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

[minervakab]

No: HPFGUIDX 124082


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "dumbledore11214"
<dumbledore11214 at y...> wrote:
> 
> 
> Alla:
> 
> 
> 
> 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?

Wonderful idea now that you mention it.  I hope so.
> 
> 2. Harry blames himself for Sirius's death. Do you?

No
> 
> 3. Dumbledore is sure that Harry IS the person the prophecy talks 
> about. Are you? 

No,  I think Harry is part of the prophecy, but Neville is in ther
too.  I just haven't worked out how yet.
> 
> 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? 

I do, but again, I cannot give reasons why.  I don't like Snape. 
Possibly I trust him just because I trust Dumbledore.
> 
> 5.  Dumbledore blames himself for Sirius death. Do you?

No
> 
> 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?

It makes perfect sense to a Hitler type of mind to believe those most
like you are the most dangerous.
> 
> 7.  Do you agree with the possibility that Neville may turn out to 
> be the real prophecy boy? 

Absolutely.  Neville is somehow connected to the prophecy but I cannot
work out how yet.
> 
> 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?

That would be the best twist of all.  I do not have a clue how it
would work but have every confidence that JKR could make it work.
> 
> 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?

I love her.  I hope she does turn out to be a great seer in the end.
> 
> 10.  Who is the infamous eavesdropper?

No idea.
> 
> 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?

I think that the two are not really related.  Harry needs the
Occlumency to close his mind even though his "heart power" saved him
this time.  Voldemort knows he cannot possess Harry's body now but he
still could possess his mind.  So I think Occlumency is still
necessary for future defence.  

Dumbledore obviously knows about the power since it worked on Quirrel
in PS but I think he did not know how it would work in an actual
possession until that possession occurred. 
> 
> 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?

I was disappointed but I can't remember now why.  I just re-read the
chapter and I cannot feel the same way I did when I first read it.  I
think I was disappointed because I thought telling Harry everything
would include telling about the night his parents died.  I was
probably also hoping for Dumbledore to say something like, "Do over! 
Serius isn't really dead. I can bring him back!"

Voldemort could not explain the prophesy to Harry because Voldemort
did not hear the whole prophecy.  It had to be Dumbledore.  Dumbeldore
needed to know the prophecy so he could plan all these years. 
Voldemort had to not know the prophecy to try to kill Harry when he
was a baby and to use Harry to hear the whole prophecy this time.  The
whole series falls apart if Voldemort knows all and Dumbledore does
not.  Dumbledore knowing the prophecy while Voldemort runs blind is
the only hope for them now that Voldemort is back. IMHO
> 
> 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?

Sadness for Dumbledore and Harry.

Minervkab

PS To the elves:  I hope I did this right.  Please let me know if I
didn't.  This is the first chapter discussion I have participated in.

Thank you.  Minervakab (Kyle)