Pottermore Moments Revisited: Shrinking
There’s been a lot of news about Pottermore lately, with their announcements that the House Cup tournament is ending and that the site will be changing in the next few weeks. I, personally, am a bit anxious about this – what are they going to do? – but I guess we’ll find out. As such, the future of Pottermore Moments Revisited is a little unsure. I’ve for sure finished Prisoner (and my thoughts will be forthcoming over the next few weeks), but after that… well, I’m no Trelawney. So stay tuned for updates! But now, back to the moments!
We’re nearing the end of the third book on Pottermore, and the moments seem to be getting smaller and smaller with every chapter…
Chapter 15: “The Quidditch Final”
Chapter thoughts: Hermione gets feisty; however, we don’t get to see any of that on the site. No slapping Malfoy, no walking out of Divination, nothing. Exams are approaching, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione are all close to breaking. In fact, everyone is at a breaking point as the Quidditch final between Gryffindor and Slytherin approaches. After one of the dirtiest games in Harry’s career, Gryffindor is triumphant, finally winning the Quidditch Cup.
Moment 1: Gryffindor Wins the Cup
Granted, this is an important moment in the chapter. But to have it be the only moment? Where is Hermione slapping Malfoy (a brilliant moment that could have been fantastic on the site)? Where is the news of Buckbeak’s sentence and appeal?
That being said, it’s a brilliantly scarlet and gold moment that you can almost feel the excitement coming off of. It is definitely a match for the feeling of excitement in the book.
Chapter 16: “Professor Trelawney’s Prediction”
Chapter thoughts: Exams at Hogwarts (at least in this year) actually sound kind of fun. In any case, Harry, Ron, and Hermione get through them. Ron Weasley’s first words to the Minister of Magic (perhaps the most powerful man in Britain, honestly) are that the judicial system is corrupt, so if you don’t appreciate Ron, you should. Harry’s last exam ends with a strange prediction from Professor Trelawney, and the trio goes to comfort Hagrid in a visit that ends with an unexpected discovery.
Moment 1: Exam Time
A wonderful illustration of Lupin’s exam greets us for this moment. It’s a fun moment where you get to travel through the exam the same way the students would (though it would have been amazing to have had to actually use the proper methods discussed in the book to get past the creatures in the course!).
Moment 2: The Committee
The view of Hagrid’s hut gives shows us both the trio leaving and the people coming to the front door, showing just how close the trio was to being caught out of bounds. Not much else in this moment; it’s not even clear that Scabbers is here, a point that will quickly become very important.
It’s a bit of a scant two chapters, but we are quickly approaching the climax of the book. Scabbers is about to run away and start the chain of reactions that will change Harry’s life…
