[HPforGrownups] CHAP DISC: HBP 13, The Secret Riddle

[Karen]

No: HPFGUIDX 150143


kchuplis:
>
>
>
> Questions:
>
> 1. What reaction did you have to Hermione, Ron and Dumbledore
> refusing to talk to Harry about his theory that Draco was behind the
> incident with Katie?

I have always felt it is beyond odd that NO one will consider Draco's  
role in these events especially in light of what Harry overheard in  
the train. I'm not sure why people think there is some kind of age  
line drawn with skullduggery. Molly is constantly saying the kids are  
"too young" despite what they have faced and despite what Harry has  
already been through. Dumbledore thinks Harry is "too young" to know  
he is a marked man, despite the fact that it is pretty obvious that  
LV raises his head in various ways even with out being in bodily  
form. One would THINK that forewarned is forearmed. And yet, I cannot  
fault JKR because I see it all too frequently in people I know and  
their own children. So and so would NEVER do that. They are just a  
kid. Or as much as people perpetually worry about some harms to their  
children they don't necessarily prepare them for future harms, such  
as coping in society or taking responsibility. I often wonder if this  
is not a main "message" of JKR whether or not she intends it. I know  
it makes me crazy whenever I see it in real life.

>
> 2. Where do you think Dumbledore was over the weekend of Katie's
> attack and why did Draco plan the attack when Dumbledore was away?
>

I assume that Dumbledore's outings are mainly concerned with finding  
the cave.

> 3. How do you think Dumbledore plans to stop Mundungus from
> pilfering the Black family heirlooms?

I would suppose a word from Dumbledore is plenty for Mundungus. Kind  
of like Peeves and the Bloody Baron.
>
> 4. Phineas continues to play a role in HBP which is more active than
> the other portraits in Dumbledore's office. Presumably he overhears
> all the vital information Dumbledore shares with Harry during the
> course of their lessons and he is also able to visit the Black
> house. Do you see JKR giving Phineas a more important role in Book 7?
>

I have wondered about that too. But he may just be a convenient  
"message bearer" or kind of "greek chorus" figure for these books.

> 5. Dumbledore offers Harry his interpretation of why Merope did not
> use magic to get the things she needed to survive. Do you think
> Merope chose not to perform magic after Riddle, Sr. left her, or
> that she was incapable of doing so?
>

I really believe we have heard and seen enough evidence to support  
that when witches or wizards are *in despair* (not just depressed,  
but actually despairing) particularly over blighted love, they lose  
strength. It's highly possible this will have some bearing on the end  
of LV. Vanquishment may come from some kind of great despair (and for  
him, it may not be some blighted love affair - well, of course not) -  
but just knowing, for instance, that all of his careful horcruxes are  
gone his big plan with 6 failsafes, could possibly cause him such  
distress he goes caput. After all, we've pretty much established that  
he cannot tell that the first few have been destroyed. Look at it  
this way he didn't even put all his eggs in one basket and yet, he is  
now more vulnerable that he was in the forest in Albania because his  
extra soul pieces are disappearing. Imagine him doing something  
destructive to himself believing his final piece is in Nagini and  
having Nagini snatched in front of him. I could see him self combusting.
>
> 7. JKR made a statement prior to HBP that we would know more about
> the 'circumstances of Riddle's birth'. Was there anything about his
> birth or life in the orphanage that surprised you or was it pretty
> much the story you were expecting?

I guess the first scene in the orphanage surprised me by how  
calculating and bloodless he was even at that age. All through that  
scene I kept thinking of "The Bad Seed".

>
> 8. Why do you think Dumbledore drew attention to the fact that Harry
> was 'possibly [ ] feeling sorry for Lord Voldemort?'

Because I think that the ability to feel pity is very important for  
Harry in any situation. It speaks of compassion and can you imaging  
Harry expressing pity to LV. It would drive him MAD. LV would HATE  
that. If LV is ever in a situation of vulnerability and true pity is  
bestowed on him by a "nothing" like Harry (you KNOW LV would never  
and will never admit anyone is one up on him. Not even Dumbledore -  
which is why LV has never had the nerve to directly test DD, not  
really, even in MOM he is not really trying to kill DD IMO.) LV might  
be driven to do something very rash and unthought out. Which could  
again, lead to his own destruction without Harry touching him.

>
> 9. After learning Merope died rather than live for her son, Harry
> expressed anger that she made a poor choice compared to Lily,
> who 'didn't have a choice'. Dumbledore corrected him gently, saying
> Lily *did* have a choice. Why do you think Harry didn't believe Lily
> had a choice when he heard the memory in POA of Voldemort telling
> her to 'step aside'?

Because he's been told LV is all powerful since he was 11. I think he  
really believes that. Only DD seems to contradict that and, well, we  
know that Harry doesn't always give DD credence when he maybe should.  
Besides if everyone else feels that way - and he does have an awful  
lot of evidence it's at least close to the truth, why should he  
believe anything but that perhaps LV was too eager to kill Harry  
first and that he wouldn't get Lily later?

>
>
> 11. Harry is surprised to see Dumbledore set the wardrobe on fire.
> Why did Dumbledore choose to show a boy whose 'magic had run away
> with him' such a spectacular and destructive-looking demonstration?

I think it was a "first impression". As much as LV could do he  
couldn't do that and it was spectacular and memorable. It may well  
have been the seed planted that gave DD his lifetime pyschological  
one up on LV and part of why LV did not challenge DD openly. DD  
downplays it, but I think he had Riddle's number pretty quickly and  
as early as the orphanage.
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