[HPforGrownups] CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Chapter 25, The Beetle At Bay

[James Lawlor]

No: HPFGUIDX 111799

KathyK:
> 3.  To what degree does the desire to see what's behind the door
> negatively affect Harry's ability to master Occlumency?  If this
> desire, whether it be his or LV's, affects Harry does that then
> mean
> no matter how well Snape might teach and how hard Harry practices,
> he would never be able to master it?

James:
I think Harry's desire to see behind the door (whether it comes from
his own curiosity or is a "spillover" of Voldemort's obsession) plays
a large part in his failure with Occlumency. Harry even admits this -
thinking to himself that he *won't* practice because he *wants* to
finish the dream. But ultimately, I think this (unfortunately) can be
traced back to Dumbledore's Big Mistake in not teaching Harry
Occlumency himself. Dumbledore would have obviously picked up on the
fact that Harry was not practicing. Unlike Snape he wouldn't be
tempted to ignore it in anger or blame Harry's attitude or perhaps
think to himself something like "The great Harry Potter isn't as
capable as well all thought - HAH".

Dumbledore would have questioned Harry and probably gotten a
confession (Hopefully by now Harry would have learned that when
Dumbledore says things like "Is there anything you wish to tell me,
Harry?" that it's better to let Dumbledore know what he's thinking
before he finds himself and his friends in mortal danger). Dumbledore
could also have used his gentler form of Legilimency to find out,
although we don't know how specific it is (if it's too specific it
would introduce a plot hole in CoS).

Then the simplest solution to the problem would be to satisfy Harry's
curiosity. Tell him what is in the room in the DoM and explain why
Voldemort wants to know. That would also have been a good way to tell
Harry about the Prophecy (certainly better than having to tell him
after Harry had seen his Godfather die - not that I think Dumbledore
should have waited any longer though).

Of course, had that happened, the book would have been terribly boring. :D

KathyK:
> 5.  How is Umbridge able to attend every Divination and Care of
> Magical Creatures lesson and still teach her own Defense Against the
> Dark Arts lessons?

James:
I imagine that Umbridge can rearrange the schedule however she desires
- especially with regards to her own class. The schedules at Hogwarts
seem to be much more flexible than say one's traditional American
public school where generally you have a set schedule for the
semester, since throughout the books people say things like "Ugh, we
have double Potions with the Slytherins today". They could even change
on a weekly basis.



> 6.  It's clear to Harry the dementors are out of the
> Ministry's
> control.  Do you think the dementors left the Ministry entirely with
> the Death Eater breakout?  Or just that the MoM had lost
> `control' of them and they stuck around for a while after
> allowing
> the DE s to escape?  Fudge does not report their defection until he
> finally admits LV returned but we know how reliable he and the
> Prophet are.  ;-)

James: I don't imagine that all the Dementors suddenly up and left
Azkaban - there's no possible way anyone could cover that up, unless
Azkaban only had 10 prisoners and a few non-Dementor staff members
that were absolutely loyal to Fudge. I think it's more likely that the
Dementors relaxed their guard on specific DE prisoners aloowing them
to escape, and then completely left (or were driven out) at the end of
the book when Fudge had to admit that LV had indeed returned.

KathyK:
> 7.  Harry, Cho, and the disastrous date.  Actually I have no
> question.  Just thought they might be interesting should any of you
> like to discuss it.

James:
Ahh, Harry... Poor guy has a lot to learn about what not to say on a
date. But I didn't much like H/Cho anyway - I tend to prefer H/G and
R/Hr, although I could see H/Hr happening (except - poor Ron!).


- James Lawlor
jlawlor at gmail.com