CHAPDISC: DH1, The Dark Lord Ascending

Tue Aug 21 01:11:37 UTC 2007

No: HPFGUIDX 175927

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Ceridwen" <ceridwennight at ...> 
wrote:
<SNIP of the summary>
>> 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?

Alla:

Oh yeah, totally says me. Although I completely missed it on the 
first reading. DE equals Natzis in many aspects I would say is quite 
loud symbolism. Not that I am complaining.

<SNIP>

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

Alla:

Somebody mentioned it before, and I totally agree - symbolises 
proud, vain Malfoys IMO and here we see total contrast of what they 
are now - eyes down and all that.

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

Alla:

I had no idea, frankly.

> 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?

Alla:

I would like to hope that he knows what to expect and does not want 
to see it.

> 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"?

Alla:

In hindsight I see no reason to think that Voldemort doubted Snape's 
allegiance one bit IMO. So, yes, I go with right hand man, of course 
the right hand man till he is useful to Voldy.

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

Fletcher, I thought. Is there another candidate?

> 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?

Alla:

Yeah, I think so. I think Malfoys by that time clearly had enough of 
Lord Voldemort, although Lucius is still a bit delusional if you ask 
me.

> 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?

Alla:

No clue, I at least do not think that they are that unhappy, or 
maybe they are too scared. Otherwise they would not have been there 
IMO.

> 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?

Alla:

Looks like really really strong to me.

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

Alla:

Eh, it is not like Voldemort seems to care about his followers 
feelings IMO. I think he humiliates her to make sure she knows her 
place.

> 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?

Alla:

Of course he could not save her  IMO. From all deaths I blame Snape 
for, this is the last one.

But do you know what this scene reminded me of? Tower. Wierd I know.

Here we hear "Severus, please" again and three times ( DH too) and 
green light. I so thought of Tower.

> 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?

Alla:

We do not know one way or another, no? But I think this is another 
crap Voldemort is ready to blame Muggleborns for. 

And in chapter 13 we see so.

> 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?

Alla:

Yes, I totally think he is ashamed of him being half-blood and 
absolutely sincere to make sure "purebloods are better and they 
rule" ideology is spread around.

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

Alla:

HAHA. I thought of total submission, Lucius not needing his manhood 
metaphor and all that. Seriously I did.

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

Alla:

Oh yes, IMO. I gave you your freedom Lucius does not sound to me 
that Voldemort wants to keep it that way for too long.

> 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?
>

Alla:

I think it was just a yummy dinner for snakey. EWWWW.

Thanks dear for cool questions.