CHAPTER 17 DISCUSSION:Educational Decree Number Twenty-Four

[a_rude_mechanical]

No: HPFGUIDX 97025

Because I'm long-winded, I've decided to do my chapter discussion in
two parts.  The second part will be posted on Thursday, April 
29.  The discussion questions are included within the summary and are
marked thus: ~~  

And, they're off!

Chapter 17, "Educational Decree Number Twenty-Four"  

Feeling happier after the first meeting of Dumbledore's Army*, Harry
and Ron actually do some homework for a change, over the 
weekend, no less.  It's such beautiful weather that they decide to
take their homework outdoors and the boys sit under a beech tree 
on the lake with Hermione, who is knitting clothing for the House
Elves. 

*(I'm not sure that the group has decided upon a name at this point,
but as it simplifies things, I will refer to the group as the DA for 
the remainer of the summary.)

Harry's good mood continues on Monday.  On his way to the Common Room
before breakfast, he discusses with Ron
the new Sloth Grip Roll Quidditch move that Angelina 
wants them to work on at practice that evening. (Oh, dear.  There
isn't going to be a Quidditch practice, is there?)

In the very next paragraph, we learn that something has been affixed
to the bulletin board in the Common that is so large it covers 
every other notice on the board.  

~~Isn't this an interesting visual?  Some of the notices were
official, ie Filch's list of rules.  Umbridge is already, visually,
overriding 
everyone's authority in the school.~~  

~~There doesn't seem to be an aspect of the school that she cannot
touch-what does it say about the MoM that one person is allowed 
this much control?  Is Umbridge always working under the direction of
the MoM, or does she also enjoy and sometimes abuse the 
power that she's been given?  What is Rowling telling us about
power-both how you use it and to whom you give it?~~
 
The sign is a decree from Dolores Jane (I think I'm going to
affectionately call her "DJ" for the remainder of the summary), aka 
"Hogwarts High Inquisitor", disbanding any and all student
organisations, including, it would seem, those sanctioned by the
school. 
"No Student Organization, Society, Team, Group, or Club may exist
without the knowledge and approval of the High Inquisitor."  All 
groups must be re-approved by DeeJay.

~~I love the names that JKR gives her characters-what
images/emotions/thoughts/memories does the name "Dolores Jane
Umbridge" 
bring to your mind?~~

~~Also, the Gobstones Club is mentioned here-I seem to recall
Gobstones being mentioned when Harry visits the MoM at the 
beginning of the book.  What are Gobstones, again?  ~~

Harry's happiness turns to rage immediately and determines that
DeeJay must know something about the DA.  He believes they were 
spied upon at Hogshead-but doesn't know whether it was by another
customer or a student.  Harry and Ron decide to tell Hermione, 
and Ron bounds up the girls staircase.    

As it turns out, when any boy sets foot on the stairs up to the girls
dorm, the stairs form a slide, and the boy falls and slides back to 
the Common Room.  Interestingly, the same doesn't happen when the
girls try to get up to the boys dorms.  An old fashioned rule, 
Hermione explains after sliding down to the Common Room. 

~~Rowling spends more time discussing these stairs than she might
have.  Is this important?  Will it become more important?  Or is 
she simply expanding the new world of boys and girls that the
characters are discovering?~~

When she learns about the decree, Hermione reveals that she put a
jinx on the parchment that all the members of the DA were asked 
to sign, and if any of them had snitched (heehee) they would have
broken out in some horrible rash.   And with that, the Magnificent 
Three head down to the Dining Room to see if anyone looks splotchy. 

~~Do you think Hermione's idea to jinx the parchment was a clever
safety measure or a low trick?  Or both?  What does it tell us 
about the nature of Hermione?~~

The Great Hall is abuzz (fun word) with the news of DeeJay's latest
proclamation.  Neville, Dean, Fred, George, and Ginny all ask 
Harry if they will be continuing with the secret society of secrets. 
Harry answers in the affirmative.  The Three don't see anyone 
looking rashy.  Ginny runs off to talk to Michael Corner and let him
(and the others) know that they need to play it cool so as not to 
seem suspect, but the Three will let them know when the next meeting
is.  Harry notices Cho and wonders briefly if she'll be too 
scared to come to the meetings now.

After breakfast, Angelina lets Ron and Harry know that Quidditch is
included in the decree.  Angelina begs Harry not to lose his 
temper anymore, so as not to jeopardize the safety of the team. 
Harry agrees.

And, off to Professor Binns' for another exciting History lesson. 
Subject?  The Giant Wars.  Harry, of course, doesn't pay attention.  
He always seems to wander off during the foreshadowing. In the middle
of class, Hedwig returns-Harry sneaks to the window, but 
instead of giving Harry the message and flying off to the owlery, she
insists on entering.  Taking her to his seat, he sees that she is 
injured.  Harry lies to Binns, saying he is ill, and asks to be
excused.  Binns gives him permission to go to the hospital wing. 
Well, 
sort of.  Binns actually gives someone named "Perkins" permission to
go to the hospital wing, but, whatever.  

~~Perkins
.where have we heard that name before?  Perkins is Mr.
Weasley's co-worker at the MoM and is also the man who 
loaned his tents to the Weasley's for the Quidditch Cup.  Is it a
coincidence that Binns calls Harry by the name Perkins?~~

With Hagrid not around, Harry's only choice is Grubbly-Plank, and so
he heads off to the staffroom to find her, stopping to argue with 
two stone gargoyles flanking the staffroom.  

~~I happen to like these gargoyles, and wonder why they didn't turn
up in PoA, when the DADA class went to the staffroom to battle 
the boggart.  Are they new?~~

He goes to the staffroom, knocks, and McGonegall opens the door.  She
immediately demands to know whether or not he's been 
given another detention.  Poor Harry.  Grubbly-Plank (who comes from
nowhere, smokes a pipe, teaches, and then leaves-am I right?) 
examines the owl, confused as to what kind of animal would attack
her. Oh, and the thestrals are first mentioned here by name (I 
think this is the first mention)-described as "well trained not to
touch owls."  Harry tells her the owl flew from "London" which also
lets 
McGonegall know "12 Grimmauld Place."  Grubbly-Plank takes Hedwig,
McGonegall stopping her just long enough for Harry to get his 
letter.  (Her full name, by the way, is Wilhelmina Grubbly-Plank.) 
McGonegall reminds him that communication from Hogwarts is 
being watched, then she leaves.  

~~Let's discuss Grubbly-Plank for a minute, shall we?  What's with
this character, anyway?  And why did she try to leave with the 
message still attached to Hedwig's leg?  Did she merely not notice
it?  Accident, or no?   (I'm a very suspicious reader
)~~

The message, from Sirius, reads "Today, same time, same place." 
Harry catches up with Ron and Hermione and relates what 
happened in the staffroom.  Ron and Hermione wonder if someone
intercepted Hedwig.  (hel-LO!!)  Harry explains that the "same 
place" mentioned in the message is the fireplace, and Hermione hopes
that no one read the letter, but admits that it's too late now as 
there's no way to warn Sirius

~~I think it was around this point when I first started to really be
bothered by Sirius.  Doing this, he is putting more people than just 
himself in jeopardy.  Sirius thinks with his heart, and so is
constantly putting people at risk.  Was he a liability to the Order?~~

****I will post the rest of the summary and questions later this
week.****