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DanielLC comments on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, January 2015, chapter 103 - Less Wrong Discussion

7 Post author: b_sen 29 January 2015 01:44AM

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Comment author: DanielLC 29 January 2015 02:31:48AM 2 points [-]

How did the grading work? My first guess was that Quirrell was telling the truth, but this seems unlikely, and would mean that the EE+ he gave Harry couldn't mean anything. My second guess was that Quirrell came up with the grades before-hand, but all he knows is how well they could actually defend themselves, and real-world ability is not a good indicator of how well you'd do on a written test. My third guess is that a Time-Turner is involved, and he'll have Harry deliver the tests to him in the past.

Comment author: Benquo 29 January 2015 06:58:25PM 24 points [-]

He ignored the test results entirely. That's why "what an amazing spell" is a joke that made the Ravenclaws indignant, and made the Slytherins chuckle.

Comment author: b_sen 29 January 2015 02:42:09AM 5 points [-]

Quirrell could have decided that their overall grades should reflect only their ability to defend themselves, and so chosen to adjust the non-exam grades such that each student's overall grade (with the final included) matches his assessment of that student's defensive ability.

(This is really a more detailed version of your second guess.)

Comment author: [deleted] 29 January 2015 03:46:36AM *  5 points [-]

It could mean that, by surviving this long, Harry has exceeded Quirrell's expectations.