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 Twenty-One - The Tale of the Three Brothers ---------------------------------------------------------------- `The Deathly Hallows?' Take a sip of Gurdyroot tea with Xenophilius and dig out yon Tales of Beedle the Bard Hermione; once you're sitting comfortably you may begin. Once upon a time, not so long ago, there lived three brothers. These brothers were wizards who, on a certain occasion, were travelling together when they reached a stream. Being wizards they conjured a bridge. This upset Death who stopped them half way over the magical bridge due to his being piqued at being denied three further victims from the dangerous river they were traversing. Death offers the brothers each a gift. The first chooses a wand that can not be defeated in a duel. The second a stone to bring back the dead and the third, being more ingenious than his brothers, chooses to take Death's own invisibility cloak. The first brother, who was inclined to be a bit of a braggart, went to the nearest hostelry, boasted of his wand, killed another wizard and was himself killed and lost his unbeatable wand. The second brother went home and continued yearning for his lost love. With the stone he had acquired he conjured her up, although only in a diminished and non-tangible form. Her presence made matters only worse and after a while he killed himself to save further distress. Thus, Death had achieved a measure of vengeance on the first two brothers who had cheated him of themselves and their other brother at an earlier time. Now, the third brother used the cloak to hide himself from Death until an advanced age, at which age he greeted Death warmly, but not before passing on the cloak to his son. Here ends the paraphrased and précised version of the Tale of the Three Brothers. The chapter has some way to go once the tale has been read, not without minor interjections from both Harry and Ron. Xenophilius expands on the tale, saying that the wand is the Elder Wand, the stone is the Resurrection Stone and the cloak is actually Death's Cloak of Invisibility. Together their symbols form the sign of the Deathly Hallows. There follows further discussion of the Hallows and those who seek it, during the course of which Mr. Lovegood makes out he is waiting for Luna to return from collecting Plimpies. Interestingly, once Xenohilius describes the Cloak of Invisibility in detail, the trio simultaneously realise that he could be describing Harry's own cloak. Then, after a brief exchange about the Resurrection Stone the group discusses the Elder Wand. Of the hallows, says Xenophilius, this is the most notorious. He uses the word 'capture' when describing how ownership of the wand can pass and narrates the known history. Hermione throws the Peverell family into the discussion, a name that causes momentary pause to Harry. She does this due to having seen the symbol of the Hallows on the grave of Ignotus Peverell at Godric's Hollow. Before leaving to ostensibly go downstairs to check on the Freshwater Plimpy soup, Xenophilius states that the Peverell brothers are integral to the legend of the Hallows, naming them as Antioch, Cadmus and Ignotus. He retires leaving the trio alone. HRH continue talking of the Hallows and whether they believe there might be any truth in the legend; they are back on the same terms as usual, with enmity between Ron and Hermione now forgotten, as noted by the narrator. They each say which Hallow they would want at the same moment, Ron naming the cloak, Hermione the wand and Harry the stone. The wand, the wand, the wand - many different wands are discussed and a theory propounded that perhaps all the powerful legendary wands are in fact the Elder Wand. Harry briefly wonders if his wand could be it, but puts the idea aside due to his wand being of holly rather than elder wood. At this point Harry explains why the stone would be his choice, he would want to see his dear departed - `Sirius . Mad-Eye . Dumbledore . my parents .' Hermione pooh poohs the idea that the stone could really exist, suggesting that Beedle possibly adjusted the legend of the Philosopher's Stone to fit into his tale. Briefly the cloak is touched upon once more, with Ron stating that Harry's cloak fits the bill of the description by Xenophilius closely, iow Harry's cloak is exceptional. Harry is gazing around while this part of the discussion proceeds and he notices himself looking down from above. This him, he realises, is a painting and upon this realisation he goes upstairs into Luna's room. There, on the walls, are a series of murals showing five `beautifully painted faces', those of himself, Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Neville intertwined with a golden thread reading: `friends . friends . friends .' However, Harry notes that there is a distinct unlived in feel to the room and that there is dust all over it at which point they descend and Xenophilius reappears. Shortly after his reappearance he breaks down and confesses that he is helping to trap Harry because Luna has been taken. The trio are barred from leaving the room and take no action against Xenophilius notwithstanding his betrayal. Two figures on broomsticks now make their appearance at the same moment as Luna's father's stunning spell blasts the room containing the trio and himself to smithereens. Mr. Lovegood is blasted out of the room and away from the trio. The room is a mess, with rubble, paper and other detritus everywhere. The printing press blocks the door. Voices are heard below, the two interlopers being named as Travers and Selwyn, who interrogate and taunt Xenophilius, disbelieving him that Harry is in the house. One casts Hominem Revelio, which soon shows that people are present. Mr. Lovegood, after threats from the Death Eaters, begins to come upstairs, severely hampered by the debris. Exit HRH after first ridding themselves of whatever bits of rubble they are encumbered by, Obliviating Xenophilius and burying the Death Eaters in much of the remains of the Lovegood abode. Hermione Disapparates all of them away, making sure the Death Eaters see her and Harry, but not Ron before doing so. Questions: 1. Do you think Gurdyroot tea is really that bad? 2. While reading the story of the Tale of the Three Brothers by Beedle the Bard did any realisation come to you, as a reader, that the gifts given by Death were potentially items with which we had familiarity? 3. When Xenophilius named the gifts of Death from the story as the Elder Wand, the Resurrection Stone and the Cloak of Invisibility, did the title of the book you were reading make perfect sense? 4. What reaction did you have to the speculation relative to Harry's Cloak being the cloak from the story and did you find yourself agreeing with or dismissing Ron's thoughts about Harry's cloak being extraordinary? 5. Did the Elder Wand ring a bell at this point in the book or alternatively when Harry thought of his wand as the Elder Wand did you wonder if the Elder Wand was actually a wand with which we were familiar? 6. Xenophilius uses the word 'capture' when describing how ownership of the wand could be transferred - would that then mean that the wand does not necessarily have to be defeated in order to transfer its allegiance? 7. Was the Peverell link thrown in by Hermione rather too convenient or not? Explain. 8. Were you relieved to find normal relations amongst the trio restored? 9. Are the trio's choices of which Hallow they would like to have representative of their personalities? 10. Did you, as I did, find the order in which Harry named his dear departed notable? 11. By this stage, the trio having being at the Lovegood house for some time, were you expecting Xenophilius to betray the trio? Did you feel some sympathy with Xenophilius and his reasons for being a Quisling or not given the status of the WW at the time? 12. Was it just the stunning spell that blasted the room apart or was something else also involved? 13. Were you able to make the link between Selwyn and Umbridge at the time or did it not occur until later, or perhaps not until you read this question? 14. What is Deprimo, had it been previously heard of, and was its use necessary? 15. Any further questions arising. Goddlefrood, not including too many questions in respect of the Hallows as he apprehends that later summarisers will have plenty for us. -------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 22, The Deathly Hallows, 9th June