Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality

[Cain]

That was pretty good.

And look, another appearance by Mr Hat-and-Cloak!  And Snape is not in a very good position right now, oh no...

[Cainad (dec.)]

Shit, I should pick this up again. I got burned out a while back and don't even remember where I left off.

[trix]

Just wanted to mention a huge THANKS to you guys for mentioning this story.  I just read the whole thing and I find it incredible and hilarious!

But, Hat and Cloak, a glowy woman in a dress?  The hell?

[Cain]

It seems "Mr Hat and Cloak" takes on whatever form will most help convince the person they are talking to.

For Blaise Zabini, who desperately wants to prove himself a conspirator equal to Harry and Draco, it takes the form of a shadowy conspirator.  For Hermione, who wants to be a heroine, it takes the form of a kindly spirit/ghost/thing.

[trix]

This ability to change form kind of sounds like Nymphadora Tonks.

[Jenne]

My son is THOROUGHLY hooked on this fanfic series.  He thanked me, again, the other day for turning him onto this.  So, thank YOU, Cain.

[Kai]

I just wanted to mention that the Wastelands/Heartlands of Time series continues to be excellent.

[LMNO]

Shit, I should pick this up again. I got burned out a while back and don't even remember where I left off.

I just caught up, and I'm glad Elizer stopped trying to quell LessWrong infighting through fanfic analogies.  I feel like the story's back on track now.

He's set up an interesting dilemma -- Harry is incredibly concerned about his responsibility of people around him getting hurt, but he's also determined to fight the big fight, regardless of the consequences.  Dumbledor's tribute to the fallen puts the dilemma in a clear light.

[Jasper]

I'm so SO happy about the newest three or so chapters.  I love the summoning scene. 

[Cain]

Hey, since this is also our de facto thread for discussing Less Wrong topics also...

Remember when Yudowsky brought up the Amanda Knox discussion on LW?  Can anyone remember if anyone mentioned on there about Knox's attempts to implicate Patrick Lumumba in the murder?  I wasn't even aware of this, until I saw some references of it today, and was wondering if it came up in the discussion (I know it was a large one, and I didn't read all of it). 

[LMNO]

Damn, I haven't read any of the LW forums in a long time.  I need to do some catching up there, as well.

[Cain]

There's been a few good things, but it is mostly meetups and rationality quotes at the moment.

I might attend the London meetups, if I can get them to sync with my weekends off.

[Kai]

Reviving this thread for new chapter: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5782108/78/Harry_Potter_and_the_Methods_of_Rationality

[Lord Cataplanga]

Was that a side effect of Hermione's brainwashing? Or was that Mr Hat and Cloak's intention from the beginning, and if so, what is he trying to accomplish (to force Lucius to do something stupid? (Draco was his one weak point, after all))? And where is Draco, anyway?

Are those the "plot bunnies" the author was complaining about?


EDIT after chapter 79:
That was quite an eventful chapter. Close parens on Santa Claus, and Lily's Potions textbook, possibly even James' rock.
Also, Mr Hat and Cloak's identity has been narrowed down, because he could cast Obliviation without triggering any alarms.

[Cain]

This amused:

The Defense Professor was sitting calmly with his hands still folded in his lap. "If you consult Headmaster Dumbledore," said the Defense Professor, "you will find that he is well aware of this matter, and that I agreed to teach his Defense class on the explicit condition that no inquiry be made into my -"

In a lightning motion, the interrogator whipped out his wand and spat "Polyfluis Reverso!" at the same time that the Defense Professor sneezed, which somehow caused the mirror-silvered ray to disrupt in a shower of white sparks.

"Pardon me," the Defense Professor said politely.

The smile that the Auror gave had absolutely no mirth in it. "So where's the real Quirinus Quirrell, eh? Under an Imperius in the bottom of a trunk somewhere, while you take a hair now and then for your illegal Polyjuice?"

"You are making highly questionable assumptions," the Defense Professor said with an edged voice. "What makes you think I did not steal his body outright using incredibly Dark magic?"

This was followed by a certain pause.

"I suggest," the Auror said, "that you take this seriously, Mr. Whoever-You-Are."

"I'm sorry," said the Defense Professor, leaning back in his chair, "but I see little reason to humble myself on this particular occasion. What are you going to do, kill me?"

"I don't appreciate your humor," the Auror said softly.