OOTP Chapter Discussions, Chapter 24: Occlumency

Wed Aug 4 00:12:53 UTC 2004

No: HPFGUIDX 108736

This is a repost because I realized that last night I did not label the chapter dicussion as such.  Since this is such a popular and heavy chapter I wanted to make sure that it was discussed at greater length.  

(Sorry this is just a couple late getting out, I was just now able to get to my computer for the first time today.  I'm really happy to lead the discussions for this chapter, to me it's one of the more interesting chapters in the book.  So here it goes..enjoy!)

Part One: Number 12 Grimmauld Place, just before the end of the Christmas Holiday. 

The chapter begins with the reappearance of Kreacher whom was found by Sirius in the attic.  While Kreacher seemed to be in a better mood Sirius' mood took a drastic dive and he found himself locking himself in his room with Buckbeat for hours at a time.  

On the last day of the Christmas Holiday, Harry was called into the kitchen of the house to have a discussion with Professor Snape.  Harry went to the kitchen, rather worried about what the discussion would be about, and finds that not only is Snape present but so is his Godfather.  Snape explains to Harry that the headmaster wishes for Harry to study occlumency ( a form of magic that will protect him from external penetration).  Dumbledore requested that Snape be his instructor.  

Sirius, upset that Dumbledore made Snape the instructor, warns Snape not to use these lessons to make life difficult for Harry.  Snape informs Sirius that he believes that Harry is so arrogant, like James, that he is not in the least bit affected by the criticism that is placed upon him.  Sirius is very upset by that statement and moves to pull out his wand..  The two man stand with ready to duel.  Sirius shares his feeling that Snape is very much an active member of the Death Eaters and is really not working for the order.  He even went as far as to call Snape Lucius Malfoy's "lapdog."  Snape informs Sirius, for the first time, that Lucius recognized Sirius at the train station at the start of term.  
The fight would have continued to go on for quite sometime, however, Mr. Weasley returned from the hospital.  He declared himself "completely cured."  

The next day, Sirius and Harry say their goodbyes.  Sirius hands Harry a two-way mirror that should be used when he needs to get a hold of Sirius at any time.  Harry didn't say anything to Sirius at that time, however, he knew that he would never use it.  Harry feared that it would be dangerous to use it.  

The students take the knight bus back to Hogwarts, along with Lupin and Tonks.  Before leaving Harry, Lupin reminds him that he needs to make sure that puts in every effort to learn occlumency.  He told Harry that even Sirius knows how important it is for him to learn the skill.  

Part Two:  Hogwarts

Before Harry went to his first occlumency class he ran into Cho Chang . He assumed that Cho wanted to talk about the DA but instead she wanted to remind him of the upcoming Hogsmeade weekend.  Cho gave Harry a great deal of hints before he realized that she wanted to spend the trip (which was on Valentine's day) with Harry.  Harry asked her out, to which she of course replied yes.  

Harry then goes to Snape's office.  Snape begins the occlumency lesson by explaining that Voldemort is very skilled at legilimency (the ability to extract feelings and memories from another person's mind).  Snape tells Harry that legilimency is usually only effective if the two people can make eye contact.  However, due to the connection that he and Voldemort share, through the scar, it is easier for Voldemort to have access to his mind.  

Harry is adverse to the idea of closing off his mind.  If it had not been for him, Mr. Weasley would most likely had died.  It was then that Snape informed Harry that it was not until very recently that Voldemort knew of the connection between the two of them.  

Snape began the lesson by having Harry block as much as he possibly could from being accessed by Snape.  Harry does not find this task very easy and keeps letting Snape have access to them.  Snape tells Harry that he needs to practice his occlumency every night before going to bed.  He needs to make sure that he has a clear mind.  

When Harry got back to the tower, he went to bed after only a few short minutes.  However, that night Harry had another vision.  This one included Voldemort laughing, Harry assumed that this meant that he was happy about something.  However, we don't know what it is that he would be happy about.  

Disscussion Questions

1)  Once again we see the moody Sirius Black, what is the true source of his moodiness?  And what on Earth does he do locked up in the room with Buckbeat all day?  

2) Harry questions whether or not working with Snape is really helping to close off his mind.  Harry believes that it may be making it more open.  Is there any truth to Harry's thinking?  Would his lessons have gone differently had someone else been in charge of them?  

3) Sirius tells Snape that he still believes that he is very much a part of the Death Eaters..is there any evidence to back that up?  What evidence do we have that he is just working for the order?

4) JK Rowlings said that the mirror will be brought up again in another book.  In what capacity do you believe that it will be brought back?  JKR has this to say about the mirror " The mirror might not have helped as much as you think, but on the other hand, will help more than you think. You’ll have to read the final books to understand that!"  What do you think this means?  

5) Snape asked several questions about the images that were scene in his visions.  For example, he asked about Aunt Marge's dog. What purpose did he have in asking those questions?  Do they lead to something, stand out in his mind, or is he just merely curious about them?

6) Snape tells Harry many times in this chapter not to say the name "Voldemort."  Why is it that even Voldemort's own followers cannot say his name?  Is their significance in calling him the Dark Lord?  (this is just something that I have always been curious about..love to know what you guys think about it).

That wraps up about all I have for right now.  I might put some more questions or thoughts later in the week but I trust that this chapter will generate a great deal of discussion!

~Melanie

NOTE: For more information on HPfGU's chapter discussions, please see

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/67817 and 

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/85829 as well as 

"OotP Chapter Discussions" at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/database

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