Musings and a question

[dcyasser]

No: HPFGUIDX 81364

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "jeanico2000" <jeanico at s...> 
wrote:
> I was having breakfast with my daughter early this morning and we 
> started talking about OOTP. Neither of us could remember who 
taught 
> Harry how to cast the "Protego" shield and I don't have the book 
> handy right now. Could someone please remind me so that I can 
resume 
> the debate with my daughter over supper?
> Also, we were wondering why nobody tried to stop Harry from going 
> after Bellatrix. Dumbledore ends up saving Harry and fighting 
> Voldermort, but why did none of the order members go after him to 
> help. (Or try to stop him with a well placed "Petrificus")Just 
> wondering. Any thoughts?
> Have a great day,
> Nicole

Nicole, 
I love discussing this with my daughter as well, and she asked the 
same thing, how it was that Harry heard voices shouting at him to 
come back, but no one stopped him.  Same questions as to why DD 
could easily round up all the other DE's but couldn't stop Bellatrix 
from escaping.  If this is one of those times when DD is letting 
Harry go (the way he subtly encouraged the pursuit of the Sorcerer's 
Stone) then it is rather rash. And why would he do it? Does DD 
think/know Bellatrix can't kill Harry? (due to prophecy), and does 
he then only interfere when he feels Voldemort arrive?  Or is it 
just JKR quickly getting Harry and Bellatrix out there without too 
much extra writing?  
Regarding the "protego" shield, it doesn't say how Harry learned it, 
so I assume he got it from the book Sirius and Lupin gave him.  It 
first mentions it when he teaches it to the DA.  "...when Harry 
taught them the Shield Charm, a means of deflecting minor jinxes 
back on  the attacker, only Hermione mastered the charm faster than 
Neville." (US hardcover p.553)
cheers
dc