CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Chapter 33 - Fight and Flight

[annemehr]

No: HPFGUIDX 119380


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, AnitaKH <anita_hillin at y...> wrote:

> 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?

Annemehr:
There are hints that there is much more living in there than we know.
"Werewolves" were mentioned more than once (living as outcasts like an
old-time leper colony? Is Lupin more fortunate than we know? Judging
by what Arthur said to the new-bitten werewolf in St Mungo's, perhaps
this rumor is obsolete). Also, we keep finding out about new
inhabitants: first it was werewolves, unicorns and centaurs, then
acromantula, then bowtruckles and thestrals... what am I missing (not
counting Grawp as Hagrid *put* him there)?  I wouldn't be surprised
if, in the event of a "Battle of Hogwarts," a whole crowd of different
creatures swarmed out of there. 
>  
> 
> 2. Umbridge's months of arrogance and abuse of power finally meet
their match with the Centaurs.  How satisfied are we with this outcome?

Annemehr:
Not at all, of course! :)  No, I want Molly to find out about the
quill and the Dementors and then the two of them to get locked in a
room together. :D
>  
> 
> 3. Hermione's remarks to the centaurs nearly spell doom for her and
Harry.  What does this say about her understanding of them?

Annemehr:
Has she ever actually had a chance to understand them? She had to come
up with the plan itself during the time Umbridge was deciding which
part of Harry to aim the Cruciatus at, so it couldn't be
well-thought-out to begin with. Then, she'd only met Centaurs once,
that time with Hagrid, and as they were obviously angry with Hagrid
over rescuing Firenze, I'm not sure she realised just how haughty they
were in general. After all, what she said oughtn't to get anyone
killed by a human unless they said it to the *very worst* of them.
Lucius Malfoy wouldn't have killed her for that. Maybe Jesse James
would.  Not to mention, she thought she was a "foal!" 
 
> 
> 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?

Annemehr:
I actually think he'd rather not have taken *anyone* but Ron and
Hermione. But anyway, I think Ginny is "as good as" his little sister,
Luna still seems spacey to him, and I don't think he'd truly switched
gears in his thinking about Neville yet, who always has so much
trouble in class, though he'd improved so much in the DA.
>  
> 
> 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?

Annemehr:
Well, poor kid, I think she's one of his only "safe places" *to* vent.
 I think it's only a temporary pattern. She can take it. ;)

> 
> 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?

Annemehr:
I think it is true within Umbridge's (and Fudge's) coterie. Fudge's
"party" is in power at the moment, but they arent' the whole ministry.
 Remember in GoF that Arthur Weasley is shown to have a good deal of
respect from certain quarters of the MoM: Diggory, Bagman, Crouch,
others in the circle around the Dark Mark in the forest, and whoever
Dumbledore wants him to tell about LV being back -- and then in OoP we
learn about Tonks and Shacklebolt.
>  
> 
>  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?

Annemehr:
Yes, but I love Molly.  Beyond that, see answer to #5.

Thanks for doing the chapter. :)