CHAP DISC, HBP 25, The Seer Overheard

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 161711

Okay, first of all many many many thanks to SSSusan for the 
tremendous help with the chapter, to Jen and Betsy and Ceridwen and 
Katy and Chris for taking a look at the questions.  You guys are all 
rock, but SSSusan rocks the most :)

I am putting a little warning here – summary is LONG, like four 
pages, so please feel free to skip it – I am putting the quote on 
which I am building a question in every question anyways, but up to 
you of course. Another thing – for those who decide to read the 
summary, you will find a big chunk of text put in as direct 
quotation and you will also see some smaller quotes in between 
summary of other parts. This was done deliberately for several 
reasons which I am not going into here. I tried to make sure that I 
did not miss putting the quotations in quotations marks anywhere, 
but I may have missed some of them, so if anybody feels the need to 
point to me that I missed quotations mark or misspelled a word, 
please  **do not**. I know, it sounds strange to many list members, 
but again I have my reasons for asking for this favor. Those who 
would never feel a need to do so in the first place, please 
disregard what I just wrote and just enjoy ( if you find the 
questions enjoyable, of course, if not, **then** feel free to throw 
some tomatoes at  me)

Wow, that was rather long ramble. Oh, well. Sorry, guys, as I said, 
I do have my reasons. :)

Here we go.

SUMMARY

Harry is contemplating that people are gossiping about him and Ginny 
dating, but finds himself liking it much more when people are 
gossiping about something that makes him happy.

Ginny, Harry, Ron and Hermione are discussing each other's love life 
or what counts as such in the common room. Ginny informs Harry that 
Romilda Vane wanted to know what tattoo he had on his chest as well 
as her response. Harry questions whether Ginny told Romilda what 
tattoo Ron got. Ginny's response angers Ron and he threatens to 
withdraw his permission to Ginny and Harry dating, Ginny responds by 
calling Ron a filthy hypocrite for going out with Lavender. Harry 
cannot spend too much time with Ginny, since she is studying for her 
OWLS.

One evening Hermione starts talking to Harry about the Half-Blood 
Prince. Harry does not want to talk about it. Hermione refuses to 
drop the conversation and shows Harry the photograph of the girl 
named Eileen Prince, which Hermione found in the library. Hermione 
thinks that Eileen could have been the half blood prince. Harry 
refuses to believe it and Hermione wants to know why. Harry says 
that he can just tell that this is not a girl.
Hermione accuses Harry of not believing a girl could be clever 
enough, and Harry is stung by this, since he has hang around with 
you for five years"
Hermione is determined to keep looking for the half-blood prince and 
the next place she wants to check is old potions awards. Ron thinks 
that Hermione has just never gotten over Harry outperforming her in 
potions. Ron thinks that Prince is a genius. Ron believes that 
because of the prince his life was saved and even though the curse 
that Harry used on Draco was not the greatest, Draco was healed. But 
Harry's conscience is still squirming slightly.

Ron asks Harry about detentions with Snape, which Harry dislikes 
because they take up his time, which could have been spent with 
Ginny. 
Harry is shaken from these bitter reflections by the appearance at 
his side of Jimmy Peakes, who is holding out a scroll of parchment. 
This turns out to be note from Dumbledore, who wants Harry in his 
office as fast as he can be.

Harry runs to Dumbledore along the seventh floor and hears a scream. 
While looking for the source of the scream, he finds Professor 
Trelawney, who was thrown out of the Room of Requirement. Harry 
later learns from Trelawney, that she was trying to hide her bottles 
of sherry in the Room of Requirement, but somebody was already 
there. Trelawney walked in and heard a voice, which she had never 
heard before during her years of using the Room of Requirement. She 
could not identify the voice, but knew the voice was gleefully 
whooping and celebrating. Professor Trelawney eventually remembers 
that it was probably male.

Harry thinks that Trelawney should tell Dumbledore about the voice 
who was celebrating.  Harry also wonders whether Trelawney did not 
see it coming – being thrown out of the room.

Trelawney says that Dumbledore would prefer less visits from her.

And she pulls a card dramatically from underneath her shawls. 

'- the lightning-struck tower,' she whispered. 'Calamity. Disaster. 
Coming nearer all the time ...' 

Harry tells Trelawney that he has a meeting with Dumbledore and they 
can go in together. Trelawney eventually agrees and starts 
complaining about Firenze not having high opinion about her as seer. 
She asks Harry whether Dumbledore would have allowed her to teach in 
Hogwarts had he not had high opinion of her as Seer.  Trelawney 
recalls to Harry her interview with Dumbledore in the Hogs Head. 
According to Trelawney, Dumbledore came up to question her in her 
room and at first she thought that Dumbledore was ill disposed to 
Divination. She also recalls that she was starting to feel a little 
odd. And now Harry pays attention properly for the first time, for 
he knew what had happened then: Professor Trelawney had made the 
prophecy that had altered the course of his whole life, the prophecy 
about him and Voldemort. 

