Fandom Discussion -- Unanswerable Questions of the Potterverse!

[themostepotente]

Okay folks -- so this is where you go if you have a question that's been bugging the shite out of you.

Your fellow Potteraholics can respond or add a question of their own.

Let's begin by asking;

If you look at Sirius Black's wanted posters in the movie (a good close up if you're a dork like me and own the actual poster), you'll notice Sirius is holding a sign with the numbers (presumably) 390 and a bunch of symbols.

First and foremost, are we to assume that 390 is Sirius' prison number? Does this mean he's the 390th prisoner of Azkaban? Azkaban has been around for how long and with such a small number? If this is the case, I am truly impressed by the wizarding penal system.

Secondly, what the FUCK are those symbols supposed to denote? Is it some sort of weird sign language? Might the aliens have constructed Azkaban after baffling the Muggles with Stonehenge? (That was a joke, btw :P)

Have an unanswerable question? Post it here!

--P

Comments

[rikibeth.livejournal.com]

They're runes. They're standard futhark runes. I got eternaleponine to look them up for me when I hung out with her last week, but cannot remember them now. However, google Norse runes and you should find them.

Apparently his tattoos are alchemical symbols, too.

[scarah2.livejournal.com]

Maybe Azkaban's new. Voldemort says the Dementors are his natural allies. How would he know, if they've always all been at Azkaban? Maybe before they made Azkaban they used to just shove everyone through the veil. I just thought the symbols were supposed to look like nifty runes or something, like his tattoos.

1. What the hell is the difference between a spell, hex, charm, jinx and curse?

2. Why do wizards celebrate Christan feasts after that whole burning and killing them thing? I know, I know the common retorts to this, I just don't buy them. A) They weren't really catching wizards, the Muggles were only really burning and killing each other. If I was a wizard I'd be like 'Hahahaha that's funny, oh wait no it's not.' B) Lots of people who aren't religious have Christmas and Easter! Er... yeah, but throwing my (suspected) people from rooftops would leave a bad enough taste in my mouth that I'd at least change to "winter holiday."

3. I know those Longbottoms are not chewing no Droobles up in there. The ward would be filled with bluebell coloured bubbles that refuse to pop for days. How unsanitary.

That's it for now.

[raendrop.livejournal.com]

Those so-called "Christian" holidays began as major Pagan holidays that the Christian church appropriated. Christmas is the winter solstice. Easter is the spring equinox.

As to why they celebrate the modern versions instead of the original versions... *shrug* I squawked when I read McGonagall asking someone to pass the ketchup.

[wagnerish.livejournal.com]

*jumps up and down*

IknowIknowIknow!!

The symbols are Viking Runes, more famously known as the ones found in Northern Minnesota, further leading to the controversy over whether the Vikings were there around 400 A.D.

The first one shown on the poster is, I believe, either Kenaz (k) (Opening) or Gebo (x) (for partnership). I just need a clearer view to determine what the first one is. The second one is Algiz (z) (for protection).

The meanings are here:

Kenaz: (K: Beacon or torch.) Vision, revelation, knowledge, creativity, inspiration, technical ability. Vital fire of life, harnessed power, fire of transformation and regeneration. Power to create your own reality, the power of light. Open to new strength, energy, and power now. Passion, sexual love. Kenaz Reversed or Merkstave: Disease, breakup, instability, lack of creativity. Nakedness, exposure, loss of illusion and false hope.

Gebo: (G: Gift.) Gifts, both in the sense of sacrifice and of generosity, indicating balance. All matters in relation to exchanges, including contracts, personal relationships and partnerships. Gebo Merkstave (Gebo cannot be reversed, but may lie in opposition): Greed, loneliness, dependence, over-sacrifice. Obligation, toll, privation, bribery.

Algiz: (Z or -R: Elk, protection.) Protection, a shield. The protective urge to shelter oneself or others. Defense, warding off of evil, shield, guardian. Connection with the gods, awakening, higher life. It can be used to channel energies appropriately. Follow your instincts. Keep hold of success or maintain a position won or earned. Algiz Reversed: or Merkstave: Hidden danger, consumption by divine forces, loss of divine link. Taboo, warning, turning away, that which repels.



Algiz seems very appropriate, although I really can't figure out which one the first should be. Also, I'm fairly sure that Sirius has Rune tattoos as well.

