Under the influence or not? (Edition discrepancy in "After the Burial" )

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 142151

> Jen previous: 
> I think Slughorn knew *exactly* what he was doing that night, and 
> perhaps guilt and insecurity about his own abilities kept Harry
> from understanding the magnitude of the situation.<snip> 

> hg:
> I'm not really following this, and I'm eager for you to explain
> it. Do you mean the magnitude is asking Slughorn to hand over his
> life?  And how does Harry's guilt or insecurity factor in to what
> transpired?

Jen: I'm trying to remember what I meant here <g>. By magnitude, I 
*was* referring to the danger for Slughorn in giving up the memory. 
By insecurity about his own abilities, I meant Harry viewed 
retrieving the memory as an 'errand for Dumbledore' more or less. In 
his typical self-effacing way he doesn't acknowlede the incredible 
power he holds, much like Dumbledore, to gather people around him 
who are willing to put themselves in harm's way just to help him. 
That thought brought him tremendous guilt in OOTP, both at the DOM 
when he realized his mistake, and after Sirius died. He views it as 
a *negative* trait when really it's his greatest power. That's why 
I'd like to believe Slughorn wasn't ensnared by magical means, 
because Harry's help has always come through his genuineness. The 
Felix was a good way to get there, but the moment itself would mean 
more if Slughorn made a purposeful choice.
 

> hg:
> Exactly.  
> Of course, anybody believing Harry is a Horcrux could take this
> and run with it!  I'm not sure that I think that way, but the
> Sorting Hat had its reasons for suggesting Slytherin House in the
> first place, and here we see this side of Harry, probably plainer
> than anywhere in the series.  If he's under the influence of the
> Felix at this point, this aspect of the scene is dramatically
> weakened.  

Jen: I attribute it to the transfer of powers since I don't like the 
Harrycrux idea :). I mean, it's interesting isn't it? Harry can 
speak what we find out in HBP is a language passed *genetically* 
through the Slytherin line! What could that mean? I think all this 
is connected to the gleam. Harry has a 'bit of Voldemort' inside 
himself, and Voldemort has a bit of Harry now. Harry seems to be 
benefitting from his part of the exchange. Voldemort? Not so much. 
Turns out having Harry's blood and being able to touch him didn't 
mean a thing--he's now forced to practice Occlumency against him!

Whatever caused the hat to question Harry when he said "not 
Slytherin", we now know the hat is never wrong. So Harry does have 
Slytherin abilities he needs to acknowledge, and I believe the next 
step will be thematic--coming to terms with the actual house and/or 
persons from that house who will prove useful in the coming battle. 
Realizing they aren't so very different after all.

hg: 
> I also think it's important to note, here, that there is an impact
> on Slughorn's character as well.  When we learn that he's
> essentially handing over his life, we are prepared for any choices
> Slughorn might make from here on in, that would seem to depart
> from his character as established in the first part of the book.

Jen: Very good point. He was scared to give up the memory, "Slughorn 
said nothing; he looked terrified", but he did it anyway. How very 
Gryffindor of him <g>. If JKR meant for Slughorn to be under the 
spell of Felix and he doesn't remember doing it, then I'm not 
certain we'll see much more from the character. But IF he chose to 
give that memory of his own free will, then I completely agree with 
you.

Jen