Chapter Discussions: Chapter 4, Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place

[queen_astrofiammante]

No: HPFGUIDX 83846


Eloise wrote in Chapter 4 summary:

[snip]
 
> Atmosphere building:
> Chiefly in the detailed description of no 12.
> 
[snip]

> Plot:
> Build up to the revelation that Sirius comes from a family of Dark 
wizards. Emphasis on the theme of secrecy: Dumbledore wants to keep 
Harry in  ignorance, but the reason why is at this stage not revealed.

> Questions:
 
1)  How effective is the atmosphere-building in this chapter? What is 
the reader's initial reaction to Grimmauld place? Are there any 
features which lift it beyond being a stock gothic horror setting? 
How effective is it when we  realise that this is Sirius' family home?


Now me (Astrofiammante): 

There's a sentence in this chapter that turned me cold on my second 
reading of OoTP - you might put it under the heading 
of 'foreshadowing'.

"The others' hushed voices were giving Harry an odd feeling of 
foreboding; it was as though they had just entered the house of a 
dying person." 

<shudder runs down spine>

Astrofiammante

www.deadjournal.com/users/astrofiammante