Chapter 8 POA Summary

[Sara Metz]

No: HPFGUIDX 19125

Chapter Eight - Flight of the Fat Lady
	Defense Against the Dark Arts has become the favorite class of the
majority of the Hogwarts students, bar Draco and his Slytherin friends.
But not all of Harry's classes are as exciting or interesting. Snape
continually berates the Gryffindors, especially Neville; Professor
Trelawney acts as though Harry is on his deathbed. Care of Magical
Creatures becomes intensly boring as the only animal Hagrid allows them
to look after are flobberworms, which do absolutely nothing.
	Harry's life perks up as Quidditch season begins and the Gryffindor team
starts training. Oliver Wood, the team captain, is desperate for them to
win the Quidditch Cup as this is his final year at Hogwarts. The team
trains with gusto, in all kinds of weather. Meanwhile, the first
Hogsmeade weekend is announced. Harry resolves to ask McGonagall about
being allowed to go; Crookshanks and Scabbers have a confrontation which
leads to a fight between Ron and Hermione.
	The next day, tensions are still running high between Ron and Hermione,
but their fight is ignored when Lavender Brown reveals that her pet
rabbit has died, thus fulfilling one of Trelawney's prophecies. Hermione
points out the logical fallacies in this assumption, leaving Lavender,
Parvati, and Ron upset: "She doesn't think other people's pets matter
very much." Harry asks McGonagall about Hogsmeade, but is told that no
form equals no visit. Everyone tries to console Harry, but all it does is
make him feel worse.
	Once everyone has gone to Hogsmeade, Harry wanders around, shunning
everybody. He sees Lupin and takes a peek at their new creature along
with a cup of tea. He asks Lupin why he was not allowed to fight the
boggart; Lupin reveals it was because he assumed it would take the shape
of Voldemort, which would cause a panic. Harry reveals that he is most
afraid of dementors, but is interrupted by Snape bearing a smoking
goblet. Lupin says it is to make him feel better, but Harry is suspicious
and tries to warn Lupin of Snape's aspirations to the position of DADA
teacher.
	Ron and Hermione return from Hogsmeade bearing candy. Harry talks about
his visit with Lupin and Snape's potion, but they have no time to discuss
it as it is time for the Halloween feast. The part is a success,
including formation gliding by the Hogwarts ghosts. But when they return
to the Gryffindor Common Room, there is a traffic jam outside the
portrait. Percy investigates the problem and calls for Dumbledore. When
he arrives, the trio sees what the problem is: the portrait of the Fat
Lady has been hacked to pieces. Peeves reveals that the Fat Lady is
hiding in one of the fourth floor portraits, but she told him who slashed
the painting: "Nasty temper he's got, that Sirius Black."

Discussion Questions:
1) Is Crookshanks chewing a dead spider in front of Ron a message telling
him he's on Ron's side?

2) Was Trelawney's prediction about Lavender's rabbit in any way
truthful, or was it all a big coincidence?

3) Lupin says the name Voldemort out loud. What does this say about him?

4) Was Harry foolish in telling Lupin about Snape?

5) (Silly Question) Do you think that there are ghost formation gliding
leagues? Olympics?

6) Why did Sirius slash the painting - didn't he know that would give him
away?
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