CHAPDISC: DH1, The Dark Lord Ascending

[Ceridwen]

No: HPFGUIDX 175913

This message is a Special Notice for all members of 

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups

In addition to being published onlist (available in webview), 
this post is also being delivered offlist (to email in boxes) 
to those whose "Message Delivery" is set to "Special Notices."  
If this is problematic or if you have any questions, contact 
the List Elves at (minus that extra space)

HPforGrownups-owner @yahoogroups.com

----------------------------------------------------------------------
CHAPTER DISCUSSIONS: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 1, 
The Dark Lord Ascending

Two men Apparate into a lane bordered by low brambles on one side and 
a manicured yew hedge on the other.  They challenge each other with 
their wands, and then recognize each other.  Snape has news.  He and 
Yaxley walk down the lane to a drive, which is blocked by a wrought 
iron gate.  Lifting their left arms "in a kind of salute," they pass 
through the gates as if they were smoke.

There is a white peacock on the hedge and its noise alerts the men in 
the darkness.  Yaxley comments that "He always did himself well, 
Lucius.  *Peacocks*..."  Gravel crunches as a fountain plays beyond 
the hedge.  We know this is an upper-class property.  The house at 
the end of the drive looms out of the darkness and the doors open to 
the two men.  They enter a dimly lit and sumptuously furnished hall, 
then Snape opens the door to a drawing room where the usual furniture 
has been pushed aside to make room for a table and chairs.  Something 
is rotating slowly above the table, the body of a person.  Only one 
occupant of the table looks at it occasionally, Draco Malfoy, who is 
described as "a pale young man sitting almost directly below it."  

Voldemort sits at the head of the table, in front of the fireplace.  
He tells Snape to sit at his right hand and sends Yaxley down the 
table.  Everyone watches Snape as he goes to the head of the table.  
Voldemort encourages Snape to speak.  Everyone at the table listens 
as Snape reports that the Order of the Phoenix will move Harry Potter 
from his home "on Saturday next, at nightfall."  Voldemort looks at 
Snape so intently that others look away, but Snape does not look 
away.  Voldemort's mouth approximates a smile and he confirms the 
identity of the informant, who is a source he and Snape have 
discussed earlier.

Yaxley disagrees with Snape's report.  "Dawlish, the Auror, let slip 
that Potter will not be moved before the thirtieth, the night before 
the boy turns seventeen."  Snape disagrees, saying that the Order 
does not trust the Ministry, especially since it seems as if the 
Ministry is being infiltrated.  An unidentified Death Eater confirms 
that this is happening by saying, "The Order's got one thing right, 
then, eh?"  Voldemort contemplates the revolving body.  Yaxley tries 
to continue, but Voldemort stops him and asks Snape where the boy 
will be hidden.  He will be taken to the home of an Order member.  
Every protection the Order and the Ministry can give has been put on 
this place.  If the Ministry falls before the boy is moved, they have 
a chance of discovering the various charms so they can be undone 
enough to go after him.

Yaxley reports that the Imperius Curse has been cast on Pius 
Thicknesse, head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.  He 
has access to Minister Scrimgeour,  and to the heads of the various 
departments.  The other heads can be subjugated easily through this, 
and Scrimgeour will be brought down.  However, it may not happen by 
Saturday.  Yaxley informs Voldemort that the Death Eaters have 
several people in the Department of Magical Transport, which oversees 
floo travel and Apparition.  Snape says that the Order will not use 
either method of travel that is controlled or regulated by the 
Ministry.  Voldemort says this will be better, because they will have 
to move in the open.  Harry will be easier to take this way.  
Voldemort goes on to say that he will take the boy in person.  There 
have been too many mistakes, and Voldemort accepts some of the blame, 
saying that Potter's living has more to do with his errors than 
Harry's triumphs.  Voldemort understands now that he has to be the 
one to kill Harry.

