Chapter Discussion - Chapter 6: Draco's Detour

[h2so3f]

No: HPFGUIDX 145015

meriaugust  wrote:
"1. Regulus Black is mentioned being killed "a few days" 
after he abandoned Voldemort, though Karkaroff managed to survive a 
full year. How did he do this? How high of a priority does this make 
Karkaroff seem compared to Regulus? From what we suspect about the 
identity of "R.A.B." could this imply that he was killed because of 
his Horcrux theft? Does this confirm for us that Karkaroff was 
indeed the DE "too cowardly to return" mentioned in GOF? " 

CH3ed:
I suspect that coat he always wear that make him hard to see in the 
dark helped Karkaroff in evading the DE a lot. Good observation 
about the longer amount of time it took to kill Karkaroff pointing 
to his assassination being of low priority than that of Regulus'. I 
think this does support him being the one LV referred to as being 
too cowardly to return.  


meriaugust  wrote:
"2. Why attack Florean Fortescue? Or was the shambles his place was 
left in just a cover for a hasty escape? And for that matter, why 
take Mr. Olivander? Does Voldemort want a new wand with which to 
duel Harry with? We know that a wizard using an unsuitable wand does 
not practice magic as well as he could; could Voldemort having a 
wand without Fawkes' tail feathers in it be an advantage for Harry 
in the final duel? What good does having Olivander do the dark side?"

CH3ed:
I think Fortescue was abducted for information. There is a past 
Hogwarts Headmaster named Fortescue (his portrait in the office 
talks a lot). So there might be something about that family LV wants 
to know. Bill seems to have presumed Florean dead tho ("he WAS a 
good man, Florean"). I hope he isn't.

As for Ollivander, I'm hoping that he had gone into hiding by 
himself or with Dumbledore's help and not abducted by the DE. The 
only glitch is that the OotP members aren't aware of DD helping 
Ollivander hide.

I think LV, like DD, knew was could cause the priori incantatem 
effect like one that occurred in the graveyard scene in GoF. I don't 
think Ollivander said anything about the wand LV bought having a 
brother when LV bought it. LV was just another kid then. So I think 
it is reasonable to suspect that LV would come after Ollivander 
after his duel with Harry in GoF to find out if the wands share a 
core and if there is any way of avoiding the same effect happening 
again. Hopefully Ollivander is in DD's witness protection program 
and not really abducted by the DE. 


meriaugust  wrote:
3. The presence of the wanted posters and warning signs posted by 
the Ministry has reminded some readers of WWII propaganda signs and 
leaflets. In what ways are these things useful to the magical 
community? Is it really possible to teach people to defend 
themselves against threats with blurbs on purple poster board? Or is 
this just another example of the Ministry wanting to be seen doing 
*something* even if that something isn't that effective? Don't most 
witches and wizards graduate from school with at least five years of 
Defense Against the Dark Arts? How is their schooling practically 
applied in these situations? Will the DADA curriculum be permanently 
changed now that there is actual defense that needs to be done? 

CH3ed:
I think the ministry would want to be seen as doing something. After 
all the ministry is political. It is the WW's perception of 
competence that keep the ministers working. I'm afraid it seems 
harder for the aurors to catch the DE in the wizarding world, tho. 
What with the ability to apparate, do memory modification charm, 
imperius curse, etc. Most of the witches and wizards have had 5 
years of DADA, but that doesn't even mean that they are competent in 
the basic defensive spells since it seems one can graduate school 
without getting an owl in DADA. Fred and George only got 3 OWLs a 
piece (tho I'd bet that they both got an OWL in DADA and charm). 

I hope McGonnagal becomes the next Headmistress and get to make 
Hogwarts curriculum and fill the posts (including DADA teacher) 
without interference from the MoM. As Umbridge didn't get the sack 
after what she did in Book 5, I don't have a lot of trust for the 
MoM at all.


meriaugust  wrote:
"4. Harry insults and stands up to Narcissa Malfoy much like he did 
to Lucius Malfoy last year at the Ministry. How does this scene show 
Harry controlling his anger and emotions? Hermione doesn't seem to 
mind being called a "mudblood". Is that because she's used to it, or 
because she has no regard for Malfoy's opinion of her? Ron doesn't 
say much here. Is he too angry to speak, or is he willingly giving 
up the leadership role to Harry?" 

