The Death Chamber

[annemehr]

No: HPFGUIDX 81622

Ffi wrote:
> I definately think we'll be returing to the MOM to find out mroe 
> about these rooms.
> It was also interesting that Harry, Luna, Ginny and Neville were 
> mesmorised byt the veil (Harry and Luna could also here the voices) 
> but Ron and Hermione didn't seem so srongly affected, though Hermione 
> was scared and dragged Harry back from something that turned out to 
> be extremely dangerous.  Why weren't they affected in the same way?

Annemehr:

Actually, to be quite accurate, Harry, Ginny, and Neville were
mesmerised.  Hermione had to snap Harry out of it by reminding him of
Sirius, and the other two had to be physically dragged away.

As far as I can tell, Luna, who could hear the voices, was certainly
fascinated, but there's no indication she was mesmerised and had to be
"snapped out of it" at all.  No one had to drag her away.

And though Ginny and Neville were mesmerised, there's really no
telling if they heard any voices or not.

I would love to know what all their reactions mean, too.  I wonder if
we have enough clues yet.  Is Hermione the one who is terrified of
death?  Is Ron the "typical" teenage boy who can't concieve of death
happening to him (but wouldn't he know better by now)?  If Luna can
hear the voices but is immune to being mesmerised, could that be
because of her great quality of detachment (the same quality that
allows her to be so unworried about having her possessions taken and
getting them back again)?  I'd hate to think that all those affected
by the veil are the ones who are going to die -- that would be all but
Ron, or he and Hermione, and too obvious, really.  I don't see how it
could mean they'd lost someone close -- if Ginny had lost, say, an
older sibling, then that would mean Ron would have to be affected too.

Now I'll mention a point that may or may not be significant.  The next
room they can get into is the time room, and Ginny says "Oh, look!"
and points at the bell jar.  Then, (quoting from ch. 34):

"'Keep going!' said Harry sharply, because Ginny showed signs of
wanting to stop and watch the egg's progress back into a bird.

'You dawdled enough by that old arch!' she said crossly, but followed
him past the bell jar to the only door behind it."

For Ginny to have known about Harry "dawdling" must mean that the ones
who were entranced by the arch and veil seem to have been *aware* of
what was going on, but yet unable to muster the will to actually *do*
anything but stare or, in Harry's case, approach it.  This is borne
out by Harry having carried on a conversation with Luna and Hermione
even as he was unconsciously stepping up onto the dais.  Then, when
Hermione reminds him of Sirius, something "slid back into place in his
brain" and he remembered he was supposed to be *doing* something. So,
the mesmerisation is very subtile; you don't realise it until you're
pulled out.  I can't even tell that Ginny realised it at all.

Sorry to ramble on so long with no answers, but I am really hoping one
of my thoughts would spark some idea in someone else and we could make
some progress.  I also wanted to see if people read it the same way I
did, becuase I think the tiny details will prove to be important.

Annemehr