A wail is heard.  Voldemort dispatches Wormtail to keep the prisoner 
quiet.  Wormtail is described as a small man who sat low in his chair 
that the chair appeared unoccupied.  Wormtail leaves the room.  
Voldemort says he needs to borrow a wand from one of his followers.  
Everyone is shocked: "he might have announced that he wanted to 
borrow one of their arms."  No one volunteers.  Voldemort says there 
is no need for Lucius to have a wand anymore.  Lucius does not 
immediately hand over his wand.  He is described as being "yellowish 
and waxy in the firelight," with eyes that are "sunken and 
shadowed."  His voice is hoarse.  Lucius looks at his wife, who does 
not acknowledge him with a look, but closes her hand around his wrist 
under the table.  Lucius hands over his wand.  It is elm with dragon 
heartstring core.

Voldemort draws his wand to compare to Lucius', and Lucius moves as 
if he thinks Voldemort will exchange wands with him.  Voldemort makes 
fun of him for thinking this, and some people snigger.  Voldemort 
says that he has given Lucius liberty, which should be enough, but 
Lucius' family have been "less than happy of late."  He asks what 
about his presence disturbs them.  Lucius says nothing, Voldemort 
calls that a lie.  It seems that Voldemort continues to hiss when he 
has finished speaking, but it is Nagini under the table.  She climbs 
the chair and drapes herself on Voldemort.  She is very large: her 
neck is as thick as a man's thigh.  She seems to climb endlessly.  
Her eyes are unblinking.  Voldemort strokes her and asks why the 
Malfoys look "unhappy with their lot."  Haven't they wanted 
Voldemort's return?  Lucius says of course this is what they wanted - 
want.  Narcissa nods as she avoids looking at Voldemort and the 
snake.  Draco glances at Voldemort, then away, "afraid to make eye 
contact."  It is left to Narcissa's sister, Bellatrix, to say it is 
an honor to have Voldemort in their home.  She leans toward 
Voldemort, unlike her sister.

Voldemort mentions the marriage of Black relation Nymphadora Tonks to 
the werewolf, Remus Lupin, describing it as "the happy event."  Other 
Death Eaters jeer.  Bellatrix and the Malfoys are humiliated, even 
though Bellatrix has said sincerely that it was an honor and the 
greatest pleasure to host Voldemort.  Bellatrix disowns Tonks, saying 
she and Narcissa have not seen their sister since she married the 
Mudblood, and that Tonks's marriage has nothing to do with either of 
them.  Voldemort asks Draco if he will babysit the cubs.  Draco looks 
at his father, who is staring at his own hands in his lap, then at 
his mother, who gives him an imperceptible shake of her head before 
she resumes staring ahead of her.  Voldemort says "enough" and the 
laughter dies.  Voldemort says that family trees become diseased over 
time, and they must be pruned to keep them healthy.  Bellatrix takes 
his message to heart.  Voldemort likens the pruning of the family 
tree to the larger pruning of the world.

Voldemort releases the spell on the revolving body.  The person 
struggles.  Voldemort asks Snape if he recognizes the "guest."  All 
of the Death Eaters now look at the person.  It is a woman, who sees 
Snape as she faces the fireplace.  Terrified, she calls for him to 
help her.  Voldemort asks Draco if he knows the woman.  Draco shakes 
his head.  He is now unable to look at the woman.  Voldemort 
introduces her as Charity Burbage, who "taught the children of 
witches and wizards all about Muggles."  A Death Eater spits on the 
floor.  Charity Burbage revolves and sees Snape again.  She pleads 
with him.  Voldemort orders her to be silent, and gags her with a 
spell.  Burbage has also written in defense of Mudbloods in the Daily 
Prophet.  "Wizards, she says, must accept these thieves of their 
knowledge and magic."  She is for the dwindling of the Pureblood 
families.  Voldemort is angry and contemptuous.

Burbage is crying as she faces Snape again.  Snape looks at her 
impassively.  As she revolves away, Voldemort kills her with the 
Avada Kedavra.  Burbage falls to the table.  Several Death Eaters 
jump back.  Draco falls to the floor.  Voldemort turns the snake 
loose and invites her to dine on the corpse.


Questions:

1.  Snape and Yaxley "raised their left arms in a kind of salute."  
Is this a reference to World War II and the likening of the Death 
Eaters to the Nazis, in Deathly Hallows?

2.  Saluting the gate with their left arms makes them able to pass 
through the wrought iron gate.  Is this a tacit confirmation that 
there was indeed a blocking spell on the tower in HBP which only 
allowed Death Eaters to enter?

