This message is a Special Notice for all members of http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups In addition to being published onlist (available in webview), this post is also being delivered offlist (to email in boxes) to those whose "Message Delivery" is set to "Special Notices." If this is problematic or if you have any questions, contact the List Elves at (minus that extra space) HPforGrownups-owner @yahoogroups.com ---------------------------------------------------------- CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Chapter 25, Shell Cottage The Trio are staying at Bill and Fleur's cottage with Ollivander (the wandmaker), Luna, Dean and Griphook (a goblin). It is a lonely and beautiful place overlooking the sea. Harry spent the first few days alone on the cliff-top thinking over his decision not to race Voldemort to the Elder Wand. Torn between Ron's support for seeking the wand ("if that's the Elder Wand, how the hell are we supposed to finish off You-Know-Who?") and Hermione's opposing conviction that the Elder Wand is an evil object he should not touch, Harry wondered whether he had made the right decision. On the third day, Fleur came out of the cottage to tell Harry that Griphook wanted to speak with him. Fleur showed evident distaste that the goblin was using her as a messenger. Griphook had been debating a problem too. Griphook had decided to help Harry, but wanted Godric Gryffindor's sword in exchange. Ron gave an alternative ("the Lestranges have got loads of stuff") but Griphook took offense at the suggestion, stating that he was not a thief. He asserted that the sword was a lost Goblin masterpiece of goblinwork, taken from its owner by Godric Gryffindor. "It belongs with the goblins!" The trio moved downstairs to discuss the sword. Harry found the idea that Godric Gryffindor had stolen the sword unpleasant. Hermione told them that she knew of no such story, but that wizarding history often glosses over wizards' ill treatment of other races. Ron noted that goblins were not "fluffy little bunnies" either, and had killed plenty of wizards. While they tried to think of a way around the problem, Harry watched Luna arranging flowers beside Dobby's grave. Ron proposed double- crossing Griphook by giving the fake sword in the Lestranges' vault to the goblin. Hermione suggested offering Griphook something just as valuable. Harry was sure the goblin would accept nothing but the sword, but they could not give up their one, indispensable weapon against the Horcruxes. Harry decided to tell Griphook he could have the sword after helping them get into the Lestranges' vault, but not to tell him that it might be years. Neither Harry nor Hermione liked the proposal, but they felt they had no choice. Griphook accepted Harry's offer, insisting that they shake to seal their bargain. Then the planning began; the trio began spending hours at a time shut up with Griphook in a small bedroom . Nobody asked questions, although Bill watched them with concern. As the planning continued into April, Harry realised he did not like the bloodthirsty Griphook much. Griphook did not join the others at mealtimes, instead requesting food in his room until Bill (inspired by an angry Fleur) told him to join them at the table. Harry, who felt responsible for Griphook's presence, and also for driving the whole Weasley family into hiding, apologized to Fleur. However, Fleur reminded him that (at least in her eyes) he had saved Fleur's sister's life. Fleur proposed to rearrange the sleeping arrangements (to Griphook's disadvantage), but knowing that keeping Griphook happy was essential to their plans, Harry said not to bother because the trio would soon be leaving. Fleur begged them not to leave cottage, where they were safe. Luna and Dean came in from outside with driftwood while Luna rambled on about the Crumple-Horned Snorkack horn at home. Revealing the tip of the suffering Luna has experienced, Luna said, "but I haven't seen it yet, because the Death Eaters took me from the Hogwarts Express . . . . " At that point a frail Ollivander came downstairs ready for Bill to escort him to Auntie Muriel's. Fleur asked Mr Ollivander to deliver the tiara back to Auntie Muriel. Griphook was very interested in it, recognizing it as goblin-made. "And paid for by wizards," Bill reminded him. Upon Bill's return, he reported that Auntie Muriel was pleased to see the tiara because she had thought Bill and Fleur had stolen it. Fleur responded crossly and marched out of the room, whereupon Luna piped up that her father had made