 "'... but then we were rudely interrupted by Severus Snape!' "

'What?' 

'Yes, there was a commotion outside the door and it flew open, and 
there was that rather uncouth barman standing with Snape, who was 
waffling about having come the wrong way up the stairs, although I'm 
afraid that I myself rather thought he had been apprehended 
eavesdropping on my interview with Dumbledore - you see, he himself 
was seeking a job at the time, and no doubt hoped to pick up tips! 
Well, after that, you know, Dumbledore seemed much more dis­posed to 
give me a job, and I could not help thinking, Harry, that it was 
because he appreciated the stark contrast between my own unassuming 
manners and quiet talent, compared to the pushing, thrusting young 
man who was prepared to listen at keyholes - Harry, dear?' 
***
Harry was standing stock-still as waves of shock crashed over him, 
wave after wave, obliterating every­thing except the information that 
had been kept from him for so long... 

It was Snape who had overheard the prophecy. It was Snape who had 
carried the news of the prophecy to Voldemort. Snape and Peter 
Pettigrew together had sent Voldemort hunting after Lily and James 
and their son... "

Harry tells Trelawney to stay there and he runs to the Dumbledore 
office and enters it. Dumbledore tells Harry that, as promised, 
Harry can come with him. Harry asks whether DD found the Horcrux and 
Dumbledore answers in the positive.

"Rage and resentment fought shock and excitement: for several 
moments, Harry could not speak." 

Dumbledore tells Harry that it is natural to be upset and Harry 
tells him that he is not scared. Harry asks which Horcrux it is and 
DD replies that he is not sure, but he thinks that they can rule out 
the snake and it is hidden in the cave, where Tom Riddle once 
terrorized two children from the orphanage. Harry asks how it is 
protected and Dumbledore replies that he does not know, he suspects, 
but he can be wrong. He then warns Harry again that it could be 
dangerous. Harry is adamant that he is coming. Dumbledore asks what 
happened to him and after replying "Nothing", Harry tells Headmaster 
that Snape is what happened to him.

"Dumbledore's expression did not change, but Harry thought his face 
whitened under the bloody tinge cast by the setting sun. For a long 
moment, Dumbledore said nothing. 

'When did you find out about this?' he asked at last. 

'Just now!' said Harry, who was refraining from yelling with 
enormous difficulty. And then, suddenly, he could not stop 
himself. 'AND YOU LET HIM TEACH HERE AND HE TOLD VOLDEMORT TO GO 
AFTER MY MUM AND DAD!' 
***
He wanted to rage and storm at Dumbledore, but he also wanted to go 
with him to try and destroy the Horcrux; he wanted to tell him that 
he was a foolish old man for trusting Snape, but he was terrified 
that Dumbledore would not take him along unless he mastered his 
anger ... 

'Harry,' said Dumbledore quietly. 'Please listen to me.' 
***
'Professor Snape made a terrible -' 

'Don't tell me it was a mistake, sir, he was listening at the door!' 

'Please let me finish.' Dumbledore waited until Harry had nodded 
curtly, then went on. 'Professor Snape made a terrible mistake. He 
was still in Lord Voldemort's employ on the night he heard the first 
half of Professor Trelawney's prophecy. Naturally, he hastened to 
tell his master what he had heard, for it concerned his master most 
deeply. But he did not know - he had no possible way of knowing - 
which boy Voldemort would hunt from then onwards, or that the 
parents he would destroy in his murderous quest were people that 
Professor Snape knew, that they were your mother and father -' 

Harry let out a yell of mirthless laughter. 

'He hated my dad like he hated Sirius! Haven't you noticed, 
Professor, how the people Snape hates tend to end up dead?' 

'You have no idea of the remorse Professor Snape felt when he 
realized how Lord Voldemort had interpreted the prophecy, Harry. I 
believe it to be the greatest regret of his life and the reason that 
he returned -' 

'But he's a very good Occlumens, isn't he, sir?' said Harry, whose 
voice was shaking with the effort of keeping it steady. 'And isn't 
Voldemort convinced that Snape's on his side, even now? 
Professor ... how can you be sure Snape's on our side?' 

Dumbledore did not speak for a moment; he looked as though he was 
trying to make up his mind about something. At last he said, 'I am 
sure. I trust Severus Snape completely.' 

Harry breathed deeply for a few moments in an effort to steady 
himself. It did not work. 

'Well, I don't!' he said, as loudly as before. 'He's up to something 
with Draco Malfoy right now, right under your nose, and you still -' 

'We have discussed this, Harry,' said Dumbledore, and now he sounded 
stern again. 'I have told you my views.' 

'You're leaving the school tonight and I'll bet you haven't even 
considered that Snape and Malfoy might decide to -' 

To what?' asked Dumbledore, his eyebrows raised. 'What is it that 
you suspect them of doing, precisely?' 

