CHAPTER DISCUSSIONS: Chapter Thirty seven - The lost prophecy . REPOST

[snow15145]

No: HPFGUIDX 124044








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?

Snow:
Absolutely! Phineas never came back from 12 Grimmald Place where the 
little toe rag that "done Sirius in" is talking to his former 
mistress in undertones of glee
until Great Grandpappy Phineas comes 
to question the whys of Sirius death for himself. 

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

Snow:
Everyone was aware of the game plan except Harry. The Order all knew 
that it was essential for Harry to close his mind to what Voldy would 
make him see. Harry not taking Occlumency seriously did not cause 
Sirius' fate. The Order knew that this could be an eventuality. I'm 
certain they had taken measures, which Harry and the reader do not 
know, if the Voldy attempt should occur. 

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

Snow:
Oh no, another absolutely! The prophecy fit Harry like a glove before 
Voldy may have even realized it. Why, check Tom Riddle's statements 
in the Chamber or Dumbledore's explanation as to why. 

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?

Snow:
If I had to choose, I would trust Snape because he is more like the 
person that is "what you see is what you get". To me Snape lays more 
cards on the table than any other character. 

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

Snow:
No! But I understand why Dumbledore feels that he is more than partly 
to blame. Dumbledore had been in secret communication with Sirius 
ever since he had to go back to prison
oops go into hiding at the end 
of POA. Then the worst thing for Sirius and the most beneficial to 
the Order for Harry was the protection of Grimmald Place. Dumbledore 
caused Sirius's depression by accepting Grimmald Place as 
headquarters. It was another case of the worse of two evils for 
Dumbledore, the best place for headquarters worst place for Sirius. 
Sounds very similar to the dilemma with Harry at the very beginning, 
worst place for Harry emotionally but the best place for survival.  

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?

Snow:
Why would Voldemort seek what he already has? The majority of 
purebloods feel the same as he does and even if they don't back him 
physically they do psychologically. Look at Black's parents or Fudge 
or Crouch Sr. when he allowed the use of the unforgivables to be used 
in capturing deatheaters. They all claim themselves as prohibiting 
the ways of Voldemort but they are all purebloods with the same 
prejudice views as Voldemort, they only justify their actions as 
being for the good.  

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

Snow:
No way! Neville will be important but if we were to go biblical here, 
Neville is to Harry as John the Baptist is to Christ. (John was 
perceived as a threat because they thought he might have been the 
prophet that was prophesied.) Everyone knows the ending to that 
story, right. 

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?

Snow:
History repeats itself
what about Dumbledore and Grindlewald. 

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?

Snow:
Not enough time to answer this one
as if I haven't already felt like 
the only passenger on that ship. But I will give you something to 
think about
look up prophet or clairvoyant on Microsoft Word and see 
who's name appears 8-)

10. Who is the infamous eavesdropper?

Snow:
Mundungus! Who by the why told or rather sold it to Snape.

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?

Snow:
Yep! But those lessons reinforced the emotional response that Harry 
needed to succeed. It is only when you become so emotionally attached 
that you can be adequately defensive. 

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?

Snow:
In first reading this chapter, with so much to take in after the 
previous occurrences, I felt somewhat as numb as Harry. But rereading 
the chapter gave me a sense of revelation that Harry was stronger 
than even I had felt. I don't know if I could have been as `calm' as 
Harry. This told me a lot of what to expect from such a young boy 
that has been through so much and still


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, I decided not to delete mine. What did
you feel when you read about Dumbledore's tear?

Snow:
It wasn't Harry alone that brought Dumbledore to tears. It was all 
the worth that Harry is; what he had to go through and what he 
remains to go through; it was what Dumbledore feels guilty over even 
if it was the right thing to do for everyone involved; it was the 
entire wizarding world and the whole weight of it laid squarely on 
the shoulders of a fifteen year old boy. 

Good Job Alla!