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There is a white peacock on the hedge and its noise alerts the men in the darkness. Yaxley comments that "He always did himself well, Lucius. *Peacocks*..." Gravel crunches as a fountain plays beyond the hedge. We know this is an upper-class property. The house at the end of the drive looms out of the darkness and the doors open to the two men. They enter a dimly lit and sumptuously furnished hall, then Snape opens the door to a drawing room where the usual furniture has been pushed aside to make room for a table and chairs. Something is rotating slowly above the table, the body of a person. Only one occupant of the table looks at it occasionally, Draco Malfoy, who is described as "a pale young man sitting almost directly below it." Voldemort sits at the head of the table, in front of the fireplace. He tells Snape to sit at his right hand and sends Yaxley down the table. Everyone watches Snape as he goes to the head of the table. Voldemort encourages Snape to speak. Everyone at the table listens as Snape reports that the Order of the Phoenix will move Harry Potter from his home "on Saturday next, at nightfall." Voldemort looks at Snape so intently that others look away, but Snape does not look away. Voldemort's mouth approximates a smile and he confirms the identity of the informant, who is a source he and Snape have discussed earlier. Yaxley disagrees with Snape's report. "Dawlish, the Auror, let slip that Potter will not be moved before the thirtieth, the night before the boy turns seventeen." Snape disagrees, saying that the Order does not trust the Ministry, especially since it seems as if the Ministry is being infiltrated. An unidentified Death Eater confirms that this is happening by saying, "The Order's got one thing right, then, eh?" Voldemort contemplates the revolving body. Yaxley tries to continue, but Voldemort stops him and asks Snape where the boy will be hidden. He will be taken to the home of an Order member. Every protection the Order and the Ministry can give has been put on this place. If the Ministry falls before the boy is moved, they have a chance of discovering the various charms so they can be undone enough to go after him. Yaxley reports that the Imperius Curse has been cast on Pius Thicknesse, head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. He has access to Minister Scrimgeour, and to the heads of the various departments. The other heads can be subjugated easily through this, and Scrimgeour will be brought down. However, it may not happen by Saturday. Yaxley informs Voldemort that the Death Eaters have several people in the Department of Magical Transport, which oversees floo travel and Apparition. Snape says that the Order will not use either method of travel that is controlled or regulated by the Ministry. Voldemort says this will be better, because they will have to move in the open. Harry will be easier to take this way. Voldemort goes on to say that he will take the boy in person. There have been too many mistakes, and Voldemort accepts some of the blame, saying that Potter's living has more to do with his errors than Harry's triumphs. Voldemort understands now that he has to be the one to kill Harry. A wail is heard. Voldemort dispatches Wormtail to keep the prisoner quiet. Wormtail is described as a small man who sat low in his chair that the chair appeared unoccupied. Wormtail leaves the room. Voldemort says he needs to borrow a wand from one of his followers. Everyone is shocked: "he might have announced that he wanted to borrow one of their arms." No one volunteers. Voldemort says there is no need for Lucius to have a wand anymore. Lucius does not immediately hand over his wand. He is described as being "yellowish and waxy in the firelight," with eyes that are "sunken and shadowed." His voice is hoarse. Lucius looks at his wife, who does not acknowledge him with a look, but closes her hand around his wrist under the table. Lucius hands over his wand. It is elm with dragon heartstring core. Voldemort draws his wand to compare to Lucius', and Lucius moves as if he thinks Voldemort will exchange wands with him. Voldemort makes fun of him for thinking this, and some people snigger. Voldemort says that he has given Lucius liberty, which should be enough, but Lucius' family have been "less than happy of late." He asks what about his presence disturbs them. Lucius says nothing, Voldemort calls that a lie. It seems that Voldemort continues to hiss when he has finished speaking, but it is Nagini under the table. She climbs the chair and drapes herself on Voldemort. She is very large: her neck is as thick as a man's thigh. She seems to climb endlessly. Her eyes are unblinking. Voldemort strokes her and asks why the Malfoys look "unhappy with their lot." Haven't they wanted Voldemort's return? Lucius says of course this is what they wanted - want. Narcissa nods as she avoids looking at Voldemort and the snake. Draco glances at Voldemort, then away, "afraid to make eye contact." It is left to Narcissa's sister, Bellatrix, to say it is an honor to have Voldemort in their home. She leans toward Voldemort, unlike her sister. Voldemort mentions the marriage of Black relation Nymphadora Tonks to the werewolf, Remus Lupin, describing it as "the happy event." Other Death Eaters jeer. Bellatrix and the Malfoys are humiliated, even though Bellatrix has said sincerely that it was an honor and the greatest pleasure to host Voldemort. Bellatrix disowns Tonks, saying she and Narcissa have not seen their sister since she married the Mudblood, and that Tonks's marriage has nothing to do with either of them. Voldemort asks Draco if he will babysit the cubs. Draco looks at his father, who is staring at his own hands in his lap, then at his mother, who gives him an imperceptible shake of her head before she resumes staring ahead of her. Voldemort says "enough" and the laughter dies. Voldemort says that family trees become diseased over time, and they must be pruned to keep them healthy. Bellatrix takes his message to