3.  The peacock at Malfoy Manor is mentioned at least twice in the 
book.  What is its significance?

4.  On the first reading of Deathly Hallows, who did you think might 
be the person hanging unconscious above the table?

5.  Only one person already in the room looks up at the unconscious 
revolving body above the table: Draco Malfoy.  Once the body is 
resuscitated, he no longer looks at her.  Why?

6.  Voldemort gives Snape the seat of honor at his right hand.  Is 
this because Snape is his "right-hand man"?  Or is Voldemort "keeping 
his friends close, and his enemies closer"?

7.  Yaxley's information is different from Snape's.  Is anyone in the 
Ministry who is not a member of the Order of the Phoenix aware that 
the Order will move Harry earlier than expected?

8.  Several things that happen later in the book are alluded to in 
this chapter.  When discussing the Imperiusing of Pius Thicknesse, 
Yaxley suggests that Thicknesse can subjugate the other heads of 
departments at the Ministry to bring down Minister Rufus Scrimgeour.  
Was Scrimgeour killed by the Imperiused heads of the various 
departments under Thicknesse's direction?

9.  Who is Snape's informant?  Who does Voldemort think it is?  Is it 
the same person?

10.  Lucius and his family are clearly not happy with Voldemort's 
presence.  Is this because Lucius is still disgraced from his botched 
mission at the Ministry and his use of the diary Horcrux?  Does their 
apparent discomfort at the situation foreshadow their lack of 
involvement in the Battle of Hogwarts?

11.  Wormtail is described as sitting so low that his chair looks 
unoccupied.  Is this further sign of his physical deterioration as 
seen in HBP?  Is this because he would rather not be there?  Is it 
just that he is a small man?  Or is it symbolic in some way?

12.  The Malfoys do not make much eye contact with Voldemort.  When 
Voldemort looks at Snape, other Death Eaters look away.  Are all of 
the Death Eaters at the manor happy with Voldemort's return?

13.  Snape looks comfortably into Voldemort's eyes when the other 
Death Eaters turn away. We see an example of Voldemort's Legillimency 
later in the book.  How strong is Snape's Occlumency?

14.  Why does Voldemort praise Bellatrix, then humiliate her?

15.  Where were the Lestrange brothers?  

16.  When Harry reviews Snape's memories later in the book, Snape 
tells Dumbledore he has only watched people die whom he could not 
save.  Yet he looks dispassionately at Charity Burbage as she pleads 
and cries.  Was Snape lying to Dumbledore?  Was this the first time 
he could not save someone?  Was Charity Burbage someone Snape could 
not save?

17.  Voldemort refers to "Mudbloods" as "thieves" of the Wizarding 
World's "knowledge and magic."  This charge is repeated later in the 
book.  Is it possible for a witch or wizard to have her or his magic 
stolen?  Is it possible to steal knowledge without leaving that 
knowledge for others as well?

18.  When Charity Burbage's body falls to the table, several Death 
Eaters jump back in their chairs.  Draco falls off his chair to the 
floor.  Is this symbolic of some Death Eaters not being fully behind 
Voldemort's agenda?  Or was it simply surprise?

19.  Why are the Purebloods dwindling?

20.  Voldemort has no issues with "pruning" the family tree of 
undesirables, even though they may be pure-blood or half-bloods.  
Yet, he is displeased with Burbage's article and her assertion that 
the dwindling of Pureblood families is a good thing.   Voldemort 
says, of Charity Burbage, "She would have us all mate with Muggles... 
or, no doubt, werewolves..."  He includes himself with the Purebloods 
here.  Does he think his Muggle father's family doesn't count?  Or is 
he actively enforcing the idea that he, too, is a Pureblood?

21.  Why does Voldemort think that Lucius does not need his wand 
anymore?

22.  Do you think Voldemort is planning on dispensing with the 
Malfoys eventually?

23.  Voldemort invites Nagini to dine on the corpse of Charity 
Burbage.  What do you imagine the reactions of the others around the 
table might be?  This idea has been presented in the books before.  
When do you think Nagini has disposed of the evidence before?  Is 
this part of her value to Voldemort, or is Voldemort giving his pet a 
treat?

----------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE: For more information on HPfGU's chapter discussions, please see
"HPfGU DH Chapter Discussions" at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/database