OOP Spoiler: Amazon Audio Discussion and Questions

[pickle_jimmy]

No: HPFGUIDX 60233

Please dont read this if you dont want to know anything about what is 
in the audio grab of book five on amazon.com
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----------- BOOK 5 SPOLIER ALERT ---------------
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I have some questions regarding what we learn - or don't learn - from 
the added detail in the audio grab...

Harry has been separated from Ron and Hermione for a month, during 
which time they *have* been able to send him letters, but the letters 
have *not* been able to contain any information that would have been 
helpful to him (under Dumbledore's orders).

Question: Under whose care has Harry been for the last month that 
would have needed this kind of mail censorship?

Hermione mentions 1)Dementors and 2)Harry being in trouble for the 
performance of underage magic to protect his life.

Question: Are we jumping to conclusions thinking that Harry summoned 
a Patronus to protect himself from the dementors? The two things 
could be totally unrelated. I have read some of the theories, but I 
believe that if Harry *had* summoned a Patronus, it *would* have been 
powerful enough to drive away the dementors - we've seen him do just 
that in PoA.

The location of the scene is an old house that appears as though it 
could have belonged to a wizard(s) that were not on the side of good 
(sorry if this is convoluted - I am trying to not quote the audio 
grab) - even down to the snake motif doorknob. 

Question: What are Ron, Hermione, and Mrs Weasley doing there? Why 
have they taken (summoned/brought) Harry there?

Hermione mentions a ministry hearing (regarding Harry's use of 
underage magic), Mrs Weasley leaves Harry with Ron and Hermione and 
says she will come back for him when "it" has finished.

Question: Is it the hearing that is going on in (behind) this scene? 
If not, what *is* going on that needs Ron and Hermione to baby-sit 
Harry until it's over?

We are introduced to how Ron looks (height, nose length, hair colour, 
freckles), so it seems that this is his first appearance in OOP.

Question: Is this very early in the book, or are we going to see 
Harry's side of the "month" before R&H are introduced?

Other questions:
Why does Mrs Weasley whisper distractedly when talking to Harry?
What is she distracted by?
Why is she whispering?
Why is Ron's owl there?
Is the room where R&H are significant?
What does twin-bedded mean? This is from me as an Aussie - does it 
mean 2 single beds, or is it a colloquialism for a double bed?
Why didn't R&H hear Harry arrive?
Were they expecting to hear him arrive?
What mode of transport did Harry take to get to this odd house?
Why the snake motif on the door handle?
Why is the house do dingy and gloomy?

Pickle Jimmy