heart. Voldemort likens the pruning of the family tree to the larger pruning of the world. Voldemort releases the spell on the revolving body. The person struggles. Voldemort asks Snape if he recognizes the "guest." All of the Death Eaters now look at the person. It is a woman, who sees Snape as she faces the fireplace. Terrified, she calls for him to help her. Voldemort asks Draco if he knows the woman. Draco shakes his head. He is now unable to look at the woman. Voldemort introduces her as Charity Burbage, who "taught the children of witches and wizards all about Muggles." A Death Eater spits on the floor. Charity Burbage revolves and sees Snape again. She pleads with him. Voldemort orders her to be silent, and gags her with a spell. Burbage has also written in defense of Mudbloods in the Daily Prophet. "Wizards, she says, must accept these thieves of their knowledge and magic." She is for the dwindling of the Pureblood families. Voldemort is angry and contemptuous. Burbage is crying as she faces Snape again. Snape looks at her impassively. As she revolves away, Voldemort kills her with the Avada Kedavra. Burbage falls to the table. Several Death Eaters jump back. Draco falls to the floor. Voldemort turns the snake loose and invites her to dine on the corpse. Questions: 1. Snape and Yaxley "raised their left arms in a kind of salute." Is this a reference to World War II and the likening of the Death Eaters to the Nazis, in Deathly Hallows? 2. Saluting the gate with their left arms makes them able to pass through the wrought iron gate. Is this a tacit confirmation that there was indeed a blocking spell on the tower in HBP which only allowed Death Eaters to enter? 3. The peacock at Malfoy Manor is mentioned at least twice in the book. What is its significance? 4. On the first reading of Deathly Hallows, who did you think might be the person hanging unconscious above the table? 5. Only one person already in the room looks up at the unconscious revolving body above the table: Draco Malfoy. Once the body is resuscitated, he no longer looks at her. Why? 6. Voldemort gives Snape the seat of honor at his right hand. Is this because Snape is his "right-hand man"? Or is Voldemort "keeping his friends close, and his enemies closer"? 7. Yaxley's information is different from Snape's. Is anyone in the Ministry who is not a member of the Order of the Phoenix aware that the Order will move Harry earlier than expected? 8. Several things that happen later in the book are alluded to in this chapter. When discussing the Imperiusing of Pius Thicknesse, Yaxley suggests that Thicknesse can subjugate the other heads of departments at the Ministry to bring down Minister Rufus Scrimgeour. Was Scrimgeour killed by the Imperiused heads of the various departments under Thicknesse's direction? 9. Who is Snape's informant? Who does Voldemort think it is? Is it the same person? 10. Lucius and his family are clearly not happy with Voldemort's presence. Is this because Lucius is still disgraced from his botched mission at the Ministry and his use of the diary Horcrux? Does their apparent discomfort at the situation foreshadow their lack of involvement in the Battle of Hogwarts? 11. Wormtail is described as sitting so low that his chair looks unoccupied. Is this further sign of his physical deterioration as seen in HBP? Is this because he would rather not be there? Is it just that he is a small man? Or is it symbolic in some way? 12. The Malfoys do not make much eye contact with Voldemort. When Voldemort looks at Snape, other Death Eaters look away. Are all of the Death Eaters at the manor happy with Voldemort's return? 13. Snape looks comfortably into Voldemort's eyes when the other Death Eaters turn away. We see an example of Voldemort's Legillimency later in the book. How strong is Snape's Occlumency? 14. Why does Voldemort praise Bellatrix, then humiliate her? 15. Where were the Lestrange brothers? 16. When Harry reviews Snape's memories later in the book, Snape tells Dumbledore he has only watched people die whom he could not save. Yet he looks dispassionately at Charity Burbage as she pleads and cries. Was Snape lying to Dumbledore? Was this the first time he could not save someone? Was Charity Burbage someone Snape could not save? 17. Voldemort refers to "Mudbloods" as "thieves" of the Wizarding World's "knowledge and magic." This charge is repeated later in the book. Is it possible for a witch or wizard to have her or his magic stolen? Is it possible to steal knowledge without leaving that knowledge for others as well? 18. When Charity Burbage's body falls to the table, several Death Eaters jump back in their chairs. Draco falls off his chair to the floor. Is this symbolic of some Death Eaters not being fully behind Voldemort's agenda? Or was it simply surprise? 19. Why are the Purebloods dwindling? 20. Voldemort has no issues with "pruning" the family tree of undesirables, even though they may be pure-blood or half-bloods. Yet, he is displeased with Burbage's article and her assertion that the dwindling of Pureblood families is a good thing. Voldemort says, of Charity Burbage, "She would have us all mate with Muggles... or, no doubt, werewolves..." He includes himself with the Purebloods here. Does he think his Muggle father's family doesn't count? Or is he actively enforcing the idea that he, too, is a Pureblood? 21. Why does Voldemort think that Lucius does not need his wand anymore? 22. Do you think Voldemort is planning on dispensing with the Malfoys eventually? 23. Voldemort invites Nagini to dine on the corpse of Charity Burbage. What do you imagine the reactions of the others around the table might be? This idea has been presented in the books before. When do you think Nagini has disposed of the evidence before? Is this part of her value to Voldemort, or is Voldemort giving his pet a treat? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: For more information on HPfGU's chapter discussions, please see "HPfGU DH Chapter Discussions" at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/database