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 --------------------------------------------------- Zara, thank you so so much for your help. You are amazing. :) Chapter Discussion: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 35, KING CROSS Harry wakes up in a strange place. At first he does not understand what is happening to him, then slowly he realizes that he must exist and that he must be more than a thought because he is definitely lying down on some sort of surface. His senses are slowly awakening, he is not sure whether he is in that place by himself or not. Harry also realizes that he is naked and it does not bother him at all. He realizes that he has eyes because he can see. Harry also realizes that he does not need glasses. Then Harry hears pitiful noises. Harry feels as if he encountered something shameful and for the first time wishes that he were clothed. As soon as wish forms in his head, robes appear. Harry's surroundings seem to invent themselves right in front of his eyes: a glass roof in the sunlight, and a wall. Harry wonders if he is in some sort of strange room of requirement. Then Harry sees something that looks like a strange baby with flayed skin under a table, which is the source of the noises. Harry is afraid of the creature; he knows that he ought to comfort him, but it repulses him. Dumbledore appears, smiling, his hand fully healed. His first words to Harry are that he cannot help the creature. Then Dumbledore cheerfully greets Harry, calls him a wonderful boy, a brave man and leads him to two seats that Harry had not previously noticed. Harry asks whether Dumbledore is dead and gets affirmative answer. He gets a negative answer to the question of whether he is dead. With Dumbledore's help, Harry realizes that letting Voldemort kill him made all the difference in the matter of Harry's survival. Harry and Dumbledore have a long conversation where all the mysteries of the series are touched on in one way or another, in ways readers may find satisfying to various degrees. We learn that Albus guessed that Harry would live and is delighted that he was right. We learn that Harry was a Horcrux that Lord Voldemort never meant to make, and that when Harry let Voldemort kill him, that piece of Voldemort's soul died, and now Harry's soul is clean and completely his own. Albus reveals his entire tragic family history. We learn that after three muggle boys attacked her, Ariana became very ill and was having uncontrollable outbursts of magic when she was upset. We hear that Dumbledore's father was put in Azkaban for going after those muggle boys and that Kendra, Dumbledore's mother, moved the family to another town to care for Ariana away from prying eyes. A few years later, Kendra died accidentally, as a result of an outburst of Ariana's. This forced Dumbledore to come back from his studies to care for his younger brother and sister. Per his own admission Dumbledore resented that he must take time away from his studies and care for his siblings and that his brilliance may suffer. When Grindelwald became one of his neighbors Dumbledore, infatuated with his brilliance, plotted with him to being about Wizard domination over Muggles, for "the Greater Good". Albus and Grindelwald planned a trip together to seek the Hallows, until Aberforth confronted them with questions about how Albus is planning to manage the care of his ill sister. This confrontation became a duel between the three of them, and Ariana was caught in the crossfire, so to speak, and ended up dead. Grindelwald fled and Albus was left to bury his sister and carry his guilt, shame, and grief forever. Apparently he waited several years to confront Grindelwald and defeat him. The Hallows and Elder Wand are discussed during this conversation as well. Albus apologizes for sending Harry on a wild goose chase after Hallows, as he had feared Harry might, like him, succumb to their allure. Albus praises Harry as a person who is more worthy than him and worthy to unite the Hallows. Albus also attempts to explain his plans regarding the Elder Wand. He does not succeed for this reader. Harry must now decide whether he should board the train and go on or go back and make sure Voldemort is defeated. He decides to go back. The end 1. How many nods to Greek philosophers you can find in this chapter? 2. Is the action in this chapter happens in Harry's head or some other place? Explain why or why not. 3. Where do you think Dumbledore spends his days now? 4. The theme of the hero given a choice whether to rest or to go back and possibly be hurt more or prevail over the enemy is fairly common in the fantasy genre. When Harry makes his decision to go back did you feel at any time that he is going back to die for real now? Explain why or why not. 5. "Of house elves and children's tales, of love, loyalty and innocence, Voldemort knows and understands nothing. Nothing. That they all have a power beyond his own, a power beyond the reach of any magic, is a truth he had never grasped". I think that this quote pretty much sums up one of the major themes in the series. Do you agree or disagree? Explain why or why not. 6. List discussed the injured baby under the table extensively in the past, but if you want to please discuss some more here. 7. Can somebody explain to me one more time what was Dumbledore's rationale in sending Harry on Hallows Quest? 8. "If you planned your death with Snape, you meant him to end up with the Elder Wand, didn't you? "I admit that was my intention," said Dumbledore, "but it did not work as I intended, did it? "No," said Harry, That bit didn't work out" What do you think Harry meant by his question? What do you think Albus' actual plan was? 9. Why do you think chapter was named "King's cross"? 10. Please add your own question here. NOTE: For more information on HPfGU's chapter discussions, please see "HPfGU DH Chapter Discussions" at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/database Next up will be Chapter 36 (The flaw in the plan), from David, on or around December 22, 2008.