CHAPDISC: DH1, The Dark Lord Ascending

[Zara]

No: HPFGUIDX 175965

> 4. On the first reading of Deathly Hallows, who did you think might
> be the person hanging unconscious above the table?
> 
zgirnius:
I had no idea. But it was a *very* creepy image. The detail of the 
poor woman's tears rolling to the roots of her hair after she was 
copnscious again was also dreadful. *shiver*
 
> 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?

zgirnius:
I tend to think not. There is the hint that he was tortured for news 
of Harry's whereabouts. While it is possible to Imperio someone to do 
that, I would think for an important assignment of that nature, 
actual Death Eaters would be involved.

> va32h:
> I was disappointed 
> that the takeover was accomplished soley via Imperius. An appeal to 
> the hearts and minds of the wizarding world would have been more 
> sinister. 

zgirnius:
I don't know, for me she managed to make it sinister. The takeover 
results in some serious flips of the former positions in the 
government and the papers, and some very repressive laws. Yet noone 
seems to mind all that much, unless they happen to have Muggleborn 
relations or friends. I was reminded of that famous poem:

First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.

> 9. Who is Snape's informant? Who does Voldemort think it is? Is it
> the same person?
> 
> va32h:
> No clue again, and my very cynical side says JKR never thought of 
one 
> either. It doesn't matter, it's just a way to show Snape seeming to 
> be on Voldie's side, so we can all be shocked at the memories. 

zgirnius:
I think the clues point quite clearly to Mundungus Fletcher. Not only 
is he a shady character, and the one Snape deals with to plant the 
seven Potters idea, but he was supposed to be in Azkaban, where he 
was put late in HBP for imnpersonating an Inferius. Yet after the 
mass DE breakout, there he is, out and about. I doubt Voldemort did 
that out of charity. Snape had either already identified him as an 
informant before his arrest (so, in OotP/HBP time) or suggested he 
would be a useful guy to let out, post HBP.

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

zgirnius:
I liked the answer someone else gave - this is aimed at keeping his 
underlings in competition for his favor.

> 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?

zgirnius:
Yes. There was nothing he could have done in a roomful of Death 
Eaters and Voldemort except to die with her. And we don't know that 
he had any inkling she was marked for death - it seems that mioght 
have been caused by that article she wrote, about wehich Volmdeort 
was so angry.

> va32h:
> Well, he apparently sold out Emmeline Vance after all too. 

zgirnius:
Yeah, that's a death I was expecting to hear more about. Snape got 
cleared of assorted thinks ESE! believers laid at his door, but not 
that one. I think I'm sticking to my pre-DH theory that she was the 
Order guard at the DoM the night Malfoy and Co, paid a visit. Snape 
did take credit for her death in the same breath as he claimed the 
death of Sirius.

> Alla:
> 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.

zgirnius:
Me too. I don't think the similarity was accidental. Poor 
Charity...but also, poor Severus.

Thanks Ceridwen, for kicking off our discussions with some 
interesting questions!