[HPforGrownups] CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Chapter 33 - Fight and Flight

[Janet Anderson]

No: HPFGUIDX 119388

>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?

Heaven knows what lives in that forest. As someone pointed out, there are 
rumors of werewolves, and we know there are giant spiders and at least one 
feral car.  The possibilities are endless.

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

It's satisfying on one level, but the spectacular departure of Fred and 
George (and Umbridge's departure while being chased by Peeves) were more so, 
because they were a direct result of her conduct at Hogwarts -- whereas the 
centaurs are not responding to any actual mistreatment but are ready to be 
hostile to any human they encounter (see 3 below).

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

Not very much, really.  It says that Hermione is tactless and doesn't always 
pick up on other people's feelings, but we knew that.  I think the problem 
here is that no matter how tactful Hermione or anyone else was, the centaurs 
they encountered were hostile, ready to take offense, and wanted to take out 
their resentment on someone.   From the centaurs' point of view, there was 
no difference between Umbridge and Hermione; they were both human and that 
was all that mattered -- proof that racism is not restricted to wizards and 
humans. :(

Someone with more experience or tact might have realized this and approached 
it differently, but I don't think Hermione is to blame for the centaurs' 
attitude.

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

Grawp at this point probably doesn't *intend* to be dangerous.  However, 
even Hagrid has been known to underestimate his own strength sometimes ...

>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?

He probably feels protective toward Ginny, just as Ron does.  As for the 
other two, he knows nothing about Luna and therefore has no reason to have 
confidence in her or her abilities, and he knows quite a lot about Neville 
-- and most of it relates to him being not very good at spells or under 
pressure.

>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?

The venting? Yes. Hermione as the target?  No. He's also done this to Ron, 
Ginny, and Dumbledore.  People have said that he doesn't treat his friends 
very well, but I think he vents at them *because* he feels safe with them.

>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?

She probably believes it.  And for those parts of the Ministry which she 
deals with, i.e. Fudge et al., it's quite true -- if Harry got stomped to 
death by centaurs, they'd breathe a sigh of relief, because he's an 
inconvenience and an embarrassment to them.  (This doesn't even factor in 
the opinion of any Death Eaters spying in the Ministry.)

>  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 I said earlier, I think Harry may feel protective toward Ginny, but I 
think his disinclination to have the other two with him stems from a lack of 
confidence in their abilities.


Janet Anderson