[HPforGrownups] CHAPDISC: HBP 27, The Lightning-Struck Tower

[Kathryn Jones]

No: HPFGUIDX 163027

Beatrice23 wrote:
> CHAPTER DISCUSSIONS: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 
> 27, The Lightning-Struck Tower.
> 






> QUESTIONS:
> 
> 1.	If Harry is able to apparate to Hogsmead from the nearest 
> boulder, why couldn't they have apparated closer to the cave and 
> saved themselves the climb and the tiring swim?

  KJ:

    I believe that much of the business of the cave was a training 
expedition for Harry.  Harry needed to travel the same path as 
Voldemorte in order to be able to sense any magical traces.  It seemed 
to me that Dumbledore had already been there and was aware of the 
protections.  It seemed like he wanted to run Harry through them.


> 2.	On page 580, after they return to Hogsmead from the cave, 
> Harry notes that he has a "searing stitch in his chest."  Is this a 
> cramp from exertion or could it be something else?

  KJ:

     I think that it is a physical reaction to the sub-conscious 
knowledge that Dumbledore might be dying and that he had a hand in it by 
forcing the potion on him.

> 3.	Are you reassured by Dumbledore's wry humor about the potion 
> in the cave ("That was no health drink")?  How grave is his 
> condition?  Is there any possibility for recovery?

  KJ:

     Even when Dumbledore asked for Snape, I did not have the feeling 
that it was for medical treatment.  I think that Dumbledore was dying 
and knew it.

> 4.	Harry wants to bring DD to Madam Pomfrey (or vice versa), but 
> DD insists on seeing Snape.  Harry's reluctance is understandable, 
> but what do you make of DD insistence that he see Severus?  

KJ:

     I think that he wanted Snape for some other reason.  Perhaps he 
wanted the opportunity to demonstrate Snape's loyalty to Harry before he 
died or to talk to them both about what was about to occur.


> 5.	What do you make of Rosemerta's sudden appearance?  Her 
> attire?  Is there any indication at this point of her (albeit 
> unwilling) duplicity?

KJ:

     I just thought that it was lucky that she was there.  Imperius 
never occurred to me.

> 6.	When you first read that the Dark Mark was flying over 
> Hogwarts, what was your initial reaction?  Did you think that someone 
> had been murdered?  If so, who?  Did you believe that the "major 
> death" had already occurred or were you prepared for something more?

   KJ:

     I took it to mean that the castle was under attack.  I felt that it 
was Dumbledore they were after from the beginning, so I didn't think 
that they would leave until Dumbledore returned.


> 7.	Did you see Dumbledore's strength on the flight back to the 
> castle as a sign that he might recover from his injuries? Or simply a 
> rally due to adrenaline? 

   KJ:

     I wondered about that at the time.  It must have been a reaction to 
adrenaline, but he was a little too perky in my opinion.


> 8.	On page 583, as they speed toward the Dark Mark, Harry 
> wonders if he would again be responsible for the death of a friend.  
> What death(s) does Harry feel responsible for?  Is he really 
> responsible?  

  KJ:

     I think that there is no doubt that Harry could consider his 
actions as responsible for the death of Sirius.  He feels responsible 
for Cedric in that he died instead of Harry.  Harry is suffering from 
survivor's guilt over Cedric.


> 9.	Upon reaching the deserted tower, Dumbledore orders Harry 
> again to wake Severus and bring him to DD.  If there is a possibility 
> that DEs are in the castle, why send Harry into the castle on an 
> errand?  Why not accompany him?  Why does he order him to talk to no 
> one?  Why not alert some one like McGonagall or Hagrid, if Harry 
> should meet them along the way?

   KJ:

     I think that Dumbledore just wanted him out of there at any cost. 
I think that the plan was arranged with Snape and DD did not want Harry 
to see it.  DD told Draco that he knew that his task was to kill him. 
He could only have been given this information by Snape.  I also think 
that DD suspects that there is still an unidentified spy in the order or 
the castle and he does not want Harry at risk.  He is desperately trying 
to save Snape's life in order to have him in place with Voldemorte.


> 10.	Why does DD immobilize Harry?  How can he be sure that Harry 
> will be safe under his cloak?  Doesn't this ultimately leave Harry 
> defenseless?  Is this a mistake?  Is Harry ever in danger on the 
> tower?

   KJ:

    Dumbledore made the best of a bad situation.  His options are 
narrowing and he just wanted Harry to not interfere. Harry was not in 
danger as long as he was not discovered.  DD kept everyone's attention 
fixed on himself.


> 11.	What do you make of the exchange between Draco and DD?  Is DD 
> stalling?  Why would he praise Draco's plan to get DE's into the 
> castle?  Is DD right about Draco not being a killer?  Might he become 
> one?  

