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Comment by BrindIf on [FINAL CHAPTER] Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, March 2015, chapter 122 · 2015-03-15T21:24:36.758Z · LW · GW

Indeed, thank you for all the good times spent reading it, and then reading it again, and also for the thoughts and will to learn more that came with these readings.

Comment by BrindIf on [FINAL CHAPTER] Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, March 2015, chapter 122 · 2015-03-15T18:12:27.470Z · LW · GW

There are people who do what they can. And there are also people who don't even try to do what they can, and yes, those people are doing something wrong.

So according to her, someone who's walking away from a fight he could fight is wrong, as is someone who never lift a finger when he could have.

Comment by BrindIf on [FINAL CHAPTER] Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, March 2015, chapter 122 · 2015-03-15T14:15:19.939Z · LW · GW

The point is to destroy the Stone and Voldemort's body, which should earn time to the Order to react.

Comment by BrindIf on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, March 2015, chapter 121 · 2015-03-14T15:52:52.442Z · LW · GW

I do not feel that the following dialog:

"How did you destroy all but a remnant of the Dark Lord?"

Harry hesitated. "I Obliviated most of his memories and... sealed him, I guess is how wizards say it. Even if the seal breaks, he won't come back as himself."

Severus frowned briefly and then shrugged. "I suppose that is acceptable."

really fit with what Snape told sooner in the story:

"No," Severus said flatly. "The prophecy is not yet fulfilled. I would know if it were."

"Are you sure of that?"

"Yes, Potter. If the prophecy had already come true, I would understand it! I heard Trelawney's words, I remember Trelawney's voice, and if I knew the events that matched the prophecy, I would recognize them. What has already happened... does not fit." The Potions Master spoke with certainty.

I was expecting a more interesting reaction than just a shrug from Snape.

Comment by BrindIf on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, March 2015, chapter 120 · 2015-03-13T16:38:40.108Z · LW · GW

Tonks?

Comment by BrindIf on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, March 2015, chapter 120 · 2015-03-13T16:36:47.942Z · LW · GW

Good point. He's counting on Minerva to obliviate Draco, which makes it a bit safer.

Comment by BrindIf on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, March 2015, chapter 120 · 2015-03-13T07:57:06.435Z · LW · GW

Memory charmed, forgot even the existence of the magical world, sent in Australia to be restored after the War... is Narcissa actually Hermione's parents?

Comment by BrindIf on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, March 2015, chapter 120 · 2015-03-12T22:33:00.419Z · LW · GW

I agree.

Because Harry's conscience pains him, he'll ask the 12 year old Draco to make a hugely life altering decision when he's in shock and hopeless about the future, and give him half an hour to do so, then hide that decision from him so that he can neither recant nor even know that he ever had such a choice, or made such a decision.

And how is that not manipulative or kinda a lie?!

Comment by BrindIf on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, March 2015, chapter 119 · 2015-03-11T18:33:36.386Z · LW · GW

We do not know for sure. Here are the quotes:

from chapter 6

As his hand touched the back door's handle, he heard a last whisper from behind him.

"Hermione Granger."

"What?" Harry said, his hand still on the door.

"Look for a first-year girl named Hermione Granger on the train to Hogwarts."

"Who is she?"

There was no answer, and when Harry turned around, Professor McGonagall was gone.

from chapter 8

"Were you told to wait for Harry Potter on the train to Hogwarts, or something like that?"

"No," Hermione said. "Who told you about me? "

"Professor McGonagall"

It doesn't look really like her style though.

Comment by BrindIf on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, March 2015, chapter 119 · 2015-03-11T15:59:28.170Z · LW · GW

You're right, I just re-read it, and there is other passages where they react a lot more. I guess the silence is a way to show their astonishment and perhaps remains of disbelief.

Comment by BrindIf on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, March 2015, chapter 119 · 2015-03-11T11:32:43.903Z · LW · GW

Splat. Boing. Splat. Splat.

Saying nothing is a reaction. We're talking about poeple who knows how to keep their reactions shut down and seems to have secret agenda to hide from each other. They underreact also about Harry's being Tom Riddle Jr.

Comment by BrindIf on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, March 2015, chapter 118 · 2015-03-09T19:27:25.168Z · LW · GW

Isn't the official story telling that David Munroe usurped Quirell identity in order to teach Defense at Hogwart?

Comment by BrindIf on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, March 2015, chapter 117 · 2015-03-08T20:34:31.157Z · LW · GW

Especially knowing that Harry almost offered to explain it to him (after Azkaban). Quirrel's answer :

it is too rare that I find a person whom I cannot see through immediately, be they friend or foe. I shall unravel the puzzles about you for myself, in due time.

Comment by BrindIf on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, March 2015, chapter 116 · 2015-03-05T14:42:03.081Z · LW · GW

We do not know at what speed does information travel through the Riddle link.

Comment by BrindIf on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, March 2015, chapter 114 + chapter 115 · 2015-03-04T13:52:41.071Z · LW · GW

Good points here.

About the Time Turner, I thought there were wards against it. The stunning hex was a bet, but jumping on the Time Turner could have gone even wronger.

Comment by BrindIf on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, March 2015, chapter 114 + chapter 115 · 2015-03-03T23:17:24.532Z · LW · GW

By the way, who gave the Cloak to Harry?

Comment by BrindIf on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, February 2015, chapter 113 · 2015-03-01T20:10:25.263Z · LW · GW

Harry could start by saying "Not sssure if I should ssspeak. Mussst asssk friend firssst." He will won at least fime, at best an ally.