The Alternity Re-Read: June / July / August Year 1

[alt_moderator]

Since August was our smallest month of the game, I'm combining the three summer months into one post here. No pressure - just want to get this up for anyone who's ready to move on...

Here are the pdf links:

June

July

August



(BTW at this pace, approximately 6 weeks per year, we will be re-reading for just under a year... on the other hand, as we get into the months and years with lots longer files / higher numbers of posts, it take two months to re-read the year - or longer! In which case we'll be finishing the re-read...this time next year, or so. Alternity never dies!)

Comments

[naomikritzer]

From June 24th, as Bill and Arthur discuss Dean Thomas and how to bring his real half-blood ancestry to light and get him out of the camps.

Arthur: The only problem, of course, is how do I find the Auror case number?
Bill: I've been trying, but I still don't have a trustworthy conduit of information into that department.

(Even if they'd made contact with Rachel at that point, she should've been in training in Y1, not actually an Auror yet.)

[naomikritzer]

From later down the same thread, it's really striking to me how much more cautious the Order is in Y1. Tonks could not possibly have been more ready and willing to sign up with the Order, and people are so hesitant. (I mean, they did recruit her. But Arthur doesn't want to recruit her to do anything that would get her into trouble.)

Sally-Anne liked to make snarky comments about how badly the Order needed some Slytherins, but what really strikes me here is how badly they need a bunch of teenagers who are convinced they're indestructable.

[naomikritzer]

On June 26th, Sirius, with Justin in tow, had a run-in in Paris with one of the British wizards who'd gone along with Lucius Malfoy. After revealing to Sirius that he knew who Sirius was, he said he wanted to help him.

>>>'You can't help me here,' I said, 'and we're not talking about this with
your boss only a few yards away.' I took a step back, keeping Justin
behind me. The boy had his hand on my belt loops, by the way, and
was shaking like a leaf.<<<

Dang, Justin. You toughened up. (Although, you know, maybe he wasn't shaking with fear but with the mental conflict between his impulse to do unspeakable things to this person threatening his mentor, and his personal moral code, which certainly didn't coutenance Dark Arts at that point in his life.)

[gwendolyngrace]

Speaking of the visit to France, I had forgotten I threw in this name:

Julie Jourdin

associated with a millworks. Anyone else get it?

[naomikritzer]

I don't. What's the reference?

[gwendolyngrace]

Julie Jordan is the main character in Carousel. She worked in a large textiles mill.

[gwendolyngrace]

I think it was nerves, yeah, but more because this is Justin when he had barely been outside of his house for ten years or so. And the last time he'd been in a big public place and felt threatened there had been an incident with wild magic. So. I think he's justified in being scared. Plus he's only 12 and can't actually help if things with this wizard go south....

[naomikritzer]

I'm finding it hilarious to read about Seamus and Ron being casual friends and getting along so well. I'd forgotten Seamus ever went over to the Burrow.

[gwendolyngrace]

I know, it's super weird, isn't it, knowing how definitively they will become adversaries later. Oh, Padma and Dean. You two have much to answer for....

[elisem]

Indeed!

[gwendolyngrace]

Looking at MGivern's talent for potions makes me wonder about him and Snape. I can't remember how much overlap they had but I imagine they either would have got on like two peas in a pod or been at each other's throats most of the time....