CHAP DISC: HBP 13, The Secret Riddle

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 150193

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

Potioncat:
I'm not sure that Mundungus isn't playing a part with DD's approval. 
He's stolen something from 12GP, sold(?) it to DD's brother, a fellow 
member of the Order. Perhaps there was a "good" reason he gave teh 
item to aberforth. Later he's arrested and sent to Azkaban. Now, 
could he be doing something for the Order in Azkaban?
>  
> 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?

Potioncat:
Oh, I hope so! He has what Snape doesn't: a wicked tongue AND good 
grooming. Of course, in book 7 we'll have 2 important portraits: PNB 
adn DD.
>  
> 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?

Potioncat:
As many others have noted, we've been shown that dispair can weaken a 
witch/wizard. Now I'm wondering if that fact will play into the 
Eileen/Tobias dynamic and Snape's opinion of "fools who wear their 
hearts on their sleeves."



> 
> 10. Dumbledore seems to have an ongoing battle with young boys not 
> using the proper etiquette of referring to teachers as 'Professor' 
> or 'Sir'.  What did you think about the way Riddle talks to 
> Dumbledore compared to how Harry talks to Snape, erm, Professor 
> Snape?

Potioncat:
I thought there was an amazing parallel between DD/Riddle and 
Snape/Harry. It's almost too close for comfort. You could take quite 
a bit of DD's description of Riddle's school days and switch the 
names for Snape/Harry and it would just about work. I wonder if a bit 
of Riddle isn't sending off alarm bells for Snape just as Riddle did 
for DD.

> 
> 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? :)

Potioncat: I think you're on to something here. Actually, it was 
driving me crazy! 

Very good discussion! Wish I had more to contribute.
>