CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Chapter 16: In the Hog's Head

[Melody]

No: HPFGUIDX 95772

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Chapter 16
In the Hog's Head

Harry, Ron, and Hermione are studying in the library, when Hermione
brought up the suggestion of starting a Defense Against the Dark Arts
club.  Hermione and Ron are still a bit tender with Harry, but the
importance of the club trumped their fears.  Harry is somewhat open to
the idea, but still feels he is not as amazing as he comes off on
paper, and thus should not lead the group.  The conversation bounces
around a while to the topic of Hermione and Victor Krum, much to Ron's
annoyance.  Hermione tried to brush it off, but Ron still pouted. 
Hermione then continued speaking and actually continued the raised
courage to say Voldemort's name.  The conversation in the library
ended with Harry agreeing to meet with those that want the course, but
he doubts man can get past his "nutter" status.  Hermione arranges for
it to be the first Hogsmeade weekend.

Next scene, Harry and Hermione are discussing Black and how depressed
he is.  Indications of Black going stir-crazy from his housebound
state are starting to peak out.  Harry tries to believe Hermione's
reassurance that Black knows his orders are good for him, but Harry is
still nagged by Dumbledore's decision to leave Black out of the action
and imprisoned.  Harry has yet to realize the "commanded imprisonment
for his protection" is what is troubling him though.

The trio head off to Hogsmeade on a nice fall day.  Fitch is still
suspicious of Harry, and Harry fills in Ron and Hermione as to why. 
Hermione doubts Malfoy's involvement in the story, Harry's and Ron's
first guess as to who the snitch is, but she reveals little else as to
her suspicions.  The trio goes past the normal kid-friendly shops to
Hog's Head, a place neither of them had entered before.  Not the most
idealist place, and most certainly would be condemned by any muggle
health inspection; Hog's Head is an appealing alternative for a bunch
of innocent kids trying to be conspicuous in an actually obvious sort
of way.

Only four people, besides the bartender, were present in the bar, and
all seemed quite willing to keep to themselves.  Harry does expression
a bit of caution, as he remembered this is the pub Hagrid got the
dragon egg in Harry's first year, but Hermione assures him that the
students are 'within the rules" and thus out of punishment.  

They order butter beers, and amazingly, (at least to me) the bartender
has some to serve. (Just did not seem the sort of place to go and ask
for a virgin strawberry daiquiri, but I digress.)  The trio retreated
to a corner and soon the students come.  A veritable who's who of the
"good" kids shows up.  Many Gryffindors and a handful of Hufflepuffs
and Ravenclaws.  No Slytherins shows up.  The kids bustled around a
bit to get comfortable, and Hermione soon starts addressing the group.
 First timidly but gaining confidence, she even says Voldemort's name
in public.

Most are listening craving the truth, but Zachaias Smith, a
Hufflepuff, seemed more out to disprove Harry than learn.  However, a
better word for him is a skeptic.  Harry's emotions are well bubbled
again with anger at Smith and at Hermione since she decided this whole
club would be a good idea.  Harry seemed to have forgotten he agreed
to be there.

The first ripples between Smith and Harry calmed when Susan Bones
asked, in awe, if Harry really can produce a patronus.  Harry said yes
and the other "rumors" can forward to be confirmed.  The hero worship
atmosphere was growing causing Harry to once again downplay his
accomplishments.  Smith found a way to find fault in Harry's
blustering now causing Ron to get defensive of his best friend.  Fred
and George soon followed adding additional encouragement for Smith to
shut up.  Smith got the message and sulked in his seat but still
listening.  Technicalities, like when and where, were hammered done. 
During this time, another confrontation between Luna's  and Hermione's
perspective of the Wizard World clashed much like Professor McGonagall
and Professor Trelawney.  This time with Luna believing the Minister
of Magic had a secret army of heliopaths, and Hermione vehemently
disagreeing.  Once all agreed to meet, Hermione produced her magically
bound contract.  Not everyone was too thrilled to sign the agreement,
but all present signed.

At the end when all scattered, Cho lagged behind being extra
fastidious about her bag.  Harry enjoyed her lingering but did not
click as to her reasons why.  As Harry, Ron, and Hermione cleaned up,
Hermione let slip that Ginny was dating Michael Corner.  This news
flabbergasted Ron, who still thought Ginny was after Harry.  Hermione
seemed almost bored to inform Ron of his sister's affairs and yet she
seemed eager to fill him in.  She also seemed to make a point to tell
Harry Ginny still likes him even though she is dating other guys. 
Harry, quite lost in Cho world, sort of glazes over this conversation.
 Hermione, seeming to be overly observant or caring about other's
relationships, hones in fast on Cho's behavior towards Harry. 
Hermione also seemed to enjoy informing Harry of all he missed.  Harry
notices none of this and swims away in a world of peaches of cream.


Questions:

1)  Why is Hermione now saying Voldemort's name?  Why did she not ever
say it before?  Why did she say it in a very public place?

2)  What is Ron's annoyance with Victor Krum and Hermione's
relationship based on?  How has it shifted through the last two books?
 Is Ron's protective nature towards Hermione the same as his
protection of Ginny when hearing she too has a possible "boyfriend"?

3)  Harry is particularly sensitive about how Dumbledore is treating
Sirius.  Through Sirius's new imprisonment and Harry's summer hell, is
Harry now coming to understand the definition of freedom and how
overly protecting situations can be almost as worse as punishment?

4)  Why did Hermione pick Hog's Head when it actually is more obvious
a place for suspicion than anywhere else?  Why did they not heed note
when Hagrid got into trouble there years before?  

5)  How did the kids not get sick from those filthy mugs they drank?

6)  Why is there, once again, no Slytherins willing to have even a
smidgeon of an open mind about things?  Did the other students just
not tell them, or did Slytherins not want to come?  

7) Why is this the first we see of Zachaias Smith?  He seems to be a
vocal protagonist against Harry, and yet he has not spoken up before. 

8)  Why had the truth about Harry and his adventures never been
confirmed before?  Were the kids too scared to ask him directly, or
was Harry such an odd person and reclusive that kids just left him
alone?  Why does Dumbledore allow the rumors and does not confirm them
or deny them?

9)  Hermione and Luna have the same relationship as McGonagall and
Trelawney.  Is this parallel meant to be carried further to say Luna
might actually be correct about one of her oddball views, or is it
only to be amusing?

10)  Why does Hermione take Luna to be such a threat?  

11)  Ginny now seems to be past her little girl crush with Harry.  Is
her newfound love for boys an attention at moving on or just passing
time until Harry is ready?

12)  In the end of the chapter, Hermione is the social informer to all
things romantic.  Is this within her character's scope, or is she
branching out beyond her normal self?  Or another way of asking, is
she just acting like a 15 year old girl?


Melody
who did not realize how much shipping there was in this chapter....



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