CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Chapter 29, Career Advice

[Hannah]

No: HPFGUIDX 115951


> 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? 
> 

Hannah: No, I think Snape drops it deliberately to 'get at' Harry. 
He's not a clumsy person - I don't think he'd have dropped it or 
knocked it accidentally.  It's there to show us that Snape is still 
angry about the pensieve incident, though he's moved on from the 
initial hysterical physical attack, and returned to his usual more 
subtle nastiness.  

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

Hannah: Because she knows Harry's feelings about Snape, and vice 
versa.  It's interesting that she doesn't seem to be worried about 
Snape's treatment of Harry.  I think she's as fond of Snape as she 
is of Harry, and maybe finds it amusing that students should not see 
Sevvie as she does: a rather sulky, melodramatic teenager.  It 
wasn't that long ago that she was teaching Snape, and we all know he 
hasn't grown up much since... 
I think Auror classes are partially set, with some subjects being 
compulsary, but with a couple of optional choices as well.
> 
> 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?

Hannah: Whatever the plot demands!  He'll probably mainly chose what 
Harry's doing, though I don't think that would stretch to potions.  
I could imagine him doing Care of Magical Creatures, 
Transfiguration, Charms, Herbology and DADA.  I think virtually 
every student (certainly all of the main characters) will take 
DADA.  I can't see Ron wanting to do Divination, Astronomy, or 
History of Magic.  Maybe there'll be some new subjects as well, more 
specialised/difficult subjects that only become available at NEWT 
level.
 
> 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?
> 
Hannah: I think she's fantastic!  Her cutting wit in this, and her 
other encounters with Umbridge, is worthy of the king of sarcasm 
himself, Snape.  I suppose it could be considered a bit 
unprofessional, but really the situation is long beyond 
professionalism.  I hope we see more of McGonagall in subsequent 
books, though as someone else pointed out, that 'last thing I do' 
comment has got me worried too.

> 9. Do you think Black and Lupin really listened to Harry?  Did 
they just dismiss his worries?
> 
Hannah: It's hard to say.  Maybe in a different situation, they 
would have been more understanding.  Harry was short of time and at 
a considerable risk, so there wasn't much chance for deep 
conversation.  I think their treatment of Harry here was interesting 
though, as it exemplified the way he was treated by the Order 
throughout the book.  They hastily and sketchily explained what he 
had seen, and made out it was nothing important or to be worried 
about.  Yet there was the feeling that they were holding back a lot, 
and the gaps in the story told more than what was actually said.  It 
really left me wondering just what the underlying truth is behind 
the Marauders' school days that everyone seems at such pains to 
avoid.

> 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?
> 
Hannah: I have always wondered about this.  Did Lupin ever talk to 
Snape?  Surely he told DD at least?  Was Snape asked and refused 
flatly to continue (I find that unlikely, at least if DD did the 
asking or was likely to become involved if he refused Lupin).  Did 
Lupin and Sirius think it over and decide it was better that their 
old enemy wasn't invading Harry's mind twice a week?  Or did they 
worry that Harry might see another memory, maybe something making 
them look even worse?  A lot of time passes between this 
conversation and the final conclusion, so there would have been time 
for Lupin to have told DD or spoken to Snape himself.  Hmmm... I 
smell conspiracy!

> 11. The twins leave Hogwarts as heroes.  Do you think we'll see 
> these two playing a big role again?
> 
Hannah: The twins play a much larger part in this book, though 
looking back, they are always some of the most important non-trio 
characters.  I don't think that this is their 'peak.'  The joke shop 
funding has set up a link between them and Harry that will 
(hopefully) ensure their continued importance in the book.  They 
also appear at the end - JKR wants to keep their profile high, IMO.  
Sadly, I'm betting one or both is for the chop before the end.
Hannah