Giants, footprints and Dolores, oh my

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: Chapter 20

Ol' Hagrid can' help but tell his story, and thats wha' we love abou' him. The deep secrets he thinks have been entrusted to him only last until his little cloaked friends come for a visit. Getting him to spill the beans is about as easy as getting Dudley to eat dessert.

Quite a tall (pun intended) tale Hagrid had to tell about his visit to the "Land of the Giants" with his girlfriend. I get the idea that the brain of a giant is disproportionate to its size. Not sure what an alliance with these big, dumb idiots will do for either side unless there's a spell to stop them killing each other. Giant-on-giant crime seems to be a real problem in remote mountain valleys.

But nothing, it seems, is too remote for the High Instigator not to shove her uninvited nose in to. I think Harry and friends should tie our fake-smiling friend up in the invisibility cloak after stealing her wand and casting a spell that ties her tongue in a knot. I assume there's some kind of chandelier in the Great Hall they could hang her from indefinitely. No one else would know she's there, and it can be their giant secret. Just don't tell Hagrid.

But I'm dreaming.

I supposed her highness will go on inquisiting and instigating against the D.A.

She's a mean one (kinda like the Grinch).

p.s. Anybody know where I can get a good dragon steak? Sounds like good eatin'.

Dumbledore rises; Fudge melts away

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: Chapter 36

A lot to talk about in this chapter (I'll get to Fudge in due time).

Harry has to tell his tale again, but this time with no details left out because Dumbledore wants to hear it all. And he wants Sirius to hear it too. Dumbledore clearly isn't happy about Voldemort overcoming the barrier of being able to touch Harry. He doesn't elaborate on what it might ultimately mean, but it seems clear that this is a problem.

I was pleased to see that my guess about an ingredient in the wands had something to do with the standoff between Harry and Voldemort. I thought it was interesting that he heard a phoenix during the battle, and now we know why. Why did Harry's seem to be the stronger one?

Enter Fudge. With a Dementor. He's so sure he has all the answers. Strange that someone who has been doting on Harry now refuses to believe Harry's story of the rise of V? Not really. Fudge reveals his political hand when Harry begins to mention Death Eaters and Fudge talks of how they were cleared and that they have made donations to worthy causes. Fudge doesn't want to admit he was wrong, that his work to rebuild the magic world is threatened.

Dumbledore has an entire plan worked out for dealing with the Dementors and the Giants, but Fudge calls it madness because he doesn't want his approval ratings to drop. Then Dumbledore hits Fudge with his pride and the pure-blood argument. This is too much for Fudge. The dark mark on Snape's arm has no influence.

Dumbledore does what he must: part ways with the Fudge-led ministry. As soon as Fudge leaves, Dumbledore begins to take action. And Harry gets a well-deserved rest.

So where is V and what is he planning?