CHAPDISC: HBP11, Hermione's Helping Hand

[quigonginger]

No: HPFGUIDX 148964

CHAPTER DISCUSSIONS: HArry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 
11, Hermione's Helping Hand

Thanks to Penapart Elf for the tense discussion (verb tenses, that is) 
and other suggestions.

We begin as the school year is in full swing.  Hermione's prediction 
that the sixth year would be harder has proven true.  Homework has been 
piled on, classes are harder, and nonverbal spells are now expected, 
not only in DADA, but also in Charms and Transfiguration, although they 
are still allowed to swear loudly at the Venomous Tentacula should it 
attack during Herbology.

The trio guiltily realizes that they have not yet been to see Hagrid, 
who has stopped coming to meals, and has ignored any greetings they 
have called to him in passing.  They resolve to go to see him on 
Saturday, after Quidditch tryouts.

Harry wonders why Quidditch is suddenly so popular.  Hermione explains 
that it is Harry, not the sport, that is popular.  People are now aware 
that he is the "Chosen One", that he was slandered by the Daily 
Prophet, and that he stuck to his story despite Umbridge's attempt to 
silence him with her Quill,  Ron notes that his scars from the brains 
are still visible.  Hermione ignores him and tells Harry that he has 
grown quite a bit over the summer.  Ron says that he is tall too, but 
to no avail.

They are interrupted by the arrival of the Owls bearing the morning 
post.  Harry receives his new Potions book, and switches the covers.  
Hermione does not approve.

In her perusal of the Daily Prophet, Hermione notes that Stan Shunpike 
has been arrested on suspicion of being a DE.  In the ensuing 
discussion, they note that several students have been withdrawn from 
school (Eloise Midgen and Hannah Abbot, whose mother was found dead), 
and more parents are coinsidering it (inclueing the Patil twins'), and 
that Dumbledore has been frequently absent.

Leaving the Great Hall, they see Parvati and Lavender in deep 
discussion.  Lavender gives Ron a wide smile, and Ron, fresh from being 
rebuffed by Hermione, takes note, and leaves the scene "strutting".

Quidditch tryouts are even more popular than Harry has anticipated.  
After weeding out the non-Gryffindors and those who can't fly, Harry 
first chooses the Chasers (Katie Bell, Ginny, and a new girl, Demelza 
Robins) and Beaters (Jimmy Peakes and Ritchie Coote) and moves on to 
Keeper tryouts.  He has hoped, for Ron's sake, that saving the Keepers 
for last would result in a smaller crowd, but the reverse turns out to 
be true. 

Cormac McClaggen, after approaching Harry at the beginning of tryouts, 
saves four out of five penalties.  On the fifth, he flies off in the 
wrong direction.  As Ron mounts his broomstick, Lavender shouts "Good 
luck" from the stands.  Ron saves all five, and is awarded the 
position, much to the displeasure of Cormac, who reminds Harry of an 
angry Uncle Vernon.

Hermione congratulates Ron on his performance, and the trio heads off 
to see Hagrid.  Ron relives his saves, and notes that Cormac appeared 
Confunded on the one he missed.  Harry notes that this brings a flush 
to Hermione's face.

Upon arrival at Hagrid's, Buckbeak gives them a typically formal 
Hippogriff greeting.  Hagrid is less warm to them.  After a bit, he 
allows them into his hut.  The trio insists that they would have taken 
COMC, but couldn't fit it in their schedules.  The real reason for 
Hagrid's distress soon comes to light:  Aragog is deathly ill.  
Hermione comforts Hagrid, and the trio leaves with their friendship 
with Hagrid restored.

Harry catches Hermione aside as they go into the Great Hall for supper, 
and confronts her gently on the Confunding of Cormac.  She admits that 
she did so, but defends herself by saying that Cormac was maligning Ron 
and Ginny, and that he isn't the sort Harry would want on the team, 
what with his temper and all.  Harry agrees, but can't resist teasingly 
chiding Hermione for her dishonesty despite her prefect status.

Slughorn approaches and invites Harry and Hermione to a little dinner 
party he is having that night.  He ignores Ron.  Harry declines on 
account of detention with Snape.  Later, in the Common Room, Hermione 
finds a copy of the Evening Prophet and sees that Arthur has again 
raided Malfoy Manor, but came up empty.  Harry acknowledges that he 
provided the tip.  Harry again fails to convince Ron and Hermione that 
Malfoy is up to something.  Demelza brings Harry a message that he is 
expected in detention with Snape.


Questions:

Although I first enjoyed this chapter for the humour, it struck me in 
my rereading that there is a plethora of foreshadowing.

Nonverbal spells are now expected, although Harry notes that others are 
having as much trouble as he is.  Could this be a part of the reason 
Snape is later annoyed by Harry's inability to cast them by the end of 
the book?  Did Hermione do her Confundus on Cormac nonverbally?  Do we 
ever see Ron do one?  What do you think of Hermione's casting the 
Confundus?

Stan Shunpike is arrested.  Other than the trio's say-so, do we have 
any evidence that he is actually innocent?  Their meetings with him 
have been brief, and the Dark Lord doesn't seem to have a pre-entrance 
IQ test for his minions.  It is pretty well accepted that this is JKR's 
way of showing the corruption/ineptitude of the WW government, but how 
do we, the readers, know that he isn't actually a DE?  How does the 
trio?  Are we all reacting merely on faith and the narrator's say so?

Cormac seems to expect that his Slug connections will help him with 
Harry.  He is also boastful of his abilities.  He says that he didn't 
try out last year due to eating a pound of doxy eggs on a bet and being 
hospitalized.  One of our brighter listees (and I wish I could remember 
who so I could give credit) wondered once if F&G hadn't made that bet 
to help Ron.  We did see them with doxy eggs, and it seems in their 
nature.  Do you think they did this?  Would Cormac have made the team 
last year instead of Ron?

There is lots of SHIPping foreshadowing in this chapter:  Ron/Lavender, 
Ron/Hermione, Cormac/Hermione.  I don't have any real questions, but 
feel free to comment, remembering to use the SHIP prefix if it is a 
SHIPping post as per our rules ;o)

Wouldn't Confunding Cormac be a great name for a band?

Feel free to comment on things not listed in this chapter and to add 
your own question if you choose.

I hope you all enjoy your discussion.  
Ginger

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