CHAPTER DISCUSSIONS: Chapter Thirty seven - The lost prophecy

[David & Laura]

No: HPFGUIDX 124150



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

David: snipping to the questions.
> 
> 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?
> 
David: Phineas may make a cameo apprearance, but I can't see how 
they can play a larger role than a communucation tool.

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

David: To a certain extent. No event is solely caused by one person 
or action. Sirius died because of a number of factors, and Harry's 
actions were partly responsible.

I think it's only natural to blame yourself somewhat after the 
unexpected death of a loved one. I certainly have. Maybe it's part 
of the grieving/rationalization phase. (sorry, not a psychology 
major...just a boring and coldly pragmatic engineer)
> 
> 3. Dumbledore is sure that Harry IS the person the prophecy talks 
> about. Are you? 
> 
David: Well what other canon do we have? DD clearly answers Harry, 
when Harry asks the same question, that there can be no doubt since 
V'mort marked Harry as his equal.

> 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? 
> 
David: I trust DD. If DD says Snape is ok, he's ok. He may be a jerk 
and a dill-weed, but he's on DD's side. I believe the Occlumency 
lessons failed because the emotions between Harry/Snape go in the 
way, just as DD explained.

Side note: I relish the day that Harry graduates, meets Snape in 
Hogsmeade, and shoves his wand up Snape's..ummm..nose. Harry 
proceeds to warn Snape that if he hears even one story of Snape 
humiliating a kid again, he'll come back and finish the job! I just 
hope all survive for this to occur.

> 5.  Dumbledore blames himself for Sirius death. Do you?
> 
David: As with my comment above, of couse DD is partly responsible, 
as are a number of factors.

> 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?
> 
David: V'mort seems to be the global domination Hitler type. First 
he would take over the WW and then the RW. Wiping out a few muggles 
on his way to conquering the WW would just be a precursor to the 
full out assault.


> 7.  Do you agree with the possibility that Neville may turn out to 
> be the real prophecy child? 
> 
David: No. DD clearly states in canon that Harry has been marked. 
He's the one with the power to vanquish V'mort. I believe Neville 
has a role, but the burden is on Harry.

> 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?
> 
David: No. There is no canon for such a theory. That would be stuff 
for the fanfic authors. DD is very clear that there were only two 
candidates, and V'mort marked his equal.

> 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?
> 
David: No, I don't. DD didn't see much seer ability in Sibyll, 
except for her random and rare 'spells'.

> 10.  Who is the infamous eavesdropper?

David: No idea at all.
> 
> 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?

David: Well, they were unnecessary from a possession standpoint, 
since Harry had an internal defense. I can see Harry continuing to 
practice in books 6-7, in order that V'mort can't 'read' him for 
information. I do believe this mental link between Harry and V'mort 
will play a large role in the finale.
> 
> 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?
> 
David: I thought the chapter was very well done. Harry's throwing of 
DD's trinkets was too childish and out of character for my image of 
Harry, but that would be my only criticism.

I'm surprised you were let-down by the prophecy. I was shocked by 
it. To be told you either have to kill or be killed. To realize you 
alone are responsible for taking out V'mort, that you alone have the 
power. You can't run. You can't hide. V'mort will either hunt you 
down or continue his path to world domination, wiping out what few 
things in your life that you love.

You parents are killed, you have to live with relatives that treat 
you worse than a dog, you have some jerk-wad maniac trying to kill 
you, your god-father gets killed, and then you find out you either 
have to kill or be killed. Geez...most people would go nuts or 
become drug-addicts.

> 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?
> 
> David: In my mind, DD has shown himself a deeply caring, loving 
person. I see not one shed of an evil bone in him. He has tried so 
desperately to keep Harry alive and let him have a little happiness. 
He loves Harry like a father. He alone possibly totally understands 
the cards Harry has been dealt. The tear came from the emotions of 
the weight of it all and having to tell Harry.

This scene gets my vote for being in the top 5 most poignant scenes 
in the books. Molly's hug at the end of GOF is #1, so far.
> 

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