CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Chapter 35, Beyond the Veil

[Hannah]

No: HPFGUIDX 121051


Meri wrote:
> 1)  Did you think, before reading the book, that is, that 
> Sirius would be the one to die? What kind of repercussions do you 
> think his death will have on future plot lines? 

> Hannah:  Great questions, well done Meri!  I suspected either 
Sirius or Lupin would die, because the death of either would have a 
profound effect on Harry, without massively altering the set-up for 
the next two books.  The death of Sirius makes the whole battle more 
personal to Harry - even though LV killed his parents, I think Harry 
will be worse affected by losing Sirius, simply because he was so 
young when his parents died.  It also gives Harry reason to be angry 
with DD/ Snape/ perhaps other members of the Order (why didn't Lupin 
and co. stop Sirius accompanying them?)

> 3) For that matter, where the heck was Peter Pettigrew? Did 
> Voldemort worry that Peter's life-debt to Harry would be a 
hindrance 
> to him on this mission? 

Hannah: Pettigrew is meant to be dead.  LV didn't want to enter the 
Ministry himself for that very reason.  I assume that's why they 
didn't use PP for the mission.  If he was shown to be alive, then DD 
has been proved right about the whole Sirius business, adding 
credence to his 'LV has returned claims.'  While there are other 
DE's to do the work (probably better), LV isn't going to risk PP 
getting recognised.  Unless he was there, in his other form... 

> 5) Azkaban clearly drove Bellatrix over the edge, but she is also 
> quite clearly a powerful witch. What kind of spell do you think 
she 
> used to take out Sirius?  It wasn't Avada Kedavra, so maybe it was 
> something that the Death Eaters only know? The spells they used 
> during the battle were mostly nonlethal and Harry and the others 
> seemed a good match for them. Does this bode well for the training 
> Harry gave them in the DA? 
 
Hannah: It's always bothered me that the Death Eaters - supposedly 
the most terrifying and evil wizards around - are fighting using 
hexes that Harry and his friends have been chucking around since the 
second year, often unpunished. 'Tarantallegra' for goodness sake!  

I never thought the spell used by Bella killed Sirius, it was just 
that the force of it knocked him through the veil, which did kill 
him.  It was probably Stupefy (that has red light).

> 6) <snip> Malfoy very 
> specifically says that only the people to whom the prophecies 
> pertain can remove them from the Department, not the shelves. Is 
> this why Neville could handle the prophecy? Does he still have a 
> part to play in this? 

Hannah:  I never even noticed the significance of that.  Neville 
definitely has a part to play, along with Harry.  I still wonder if, 
at the end, Neville will turn out to be 'the one' after all.  That 
would be a typical JKR twist.  Perhaps Harry will sacrifice himself 
to allow Neville to go on and defeat LV?  
 
> 10) Many people have used Harry's protectiveness to Hermione in 
this 
> chapter as an indication that he likes her as more than a friend. 
> How do you think this chapter presents the various SHIPS? Harry 
also 
> stands in front of Ginny when she is threatened. Does this 
indicate 
> that he has feelings for her? Or is there simply too much vague 
> evidence? (I have no agenda with this one, just curious!)

Hannah:  I've never been very interested in SHIPPING.  I don't think 
Harry's behaviour has much significance in terms of relationships 
here.  He just wants to defend his friends.  I think attributing his 
protectiveness towards one character or another to his fancying them 
takes something away from his concern and guilt for all of the 
friends he led there.