CHAPTER DISCUSSIONS: Chapter Thirty seven - The lost prophecy

[vmonte]

No: HPFGUIDX 124042


>Alla wrote:

Discussion questions:

1. Do you think we will ever meet Phineas again? What do you think
about the possibility of the network of portraits playing even
larger role in the later battles?

vmonte: Yes! Maybe!

2. Harry blames himself for Sirius's death. Do you?

vmonte: No way!

3. Dumbledore is sure that Harry IS the person the prophecy talks
about. Are you?

vmonte: Hmmm. I'm not sure, and I hate the idea of a prophecy.

4. Harry complains to Dumbledore that Occlumency lessons were
weakening him. Dumbledore replies with his usual vow of trust for
Snape. Do you trust Snape?

vmonte: No I do not.

5. Dumbledore blames himself for Sirius death. Do you?

vmonte: No, Sirius was destined to die.

6. Voldemort did not choose the pureblood wizard like
Neville "which, according to his creed, is the only kind of wizard
worth being or knowing."
Does this quote make a difference in your view on whether Voldemort
himself is sufficiently interested in promoting "purebloodism" or
just in grabbing power, no matter who helps him achieve it?

vmonte: Voldemort is only interested in power.

7. Do you agree with the possibility that Neville may turn out to
be the real prophecy child?

vmonte: I think that Neville will help Harry defeat Voldemort. If the
Longbottoms and Potters were friends, there is a possibility that
Neville's mom also put the ancient protective spell on him. If so,
Voldemort may be in trouble if he tries to kill Neville.

8. Do you think that there is a possibility that the prophecy does
not speak about either Harry or Neville? Can you offer completely
new and unexpected interpretation of it?

vmonte: I guess it could be about Dumbledore.

9. Dumbledore tells us that Sibyll is the great granddaughter of
Cassandra Trelawney. As we know from mythology, nobody believed
Cassandra's predictions which turned out to be true. Do you think
that JKR is hinting that Sibyll is a more gifted seer that
Dumbledore thinks? Do you think that there is more to Sibyll than
meets the eye?

vmonte: Sibyll bothers me more than any other character in HP. Where
is free will? I hope Harry learns not to listen to her garbage.

10. Who is the infamous eavesdropper?

I don't know. And you know it doesn't have to be a DE. It could just 
have been someone that had a big mouth and spilled the beans to the 
wrong person. I hope it wasn't Dobby.

11. Dumbledore tells Harry, "In the end, it mattered not that you
could not close your mind. It was your heart that saved you." Does
this mean that occlumency lessons were unnecessary in the first
place? Was Dumbledore aware that Harry has plenty of that power in
that room BEFORE possession occurred?

vmonte: I think that Harry must learn to control his emotions.
Occlumency will become important, but a better teacher is needed.

12. Do you think that this chapter was well done "plot wise"? I
don't remember my complete reaction when I read it for the first
time, but I remember that disappointment was definitely there. I
was thinking something like "that is the big secret"? Do you think
that it would have been more effective if Harry learns about the
contents of the prophecy from somebody else? Yesterday for
some reason I was imagining Voldemort explaining things to Harry
instead of Dumbledore. "Potter, we have to kill one another or be
killed. You better be prepared." :o) What do you think?

vmonte: I was unhappy with it as well because I feel that Dumbledore
is still not being completely honest with Harry.

13. We see Dumbledore crying in this chapter for the first time in
the books. Despite the fact that a similar question was already
posted couple of days ago,(message 123486) I decided not to delete
mine. What did you feel when you read about Dumbledore's tear?

vmonte: No comment.


Nice work Alla! I hope you do more of these!!!

Vivian