Plotholes and other questions that need answers

[Kitty279]

There are so many things mentioned here or there that make sense at the moment, but when you put them together, you have to wonder.

Yesterday, I ran into a question with a friend. If the house-elves can hear their master calling them, no matter where they are - and that seems to work across the country - then why are they called to be given their instructions? Shouldn't they hear their masters' orders from afar? Or even know what they are supposed to do without being told? I mean, if they can hear them all over the country, that sounds more like they hear them calling in their mind, right?

And another thing left me wondering. When Arthur was bitten by Nagini in the Ministry, they didn't sneak more Order members into the Ministry to save him and bring him to Poppy, but made a fuss so he was found and brought to St. Mungo's. Ok, maybe a school nurse isn't qualified for that sort of injury. But it left me wondering - was Poppy in the Order? And if not, why not? Wouldn't Dumbledore want his own healer, so he could have his Order members healed without anyone asking questions he'd rather not answer? Seeing what she was dealing with at school, she should have been able to deal with most injuries anyway.

[8lottie8]

I have no idea

[Kitty279]

Particularly in time travel stories, when Harry goes down into the Chamber of Secrets, he usually takes a rooster or two with him to kill the basilisk. To ensure it is crowing, the Imperius is used. Can someone explain to me how that is supposed to work? As I see it, using the Imperius Curse means to put someone under it and then give him orders. So, how does that work with a rooster? It's not as if they speak normal English, right? How do you give the rooster orders and force it to crow?

[RandomPasserby]

They'd be better served finding a rooster who happens to be a 'talker'.

I don't mean literally. My secondary school had a farm and a fair amount of chickens including several roosters. One of which would not shut up. The thing crowed practically every five minutes. I mean they all crowed pretty regularly but that one didn't stop, ever and he was vicious. Didn't like people at all.

The teacher who was mostly in charge of the farm got to eat him when he passed on and joked about it.

[Kitty279]

*grin* The teacher might have enjoyed that one Had to be annoying if the rooster couldn't shut up.

Yeah, that makes much more sense. Or maybe give the rooster a light stinging hex to get it to protest, so it starts crowing when you need it, not when it wants to; that might happen a bit late.

[physicssquid]

I've found another plothole, or something like one.

According to the moment about the Triwizard Tournament on Pottermore, the tournament was first held in 1294, and from then on was held every five years, but was discontinued in 1792. The big problem with these dates, is the simple fact that if it really was held every five years starting in 1294, then it could not have been held in 1792. The date of discontinuation would, instead, either be 1789 or 1794, if it really did end in the latter half of that century. Conversely, if the tournament truly was discontinued in 1792, and had been held every five years for the previous five centuries, then the first one would have been held in either 1292, or 1297.

Did anyone else notice that, or was I the only one?

[Kitty279]

Didn't bother to think about it, so I didn't notice. But honestly, Rowling is so bad with numbers that I am beginning to doubt all her numbers. And there I thought *I* was bad at math!