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 Note: CMC is the author of this ChapDisc, Mike only posted it ---------------------------------------------------------------- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows CHAPDISC: Chapter 16 - Godric's Hollow When Harry awakens the next morning, it takes him several seconds to remember Ron's desertion the previous evening. He is still unable to fully assimilate it. Hermione, morose and uncommunicative, does not speak to Harry, but turns her face away instead. She seems just as stunned as Harry, just as unable to believe that Ron is really gone. Breakfasting in silence, they both realize that once they leave their current encampment, it will be virtually impossible for Ron to find them again. Hermione dawdles while packing up their things, hoping that Ron will re-appear, and Harry likewise can't help hoping (just "a little") for Ron's return. At the same time, he feels great anger over Ron's unanswerable accusation, "We thought you knew what you were doing!" After an hour's delay, Harry and Hermione Disapparate to a new location. Hermione breaks down sobbing, while Harry finds himself too cold with anger against Ron to comfort her. Over the next few days, Harry and Hermione reach an unspoken agreement not to discuss Ron. Harry, who has resolved to never mention his name again, begins watching the Marauder's Map, expecting to see the appearance of a dot labeled "Ron". No such dot ever appears, though Harry finds himself obsessively staring at the dot labeled "Ginny Weasley". Harry and Hermione's speculations over the possible whereabouts of Gryffindor's Sword grow increasingly sterile. Harry inwardly vents his anger against both Ron and Dumbledore. Harry perforce admits that Ron was right - Dumbledore *should* have given him a specific plan to find the remaining Horcrux, but instead, he gave them virtually nothing. Harry is overwhelmed with feelings of hopelessness and guilt -how could he have asked his two best friends to accompany him on what has turned out to have been an utterly futile effort? Harry is now "constantly vigilant" for signs that Hermione, too, might "do a Weasley." Hermione, to break up the monotony, begins pulling out the portrait of Phineas Nigellus, who consents to be blindfolded as he converses with the Duo. Via Phineas' snide commentary, Harry is able to piece together some of what is going on at Hogwarts. Harry's greatest interest is sparked by news of an understated but continual DA challenge to the authority of Headmaster Snape, led primarily by Ginny, but with Neville & Luna presumably involved. Harry's homesickness for Hogwarts at this point is so intense that he briefly fantasizes about giving up his quest and returning to the comfort of Gryffindor's dormitory - then he remembers that, as Undesirable No. 1, he would be in grave danger the moment he dared to show his face at Hogwarts. Harry and Hermione continue their aimless trajectory across the British Isles as Christmas approaches. Harry finally dares to approach Hermione to make a request, feeling rather as he did in PoA when he asked McGonagall to approve his visit to Hogsmeade. Hermione, absorbed in a re-reading of The Tales of Beadle the Bard, asks Harry's help in interpreting a symbol she found in the book. Harry realizes it's the same sign that Xenophilius Lovegood wore, the sign that Viktor Krum identified as Grindelwald's mark. Hermione, hearing this story for the first time, is astonished - why would the sign of a Dark Lord be represented in a children's book? and why didn't Scrimgeour recognize it? Harry then tells Hermione straight out that he wants to go to Godric's Hollow - to his surprise, Hermione immediately agrees. Godric's Hollow, she explains, being the birthplace of Godric Gryffindor, makes it all the more likely that "it's there." Harry, completely puzzled by what "it" is supposed to be, is amused (for the first time in months, it seems), as Pedant!Hermione gives another lengthy exposition from Hogwarts - A History by Bathilda Bagshot. "It" is of course, the Sword of Gryffindor, and Hermione concludes that Dumbledore expected that Harry would have made the connection between Godric Gryffindor, Godric's Hollow, and the Sword of Gryffindor. When Harry reminds her of Aunt Muriel's statement that Bathilda still lives in Godric's Hollow, Hermione gasps dramatically - what if Dumbledore entrusted the Sword to Bathilda? Harry isn't so sure, and sees some problems with that theory, but anxious as he is to see his parents' gravesite, he suppresses his doubts. Now jointly resolved to visit Godric's Hollow, Hermione outlines the necessary preparations and precautions they should make (practice Disapparating together, Disillusionment Charms, Polyjuice disguises), but Harry isn't really listening to her - he feels excitement as he is about to go home, to the village where, if not for Voldemort, he would have grown to maturity as a normal Wizarding boy, perhaps with younger siblings, invitations to friends to visit his house, and a mother who would have baked his 17th birthday cake. After Hermione retires for the night, Harry pulls out the old photo album that Hagrid gave him at the end of Year One to gaze at his parents' smiling and waving images, his mind no doubt haunted by tantalizing "what-ifs?" The next morning, Harry is ready to set out, but the more wary Hermione wants to take every possible precaution. It is a full week later, after having procured suitable Muggle disguises via Polyjuice, and having practiced Disapparating under the Invisibility Cloak, that Hermione finally OKs going to Godric's Hollow. The Duo appear in Godric's Hollow in the guise of a nondescript middle-aged Muggle couple. One thing Hermione failed to consider - snow! - is falling, meaning that all of her careful plans to stay concealed will go for naught. Harry, throwing caution to the winds, urges Hermione to dispense with the Invisibility Cloak - "we don't look like us and there's no one around," so the Duo begin exploring the village of Harry's birth in plain sight. Harry is hopeful - while, rationally knowing that it's impossible - that he might recognize his parents' home or some other significant landmark. He muses that his parents' home may still be invisible under the Fidelius Charm. The Duo note the village's landmarks - a war memorial, shop, a post office, a pub, and a little church. Observing the villagers' strolling through town and overhearing snatches of music makes Hermione realize that it must be Christmas. Harry is surprised by this, having completely lost track of the date. Hermione points out the cemetery behind the church, and Harry feels both excitement and fear as they approach it. He senses