prasannak comments on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 10 - Less Wrong

11 Post author: Oscar_Cunningham 07 March 2012 04:46PM

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Comment author: prasannak 14 March 2012 07:37:50AM *  11 points [-]

Eliezer suggests re-reading 14, 21, 26, 35, 43-47, 56-57, 63, 66, 73-77, chapters

What're the possible clues embedded in these chapters?

  • 14 - Time-turner given to HP, Santa Claus gives inv Cloak
  • 21 - Hermione worried that she was going 'bad' + Bayesian Conspiracy starts + Draco wants to learn about blood + SC gifts 2 galleons, Occlumency book, advice about Quirrell, and warnings about Dumbledore
  • 26 - Noticing Confusion. A Muggle casts a dangerous spell on a Slytherin without knowing what the spell would do, also the Weasley's plot in the Prophet. Bacon's book to HP, Killing of Rita Skeeter
  • 35 - After HP/Q talk at the end of the battle. Also, Blaise Zabini + H&C interaction, Harry teasing Draco about Draco/Hermione working together.
  • 43-47 - Killing of the dementor, ends with HP & Draco discussion, Harry taking an oath against Narcissa's murderer, Harry shown to be a Parselmouth
  • 56-57 - Couple of chapters in Azkaban
  • 63 - TSPE Aftermath, Harry recognizes Hermione as 'good', Trelawney's aborted prophecy, HP receives SC gift of pack of cards.
  • 66 - SA Part I, key seems to be "Lessson I learned is not to try plotss that would make girl-child friend think I am evil or boy-child friend think I am sstupid," & "You will losse patience long before sseventh year, perhapss before end of thiss one. I sshall plan accordingly."
  • 73-77 - SA more thereof, ends with H&C groundhog attack on Hermione

Now, any of you folks digging up anything from the suggested chapters?

Comment author: FAWS 14 March 2012 12:38:54PM 5 points [-]

The first thing I noticed is that the list contains the Santa Claus messages and H&C appearances (14, 21, 35, 63, 77). Presumably all chapters that contain strong and deliberate hints at H&C's identity are on the list. I notice that neither the chapter where Remus talks about Sirius and Peter, nor the chapter where a prisoner is mumbling "I'm not serious [Sirius]" are on the list, so H&C is unlikely to be Sirius. On the other hand 65 which has Quirrel explain that the port key Santa Claus sent had a misleading description attached is not on the list either, so that may not be definite.

Comment author: prasannak 14 March 2012 01:48:40PM 0 points [-]

In 14 - Harry's Invisibility Cloak is not given by Santa Claus - the letter is unsigned unlike future letters - and is almost surely given by Dumbledore himself. Perhaps this is a hint toward the use of a time-turner? (Does Hermione know about Harry's time-turner yet? )

63 is on the list - where Harry actually receives the gift from Claus.

Also, 43-47 has Harry going deep into his dark side, that's probably more the clue than killing of the dementor.

OT - Whoa! I didn't realize that http://hpmor.com/chapter/58 had someone saying "I'm not serious" - awesome!

Comment author: FAWS 14 March 2012 02:13:36PM *  5 points [-]

In 14 - Harry's Invisibility Cloak is not given by Santa Claus - the letter is unsigned unlike future letters -

The reason the later letters are signed "Santa Claus" is to signify that they are from the same anonymous person who was wishing Harry a merry Christmas and giving him an early Christmas present with the first note. Otherwise there would have been no reason to use the alias Santa Claus. It's possible that they are from another person merely pretending to be that anonymous gift giver, but then it's also possible for any appearance of a non-POV character to be someone else under the influence of polyjuice.

if you were going to make an objection of that kind it would have made a lot more sense to object to calling Hermione's assailant H&C.

Comment author: prasannak 15 March 2012 04:09:26AM 0 points [-]

Aah, somehow I read your earlier statement to mean H&C & Santa Claus were the same.

And you're absolutely right, Santa Claus is one person, and the name signifies it is the same person.

Looks like Harry told Quirrell that it was signed Santa Claus - we should assume in the future letters are from the same person or Q, since Q would definitely forge such letters if it was to his advantage.

"Although of course Harry hadn't told Professor Quirrell who'd sent him the card, nor what it was supposed to do, before he'd asked Professor Quirrell if it was possible to tell where the portkey would send him." ... Harry had shown Professor Quirrell the note that had accompanied the deck of cards, saying nothing of the earlier notes.

My hypothesis for now is SC = Dumbledore/Nicholas Flamel. H&C = Quirrell.

And 75th above makes a strong case for SC=D - http://lesswrong.com/lw/ams/harry_potter_and_the_methods_of_rationality/60uj

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