CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Chapter 29, Career Advice

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 115789


Hello all, this is a little behind schedule.  Luckily Chapter 28 has 
stayed active. I've tried to avoid those topics frequently discussed 
from this chapter, but feel free to add a question if you want to.
Potioncat


CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Chapter 29, Career Advice

CHAPTER SUMMARY:

The chapter starts with the beginning of Easter break.  Most 5th and 
7th year students are stressed from the exam preparations.  Harry is 
upset over the scene in the Pensieve concerning James and Severus.  
He allows the others to think it is exams bothering him, but Ginny 
isn't so sure.  

She suggests he talk to Cho.  But he reveals that he really wants to 
talk to Sirius.  Ginny at once says it can be done.  She says living 
with the twins has taught her that anything is possible if you have 
the nerve.

Harry had never believed Snape's taunts about his father.  But
now 
he wonders about all the good things he'd heard from McGonagall, 
Hagrid and Sirius. He recalls that Sirius had been just as bad as 
his father was. 

 He thinks that McGonagall thought of them as forerunners of the 
Weasley twins. "..and Harry could not imagine Fred and George 
dangling someone upside down for the fun of it
not unless they 
really loathed them
Perhaps Malfoy, or someone who really
deserved 
it
"  Lily's support of Snape makes Harry doubt that Snape
deserved 
it. 

Lily's expression disturbs Harry as much as any of the events. 
He 
believes she loathes James and cannot understand how they ever 
married.  Lupin's behavior is disappointing as well because he
did 
nothing to stop it.

Fifth years are notified that they will be attending career advice 
sessions with their head of house and provided with career 
pamphlets.  Some of the information includes:

Healer requires an E in N.EW.T. level Potions, Herbology, 
Transfiguration, Charms, and DADA. Ron was immersed in this 
pamphlet, but says he doesn't fancy it, "I
mean
blimey
Don't want 
much, do they?"

Muggle Relations requires an O.W.L. in Muggle Studies.

Curse breakers for Wizard banking asks for Arithmancy (job includes 
travel, adventure, and danger-related bonuses.)  Harry suggests it 
for Hermione. She isn't interested but is immersed in a pamphlet
on 
training security trolls.

Fred and George interrupt just as Hermione reaches for MAKE A BANG 
AT THE DEPARTMENT OF MAGICAL ACCIDENTS AND CATASTROPHIES.

The twins and trio plan for Harry to break into Umbridge's office
to 
contact Sirius.  Hermione protests, and asks for Ron's 
opinion.   "Harry was reminded irresistibly of Mrs. Weasley 
appealing to her husband during Harry's first dinner in Grimmauld 
Place.

It appears that Snape had decided to ignore Harry.  Used to this 
technique from Uncle Vernon, Harry actually thrives and easily 
concocts an Invigoration Draught. He is hoping for an E.  However, 
he hears a smashing noise then turns to see Malfoy laughing, and 
Snape gloating.  "Whoops," he said softly, "Another zero,
then, 
Potter
" Unfortunately, Hermione has cleared up Harry's site
and 
there is no more sample.

Harry forgets his Career Advice appointment and goes to Divination 
Class.  So he arrives late to McGonagall's office.  Umbridge is 
there as well.

McGonagall says he'll need top grades for Auror.  The
requirements 
are five N.E.W.T level grades, none below E; followed by character 
and aptitude tests; then three years of training.  She advises 
taking DADA, Transfiguration, Charms, and Potions. 

"Yes, Potter, Potions" she added, with the merest flicker of
a 
smile.  "Potions and antidotes are essential study for
Aurors." She 
also warns him that he needs to study harder in Transfiguration and 
Potions as he will need an E in Transfiguration O.W.L.s and an O in 
Potion O.W.L.s.  

Umbridge and McGonagall exchange barbs over Harry's potential for 
making Auror.  McGonagall dismisses the current DADA marks and 
specifically quotes Professor Lupin's opinion. She vows to do 
everything in her power to help Harry succeed. "If it's the
last 
thing I do."

Harry breaks into Umbridge's office and speaks with Black and
Lupin 
by floo.  Neither of them are as concerned with James' behavior
as 
Harry is.  Both agree that James grew out of that sort of behavior 
by 7th year and began dating Lily.

Black and Lupin are angry that Occlumency lessons have stopped.  
Black says he'll go tell Snape to resume lessons.  Lupin insists
he 
will be the one to talk to Snape but first Harry should talk to 
Snape.  Harry mutters that he'll try.  Then they are interrupted.

Harry breaks away in time to hide from Filch.  Filch has come to get 
the Approval for Whipping.  Harry follows him out and finds another 
crowd of students watching as Fred and George are cornered.  The 
twins leave in a blaze of glory, giving Peeves an order to  "Give 
her hell from us, Peeves."

CHAPTER QUESTIONS:

1. Fred and George wouldn't act like that unless they loathed 
someone
. Lily looked like she loathed James.  JKR tells us
Sirius 
loathed Severus and the feeling was mutual.  What is it with all 
this loathing?

2. Harry lets everyone think his bad mood is due to the upcoming 
O.W.L.s.  But Ginny sees that it is something else.  She advises 
immediately that he talk to Cho.  But when he tells her the real 
problem she quickly comes up with a solution for that. What does 
this say about Ginny? 

3. After Harry turns, he hears a smashing sound.  Who or what broke 
the sample vial of potion?  Would Snape have broken it, given that 
Draco thinks Snape is teaching Harry remedial potions?  Would Draco 
have broken it in front of Snape?  Could it have fallen by itself? 

4. McGonagall schedules Harry's Career Advice during Divination.  
What does that say about her opinion of Divination?

5. Are classes for Auror set, or was McGonagall making her own 
recommendations here?  Why was she smiling about Harry taking 
Potions?

6. Ron wasn't interested in Healer, but notice, the courses 
McGonagall offers for Auror are almost identical to Healer.  What do 
you think Ron will take?

7. Healer, Auror, Troll Trainer, Treasure Hunter, Office of Magical 
Catastrophes.  Just what is JKR telling us?  What might this 
information tell us about different characters? 

8. McGonagall ignores Umbridge, and pretends to think Umbridge has a 
sore throat.  Then she is scornful of Umbridge's note and quotes 
Lupin as a better judge of DADA knowledge. What do you think of 
McGonagall in this situation?

9. Do you think Black and Lupin really listened to Harry?  Did they 
just dismiss his worries?

10. Black and Lupin are very upset that Occlumency lessons have 
stopped.  They don't think Dumbledore will approve.  Black will
talk 
to Snape. No, Lupin will.  Harry has to.  Why does JKR set this up, 
then leave us in the dark about who, or when, or if anyone ever 
talks to Snape or Dumbledore?

11. The twins leave Hogwarts as heroes.  Do you think we'll see 
these two playing a big role again?

12. Your own question here. 




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