CHAPDISC: HBP 27, The Lightning-Struck Tower

Sat Dec 23 02:35:42 UTC 2006

No: HPFGUIDX 163116

Snipped summary, on to Excellent questions by Beatrice:

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?

Snow:

I wondered the same thing and passed it off, initially, as protection 
from the area itself but later reevaluated and thought that it might 
be a learning experience for Harry; Dumbledore is always teaching the 
little tyke even though he is unaware most of the time (Draco and the 
Tower scene). 

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?

Snow:

I never thought too much about this at all. I pretty much felt the 
straightforward assumption was the cause of the pain. 

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?

Snow: 

There was a chance of recovery but that was not part of Dumbledore's 
overall agenda. 

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? 

Snow:

I think it was two-fold, not only could Severus heal the situation 
but it was dire that Snape be available to do what he ultimately did 
do. 

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

Snow:

I think she was still under the imperious curse; Dumbledore can 
certainly recognize if someone has been cursed and Dumbledore insists 
that Harry can retrieve the broomsticks. 

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?

Snow:

These types of questions are so hard, I think I was stunned but 
totally thought at that point someone had been killed because of 
Arthur's warning in GOF of seeing the Dark Mark over the house meant 
someone had just died at the deatheaters hands. 

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? 

Snow:

Sorry in advance for the Star Wars similarity but it so reminded me 
of Yoda barely able to walk with a cane but when he was fighting, he 
would have kicked Bruce Lee's butt. 

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? 

Snow:

Harry felt responsible for putting his best friends in danger in SS 
and most of the books after. None of his friends ever died because 
they helped Harry but many of his friends wouldn't care if they did.

In OOP when the Threstrals came, Harry didn't want Neville, Luna and 
Ginny to be involved; I don't think it was because he didn't find 
their help valuable, it was fear that they may be hurt in the process 
from their inexperience.

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?

Snow:

This all comes down to one answer; Dumbledore has a plan already in 
effect, especially where it concerns Snape. 

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?

Snow:

Again, it's about `the plan'. Harry is not aloud privileged 
information about the plan or else the plan may fail, again 
concerning Snape. (you see Harry is aloud information about Draco and 
the deatheaters but not about Snape)

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? 

Snow:

Dumbledore already surmised from Draco's first failed attempt at 
Dumbledore's life that Draco was not a killer (his heart wasn't in 
it). Dumbledore's drawn out exhibit with Draco was for Harry's 
understanding. 

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?

Snow:

I have stated already that Snape was the first one to hear the 
account of what happened with Montague and the cabinets, since Snape 
was the one to his rescue. Even if Montague couldn't speak at the 
time of rescue, Snape was surely capable enough to legilimence the 
information about the interaction between the two cabinets. Any idiot 
could figure out at that point that it could be a welcoming wagon to 
anyone who needed to enter the castle undetected and Dumbledore is no 
idiot. 

13. Draco and DD disagree about who Snape is working for
Well, 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.

Snow:

Snape has his own agenda
it does coincide with Dumbledore's plan 
however!

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? 

Snow:

The first question might be answered in OOP when Mad Eye is 
reminiscing over lost Order members but the second question might be 
well answered by Pippin.

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

Snow:

Because it is Dumbledore that is dying for the `cause' and not Draco!

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?

Snow:

Draco used the connection with Fenrir but does not want to use Fenrir 
for the connection. 

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?

Snow:

As Snape so rightly puts it, `I think he means me to do it in the 
end'. It's all about Snape!

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?" 

Snow:

I think Harry recognizes that familiar tone from Dumbledore in the 
cave when Harry felt he had to keep giving Dumbledore a drink that 
may kill him. 

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

Snow:

The revulsion was pain! Snape didn't want to have to do what he had 
been bound to do if this unrealistic moment actually occurred anymore 
than Harry wanted to keep feeding Dumbledore the potion that may kill 
him. 

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? 

Snow:

Snape could not mean the spell with all his hatred heart because his 
heart is not full of hatred for Dumbledore. 