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, Epilogue Synopsis: It is September 1st nineteen years after the battle of Hogwarts, and we are at King's Cross Station. A family is entering the station laden with luggage and owls. We quickly find out that it's Harry and his family: his wife, Ginny, and their children James, Albus and Lily, on their way to meet the Hogwarts Express. James is a second year; Albus is about to start his first year. Lily is still too young to go, and is vociferously unhappy about it. The children are bickering as siblings will; in this case, James is teasing Albus about the house into which he will be sorted. Albus is adamant that he will not be a Slytherin, despite James's disingenuous claim that "[t]here's nothing wrong with that" (DH 734). It appears that some things haven't changed, even after nineteen years. As James dashes off to find his friends and board the train, Albus seeks reassurance from his parents and looks for his own friend through the steam of the engine. Avoiding Uncle Percy, the family finds the people for whom they were looking: Ron, his wife Hermione and their children, Rose and Hugo. Rose is Albus's age and is also coming to Hogwarts for the first time. Ron is still a joker, telling Harry about using magic to help pass his driver's test. Ron, it seems, shares James's feelings about sorting. He tells Hugo that when he goes to Hogwarts, he expects Hugo to be sorted into Gryffindor or "we'll disinherit you.but no pressure" (DH 755). Although Hermione quickly tries to take the sting out of Ron's remark, the new first years are worried. While Hermione talks to the children, Ron draws Harry's attention to a former classmate. Draco is at the station with his wife and their son, Scorpius. Draco is showing his age, and seems disinclined to come face to face with his former classmates. Scorpius is very like his father in looks, just as Albus resembles Harry. It seems the past is very much present on this September day. In the meantime, Ron, not following Hermione's lead, continues to let Rose know that she is to protect the family honor by keeping her distance from young Mr. Malfoy and doing better at school than he does. James makes a sudden return with some gossip. He has spotted Teddy Lupin on the train snogging his cousin Victoire, whom we are to understand is Bill and Fleur's daughter. We learn that Teddy is virtually a member of Harry and Ginny's family, coming for dinner several times a week. Eleven A.M. is approaching, and it's time to get the kids on the train. Ginny instructs Albus to "give Neville our love" (DH 757), the idea of which embarrasses Albus no end, as Neville has a rather different status at school than he does as a visitor to the Potters' home. James takes a last opportunity to tease Albus, warning him about thestrals. Harry soothes his son, Ginny hugs him goodbye, and after some last-minute fatherly advice, Albus finally confesses his real fear to his father: "What if I'm in Slytherin?" (DH 738). Harry takes a moment to make his thoughts on this subject very clear to his younger son. We learn that Albus is also named for a Slytherin, Severus Snape, who "was probably the bravest man [Harry] ever knew" (DH 738). Harry tells Albus that "[i]t doesn't matter to us" into which house Albus is sorted but that "if it matters to you, you'll be able to choose Gryffindor over Slytherin" (DH 738). When Albus hears this, and learns that his own father asked the Sorting Hat for help, he is comforted and boards the train eagerly. As the train prepares to leave, Albus notices that quite a number of people are staring at his father, and he wonders aloud why. Ron is happy to take credit for all the attention, and the children appreciate his humor. As the train leaves, Harry, waving goodbye, feels a twinge of sadness. Ginny notices and offers words of comfort. As Harry lowers his hand, he brushes his scar, which now is now only a scar. Nineteen years later, all is well. Questions: 1. Authors sometimes conclude novels with a chapter telling readers what happened to the characters after the action of the book concludes (see, for instance, Middlemarch and David Copperfield). JKR chose not to do that, instead using post-publication interviews to let us know the stories of the people in canon. In writing the epilogue, then, she must have had something specific she wanted to achieve or communicate. What do you think that was? 2. One of the complaints about the epilogue is that it is heteronormative. Is that a fair critique? 3. James and Albus have very low opinions of Slytherin House, despite their parents' attempt to teach them otherwise. They are firmly attached to Gryffindor. What, then, do you think has changed in the relations among houses and the reputations of the various houses in nineteen years? 4. If there is no difference (at least officially) among houses, why is there still a Sorting Hat? 5. How do the Potter and Weasley children demonstrate JKR's belief that personality traits are hereditary? 6. What is JKR suggesting by naming Draco's son Scorpius? 7. How do you think Harry feels about Teddy Lupin? Does he see himself in Remus and Tonks's son? 8. Do you agree with Harry's opinion of Snape? 9. In SS, the Sorting Hat considers putting Harry in Slytherin because, among his other traits, Harry has "a nice thirst to prove yourself" (SS 121). We know that when Voldemort attempted to curse Harry, he inadvertently created a connection between Harry and himself. Do you think that any of Harry's personality or behavior was influenced by this bit of Voldemort? If so, would Harry have changed after the piece of Voldemort's soul was gone from his own soul? 10. What would Harry see if he looked once more into the Mirror of Erised? Laura ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ And Shorty Elf would like to add a BIG thank-you to all who participated in the DH chapter discussions -- both our wonderful discussion leaders and our enthusiastic respondents! :)