I'm going to go with a yes on that one!

What was to stop her from using the Time Turner at that point to get back to the beginning of the period and get to Charms?

Because it has already happened.

Really.

There do not seem to be any paradoxes in the Potterverse. If something has happened, it will happen.

Harry saw his father across the lake sending a patronis. It turns out to be Harry himself, etc.

In other words, you won't go back and kill your grandfather, because you didn't.

Over at Sugar Quill, they're speculating over what Neville did between finishing his NEWTs at Hogwarts and beginning teaching there, and the idea that I love is that he spends a few years doing field studies, becoming an Indiana Jones of herbology, going to the Amazon and remotest Africa to gather plant species. Maybe even continuing these studies in his free summers, too!

The idea of Neville Jones is giving me fanfic bunnies to play with...

Relistening to Sorcerer's Stone and loving more this time than ever before. Now that I know what becomes of everyone.

Grindelvald being mentioned in the very first few chapters...on a chocolate frog card!

I am, however, having trouble with a certain missed fact. It bugs me that Dumbledore is famous for his piercing blue eyes...and Harry and Co. spend significant time in the Hog's Head in the middle books...but no one ever mentions that Aberforth is Albus' brother.

Or did I miss something along the way?

I love, given Kathy's comment about Neville's potential career as a swashbuckling vegetation hunter, that Neville first realized his wizardness when his uncle Algae dropped him out a window! Dude came a long, long way...

Dumbledore does make a reference in HBP that he "sometimes takes his custom" at the Hog's Head, and in one of the earlier books (I can't remember if it's SS/PS or CoS), he mentions that his brother, Aberforth, was accused of doing funky spells on goats. Combine that with the mention in OotP that the Hog's Head has a certain odor of goat inside, fandom knew back then that Aberforth was the barman at the Hog's Head.

Tricky. Dots I did not connect.

Hm. I may make that my very own version of "Things I Didn't Say."

Due to various factors I've not been able to commute and listen until this morning. Then I forgot to switch discs before taking off and I don't change discs while the car is moving. Thus I have not listened to much since the last post.

Hermione seemed displeased with Ron when he came back, but even in the short time I've listened things have calmed down quite a bit. Thanks to Ron's adventures, Harry has a wand again but it seems a dud. The mystery of how they where found that first time on topham road (or whatever) has been revealed, finally there's a good reason not to call Tom by his new name. I'm sure Dumbledore is still dead despite Ron's new theory. It is rather cool how Dumbledore knew that Ron would need a way back and provided one. Harry is feeling happy, that means something bad is about to happen.

Harry is feeling happy, that means something bad is about to happen.

Bwah.

I'm thinking the whole 'dark magic revolution' that V--- perpetrated would have been a very different deal if everyone just agreed to call him Tommy.

Seriously, a few people would have been cut down...but maybe fewer than actually were.

I can just see Tommy Riddle, all red-eyed and slitty-nosed completely losing steam and flouncing away to his dark lair of nobody-gets-me.

The Deathly Hallows have been revealed at last. Since my last installment, Hermione has suggested visiting Xeno about that symbol that keeps cropping up. Ron is totally on board because of the obvious reason. Off to the Lovegoods.

I gotta agree with the assessment of Xeno as a cowardly hypocrite. He has been printing Quibblers suggesting that people should help Harry and he is scared to help. Thing is, why wouldn't he be afraid to print the stuff in the first place. That is odd and is one clue that there is something wrong here.

I love how the Crumpled Horned Snorkack comes up once again. But of course the big event is the Deathly Hallows. Despite Hermione's skepticism, they have to be real because that's the title of the book. The wand, that has to be what Tom is after and probably means he will be dead at the end (not that that's a big leap). The cloak, Harry has it and that probably is a big clue that he will be alive when all is over. The stone, I don't know.

I've also learned that the Peveral brothers are the three brothers and that Harry has heard the name before. I'm sure that means I've heard the name from the books, but like Harry and Alberto, I can't recall. I liked the bit where they all three differed on which is the object they would choose. I left off at the part where Ron is saying that the wand is only deadly to the owner if you don't keep your mouth shut about it.

One thing I'm sure of is that Luna is not fishing for freshwater blimpies. There is something wrong here.

Harkening back to Sorcerer's Stone, I'm warmed with the recollection that Neville saved the day at the very end of the first book. "Standing up to an enemy is never easy, but standing up to a friend is even harder." Bless him for his unique and never wavering courage.

Also, this relistening if bringing Norbet(a) back. Poor Hagrid and his unfortunate affinity for dangerous animals. It so seldom ever goes well. But why does he call himself "Mommy" when talking to the baby dragon. Isn't he something of a big-daddy?

Just now, Hagrid hunting the unicorn killer and has run into Ronan. The centaurs play such interesting side characters...even to the very end.