CH3ed:
I'm glad to see Harry seeming to be able to control his anger more 
than he did in Book 5. Still needs a lot of work on it, though. I 
think Hermione has a cooler head (besides, she is a muggleborn and 
didn't grow up in the WW so I don't think being called a mudblood 
insults her as much as it insults Ron) and didn't want the scene to 
escalate. Ron probably didn't need to say much since Harry was 
already saying what Ron wanted to say.


meriaugust  wrote:
"5. How does this store compare to Zonko's, the only other 
establishment of its kind that we know about? Why are Fred and 
George's products so popular in an otherwise nearly empty shopping 
area? They comment that they were able to come up with their 
personal protection line after Harry's 
D.A. lessons. Does this mean that Harry does indeed have an aptitude 
for teaching? The twins' comments that Ron has told them a lot about 
Ginny's relationships indicates that he is close with them, despite 
the fact that they live over the shop. Would you have expected the 
three of them to be close due to all the torment they have given him 
over the last sixteen years?" 

CH3ed:
I love the description of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. I get the 
impression of a more flashy shop than Zonko's. Gred and Forge are 
start ups so they're more inventive and ambitious (U No Poo!). I 
think their store is popular because it is so defiantly groovy in 
contrast to the surrounding mood. It is like a little haven where 
things are still alright. I do think Harry was a good DADA teacher. 
He understands how the curses work and have used them himself. He 
also allowed the DAs to go at their own pace and encourage them to 
boost their confidence(like when he did when Neville disarmed him 
when he was looking the other way in OotP) rather than snipe at 
their soddy works like Snape does in his class.

I suspect Ron got closer to the twins after he joined the quidditch 
team than before.

meriaugust  wrote:
"6.  What other items of value might the store be hiding? How 
loyal is Mr. Borgin to LV's cause? Why does he assume his oily, 
deferential manner when speaking to Draco, when he is older than the 
boy? Is it a mark of respect for the Malfoy family name, or is he 
really frightened?" 

CH3ed:
There might be something significant at that shop still but I can't 
think of one now. Draco's got the hand of glory (he used it during 
the raid on Hogwarts to get away from Ron).

I think Mr. Borgin is just scared. I think Harry guessed right that 
Draco showed Borgin the dark mark on his wrist. Before that I think 
Borgin was just playing along thinking that once the boy leaves the 
store he'd alert Narcissa of what Draco wanted done. Then he saw the 
mark and hear the threat of a visit from Fenrir.


meriaugust  wrote:
"8. In this chapter we are presented with a very different Narcissa 
Malfoy than appeared in "Spinner's End". Why has she changed so 
drastically? Is this just her calm, public face? Or is she that 
confident in the Unbreakable Vow now protecting her son? "

CH3ed:
While Snape was a colleague and probably a more powerful wizard (and 
probably perceived by most DE as closer to LV), Harry and his pals 
were still just underage kids of questionable blood status (Hermione 
is muggleborn, Harry is considered half-blood, and Ron is a blood-
traitor) who were insulting her son and her husband. I think this 
scene shows how Narcissa is in general and the Spinner's End one was 
an anomaly. I don't think she was thinking much about the UV at this 
moment, tho, since they aren't yet at school and Snape isn't 
anywhere nearby.


meriaugust  wrote:
"9. This chapter also presents some minor shipping moments: the 
beginnings of Harry's attraction to Ginny (him laughing at her jokes 
at breakfast), Ron and Hermione's continual bickering, and our first 
sights of Fleur and Bill together. How do Bill and Fleur match up in 
your estimation? Too sugary? What about the subtle hints about Harry 
and Ginny? Were these too subtle or just right? "

CH3ed:
I think the hints of Harry warming toward Ginny was well done. It 
wasn't too blatant that it raises your eyebrows, but it does stick 
in your mind and add up through out the book. I think Fleur is 
doting on Bill a bit much but on the whole they match up quite well. 
Bill doesn't seem to have that inferiority complex about money like 
Ron does. He is hip and holding down a great job at Gringott. Fleur 
isn't a push over either, being a Triwizard Champion in her own 
right... and can do that veela thing that most men find irresistible.


meriaugust  wrote:
"10. And just for fun, which products would you be picking up at 
Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes? Why do Fred and George still have to test 
on themselves? Surely they can hire subjects now? Or are their items 
too dangerous? "

CH3ed:
I would go for the decoy detonators... in case I get caught setting 
up a prank and need a diversion. ;O)
I think Fred and George are fairly confident in their inventions, 
but making themselves the testers would give them more incentive to 
be really careful (or end up like Luna's mother). 


CH3ed thanks Meriaugust for the really nice work on chapter 6. 
That's a lot of material to cover. :O)