Chapter 8 POA Summary

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No: HPFGUIDX 19142

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

I never considered that ... interesting read on it, given what we find 
out about Crookshanks later (and I'm *sure* that there's more to 
Crookshanks than being an unusually intelligent cat...)

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

I think that one was pure coincidence, and meant to give Hermione a 
way to demonstrate logic in the face of Divination - it sets the 
reader up to be a bit unsettled when some of Trelawney's prophecies do 
come true, and it also sets the stage for her real trance/prophecy 
about the rise of Voldemort.

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

It's because he's soooo coooooool.  (But then again, Lupin is one of 
my favorite characters.)  I think that Lupin, like Harry and 
Dumbledore, believe in avoiding the "he-who-must-not-be-named" 
nonsense because it just adds to the fear and terror (as Dumbledore 
pointed out to Harry in Book 1).  Also, the only people who refer to 
Voldie as Voldemort seem to be those who have been directly and 
very actively opposed to him in the past - archenemies.  In the later 
chapters, Peter calls V "my master" or "HWMNBN" for example.  (Black 
calls Voldemort Voldemort, too.)

> 4) Was Harry foolish in telling Lupin about Snape?

I don't think so.  It was, I think, in large measure because he has 
found an adult he considers trustworthy - aside from Dumbledore - and 
also one he can confide in.  Their conversation shows Harry beginning 
to show trust to Lupin ... something that before he hasn't even 
granted to Dumbledore without a huge internal struggle.

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

Are there Magical (or Ghostly) Olympics?  Strange concept...

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

Good question... I think he's got a LOT of pent-up anger that he's 
been just waiting to release, ever since he went to Azkaban.

- Darice