On the question of whether the Twins' behavior towards Percy shows malice, and the steadily disintegrating state of the Weasley family dynamics.
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A "Redeemable Fred" moment, some discussion of Neville's birthday, and a canon correction regarding Ron's birthday.
Argues that the end of PS/SS doesn't really make much narrative sense unless one accepts that at that time in his life, Ron really did care for Percy's good opinion. Also, a brief discussion of Ron's murdered (?) Puffskein.
Discussion of the Neville and the Twins' Canary Creams - was it a "mean" prank? Did Neville really mind it? - followed by a suggestion that Neville does not appreciate Hermione's (or Lupin's) condescending attitude towards him.
An analysis of ways in which GoF seems designed to encourage the reader in paranoia, and speculation as to what role paranoia may be slated to play in the series as a whole.
Why Crouch Jr. taught Harry to resist the Imperius Curse (again), followed by some speculation as to his feelings towards Neville and discussion of his overall character.
More on Neville's response to the Canary Creams and his possible feelings about Lupin and Hermione.
JKR as a writer not terribly interested in clothing. Was Pettigrew naked in the Shrieking Shack? Sirius' mental condition at the time of his arrest.
Why did Ron choose to play a knight in the chess game at the end of PS? Why did Dumbledore out Snape so very publicly (200 witnesses!) as a spy in the Penseive scene of GoF?
Proposes a love triangle spin on Tabouli's "Kitty-Gro Potion" version of FLIRTIAC in which Snape is Filch's rival for Mrs. Norris' affections. Also proposes an alternative explanation of Filch and Mrs. Norris' relationship in which Filch, in keeping with his first name of "Argus," is actually Mrs. Norris' jailer.
Explanation of my reasons for believing that Neville may well feel resentful at others' condescension. While acknowledging the possibility that my reading could be unduly autobiographically influenced, I also give textual evidence for the supposition that What You See with Neville is not always All That's There, and suggest that there might indeed be conscious authorial misdirection going on with Neville's character in the series to date.
Examines the possibility that Crouch Jr. might really have been innocent of the assault on the Longbottoms, suggests that allegiance to Voldemort might have imbued the Death Eaters with special magical powers, and summarizes the Fourth Man Avery theory.
An explanation of character indeterminacy, canonical plausibility and reading practice, all in the context of an ongoing thread about Neville's role in the series. Coins the term "Indeterminate Neville," describing the character as a kind of Schroedinger's Cat, simultaneously existing in a number of different states until the continuation of canon will collapse those states by making his canonical status determinable.
Grovelling Minion characters ("SYCOPHANTS") and why I like them so much. Sympathy for Pettigrew in the Shrieking Shack, and a defense of the notion that he does indeed evidence remorse for his crimes.
Discussion of Remorseful!Avery and Fourth Man Avery, and of what choices a truly remorseful Death Eater would have had, anyway, when Voldemort returned and the Dark Mark burned.
Discussion of the Memory Charmed Neville theory, and of Neville's character and memory charms in general. Lays forth evidence that Neville's magical problems stem not from a lack of magical power, but from a lack of control over that power. Argues that Neville deliberately downplays his own magical competence, encouraging others to view him as less powerful than he really is, and hypothesizes as to why he might choose to do so. Also touches on his relationship with Snape.
The warrior culture of the wizarding world, and how it militates against apology. An analysis of Lupin's response to Sirius' plea for forgiveness in the Shrieking Shack and why it might be that so many readers feel some degree of discomfort or dissatisfaction with that exchange.
Speculation on how the Dark Mark might work, the ramifications of the mystic bond between Voldemort and his DEs, Voldemort's motivations in GoF, and why he might have named the names he named in the Graveyard scene.
Reader response to Shrieking Shack, and a disquisition on the entire notion of "just deserts."
Canonical suggestion that Arthur Weasley was once a victim of the Imperius Curse.