Hermione must be feeling the same way, as she takes his hand and pulls him forward. She then notices the seemingly Muggle war memorial transform itself into a statue of the James, Lily and infant Harry. Never expecting to find such a tribute, Harry stares in wonder at his parents' image as well as his own scarless representation. Moving toward the church, the sounds of the carols irresistibly fills Harry with hopeless yearning for all the Hogwarts Christmases of yore. Entering the cemetery, they begin to search for the Potters' tombstones. After some searching, Hermione comes across the gravesite of Kendra and Ariana Dumbledore, with the inscription "Where your treasure is, there too your heart will be also" (a quote that Harry says he does not understand). Harry muses that Rita and Muriel got at least some of their facts right, and goes on to bitterly wonder why Dumbledore never thought to tell him of their common link to Godric's Hollow. As they continue to search for James and Lily, Hermione finds another gravestone of note- an extremely old and weathered stone for one "Ignotus," - with what seems to be the mark of Grindelwald/Beadle the Bard! Going deeper and deeper into the cemetery, the Duo see many markers of family names familiar from Hogwarts, or other multiple generations of Wizarding families who had seemingly died out or moved away from Godric's Hollow. Finally, Hermione cries out, "Harry, they're here - right here." Harry's grief swells inside him as he approaches his parents' headstone. It seems to shine in the dark, making it easy to read. JAMES POTTER BORN 27 MARCH 1960 DIED OCTOBER 31 1981 LILY POTTER BORN JANUARY 30 1960 DIED OCTOBER 31 1981 "The last enemy that shall be defeated is death." Harry reads the inscription slowly, the last phrase aloud - then he is seized with a near-panic. "Isn't that a Death Eater idea? Why is it there?" Always better read than Harry, Hermione explains that the phrase refers to a life after death. Harry is again bitter as he reflects that his parents are *not* alive, that their mere physical remains beneath the ground cannot recognize him, or have any interest in his presence. Harry weeps unabashedly, lamenting his parents' sacrifice, wishing he could be beneath the earth with them. He regrets that he bought no flowers, but Hermione, seeming to realize his need, conjures of a wreath of Christmas roses, which Harry catches and lays upon their grave. Harry and Hermione, their arms around one another, quietly leave the Godric's Hollow cemetery, walking again past the tombs of Kendra and Ariana Dumbledore. 1. How do Harry and Hermione differ in their reaction to Ron's departure? (or do they differ?) 2. Following off that question, I was struck by the richness of the interplay between Harry and Hermione in this chapter. What is your favorite H/H moment from Chapter 16? 3. By the end of DH, we know that Phineas is working for the Good Guys, and that he is trying to help pinpoint the whereabouts of the Duo so SilverDoe!Snape can drop off the Sword of Gryffindor. How competent does Phineas seem at his assigned task? 4. Why did it take so long for Harry & Hermione to make the connection between Godric's Hollow, the Sword of Gryffindor and Bagshot? 5. Harry fantasizes how, if not for Voldemort, he would have grown up as an ordinary wizard boy in Godric's Hollow. Had that occurred, it's easy to think of all the ways in which Harry would have been different - what (if anything) about Harry would have stayed the same? 6. The only evidence of the Wizarding World that Harry and Hermione see in Godric's Hollow (in this chapter) are the Potter memorial statue, and the tombstones. Where are the signs of life in GH? 7. Why didn't Dumbledore tell Harry about their common roots in Godric's Hollow? 8. What did you first make of the gravesite of "Ignotus" and the mysterious symbol? (BTW, "ignotus" in Latin means obscure or ignorant). 9. This chapter offer two quotations from the New Testament - the first verse upon the Dumbledore family headstone is from Matthew 6:21 (i.e., Jesus' Sermon on the Mount). Here is the passage in its context (from the New American Standard Bible): --- 19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth --- and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 "But --- store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth --- nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; --- 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The quote also appears in Luke 12:33-34, with a somewhat different introduction (from the New American Standard Bible): --- 33 Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves --- money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in --- heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. 34 For --- where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Harry says he does not know what the inscription means. What does it mean? (in the context of DH). 10. The second Scripture verse, upon the Potters' headstone, is from Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians, 15:26 (the King James Version). Here is the passage in its context (from the New American Standard Bible): --- 20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits --- of those who are asleep. 21 For since by a man came death, by a --- man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all --- die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his --- own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are --- Christ's at His coming, 24 then comes the end, when He hands over --- the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule --- and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign until He has --- put all His enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will --- be abolished is death. "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." - Harry's initial reaction is that this is a Death Eater slogan. How does this statement differ from the Death Eater philosophy? 11. Harry supposes that Dumbledore selected the inscription for his mother and sister - who selected the epitaph for the Potters? 12. If you were unaware that these were Biblical passages, did that change your interpretation of these epitaphs? 13. Throughout the cemetery sequence, Harry and Hermione are in the guise of a middle-aged Muggle couple. If you were directing the film version of Deathly Hallows, would you drop the Polyjuice disguises and have Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson perform the scene? Or would you film it with Harry and Hermione portrayed by two completely unfamiliar actors? - CMC (Novissimus destruetur hostis mors) ------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 17, Bathilda's Secret, March 31