Chapter 27 Padfoot Returns

[monika at darwin.inka.de]

No: HPFGUIDX 10269

--- In HPforGrownups at egroups.com, "Carole Estes" <lrcjestes at e...> wrote:

> 1. What do you think the quote above says about the wizarding
culture.

It tells us that the wizarding world is structured like the medieval
societies in Europe. Of course there is a minister for magic which
implies some kind of democracy, but Fudge seems to have royal powers
and we haven't heard of a house of parliament so far.

 I
> was uncomfortable when Sirius so casually referred to inferiors and
equals.
> I know he was speaking in reference to house elves and wizards, but what
> might the pecking order of the wizarding world be.  Are house elves
on the
> same rung as hippogriffs in the world of magical creatures.

House elves aren't the same rung as hippogriffs, they are serfs. They
are owned by their masters and they aren't paid. That was a common
condition of peasants during the Middle Ages in Europe, too.

 Are the
> inferiors simply non-humans or are there inferior humans as the Malfoys
> believe.  And does Sirius believe there are inferior humans?

I don't think Sirius believes there are inferior humans. He doesn't
support the racism that Voldemort and the Death Eaters put forward.
When he decided to fight Voldemort, he decided to fight this kind
of racism, too. I don't know how he feels about house elves, but
Hermione might not have a hard time convincing him that they need
to be freed.

> 3. What about Hermione.  Is she showing more maturity than typical
of her
> age?

Yes, I think so. She is way more mature than Ron at that point.

> 4. Did anyone pick up any clues that were useful to figuring out the
ending
> in his chapter?

No, I was utterly surprised by the ending.

> 5. Snuffles!  How cute is that?

I was a bit shocked that he called himself Snuffles... At least this
isn't a name I would have chosen for him... *g*

Monika