CHAP DISC: HBP 13, The Secret Riddle

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 150159

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Jen Reese" <stevejjen at ...> 
wrote:
>
> CHAPTER DISCUSSIONS: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, 
Chapter
> 13, The Secret Riddle
<SNIP of the greatest summary ever :-))
>> 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?

Alla:

Others already called it odd, me too, but I also found it incredibly 
annoying. I mean, here we go - Harry doing the right thing, TALKING 
about his suspicions to adults and his friends and what do they do, 
erm... not much, IMO.

I mean, yes Arthur supposedly checks something and DD says he knows, 
but to me the fact that Draco was able to get DE into school, almost 
killing two people in process proves that they did not do enough and 
yes, Ron and Hermione not believing Harry WAS odd, IMO.


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

Alla:

I don't know, but Dung really went down on my list of good people 
after that episode . Selling dead people's things - not cool, not 
cool at all.

I mean, he is a thief, but to steal from dead, nah.... Not cool.



> 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?

Alla:

I don't think she chose it, I agree with Karen, I think we had 
enough hints in canon that emotional pain weakens witch or wizard 
abilities.
  

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

Alla:

I agree that feeling pity for his enemies will prove to be very 
important, but I also again want to say how much I love JKR's 
writing sometimes. That was so skillfully done, IMO. Not preaching 
or anything like that, IMO Harry's pity came very naturally. Of 
course it was brief, very brief and Harry is sort of embarassed, but 
IMO that was an amazing thing to feel even brief pity for the man 
who killed one's parents.

I am not sure I would be able to do that, G-d forbid.


> 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'?
erm?

Alla:

 I understand his thinking. He does not think that Voldemort is the 
type who lets his enemies live for any reason, IMO. And I think it 
is reasonable to think so.

But I used to agree with you and still am - I do think that 
Voldemort was prepared to let Lily live especially since JKR pretty 
much confirmed it in the interview.

 
> 12. As Harry leaves the office he notices the ring is gone and 
> wonders whether the mouth organ Riddle had stowed in the cardboard 
> box might be of importance. Dumbledore beams at him and 
says, "very 
> astute Harry, but the mouth organ was only ever a mouth organ." 
Was 
> there any reason Dumbledore answered Harry's question so 
> cryptically? And why was he pleased to hear Harry say that? On a 
> side note, do you think that was a JKR message to fans? :)
> 

Alla:

Confession - I had NO clue what DD meant here, still don't, but your 
explanation about it being message to us is just fine with me :-)

Sometimes that is indeed so :)

Thanks, Jen.