Pottermore Moments Revisited: De-Gnoming is a Serious Game
Chapter 3: The Burrow
Chapter thoughts: This is one of my favorite chapters. I absolutely love seeing how “normal” wizards live. It’s one of those wonderful magical moments of writing JKR gives us. Harry’s rescue by Ron and the twins is just such a gleeful moment. We are also introduced to the Weasley family home, Ginny Weasley, and Mr. Weasley, as well as Molly Weasley’s rage. Notable moments include the car rescue, exploring the Burrow (I’m especially fond of the description of the kitchen with the clock, radio, and mantle), and de-gnoming the garden.
Moment 1: Harry’s Escape
Harry scrabbles up on his dresser to get into the flying Ford Anglia as Uncle Vernon barges in with a yell/growl (that makes me jump every time). We get some new information on technology in this moment (we’re all as entertained as wizards thanks to the internet, apparently). There’s also a lot of Bertie Bott’s beans to collect (how much candy are you eating, Harry?).
Moment 2: The Weasleys’
The art for this moment makes me ache to go back to the English countryside. The colors are gorgeous as the sun rises over Ottery St Catchpole. As much as I love to see the outside of the Burrow, however, I also would have loved to see the inside in this moment.
Moment 3: De-gnoming the Garden
It’s another game! And, it turns out, I’m awful at throwing gnomes. Truly awful. They keep flying the wrong way! I’m not even sure if this game is following the laws of physics, because everything I every learned in high school is not working.
It took me at least seven times to get the four gnomes over the wall.
Chapter 4: At Florish and Blotts
Chapter thoughts: It’s the chapter that the whole plot hangs on! As Harry and the Weasleys make their way to Diagon Alley, there are some surprises in store, not the least of which is Draco Malfoy making a prediction about Harry and Ginny that will come true four years later. Notable moments include Harry’s Floo powder experience, Borgin and Burkes, and the fight in the bookshop.
Moment 1: Floo Powder
Whenever I think about Floo powder now, all I can think about is Starkid (“floo powder power!”). In any case, we get some new information about this substance from JKR in this moment. The mysterious and rather vague information though, seems to me to almost be a fun way of saying “the way everything works isn’t all going to be revealed to you.” Unless, of course, we take the obvious answer of it’s magic.
Moment 2: Borgin and Burkes
This scene really gives me the creeps; well done to the artists here. I mean, I’m not jumping at every sound here, you’re jumping. I’m ready to get out of this shop and back to Diagon Alley.
Moment 3: Lucius Malfoy
The biggest and best thing about this moment is the information on the Malfoy family, though this is slightly different than it was first presented; as I recall, we learned that Draco still lived on the family estate at the end of the piece (could this mean that we will get a full explanation of where characters are when Pottermore reaches the final book?). The information is full of detail, and one of my personal favorite habits Rowling has: inserting her world and her characters into history.
Now that Harry and the Weasleys have all their supplies for school, it’s time to head back to Hogwarts! However, we won’t be going back by train…