   KJ:

     DD was definitely stalling.  He knew Draco was unlikely to be able 
to kill him, and he knew that the disturbance would have Snape up before 
long.  Snape knew exactly where to go, as well, so whatever Snape knew, 
DD knew.  He did not want to lose Draco to the Dark, but it would also 
have saved Snape.  It would not have left him in as good a position with 
Voldemorte.


> 12.	The vanishing cabinets have been around for awhile, at least 
> since CoS.  Is it possible that someone else is aware of their 
> connection?  Why does DD conclude so quickly that there must be a 
> pair?

   KJ:

     I think that he just knows how they work.  Why he would have a 
Vanishing cabinet in the school, knowing that they are paired, is beyond me.


> 13.	Draco and DD disagree about who Snape is working forWell, I 
> am going to ask again: Where do Snape's loyalties lie?  Okay, okay 
> you don't have to answer that  just see the last 10,000 posts.

   KJ:

     Snape is DD's man all the way. I am still convinced that the 
statements made by DD after drinking the potion are Snape's and that DD 
is carrying them in the safest place he could find.  This seems to me to 
be the resulting conversation that followed Snape's return to DD after 
finding out what Voldemorte intended to do about the prophecy.


> 14.	 This has also been covered at length, but just for 
> consistency's sake, who else might be in hiding?  Might LV also have 
> someone in hiding?

   KJ:

     I don't believe that Amelia Bones or Emmaline Vance are dead.  If 
Amelia Bones has anything to do with Hufflepuff's cup, it might explain 
her disappearance.  She may contact Harry in book 7.  I believe that DD 
had the wandmaker stashed for the same reason.  Voldemorte might have 
taken Fortescue.  I think he has another spy.  I think that DD suspects 
McGonnagle because he has never given her a straight answer since the 
first book.

> 15.	How are Draco and Dumbledore using the term "mercy?" Why is 
> it Dumbledore's mercy that matters now?

   KJ:

    I think that DD could still protect himself if he chose.  By giving 
himself up, he is protecting Draco while still making his own agenda go 
forward.


> 16.	Dumbledore indicates his surprise that Draco would 
> allow/agree to let Fenrir Greybeck enter the castle.  Why is it that 
> Draco might want to prevent Fenrir from coming?  This is the second 
> time we have been reminded of Draco's connection to Greybeck.  Why?  
> What is the connection?

   KJ:

     I don't read a connection into it.  I think that DD is expressing 
his belief that Draco would not stoop so low as to risk his friends.


> 17.	The DEs are insistent that Draco finish the job himself, or 
> at least the unnamed DE is.  Why is this important?  Does it really 
> matters who finishes the job?  Will there be consequences for Draco 
> or Snape since Draco did not ultimately murder DD?

   KJ:

     I think that this is sort of an initiation for Draco.  If he fails, 
he will have proven that he is not DE material.  He would still be 
useful as Lucius' son and heir for the provision of funds.  I don't 
think that Voldemorte will do anything permanent to him.  Snape will not 
be punished, as it had already been determined that Draco could not do 
it, so Snape is going to come out a hero to Voldemorte.  It might make 
Voldie a bit nervous as Snape managed what Voldemorte could not.


> 18.	Again a common question: Why does DD plead with Snape?  What 
> is he pleading for?  Why does his tone frighten Harry more 
> than "anything he had experienced all evening?" 

   KJ:

     Dumbledore had to plead with Snape because Snape had already 
refused to do it.  He perhaps believed that he would be incapable of 
killing DD which is what might be meant by his assetion that DD took too 
much for granted.  If Snape had chosen to defend DD, his plan would be 
over, as would Snape, and possibly Harry.  I think that once Snape 
realized that Harry was there, his choices were over.

> 19.	 And again, sigh: What is the hatred and revulsion on Snape's 
> face?  What revolts him?

   KJ:

     He hates being forced into such a corner, he hates Harry for being 
the reason for it, he probably hates himself for getting himself into 
the whole situation in the first place, and I have no doubt that he 
momentarily hates Dumbledore for making him do it.


> 20.	Why is this Avada Kedavra spell different from the others we 
> have seen? (Note: Cedric simply crumples to the ground). Or is it?  
> Why does DD's body fly up in the air and then fall slowly back toward 
> the earth?  

   KJ:

     He might not have been able to do it, and may have used a 
non-verbal spell to get the job done.  He might also have been hoping 
that DD survived the experience.  He would not have known how weak he was.
> 
> Thanks to everyone in advance for their thoughtful responses.  I look 
> forward to the ensuing discussion and to the next chapter. Also, I 
> would like to thank Shorty Elf for her helpful editing suggestions 
> 
> Beatrice.