CHPDISC: HBP14, Felix Felicis

Wed May 3 12:46:14 UTC 2006

No: HPFGUIDX 151825

CHAPTER DISCUSSIONS: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, Chapter 
14, Felix Felicis

The chapter opens with the Trio on their way to Herbology class. They 
have trouble finding the greenhouse because of the strange mist. They 
use the time to discuss Harry's session with Dumbledore.

Once in class, they have to don a great deal of protective gear to 
begin working on the Snargaluff assignment. Harry brings up the Slug 
Club. We learn that Slughorn fawns over McLaggen because he's well 
connected and that Gwenog Jones was at the party. This sets Ron off. 
He is surprised that Hermione was planning to ask him to the 
Christmas party, and admits he wouldn't rather she went with McLaggen.

Harry is very concerned about how the budding romance between Ron and 
Hermione will impact the Trio's friendship. We also get to see 
Hermione warning against any of the HBP's spells and we see Neville 
doing better than everyone else.

Harry chooses Dean Thomas to fill in for Katie Bell. He wants to beat 
Slytherin in the next game, and is aware that some of the Gryffindors 
will not be happy that he's chosen another classmate for the team. 
Ron and Harry walk in on Ginny and Dean snogging behind a tapestry. 
Ron and Ginny argue about her relationship and Ron's lack of 
experience. Harry is conflicted between his attraction to Ginny and 
his loyalty to Ron. He thinks it would be inappropriate to date Ginny.

Ron is now angry at Ginny and Dean. Having learned that Hermione and 
Krum had kissed, he treats Hermione with an "icy, sneering 
indifference." Ron is so upset he plays worse than ever and is 
behaving badly toward everyone. Harry threatens to pull him off the 
team if he doesn't behave better, but also tries to boost Ron's 
confidence. 

Harry gets an idea and the morning of the game, appears to slip 
something in Ron's pumpkin juice. Hermione sees and protests. Harry 
reminds her that she had confunded McLaggen earlier in the season.

Luck is with them: the weather is perfect, the Slytherin Chaser 
Vaisey and the Seeker Malfoy are out sick, the replacement seeker 
Harper is an idiot (according to Ginny.) Ron realizes he drank Felix 
Felicis at breakfast. 

Harry sees the crowd of green-and-silver at one end, red-and-gold on 
the other; and notes that Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws have also taken 
sides. The announcer is Zacharias Smith. Most of his comments are 
disparaging ones about Gryffindor. Harry thinks Smith misses some of 
the plays.

It seems Gryffindor could do no wrong and takes the lead early. Ron 
is making saves with ease. Harper slams into Harry and makes a 
comment about Weasley being a blood-traitor. Then Harry asks how much 
Malfoy had paid him to play. This causes Harper to lose concentration 
and Harry catches the snitch.

The Gryffindor teams fly into a group hug, except for Ginny. She 
crashes into the announcer's podium, knocking Smith off his feet. 
McGonagall is irate, and  Ginny claims to have had trouble breaking.

After the game, Hermione confronts Ron and Harry. We learn, and see 
proof, that Harry hadn't spiked the pumpkin juice, that Ron had 
played well because he thought he was lucky. Unfortunately, Ron takes 
Hermione's comment as proof she didn't believe in him and things 
became worse between them. At the party, girls surround Harry and Ron 
is wrapped around Lavender.

Harry finds Hermione in a classroom with yellow birds circling her 
head. She's described as looking like a feathery model of the solar 
system. Ron comes in with Lavender, who quickly leaves when she sees 
Hermione. Hermione leaves too, and at the last moment sends the birds 
to attack Ron.

Felix Felicis Questions:

1.The strange mist, which we know is due to Dementors breeding, is so 
thick the Trio has trouble finding the Greenhouse. It's mentioned 
very casually. Do you think it's important? Could it contribute to 
any of the emotions we see in the next few chapters?

2. The Snargaluff scene is very well described for something that is 
unimportant. It seems a mixture of the Devil's Snare episode from 
SS/PS, having dental work done, and a character from "Winnie the 
Pooh." Is this just more scenery?

3.Harry makes some difficult decisions as a Quidditch captain. In 
what ways has he grown?

4. The Slytherin team members are Urquhart, Harper and Vaisey. Any 
thoughts on those names and what they might mean, or what images they 
conjure? How do they compare to the names of the Gryffindor beaters 
Peakes and Coote?

5. Many Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs had taken sides. Does this give 
the impression that Slytherin House is not universally disliked? It 
sounds as if the individuals within the two houses had taken sides, 
not that one house was pulling for one team. What does this mean?

6. Do you think Malfoy had to "bribe" Harper to play? Does Harper 
know Malfoy is up to something?

7. Zacharias Smith is pretty petty in this scene. Do you think he is 
related to Hepzibah Smith? How are they alike?  

8. What do you think of Ginny's retaliation? If McGonagall was there, 
why wasn't she giving Smith what for?

9. We don't hear anything about the Snape-McGonagall Quidditch 
rivalry anymore. JKR has said she's glad to have written the last 
Quidditch game. Did JKR tire of the rivalry too? Do the two 
professors have more important things on their minds? Do you miss the 
rivalry?

10. How can Ron really be mad at Hermione for something that happened 
two years ago? Is he using Lavender, or does he need/want someone who 
admires him?

11. We see Hermione with a flock of yellow birds around her head. 
That image is often used to represent innocence or love. Next thing 
we see, those birds are attacking Ron, and apparently do some damage. 
What does this tell us about Hermione? Or does it tell us more about 
love?

12. JKR set us up. The title of the chapter, the description at 
breakfast and the description of the game all made it look as if 
Harry had spiked Ron's drink. Did you think Harry put Felix Felicis 
in Ron's juice? What did you expect the outcome to be?

13. "Felix Felicis" is the title of the chapter. What part did the 
potion really play? Does this tell us anything about the potion or 
was it just part of the set up?

14. Felix Felicis wasn't really in the chapter "Felix Felicis." Was 
Snape's worst memory really in the chapter with that name? Can you 
think of other chapters that may have been written like this?

Potioncat, who would like to thank Penapart_Elf and Carol for 
suggestions and encouragement.

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