I hope that it helps and hasn't confused anyone further!

Rune Stones

[mettauk.livejournal.com]

Hi
It would be appreciated if you could include a link to

http://www.metta.org.uk/runes/

when using images from the web site.
Thank you

Re: Rune Stones

[wagnerish.livejournal.com]

So sorry!

[reposoir.livejournal.com]

I assume it's rather like he's prisoner *looks above* # Kenaz Gebo Algiz 390. So sorta like Prisoner # ABC390, only using Runes.

Or alternatively, the Runes have some sort of magic woven into them so that he doesn't escape. Or something like that. Maybe a combination of book? Because I have a feeling that there's been more than 390 prisoners in Azkaban, even if it hasn't been around for more than 100 years.

Unless Azkaban is only a prison for a small number of wizards, such as the British wizards only. It would depend on population numbers, though, in that case. :)

[gmth.livejournal.com]

I have a few:

How did Voldemort/Wormtail/Crouch, Jr. manage to brew polyjuice potion overnight when it took close to a month for Hermione to do it in CoS?

How did Salazar Slytherin put the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets in a bathroom when the kind of modern plumbing it takes to make a bathroom like that did not exist when Hogwarts was founded?

How did Voldemort get his wand back? Even if Wormtail picked it up that night at Godric's Hollow, where did *he* keep it for the 12 years he lived as a rat?

Why is it that, in book 1, Nearly Headless Nick says he hasn't eaten for close to 400 years, and then in book 2 we find out he's been dead for 500 years? Did he eat for the first 100 years after he died?

Why do I love these books so damn much even though they are riddled with ridiculous plot holes like these? ;-)

[sbbo.livejournal.com]

#1, I'm actually going to say they probably bought it from a shady dealer.

#2 makes no damned sense.

#3 kind of makes sense. I know it's only movie verse, but clothing and personal objects are transfigured along with the body. So, Wormtail wouldn't need to store it in anything more than his suit pocket.

[gmth.livejournal.com]

#2 makes no damned sense.

Which? The question I posed? Or the way it's handled in the books?

[sbbo.livejournal.com]

The way it's handled in the books.

Then again, Rowling has shown she possesses a terrible head for figures.

Oh, is she Ms. Rowling, or Mrs. Rowling. As she is married, but she isn't the missus of her husband's last name?

That isn't an unanswerable question, just one I don't actually know at present.

[gmth.livejournal.com]

Oh, and as far as #3 goes, you're probably right, now I come to think about it. Clothing and glasses, etc. are transfigured in the books with McGonagall, at least, when she transforms.

[madameceleste70.livejournal.com]

1. Blackmarket. What I want to know is how Barty boy managed to drink it every hour for months on end without vomiting?

2. I thought the exact same thing myself. Maybe the wizards invented plumbing and kept it to themselves for all those years.

3. Ummm...criminals are very inventive when it comes to hiding contraband in on their bodies...nevermind, don't go there. My bet would be that Lucius kept it all those years, along with the other goodies under the drawing room floor.


Why didn't they use Veritaserum on Sirius before sending him to Azkaban?

How does Dobby disappear when he visits Harry in the hospital wing. You're not supposed to be able to apperate/disapperate on Hogwarts grounds.

Why don't the Weasleys use a cleaning charm after using the floo? You're wizards and witches, for pete's sake, seven years of school and you walk around Diagon Alley all sooty!

[gmth.livejournal.com]

My bet would be that Lucius kept it all those years, along with the other goodies under the drawing room floor.

Hmmm... no, I don't think so. Because then how would Peter have gotten it back? He'd have had to come out to Lucius as still being alive and told Lucius that Voldemort was trying to return, and my impression as always been that Lucius was taken completely by surprise in the graveyard scene at the end of GoF.

Why didn't they use Veritaserum on Sirius before sending him to Azkaban?

This is a really good question. They don't seem to use Veritaserum at all in the wizarding justice system, which is really odd. I don't recall anywhere in the books where it was used during trials. For example, they could have easily used it in Barty Crouch Jr.'s trial, too, but they obviously didn't.

House Elf Magic

[tytoalba.livejournal.com]

House Elf magic is different than Wizard magic, maybe it doesn't affect Dobby's magic.

