CHAPDISC: HBP21, The Unknowable Room

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 158748

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "kiricat4001" <zarleycat at ...> 
wrote:
<SNIP of the great summary>
> Questions:
> 
> 1. Harry increasingly turns to his Potions book when he is at a 
> loss.  Why has he come to rely on the Prince as his major source 
of 
> inspiration or guidance, even for things outside the field of 
> Potions?

Alla:

Um, that if Snape stopped thinking that Harry is James ( which is of 
course what I think he is thinking), Harry would be able to learn 
something of substance from him? 

But on the other hand, I wish he would not rely so much on that 
book, he would not have learned Sectusemptra otherwise.

 
> 2. Harry doesn't know the effects of Sectumsempra.  What does his 
> eagerness to try it tell us about him?

Alla:

That he is very eager to try out new things? That he is curious? And 
stupid too of course to try out spells he does not know what they 
mean?
 
> 3. Harry thinks Snape will mark him down on the Dementor essay.  
> Does Hogwarts strike you as a place that encourages thinking in 
> alternative ways?  Or do classes seem geared towards rote learning?

Alla:

I actually have not seen the alternative way of thinking promoted 
much, but on the other hand it is not stressed IMO what the 
mainstream way of thinking is, so I cannot truly tell. I am 
interested in what Potioncat wrote though.

 
> 4. Do you think SPEW will be back in Book 7?
> 
> 5. Why do elves never Apparate with a soft pop, but always with a 
> loud "crack?"

Alla:

Not sure about SPEW in its form as we last saw it, but definitely 
House elves will be back and something in their situation will 
change for the better.

After all JKR even mentioned on the site that she is writing about 
elves rights in book 7, right?

 
> 7. In the exchange about the ROR, Hermione shows her logical 
> thinking in determining that Harry won't be able to get inside.  
> Harry displays some intuitive thinking in figuring out who 
> the "variety of students are." Ron is amused about transfigured 
> Crabbe and Goyle.  Does this tell us anything about the relative 
> strengths and weaknesses of the Trio?

Alla:

Well, those are Harry and Hermione strengths for the most part, 
right? I wish Ron strength as strategist would come out.


> 8. After 5-plus years at Hogwarts, is Ron really clueless on how 
to 
> use a wand to clean up spilled ink? 

Alla:

I doubt it. :( Too much of comic relief for my taste.
 

> 12. How much of Myrtle's description of sensitive, bullied, lonely 
> Draco is her own imagination?

Alla:

As a joke - what Potioncat said, as more serious answer - I am sure 
Draco being upset part was correct, bullied - um, doubt it.

So, yeah, Murtle has good imagination :), after all she is a teenage 
girl too.

> 15. Do you find it strange that Dumbledore would not alert those 
> guarding Hogwarts, especially those who are members of the Order, 
to 
> his own absences from the school?

Alla:

Oh, yes, absolutely I do,  this is another instance of DD relying on 
his own wisdom too much, unless there is another traitor among the 
order whom Dumbledore does not trust much. ;)

 
> 16. Hermione insists on at least four different occasions in this 
> chapter that Harry is wrong to try to think of a magically-induced 
> way to pry Slughorn's memory from him. Yet, Harry does end up 
using 
> a potion on himself. Is Hermione wrong in her opinion that the key 
> to unlocking Slughorn is something innate in Harry?

Alla:

I don't think she is, potion or no potion, Harry ends up talking to 
the **best part of Slughorn** IMO, I think Potion just strengthened 
his persuasion skills, but the key was indeed something innate in 
him.


Great job, Marianne :)