CHAP DISC: HBP 22, After the Burial

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 159523

Thanks, Allie! Love your questions.

> 5. Harry didn't actually have 24 hours' worth of Felix Felicis, he 
> only had a 12-hour dose.  Is it possible that his "measured" gulp 
> didn't last as long as he thought it would?  Might he have been on 
> his own at the end of the conversation in Hagrid's hut?  Or was 
> that just a flint?

Jen R.: There's an edition difference here which I think is likely a 
flint in the Scholastic version, though I haven't checked the 
Lexicon to see. But the Bloomsbury edition has Harry saying 
something like "I don't need 12 hours worth" when he takes the 
measured gulp. 

> 8.  Harry thinks how upset Hermione would be by Slughorn making a 
> house-elf taste wine that could be poisoned.  Are we EVER going to 
> see something come of Hermione's obsession with house-elves?

Jen R: Yes, I really think we will. My theories range from a fairy-
tale moment where the enchantment is lifted to a more JKR-like 
version (imo) where house elves are allowed to learn magic at 
Hogwarts. Most wouldn't go, but Dobby would!

> 10.  Slughorn acquires unicorn hair and Acromantula venom at 
> Hagrid's hut.  Are we going to see those items again, and how?

Jen R. I'm betting on the venom. There was such a point made of 
Slughorn collecting it. Maybe it was just meant to be a character 
moment although it's already made clear Slughorn can be greedy.


> 11.  Felix tells Harry that Slughorn won't remember their 
> conversation in the morning.  Do you think that's true?  Even if
> it is, a Legilimens like Voldemort could probably see the truth. 
> Is Slughorn in great danger now that he has given Harry the memory?

Jen R.: I *want* to think Slughorn actually gave Harry that memory 
of his own accord, that it was his moment of bravery in a lifetime 
of cowardice. Regardless, his chances of surviving are slim. "The 
Dark Lord knows everything" and once Voldemort figures out that 
Dumbledore discovered his secret, which I firmly believe he will, 
then he will seek out Slughorn to discover if Dumbledore knew how 
many horcruxes he made. He may even tell Slughorn he won't kill him 
if he tells the truth ("Tell the Truth!") but he will of course.

> 12.  What was your reaction to the "remorseless" way Harry
> described his parents' murder in this scene?  Do you think he only
> did that because he had to, or is he less sensitive about the
> subject now? Is this a different side to Harry than what we
> usually see?  What does this tell us about Harry's growth since we
> met him as an eleven-year-old?

Jen R.: I was surprised, honestly. Didn't think the boy had it in 
him! It did seem like a last resort to me, and one Dumbledore 
encouraged when he asked Harry if he had exhausted all his ingenuity 
& cunning to gain the memory (paraphrase). That seemed like 
permission to me. And it's hard to escape the fact Dumbledore 
used 'cunning' when that's a word associated with Slytherin house 
and Harry was considered by the Sorting Hat to have Slytherin 
potential.

Jen R.