CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Chapter 23: Christmas On The Closed Ward

[sunnylove0 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 106898

Yes, it's that time again. Here we go (hope this is comprehensible).
 
After hearing Moody's theory, Harry isolates himself in his room at  Grimmald 
Place, convinced that he is being possessed by Voldemort and that he is  the 
"weapon" the Order has been discussing.  He is about ready to pack up  and go 
back to Privet Drive when Phineas Nigellus appears with a message from  
Dumbledore: "Stay where you are."  Though angry about Dumbledore's  continued 
refusal to face him or tell him much of anything, Harry decides to  stay at 
Grimmauld Place.
 
Harry continues to stay in his room, though, until Hermione arrives early  
from her skiing trip and talks him out.  She tells him that Umbridge is  livid 
over their escape, and chews him out for sitting alone and brooding.   She is 
seconded by Ginny, who reminds Harry that she was possessed by Voldemort  
herself.  After they compare notes and Ron and Hermione tell Harry that he  
couldn't and didn't leave his bed the night Mr. Weasley was attacked, Harry is  
reassured.
 
Downstairs, Sirius has gleefully decorated the house for Christmas and is  
singing carols.  On Christmas morning everyone opens presents.  Harry  gets a 
set of books on defensive magic (very useful for the D.A.) and Hermione  gets 
some "interesting" (ick) perfume from Ron.  They are interrupted by  the twins, 
who tell them that Molly is upset: Percy has sent back his Christmas  present 
and refused to visit his father.  Hermione has made Kreacher a  quilt, but the 
elf seems to have disappared.
 
After dessert, everyone piles into Mundungus's (probably stolen) car and go  
to St. Mungo's to visit Mr. Weasley.  Arthur is in a merry mood, having  
conspired with a junior healer for Muggle stitches ( much to Molly's  disgust).
 
On their way for a cup of tea, the trio and Ginny run into none other than  
Professor Lockhart, an escapee from the long term resident ward.  He seems  to 
have regained his self-centeredness and the ability to autograph pictures (he  
just wishes he could remember why.). Mistaken by an eager healer for visitors 
of  Lockhart's, they are taken to meet the other long-term residents:   
Broderick Bode ( who has just received a very strange plant with tentacles), a  
dog-faced woman called Agnes, who is expecting a visit from her son, and Frank  
and Alice Longbottom, who have visitors...Neville and his grandmother.
 
Harry tries to distract Ron from recognizing Neville, but too late.   
Offended that Neville hasn't told them, Gran tells Harry, Ron, Hermione, and  Ginny 
the story of the Longbottoms' torture and insanity, as Alice, mute and  
dead-looking, drifts down the ward to give her son an empty gum wrapper.   After 
Neville and Gran leave, Harry tells them that Bellatrix Lestrange was  responsible.
 
*********
Discussion Questions:
 
1) When Harry thinks that he is a danger to others, why is his first  
instinct to go back to Privet Drive?
 
2) Why does Harry ask advice of no one, especially Sirius, whom he trusts  
and has gone to before?
 
3) Why is neither the trio nor the healer suspicious of Bode's plant?
 
4) Why does Alice give Neville the gum wrapper?  Is she starting to  
recognize him?  Is there something strange about the gum, or is it all she  has to 
give?
 
********
Amber
 
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