a tiara in an attempt to recreate the lost diadem of Ravenclaw. There was a bang on the front door. Wands emerged, and Griphook slipped under the table. But it was only Lupin, who had arrived to report the arrival of his and Tonks' son, who they had named after Tonks' father. Lupin asked Harry to be godfather. Harry was astonished and delighted. Bill fetched some wine and they all toasted little Teddy, as Lupin reported how Teddy - clearly a metamorphmagus - had already changed his hair color from black to ginger. Lupin left another bottle later. Griphook, however, had slunk out to his bedroom, noticed only by Harry and Bill. While clearing the table, Bill stopped Harry in the kitchen for a private word. "You're planning something with Griphook," he observed. Stating "I know goblins," Bill asked point- blank, "what do you want from Griphook, and what have you promised him in return?" When Harry said he could not answer, Bill warned him to be careful if the bargain involved treasure. Bill explained that "[t]o a goblin, the rightful and true master of any object is the maker, not the purchaser" and that they considered the concept of passing on ownership among wizards after the purchaser had died to be theft. Bill closed with the warning that "[i]t would be less dangerous to break into Gringotts than to renege on a promise to a goblin," prompting Harry to reflect that he was about to become as reckless a godfather to Teddy as Sirius had been to him. ---------------------------------------------------------- Questions: 1) Any suggestions why JKR had these characters (Trio, Bill, Fleur, Mr Ollivander, Griphook, Luna, Dean) in a small house for weeks, maybe months? 2) There is a relaxed mood in this chapter, with no spells used in anger. Some (adrenaline junkie) readers may have been tempted to skip this chapter to get on with the fighting, and filling of body bags. This chapter filled a few holes in what goes on with families in other parts of the Wizarding World. What tidbit did you enjoy, hidden in this chapter? 3) Fleur seemed to react worse to Griphook than the others. Were Wizard - Goblin relations worse in France? 4) There is a saying, "History was written by the winners". The Daily Prophet has been doing it in most of the books. So are wizards the "lesser evil" compared to the "not fluffy bunnies", or just as bad, or worse? 5) We see many heroes in the Harry Potter books have bad qualities. Is the possibility of Godric Gryffindor's stealing the sword ("For the greater good") the thing Harry has to come to terms with about his house hero? 6) To seal the bargain, Griphook shook hands with Harry Potter. That sounded ominously like "Just sign here for Dumbledore's Army" to me. How did you feel about it? 7) Luna deserves her own question. Flowers on Dobby's grave: loyalty to her father; the only one who Mr Ollivander gave a personal compliment to as he left; and never complained despite her account of missing Christmas in a cellar jail. Why do you think she is such an important presence in Harry Potter's life? 8) We see Fleur in her own environment here. She quickly changes from (ze goblin) fury; to (you are safe 'ere) over-protectiveness; to getting Mr Ollivander to deliver the tiara (when Bill was going there too); to (glancing at the window) worry about Bill outside; to anger at Muriel; to baby hugger; to humble wife ("Wait" said Bill) within one meal time. What do you think of her? 9) Did you pick up that subtle reminder of the "Lost Diadem of Ravenclaw" in your first reading? Were there enough clues to identify this as the last Horcrux? 10) Every culture has differences with Births, Marriages and Deaths (Hatch, Match and Dispatch). Lupin offers us our only insight into Wizard Births. Especially a new born Metamorphmagus. Anything special you see here? 11) Goblin ownership laws: "the true owner of an object is the maker, not the purchaser". This sounds like our copyright and patent laws. I can't buy a CD and copy a song onto my I-Pod. Are arguments against the goblin law grounds for authors to re-think copyright laws? 12) Is Harry getting reckless, like his thoughts on Sirius? Any other thoughts about Harry being a godfather? 13) Any other question you would like to bring up? ~ Aussie (with an assist from Speedy Elf's magic red pencil) ---------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: For more information on HPfGU's chapter discussions, please see "HPfGU DH Chapter Discussions" at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/database Next Chapter Discussion, Chapter 26, Gringotts, August 11