[ellensmithee.livejournal.com]

How did Voldemort/Wormtail/Crouch, Jr. manage to brew polyjuice potion overnight when it took close to a month for Hermione to do it in CoS?

I've always assumed that Crouch was brewing it constantly. Or maybe it keeps a while after it's brewed if you make a big enough batch.

[gmth.livejournal.com]

I was talking about the very first batch, though. He had to have been brewing it constantly throughout the school year, but he and Wormtail had some ready before they even went to kidnap Moody. That's the batch I was referring to. And the book specifically says, "Wormtail and I did it. We had prepared the Polyjuice Potion beforehand," (that's Crouch Jr. speaking) which means they made it themselves rather than purchasing it from someone else.

[ellensmithee.livejournal.com]

That sounds like they'd been planning it over the summer then.

[wagnerish.livejournal.com]

Update on the tattoos:

There are a couple tattoos on Sirius's chest that appear to be runes; the larger one isn't, as far as I'm aware.



The larger one below the main one, that looks like an F, is Ansuz.

A revealing message or insight, communication. Signals, inspiration, enthusiasm, speech, true vision, power of words and naming. Blessings, the taking of advice. Good health, harmony, truth, wisdom. Ansuz Reversed or Merkstave: Misunderstanding, delusion, manipulation by others, boredom. Vanity and grandiloquence. (Odin is a mighty, but duplicitous god. He always has his own agenda.)

I find it interesting that the reversal of Ansuz fits Sirius better (though more for OotP), even though it isn't reversed in the photo.

[starrysummer.livejournal.com]

How do the professors have time to teach all those classes?

Are there wizards who don't go to Hogwarts or just a lot of Hogwarts students we've never ever seen?

I'm guessing that only the worst criminals have to go to Azkaban. You never see Dung worrying about it for theft or Arthur Weasley sending anyone there for vandalism. Perhaps there's other punishments for less serious crimes.

[xylodemon.livejournal.com]

Ok, here's my question...

The Restriction Against Underaged Wizardry-- underaged wizards aren't allowed to do magic in front of Muggles, right?

Harry gets owls from the Ministry when Dobby floats the pudding out into the living room, and has to go to trial for protecting Dudley from the Dementors.

However, in book one, when the boys meet Hermione on the train, she says she has been practising all summer.

In front of her Muggle parents.

*boggle*

J

Bless the Beasts and the Children

[tytoalba.livejournal.com]

I don't think the rule applies to children before they begin attending Hogwarts, and maybe children who never get to go to Hogwarts. After all, would they be putting children on trial when they unintentionally use magic like when Harry let loose the snake at the zoo, or when Nevill bounced after his fall? After all, a kid can't be expelled if he's not even in a school to be expelled from.

[kangeiko]

I'm more curious about how Hermione gets away with fixing Harry's glasses all the time. And how come the Weasleys (esp. the twins) all do magic at home? I thought that the Restriction applied to all underage wizards and witches, not just those that are Muggleborn...

Hmmm

[tytoalba.livejournal.com]

Maybe the Azkaban number system isn't consecutive. Maybe it's just 2 random assortments in two parts -- one part numbers, one part runes. Maybe it's something like a cell block number and then his number, or something different. I don't think the numbers are consecutive.

[a_belladonna]

Are there really only three wizarding schools in Europe?
It doesn't make sense, because Hogwarts only accepts students from the British Isles and Durmstrang only accepts Purebloods...does that mean that Beauxbatons takes the rest?
Or are those three just the oldest and biggest?

[neotoma.livejournal.com]

Those three are the only ones mentioned so far, but there is some wording in the books that indicates that there *might* be other schools.

[mizbean.livejournal.com]

Why did Crouch!Moody go through all the trouble of having Harry go through the maze to reach the portkeyed Triwizard Cup and trying to prevent the others contestants from winning said Triwizard Cup when he could have portkeyed anything like his broomstick, toothbrush, etc? I know it made for a dramatic finish, but still.

[neotoma.livejournal.com]

ballyharnon had an interesting discussion about what the runes on Sirius' mug shot might mean (http://www.livejournal.com/users/ballyharnon/73218.html)

Frankly, I'm going with my idea that the runes indicate Sirius' classification as a maximum security prisoner. If you saw the lamp-post standee for the movie, there were more than just the two runes all over it. Quite interesting, and shows that someone on the movie's design team did their research.