonroom and dorms? It just seems like the passwords change every day, according to various chapters! Can anyone help me understand this?

As I recall, the prefects tell whoever they have to to spread the word after dinner at the Great Hall most of the time. . It's done within the house itself, but I'm not sure who picks it for Griffindor. . probably McGonnacle from the sound of it.

I would imagine new passwords are put on the house notice boards, and that they slowly filter through the students that need to know.

The original passwords are given out by the head boy and girl

Hi all,

Just letting people know that I'm moving this thread down to the general books area, as it relates specifically to the series.

~Pix

i dont think that they would put them on boards due to the fact that any other house would be able to see it and get into the wrong common room but who knwos but i do think that the head boy and girl just filter it out themselfs
seachell

Thanks for your responses. Yes, I agree with seachell, they would not post them on the boards. I guess this remains on our imaginations, JKR can't tell us everything! Even though she is a world wide hero!

I just either imagined the "Password on the house notice board" theory, or the portrait tells everybody in the common room when she changes it.

Or else, she tells someone to spread the word, lol, i don't know!

I think the students are informed of the changing passwords when they exit the sommon room in the mornings. I'm not too sure because JKR never mentions it.

I think maybe Dumbledore makes the passwords and passes them on the the Heads of House. That way, he knows them as well, just in case he had to make an "appearance" in the common room....which he never did anyway. But it just passes on through all of the student in the correct houses.

I am affraid to say that i may have stumbled upon a mistake in the Harry Potter books. I do think i am right but please proof me wrong.

In the chamber of secrets when Harry enters the diary it is mentioned that Proffesor Dippet is in the school which means he is still headmaster or will be. The point being that dumbledore has not suceeded him yet. And at this time Tom Riddle (voldemort) is in school

Wait for it!

In The Half Blood Prince, when Dumbledore and Harry go to see Dumbledore's memory of telling Tom that he is a wizard, The youngeer Dumbledore says that he is Headmaster of Hogwarts which is impossible if Proffesor Dippet is stil alive and teaching at Hogwarts.

Surprise!

Like I said, try and prove me wrong but until that time i think i am right.

Mmm. You could be right. It makes sense, and from what I recall, Dumbledore did say that he was the Headmaster when he went to see Tom, so yeah...

I don't think it's a big deal though, just a little continuity error, that's all. The books are full of them. Interesting spot though

I don't think this topic belongs here though - I'm going to move it into the books forum.

Hmm I just reread that chapter just for this thread and I can't seem to find it. Could you provide a quote? I know Dumbledore was the Transfiguration Professor at Hogwarts at the time and I believe he was Deputy Headmaster of Hogwarts in the same sense as McGonagall was Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts. If my memory serves me correctly the Deputy Headmaster/Headmistress is in charge of the new students, since McGonagall read the list of students magically recorded to attend Hogwarts, and may have also visited Muggle Parents to convince them to allow their children to go, just as Dumbledore did as Deputy Headmaster with Tom Riddle.

~Albus

Hmmm, I am going to have to re-read for this. I think that Albus is correct about him being the deputy headmaster. Also, thanks Albus for pointing that out about McGonagall. I always wondered how the muggle borns went to the school and believed. Personally, if I got a letter, I would just think that it was some hoax. But why would Dumbledore say that he is the headmaster instead of just the deputy headmaster. I choose to believe that there is nothing wrong.

~Filius~

Did you notice that in ss when harry got his wand he said that he was right handed but on the covers he is left handed. do you think J.K. never noticed or something?

i never noticed that but i looked at my overs and your right...i don't think it would have mattered to much to JK, there have been lots of other big changes made to her charactors i doubt what harry is doing on the covers of these movies is going to bother her much...maybe if he was doing something out of charactor like in a loving embrase with voldermort.

I'm sure there's a thread on this somewhere, but I haven't been able to find it yet. So if I do, I'll combine the two of them, but until then I'm just going to move this down to the books area, where I think it's a little more appropriate.

yeah I guess it is not that big of a deal. It would be funny to see Harry and voldy share a big hug on the DH cover

Wow! I never noticed that before! I doubt that has any actual significance, but that is so weird that no one actually picked that up before. To be an illustrator, I suppose, you have tons of other stuff in your mind, but that is definitely a medium level oversight.

Great observation!



LRW

Hi there. Sorry i have been having trouble with my computer and have not been able to post for ages.

This chapter is: chapter thirteen, and it is called: The Secret Riddle. and he definately says Hogwarts is his school and that he is Headmaster.

I have so wondered this the entire time that I have been reading Harry Potter, becasie it seems that the password changes for the gryffindor tower and dumbledores office everytime we see them. I have always just figured that once a passowrd changes a teacher, or a prefect or head of house, someone who is important, is informed by way of magic. Like mabye they use those coins that Hermione had used in OOTP?

I can't find where he says he is Head Master. I found where said his name and that he works at a school called Hogwarts. Do you have the actual page in the chapter? It just has me wondering about it now.

There seems to be alot of confusion about who actually makes up the passwords, this question has been answered before in PoA I think it is. The fat lady portrait gets changed to the knight and Harry says something like the knight changes the password every five seconds or something along those lines. So the person in the portrait does the passwords.

I really have no idea as to how they know when it's changed though, that's a hard one. I think the prefects find out the passwords first, and pass it down...I think we can rule out the passwords actually being written anywhere like the common room as in PoA, Neville gets told off from Mcgonagall for writing them down.

Dumbledore doesn't say he is headmaster of Hogwarts. what he actually says (to Mrs Cole) is



What he says to Tom is



so sorry HP-Deathly-Hallows, it's not a mistake!
I've found another mistake though and i am just going to make a new thread on it