'I ... they're up to something!' said Harry and his hands curled 
into fists as he said it. 'Professor Trelawney was just in the Room 
of Requirement, trying to hide her sherry bottles, and she heard 
Malfoy whooping, celebrating! He's trying to mend something 
dangerous in there and if you ask me he's fixed it at last and 
you're about to just walk out of school without -' "


Dumbledore tells Harry that he does not wish to discuss the matter 
any further, that he takes the safety of the students very seriously 
and that when he leaves there are additional protections in place.
Dumbledore asks Harry whether he still wants to come with him 
tonight and Harry answers in the positive. Dumbledore again asks 
whether Harry will obey any order that he will receive, including, 
if necessary, to save himself and leave Dumbledore. Harry after 
hesitation answers the question in the positive. Dumbledore tells 
Harry to go get his Invisibility cloak and meet him in the hall in 
five minutes.

"Harry's mind was oddly clear all of a sudden. He knew what to do." 

Harry grabs the Marauders Map, Felix Felicis and sock from his 
trunk. He gives the sock to Ron and Hermione who are sitting in the 
common room and tells them what is going on. Ron wonders why he 
needs socks and Harry tells him that he will need what in them – 
Felix felicis. Harry orders them to gather who they can from the DA, 
take the Felix, and watch Snape and Malfoy tonight while he and 
Dumbledore go onto their trip. Harry tells him to share that between 
themselves and Ginny to say good bye to her. Hermione tells Harry to 
take the Felix, but Harry says that he is with Dumbledore.

Dumbledore is waiting for Harry at the Entrance Hall. They walk 
towards the apparition point to the Hogs' Head. Harry tells DD that 
he can apparate, but does not have a license and DD tells him that 
he will assist him again. They come to the Hogs Head and apparate 
from there.

QUESTIONS


1.	"'How can I have hung round with you for five years and not 
think girls are clever?' said Harry, stung by this." What does this 
remark tell you about Harry?

2.	The narrator tells us that the reason why Harry disliked 
Snape's detentions was because they were taking away from his time 
with Ginny. Would have Harry liked them otherwise? 


3.	Why does Dumbledore want fewer visits from professor 
Trelawney?

4.	The card that Trelawney pulls and reads to Harry correctly 
predicts what will happen soon. Did that cause you to change your 
opinion of Trelawney's prediction powers, card reading and other 
Seer abilities for the better? If not, why not?

5.	We have discussed many times Trelawney's version of the 
prophecy, Dumbledore's version of the prophecy, whether they are 
compatible or not, etc., so I am not going there, but there is a 
small detail which I am not sure I remember an answer to 
(speculative answer of course). How did Trelawney know that Snape 
was looking for a job at the time? Alla imagines Snape and 
Trelawney's evening tea conversations.


6.	"Snape and Peter Pettigrew together had sent Voldemort 
hunting after Lily and James and their son ..." Do you agree or 
disagree with this quote? Why? 

7.	"Dumbledore did not speak for a moment; he looked as though 
he was trying to make up his mind about something. At last he 
said, 'I am sure. I trust Severus Snape completely.'" What was 
Dumbledore trying to make up his mind about?

8.	"'He hated my dad like he hated Sirius! Haven't you noticed, 
Professor, how the people Snape hates tend to end up dead?'" We also 
know so far that people whom Harry loves tend to end up dead and 
some of the names on the list of people whom Snape hates and Harry 
loves tend to be the same. If you were to predict the next person to 
die by that criteria, whom would you pick?

9.	"Breathing hard as though he were fighting, Harry turned 
away from Dumbledore, who still had not moved a muscle, and paced up 
and down the study, rubbing his knuckles in his hand and exercising 
every last bit of restraint to prevent himself knocking things over. 
He wanted to rage and storm at Dumbledore, but he also wanted to go 
with him to try and destroy the Horcrux; he wanted to tell him that 
he was a foolish old man for trusting Snape, but he was terrified 
that Dumbledore would not take him along unless he mastered his 
anger ..."

Harry is trying to restrain himself from knocking things over. Is it 
because he has undergone some character development and is trying to 
control his temper, or is he simply afraid that Dumbledore will not 
let him come? Any other ideas?

10.	"'You're leaving the school tonight and I'll bet you haven't 
even considered that Snape and Malfoy might decide to -' To what?' 
asked Dumbledore, his eyebrows raised. 'What is it that you suspect 
them of doing, precisely?'"  Why is Dumbledore asking Harry this 
question?

11.	 `Thanks,' said Ron. 'Er - why do I need socks?'  Here we 
meet socks again. In fact, we have attempted to figure out possible 
socks symbolism in the books for quite some time now. So, is there 
any possible symbolic reason why Harry gives Felix felicis to Ron 
wrapped in sock?


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