CHAPDISC3: HBP 3, WILL AND WON’T

[rbookworm46]

No: HPFGUIDX 142565

CHAPTER DISCUSSIONS: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 
3, Will and Won't.

Summary:

The chapter starts with Harry asleep in his untidy room.  A 
newspaper is out, showing an article about the fight in the Ministry 
and the prophecy.  The article refers to Harry as "the Chosen One."  
[see Question 1 below]  A second article announces that Rufus 
Scrimgeour is the new Minister of Magic, and tells us that he was 
formerly Head of the Auror office.  [Q2]  This article also tells us 
of a "rift between the new Minister and Albus Dumbledore."  [Q3]

Yet a third article discusses the "tough new measures" for security 
at Hogwarts, stating that most people "seem reassured" by them.  
Augusta Longbottom is quoted bragging about Neville, but the rest of 
her comment is hidden under Hedwig's cage.  [Q4]  In addition to the 
newspapers, we see a Ministry leaflet, "Protecting Your Home and 
Family Against Dark Forces."  [Q5, Q6]

In his hand, Harry has a letter from Dumbledore, telling Harry that 
he is to be escorted to the Burrow for the remainder of the summer 
and that Dumbledore would be glad of Harry's assistance in some 
task.  Harry's room is so messy because he was pessimistic about 
getting away from the Dursleys so quickly and he hesitated in 
packing.  [Q7]

Harry wakes up just as Dumbledore arrives at 4 Privet Drive.  
Dumbledore politely avoids a confrontation with Vernon by expecting 
manners: "...let us assume that you have invited me warmly into your 
house."  In addition, Dumbledore has an air about him that prevents 
Vernon from trying to bully him. The Headmaster forces the Dursleys 
to sit down by moving the sofa then conjures glasses and mead for 
everyone.  When the Dursleys try to ignore them, the glasses keep 
bumping them in the head.  For the next two and a half pages, 
Dumbledore speaks directly to Harry and completely ignores the 
Dursleys.  [Q8]

We pick up a number of details from this discussion: Buckbeak is 
staying with Hagrid and is now called Witherwings; Harry notices 
Dumbledore's injured hand; and, answering one of the first questions 
we all asked after reading the end of OoP, that someone found 
Sirius's will (identifying the first part of the chapter title).  As 
many predicted, Sirius has left everything to Harry.  Harry's 
reaction is reserved - he doesn't want to return to the house where 
Sirius had been so unhappy.  Dumbledore says the Order had moved out 
temporarily until they could determine if Harry really owns the 
house.  [Q9, Q10]  

Vernon seems very interested in hearing that Harry's godfather is 
dead, and that Harry has inherited his house. ("...said Uncle Vernon 
greedily...")  [Q11]

Dumbledore conjures Kreacher who appears, repeating "Kreacher 
won't..." (the second half of the chapter title).  Upon Harry's 
order to shut up, Kreacher's incessant chanting of "won't, won't, 
won't" turns unwillingly silent, proving that Harry has indeed 
inherited Kreacher and the house.  To keep Kreacher away from 
Bellatrix, Harry orders Kreacher to work in the Hogwarts kitchens.  
[Q12]

When Harry is ready to leave, Dumbledore turns to the Dursleys and 
speaks to them directly for the first time since entering the house 
(not counting the issue with the glasses of mead).  He chastises 
them for their cruelty and neglect of Harry, and comments on "the 
appalling damage" done to Dudley.  [Q13, Q14]

Dumbledore explains to the Dursleys that until Harry comes of age, 
the one magic that Dumbledore could evoke to keep Harry safe from 
Voldemort works while Harry can still call Number 4 Privet Drive 
his "home."  This powerful protection will cease once Harry comes of 
age.  [Q15]  Dumbledore says, "I only ask this: that you allow Harry 
to return, once more, to this house, before his seventeenth 
birthday, which will ensure that the protection continues until that 
time."  The Dursleys do not answer, but Aunt Petunia "was oddly 
flushed".  [Q16, Q17]

- - - - -

Q1:  Does this signal a change in attitude toward Harry?  Is this a 
grassroots change or a campaign started by the Ministry?

Q2:  How does knowing that Scrimgeour was the Head Auror change your 
interpretation of earlier events as they had unfolded in OotP?

Q3:  Events later in the book show us that Scrimgeour tries to use 
Harry to get some positive publicity for the Ministry.  Do you think 
this is what caused the rift between Scrimgeour and Dumbledore – 
that Scrimgeour wanted to set up a meeting with Harry and Dumbledore 
refused?  Or do you think there are some long-standing issues 
between them?

Q4:  Is Mrs. Longbottom one of those who "seem reassured" by the new 
security measures?  What do you think she said that is hidden from 
us?

Q5:  Do these measures seem reasonable?

Q6:  We later see the inferi that Voldemort left in the cave.  In 
what way do you think the DEs might *currently* be using inferi?

Q7:  Is Harry's pessimism justified?  Do you think he has reason to 
believe that Dumbledore will not do as he says he will? 

Q8:  What do you think of Dumbledore's behavior here? 

Q9:  Do you believe that the Order will ever move back to 12 
Grimmauld Place?  Why not move someplace friendlier?  Do they 
secretly enjoy irritating Mrs. Black?  <g>  Is it because Phineas's 
portrait, or something else that is significant, is in the house?

Q10:  Do you think *anything* will bring Harry back to the house?  
Do you think pleasant memories could ever change the atmosphere of 
the house?

Q11:  Is this just Vernon's normal reaction, or is it something more 
significant?

Q12:  Harry does not give Kreacher any orders about discussing the 
Order.  Was this an error by Harry and Dumbledore?  Or do Sirius's 
orders to Kreacher still apply?

Q13: Why does Dumbledore say this now?  Why not 5 years ago?  At 
this point, why say it at all?  

Q14:  Will there be consequences for either Harry or Dudley in 
Dumbledore's having done this?  

Q15:  What is significant about Harry turning 17 or "coming of age" 
that would cause the protection to end?  

Q16: Why was Petunia "oddly flushed"?

Q17: Do you think Harry will be allowed to return to Privet Drive?

And to repeat the Potioncat's question from Chapter 2:
Ch2-Q10. Here's a question to think about when we move into chapter 
3: "The Other Minister" begins with a Muggle receiving two 
visitors.  It's an informative, yet humorous chapter. The 
dreary "Spinners End" begins with two visitors coming to a very 
different Muggle location. "Will and Won't" begins with someone 
waiting for a visitor and returns us to a more humorous mood. How do 
these three chapters work together?

Ravenclaw Bookworm
<with fresh coffee and a plate of fresh brownies for SSSusan and 
Petra>


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