The Forbidden Forest - summary

[dfrankiswork at netscape.net]

No: HPFGUIDX 25708

>1) Do you 
>think the forest is as dangerous as it is implied? If not, why does 
>Dumbledore warn the students away from it? If so, how is it the 
>Weasley twins have come to no harm?
>
We know it's dangerous because of Aragog.  Perhaps Hagrid is largely successful in chasing F&G away.  Also, if you have, say, one chance in a hundred of being killed or badly hurt that makes it a very dangerous place - you would have several incidents a year with 1000 (canon!) students wandering in, but F&G could have gone in a few dozen times and only got reasonably lucky by not being hurt.

>2) Do you think it was responsible to send a group of first-year 
>students out to help search for something so powerful and evil 
>that it can kill unicorns - especially since they went out in two 
>groups, one of which consisted only of two students and Fang 
>(who, Hagrid warns, is a coward)? Do you think Dumbledore 
>was aware of all this? If so, why would he allow it?

It's not responsible.  But I think it came about this way:  Harry and Hermione got into trouble for helping out Hagrid.  Hagrid can't come clean because they would be in even worse trouble - not only messing about at midnight but carting a dragon about the school.  There might even be repercusssions for Charlie Weasley.  So he does the next best thing, and intervenes in their detention.  From Hagrid's POV, he's turning their punishment into a treat: not only do they get a night time guided tour of his favourite place, there is the additional thrill of an unknown creature attacking the unicorns.  He's not in a position to prevent Malfoy coming or exonerate Neville.  Dumbledorer may know but wouldn't overrule McGonagall and Hagrid over a detention.
>
>3) Do you think Hagrid's right when he says nothing in the forest 
>will hurt the students if they are with him or with Fang? Why 
>would this be so?

I think he's overconfident, even apart from the Voldemort factor.  We know Fang is not enough against Aragog.
>
>4) Why is it `especially' unsafe for Harry to be in the
>forest 'at this time,' as Firenze says? How much do you think the 
>centaurs - perhaps Firenze in particular - know about what is 
>stalking the unicorns?

I think Firenze has already worked out the logic he later explains to Harry.  See also the debate on Mars.
>
>5) Do you think Draco had any idea that the creature creeping up 
>to the dead unicorn was connected (literally) with Voldemort? Do 
>you think he reported the incident to his father? If so, what do you 
>think Lucius would have told him?

I doubt he would report it - it means mentioning detention, and as soon as Lucius started asking questions, it would be difficult to avoid presenting himself as a coward.  But Lucius would just tell him to forget all about it and keep out of trouble, as with the heir of Slytherin the following year.
>
>6) What other creature(s)s would you hope or expect to see in 
>the forest, in the next book?
>
A Lethifold would add a bit of suspense, even if they are supposed to be tropical.  When I read FB for the first time, it was the only beast where I thought that we're definitely going to meet one of those at some point (I totally missed the Crookshanks-Kneazle connection).

David







__________________________________________________________________
Your favorite stores, helpful shopping tools and great gift ideas. Experience the convenience of buying online with Shop at Netscape! http://shopnow.netscape.com/

Get your own FREE, personal Netscape Mail account today at http://webmail.netscape.com/