State of the DA /Did Ron and Hermione use the coins?

[career advisor]

No: HPFGUIDX 156177


Betsy HP said:
> >>Betsy Hp:
 > > <snip>
 > > For that matter, why does JKR have the DA fracture so badly that 
 > > only two members not in Harry's inner-circle respond to a       
 > > distress call?  And all while stressing the importance of       
 > > unity.

DA Jones Here: 

I think Betsy you stumbled onto my favorite topic.  But here is my question: 
Do we know for sure that only Neville or Luna responded to Hermione's call or that she even used the coins?

This is what Harry says about Neville and Luna and Luna responding to the call for the DA. 

"The crowd continued to swell; with a great rush of affection for both of them, Harry saw Neville being helped into a seat by Luna. Neville and Luna alone of the D.A. had responded to Hermione's summons the night that Dumbledore had died, and Harry knew why: They were the ones who had missed the D.A. the most....probably the ones who checked their coins regularly in the hope that there would be another meeting. (HBP, pg 642 Schoastic)"

This seems to me that this may be a case of unreliable narrator.  Because for one thing there is no scene in which Ron or Hermione tell him that they did in fact summon the entire D.A. 

This is what Ron and Hermione state in chapter 29 during their "after-battle report".   

Ron:  "I messed up, Harry," said Ron bleakly. We did like you told us: we checked the Marauder's Map and we couldn't see Malfoy on it, so we thought he must be in the room of requirement, so me Ginny and Neville went to keep watch on it..." (HBP pg. 617 Scholastic)

Notice that Ron does not make mention at all an attempt to summon the DA. Only that they did what he told them and studied the Marauders Map. 

Harry never gived Hermione a chance to mention the D.A.  He jumps right at her with: 

"So if Ron was watching the Room of Requirements with Ginny and Neville, said Harry turning to Hermione, "were you--?"

"Outside Snapes office, yes" whispered Hermione, her eyes sparkling with tears, with Luna...." (HBP, pg. 619 Scholastic)   

During the next 2 or 3 days as shown during the  White Tomb chapter, there is no evidence that  they discuss this with Harry at all.in fact everyone seems to want to avoid the topic.  

Now on to the coin. There is no evidence that Hermione used it to summon anyone other then Harry's comment and he might just be assuming that they used it. 

Here are some problems with using the coin. 

1) It has been compromised. Draco knows about the coins and they may have been confiscated from some of the d.a. members by the inquistorial squad in OOP. "Enchanted coins," said  Malfoy ......"Yeah, I got the idea from them..." (HBP, pg. 589 Scholastic)

2) Even if Hermione did summon the D.A. members, where would they meet? Not the room of requirements or anywhere near, that is where they suspect Draco is.

3) If the meeting was in Gryffindor tower, how would the other D.A members meet them there? Do they even know where the entrance to the Gryffindor common room is? Luna apparently does, but she is almost an honorary Gryff, since her only friends seem to be Gryffs. 

4) Since about 1/4 to 1/2 of the D.A. members are Gryffindors why even use the coins? Why not just go up to the dorms and summon them?   

5) Where the coins even working? Harry tells Hermione to use the coins before he retrieves his  invisibility cloak and runs off with Dumbledore, but in this quick encounter in which he almost shouts his orders quickly at her without pause. Hermione keeps trying to tell Harry something and Harry continues to interupt her. (HBP pg. 552 Scholastic)   
  
Why does Ron even talk to Seamus the next day about his mother, wouldn't Ron and Hermione by angry at the other Gryff DA members if they didn't respond?

The evidence seems to be that Hermione and Ron did not make a large effort to summon other D.A. member to their needs but just found those in their inner circle who they had worked with before. It is possible that Dean and Seamus and Lavender and Parvati at least were also told as Dean and Seamus are sitting in the common room when Harry returns (with practically the whole House, prob because of Dumbledore, but they might have been there already.)    

We haven't really been told the extent of the battle and perhaps Harry hasn't either. For one weren't there aurors other then Tonks at the school? Were where they this night?  We really have no idea how big or far ranging the battle was. There could have been other DE/DA battles  elsewhere in the castle (but not likely). Harry does pass other students in his pursuit of Snape, including Ernies large group of Hufflepuffs. 

"...he burst through a tapestry at the bottom and out into a corridor where a number of bewildered and pajama-clad Hufflepuffs stood.

"Harry we heard a noise and someone said something about the Dark Mark--"began Ernie MacMillan. 

"Out of my way!" yelled Harry knocking 2 boys aside as...." (HBP pg. 600, Scholastic)

This actually suggests that the Hufflepuffs responded to some degree. If not to the  coins, then to at least the noise and distrubance in the castle. Harry had a chance to get their help but ignored them. My guess is that Ron and Hermione made no attempt to contact them.

There is a strong possiblilty that Ron and Hermione never used the coins.

 How  did  Luna know?  She might have just been there visiting or they went and got her in some way other then the coin. Could they have sent her an owl and told her to tell noone?       

Anyway, this is my crazy theory. I'm sure everyone has there's. 

DA Jones



 		
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