Another List of Minor Rants
This isn't actually all that long, so I've not bothered to place it under a cut. Just the most recent compilation of annoyances.
Why is it that everytime Harry gets extra time (or away from his keepers) he always immediately decides on a vigorous exercise scheme? Every bloody day involves lifting weights and whatnot (which is where the Room of Requirement or 'Time Flux' comes in handy). I can understand a person, even him, wanting to keep fit rather than sliding into softness, but these stories always seem to have him working toward Mr Universe practically, and it's nuts. Oh, sure, they all use the same excuse. Harry needs to be extra fit and chock full of stamina to cast nearly endlessly or be able to play at Lara Croft on whim. But Mr Universe?
I love personal web sites, I do. But what I don't love is when I go somewhere to read a story, only to find that the author has a Shin'a'in or Northern Barbarian love of colour and pattern. It's blinding, really, and instantly obvious that someone... doesn't know to use a solid background on top of the image for ease of reading. Or they do, but decide instead to use bold style and a larger font to compensate. Along the same lines is when every blasted page has a unique scheme. I also hate when the material isn't enclosed in a container of some kind, to prevent it from stretching across the entire page. Silly, I know, but I like having my mouse pointer off to the side, where it can't interfere with the text, but not on the scroll bar. I have a mouse wheel for a reason, after all. Thank heavens for stuff like Web Developer and Greasemonkey.
Harry has his eyesight fixed. Wait... wait for it. Yes! He immediately complains that it didn't work and everything is still blurry... because... he's still wearing his glasses. Could we please not be subjected to this inanity anymore?
Okay, people. The word is not "murders," it's "murderers." (Or, as the case may be, murderer.) One does not say things like, "But you should hate me, I'm a murder!" Really now, unless you're a crow and part of a... Murder of Crows... or maybe a murder victim....
Shockingly, I'm getting tired of seeing people walking around with functional bling. Need something to 'deflect' or 'absorb' lower level hexes and whatnot? No problem, sparky! We've got a large and varied selection of jewelry just for those needs, and best of all, none of it is banned for use while at Hogwarts, where you should be leaning to handle them on your bloody own!!!
Authors who don't explain how the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets works! (I mean, when we see Harry using it.) After all, it's not like Tom Bloody Riddle had freakin' Fawkes to haul his cookies back up the passageway, now did he.
Imply and infer are not interchangeable. Really, they aren't.
If I never see "We're not worthy!!!" again, it won't be too soon. (Hey, sure, I like the movie, but there are too many cooks flogging a dead horse in the kitchen on this one.)
This is so petty, I'm almost ashamed to include it, but I may have to commit violence the next time I see a story which proclaims that Harry's Firebolt, despite being X years old, is still the fastest broom on the market. I had almost convinced myself that the Firebolt was such a modern marvel of spellwork that all the workers from other broom companies immediately threw themselves off a bridge in shame given the number of times I've seen this, but then the cat meowed and sanity flooded back in for a short stay.
England != United Kingdom. That would be rather difficult since the full 'name' (according to my cat) is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Please, it is not a crime in most countries to consult an encyclopedia if one feels any doubt. Think of how Scotland and Wales feel! Waaaaah!
Transfiguration classes which always feature McGonagall testing the students to see if they can become animagi (and nearly always in a way that shows everyone present what creature). This, obviously, must be a change from the past, else the Marauders would have had to do some fast talking and fancy maneuvering to get out of being discovered. Of course, when Harry is involved, something strange frequently happens, especially if he's already taught himself.