AFAIK, the way "gotten" is used in the sentences above is correct American English. And the way the past tenses are used tells you when the action occurred, just as it's supposed to.
but shouldn't the second sentence be simple past like the first????
The second part of the second sentence is still referring to what happened the first time the mail arrived and surprised Harry, so it wouldn't make sense for it to be simple past. It doesn't switch back to the present moment until the next sentence (which I didn't include).
Dumbledore hadn't got to his feet BEFORE that moment; he got to his feet AT THAT MOMENT
Actually I read that as Harry looked up and noticed that Dumbledore was standing, so he must have just gotten to his feet. He was already standing when Harry looked; hence it was in the past.
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Date: 2007-03-28 05:20 am (UTC)but shouldn't the second sentence be simple past like the first????
The second part of the second sentence is still referring to what happened the first time the mail arrived and surprised Harry, so it wouldn't make sense for it to be simple past. It doesn't switch back to the present moment until the next sentence (which I didn't include).
Dumbledore hadn't got to his feet BEFORE that moment; he got to his feet AT THAT MOMENT
Actually I read that as Harry looked up and noticed that Dumbledore was standing, so he must have just gotten to his feet. He was already standing when Harry looked; hence it was in the past.