CHAP DISC, HBP 25, The Seer Overheard

[snow15145]

No: HPFGUIDX 161823





CHAP DISC, HBP 25, The Seer Overheard  

>Alla's summary snipped<

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?

Snow:

It sounded as though Hermione cut Harry to the quick with that 
statement. Harry has never given any cause for such a retort from 
Hermione...or has he?  Sometimes the only way in which to get a point 
across is to shock a person and I think this was Hermione's shock to 
Harry that he was being very closed minded in what she was attempting 
to tell him. 

Harry didn't listen very well to Hermione when she tried to convince 
Harry that Sirius being held captive in the Ministry would be absurd 
for so many good reasons and yet
 Harry didn't listen to Hermione in 
that instance either. 

This is just another example of Harry's downfalls; Harry acting rash, 
Harry thinking he knows better, Harry acting alone despite anyone 
else's suggestions. 

Everyone tries to teach Harry, from Hermione in this instance to 
McGonnagel over the Umbridge incident and foremost Snape attempting 
to teach 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? 

Snow:

I actually thought the detentions were set as a deterrent from 
Harry's obsession of following Draco (on his free days) and getting 
anymore involved in an already complicated situation that Dumbledore 
and Snape were acting on; they didn't need Harry's reckless 
involvement.  

Secondly, I think the detentions were set specifically to include 
Harry's recognition of just who James and Sirius were in their 
youngest of years. (When you act rashly there are consequences to 
your actions) This is a silent endeavor to force Harry to see himself 
and his actions in similar comparison to those Harry regards in such 
high esteem. 

James did change while he was still at school and learned how to 
choose his fights and to conceal his more reckless behavior, 
otherwise Lily would have never gone out with James. James would 
never have grown to the person who saved Snape from werewolf Lupin if 
he hadn't mastered his hatred to Snape over the right and wrong 
spectrum. 

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

Snow:

Dumbledore can't afford to have Trelawney come out of her heavenly 
cave and alert anyone of her findings less they believe her. Not 
everyone is as unconvinced of her prophecies as Dumbledore. Trelawney 
is becoming a nuisance and a liability in this respect but since 
Dumbledore can't allow her dismissal, the best he can offer is 
refusal, which may keep her safely sulking in her private tower even 
at the cost of being ignored. 

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?

Snow:

I've always felt very lonely in my Trelawney-is-for-real vessel. 
Trelawney has made more than most of her predictions accurately 
(which I have written about several times since OOP). The one I am 
most interested in is her very first prediction, which was to Neville 
asking him whether his Gram was well, that has never come to any 
light. 

As to the direct question, I would have to say that this has only 
reinforced what I had already felt about Trelawney's predictions, 
which is that she does make accurate predictions but does not always 
interpret them correctly. 

Isn't that what prophesies and predictions are about
interpretations!


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.

Snow:

Although the situation that occurred at the door has been discussed 
intensely over how Snape could have only heard part of the prophecy, 
I thought I should chime in 'here' with a realistic reason how this 
could have happened. It's very quick and to the point: Muffliato! 

Halfway through the prophecy, Snape is detected listening at the door 
but the barman issued a Muffliato spell so that Snape could not hear 
the end portion. 

As to the question at hand all I have to say is how old is Snape 
during this process? Would Dumbledore have considered Snape as a 
prospective Professor at his age, at best 20 (not much older than the 
young Tom Riddle who asked the previous professor for a teaching 
position)?  

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? 

Snow:

Snape and Wormtail were never together
at least not till Spinner's 
End! 


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?

Snow:

When has Dumbledore pondered any question to this degree? 

When someone is asked a direct question that cannot be answered 
evasively, I would expect a hesitation such as this. 

Dumbledore couldn't answer in full so he bowed out with what he knows 
to be true
Snape can be trusted
with his life
and...even more so with 
his death!

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?

Snow:

Why couldn't this be reversed? Someone Harry hates and Snape loves! 
Draco would be easy prey in this definition. 

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?

Snow:

This is where we see Harry's `teachings' come to light. Harry finally 
has restrained from acting impulsively and this is a big one since 
Harry has to overcome his hatred for what he thinks Snape has done 
(prophecy wise) but he succeeds in refraining from his obvious 
wanting outburst.  Harry Can Be Taught!

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?

Snow:

Dumbledore appears to be more than a bit superior here in his 
answering and questioning. I believe Dumbledore's next reply sums up 
the fact that he is well aware of the students welfare and that he 
would not allow their well being to be jeopardized...as well as 
Draco's. 

I think Dumbledore felt a bit insulted by this accusation since 
Dumbledore is viewing this matter from an upper hand, more 
knowledgeable than Harry, and allowed Harry to show his ignorance on 
the matter. 


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?

Snow:

Those `darn' sock's! 

Cant wait for the explanation
and I'm certain there will be one!