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PoA Chapter 21 : Hermione's Secret
Harry wakes up to the sound of Snape and Fudge talking about what happened (in
Snape's eyes) during the past few hours. Snape, of course, wastes no time in
upholding Sirius' (lack of) innocence and the trio's meddling.

He tries to lay blame on Harry's preferential treatment and the fact that
Dumbledore (and some of the staff) lets him get away with his exploits.
Harry, being groggy, just has enough time to make sense of what has and is about
to happen, and tries to argue his side of events, only to fail. We are even led
to believe that there is nothing left to be done. But Dumbledore has a little trick up his sleeve, not to mention Hermione also."

Questions:

1. At the beginning of Fudge and Snape's conversation, we see Snape trying hard
to get Harry in trouble, with detention and expulsion as his punishment. We all
know he does this constantly, but, why? After knowing the ending of the series,
and knowing that he is Harry's protector, why do you think he tries so hard to
have him punished?

2. Snape was a Death Eater from the beginning and would have probably known
who's who in the clique. Do you think he knows that Sirius is innocent?

3. It wasn't mentioned how the Dementors were called into Hogwarts. We assume
they came on their own. Macnair came to fetch the Dementors. And Fudge (and
other ministry officials) seems to have a degree of hold on them and can even
give them orders. Fudge isn't even afraid of being in the same room as them.
Dementors have shown they have free will but do you think they have brains?

4. Hermione and Harry were in the infirmary but after flipping the time turner,
why did they end up at the entrance hall? Being a time turner, it should only
be able to turn back time and not change your location.

5. On a similar note, do you think the time-turner can go forward in time?

6. Hermione said she was given the time turner so she could get to all her
classes, and that Mcgonagall had to write to different people in order to get
her permission. So do you think that schools or Hogwarts in particular have been
giving out time turners to their outstanding students for ages?

7. Dumbledore is in his usual calm state even though Buckbeak is about to be
executed. Do you think he has knowledge of past and future events? Do you think
that he knew Buckbeak would be saved?

8. We know that past!Harry and Hermione heard the thudding of an axe and
Hagrid's howling after they left his Hut. But could it be that what they heard
was really the events of this chapter: Macnair throwing the ax at the fence and
Hagrid crying with joy because of Buckbeaks apparent escape?

9. Harry and Hermione talk about what could've driven the dementors away. And
Harry confesses that he thinks it might've been his Dad. What were your first
thoughts in reading this chapter so long ago?

10. On a side note, it really amazes me how "important" doors and windows can be
opened by a simple alohamora. Was this deliberate?

luirhys

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