CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Chapter 33 - Fight and Flight

[AnitaKH]

No: HPFGUIDX 119379


With many thanks to PenapartElf, the following is respectfully submitted:

 

Chapter 33 – Fight and Flight

 

As the chapter opens, Hermione and Harry are leading Professor Umbridge to the “weapon” Hermione has “confessed” that the DA has developed.  Umbridge eagerly follows Hermione and Harry until they reach the Dark Forest where she hesitates, but being assured the weapon is hidden there, she overcomes her reluctance to enter and agrees to continue.  As they crash through the underbrush heading toward Aragog’s lair, much to Harry’s alarm, he learns that Hermione is deliberately trying to get the attention of the forest creatures.  

 

Sure enough, they are eventually greeted by an arrow and the sound of pounding hooves.  Fifty centaurs surround them, led by Magorian, the chestnut.  He interrogates a terrified Umbridge, who invokes her authority as a representative of the Ministry of Magic, citing their status as near-human creatures.  This enrages the centaurs, who consider themselves superior beings, and one shoots an arrow that narrowly misses Umbridge’s head.  She responds by binding Magorian with an Incarcerous charm, which incites the centaurs to charge.  Harry pulls Hermione to the ground for cover, and they see Bane carry off a screaming Umbridge.  

 

As he reaches for Umbridge’s dropped wand, Harry is accosted by the grey centaur.  When he asks what brought them there, Hermione tells them they came into the forest, hoping the centaurs would drive off Umbridge for them.  From the looks on their faces, Harry can tell immediately this was a big mistake.  Hermione’s efforts to explain herself only make matters worse, and the crowd of centaurs has turned against them.  

 

Just as the crowd rage is building, they hear crashing from the forest, and Grawp appears. 

The centaurs range themselves defensively as he lumbers into the clearing.  Shouting “Hagger,” Grawp appears to be searching for something.  Hermione eventually realizes he’s asking for Hagrid.  He spots Harry and Hermione and remembers a version of Hermione’s name.  He asks her where Hagrid is, she says she doesn’t know, and he reaches for her, knocking over a centaur in the process.  This is enough provocation for the centaurs, who open fire on Grawp.  While he rampages from pain and anger, Harry and Hermione race into the forest, escaping from the centaurs.

 

As the threat of the centaurs fades, Harry is reminded by his throbbing scar that they are even further from their goal of rescuing Sirius.  He vents his frustration at Hermione, who counters by asking Harry how he planned to get to London.  Her question is repeated by Ron, who with Luna, Ginny and Neville has escaped the Inquisitorial Squad.  Following a recap of their various adventures, they return to the problem of getting to London.  Luna matter-of-factly tells the group they’re going to fly.  The group argues about who should go, Ron and Harry preferring to leave Ginny, Neville and Luna behind, while the three are determined to accompany them.  Harry argues that they don’t have enough brooms between them to fly to London anyway, when Luna points out that Thestrals have wandered into the area, apparently drawn by Grawp’s blood which has spattered Harry’s and Hermione’s robes.  Eventually, six or seven Thestrals appear, and Harry reluctantly agrees to let all five accompany him
 to London.

 

Discussion Questions

 

1. Harry “had the feeling he had had before in the forest, one of being watched by unseen eyes.”(p. 664, Bloomsbury edition) We may presume this refers in part to the centaurs and forest creatures; are there other eyes watching him?

 

2. Umbridge’s months of arrogance and abuse of power finally meet their match with the Centaurs.  How satisfied are we with this outcome?

 

3. Hermione’s remarks to the centaurs nearly spell doom for her and Harry.  What does this say about her understanding of them?

 

4.  Grawp appears to remember Hermione, and he reaches for her.  How dangerous is he at this point?

 

5. Harry and Ron try to discourage Ginny, Luna and Neville from joining them to help Sirius in London.  Harry thinks, “...if he could have chosen any member of the DA… to join him in the attempt to rescue Sirius, he would not have picked Ginny, Neville or Luna.” (p. 671)  Why are they so opposed to these specific people?

 

6.  In the forest, Harry appears to vent his fury at Hermione as an outlet for his fear and anger at himself.  Is this a pattern?

7. Umbridge says to Harry: "The Ministry places a rather higher value on my life than yours, 

I'm afraid." (P. 663)  Is this true in fact or just in Umbridge's own mind?  How do her dealings

 with the centaurs reflect upon Umbridge's self-supposed importance?

 

 8. When Harry says, "Look, you three –“ he pointed at Neville, Ginny, and Luna, “you're not involved in this, you're not --" (p. 672) which molly-coddling member of the Order does Harry seem to be channeling?

   

As always, additional questions/thoughts are very welcome.  

 

akh, who is mystified why discussion point 7 won't format correctly

 

 

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

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/67817 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/85829 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/116919

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

     *     *     *
 


		
---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
 Yahoo! Mail - 250MB free storage. Do more. Manage less.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]