Hey everyone I'm back! I didn't forget about my wonderful readers just school got stupid busy, it being the last few weeks of term and then NaNoWriMo started so I've kind of been focusing on that more than my reading (it's terrible I know). Actually NaNo's going pretty well (not that anyone asked), I'm a little behind where I want to be but not so far that I can't catch up.
Without further gilding the lily and with no more ado, Norbert, the Norwegian Ridgeback everybody!
Summary:
OK, so, this chapter starts out fairly normally (normal being very relative) Hermione is worrying to the point of distraction about their end of year exams (They're only 10 weeks away you know), they're also worrying about the stone, and keeping an eye on Snape and all that important stuff when Harry gets a message from Hagrid that simply says "It's hatching". So they race down to Hagrid's hut after they're finished their classes and get there shortly before the once in a lifetime event (How often are they going to see a dragon hatching?) Well, you know Hagrid's never one for thinking too far ahead and Hermione points out a fairly obvious flaw in his plan, aside from living in a very small house (dragons can get pretty big I'm reliably informed), Hagrid's lovely abode is also made of wood...you see where I'm going with this, wood and dragon fire should under no circumstances meet...at all...so they have to find a way to get him out of there. That won't be easy...enter Harry's brilliant mind, he thinks of Charlie Weasley (who, may I add, Ron has mentioned all of once, on the train to Hogwarts and not again since, except for maybe Christmas) So, they send off the letter and wait for a reply, none too patiently I might add (but why would you send poor Errol to Romania to deliver a letter anyway, what is wrong with you?) but they finally get his answer, meet his friends on top of the Astronomy tower at midnight with Norbert. Well I think we can all guess how well that turns out. Somehow (not saying how, read the book!) Malfoy (inevitably) finds out puts the whole mission in jeopardy, and things don't end well for Harry and Hermione...let's just say they're none too bright at the end of the chapter and move on.
Review:
OK, this chapter has a lot to review on. First of all, the incongruous points, McGonagall says she's never heard of something so ridiculous as 4 students out of bed in one night (That's bull and she knows it (OK that's also next chapter but...). Also, OK, the Norbert thing is brought up in later books and charlie Weasley is the most amazing person to walk the planet (it irks me that he wasn't in the movies, hell, they astronomy tower Norbert thing wasn't in the movies!) Also, we see another prime example of Dumbledore being a manipulative, irritating old fool. There's no way Professor McGonagall would suggest that 3 of her Gryffindors serve their detention with Hagrid that night. If they were to serve with Hagrid McGonagall would probably have the sense to veto the detention first. But of course, Dumbledore as Headmaster would be able to assign ludicrous detentions like that. Even if Hagrid did offer to take their detention because he got them in trouble in the first place you'd think Dumbledore would stop them doing what they were going to be doing. Also, their detention takes place after curfew, for being out after curfew...because that makes so much sense. You also see the house bias. When McGonagall found 3 of her students were out of bed, she could have done the sensible thing and only taken 20 points each, maybe, like a normal person but no (I think I'm bleeding over into the next chapter though so I'll get back to this one)
OK, valid query, I know they don't think she'll believe them but when they find out that Hagrid's got a dragon egg why don't they just tell their head of house, or even the headmaster, right away, yes the story's implausible but a quick trip by Hagrid's with a responsible adult would change a lot for them in the long run. Also, Ron gets his hand bitten while he's at Hagrid's, you'd think that would be a red flag, even if the school nurse has a "if they don't tell me I don't press them," policy, you'd think someone else would notice the bandage and ask, even his brother, ickle Percy the perfect prefect, doesn't notice.
All in all it was a pretty good chapter though, Full of action and plot points and kinda, sorta, cliff hangery at the end...It's a great chapter of an even great book!
I think I'l rambled on long enough. If I don't see you all before the end of November I'm still doing NaNo!
Until them keep reading and writing!!!
