CHAPDISC: DH1, The Dark Lord Ascending

[colebiancardi]

No: HPFGUIDX 175979

<snipping 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?
> 
colebiancardi:

oh yes - very much so.  Pureblood mania and the destruction of
*lessers* harken back to the Nazi era

> 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?

colebiancardi:

hmmmm...didn't think about that.  I don't think it was only DE's that
allowed people thru to the tower in HBP, but anyone *who* knew how to
break the spell.  Snape isn't a DE - hasn't been for years.   But he
knew how to pass through to the tower.

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

colebiancardi:
the Malfoys are a bunch of pretentious old-money braggarts!! 
 
> 4.  On the first reading of Deathly Hallows, who did you think might 
> be the person hanging unconscious above the table?

colebiancardi:
first thought - Draco.  Afterall, he failed in killing DD.  I thought
that was his punishment 

> 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?

colebiancardi:
because Draco isn't a killer.  He is a tin-pot little bully, but when
real evil is forced into his face, he cannot stomach it (don't get me
wrong, I liked Draco in HBP - DH!Draco is a wimp).  He looks at
Charity as one would when passing by a really bad traffic accident. 
In the states, it is commonly called "Looky-Loos".  He is a dear
caught in the headlights.  But he cannot meet her eyes, which is why
he turns away
 
> 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"?
colebiancardi:
I honestly think that Voldy thinks that Snape is his right-hand man
and afterall, Snape just killed DD - I am sure that placed Snape
higher up the food chain in Voldy's eyes.  I don't think Voldy truly
trusts anyone, but Snape comes pretty close.

> 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?
colebiancardi:
I think that those in the Order who worked at the MoM *dropped* hints
at the MoM around those they thought were DE's or working for Voldy. 
Probably around the water cooler or in the bathroom!! They purposely
gave conflicting information.

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

colebiancardi: I don't think Snape has an informant.  Snape and
Portrait!DD are controlling the shots. 

> 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?
colebiancardi:

yes to the first question.  And yes, it shows a very reluctant and
frightened Malfoy family - Narcissa seems to be the backbone in the
family.  Lucius looks to her first when he has to give up his wand and
she touches his hand, as if to give him strength.


> 
> 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?

colebiancardi:

small man who probably doesn't want to be there.  He always was a
reluctant DE, imho.

> 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?
colebiancardi:
Happy?  Probably not.  They have no choice, in their view, to try to
get away from him (they would get killed).  They are probably scared
witless (except for Bella, of course - but she is insane)
 
> 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?
> 
colebiancardi:
oh my - on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the strongest, a 15. 
Snape also has brass balls - can I say that here???? LOL.  

> 14.  Why does Voldemort praise Bellatrix, then humiliate her?
colebiancardi:
I guess they have a textbook sado-masochistic relationship.  that is
how I read it.
 
 
> 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?

colebiancardi:
no, Snape was not lying to DD.  I don't believe this is the first time
he could not save someone.  And Snape couldn't save Charity, not in
that setting.  It would be a dead Snape and still a dead Charity, if
he tried.
 

 
> 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?

colebiancardi:
I think a dead body falling on a dinner table would make anybody jump
back.  

> 19.  Why are the Purebloods dwindling?
colebiancardi:
too much inbreeding.  Shutters.  Thinks of the X-File episode "Home".
 blech...

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

colebiancardi:
as others have stated, symbolic castration.

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

colebiancardi:
if they don't straighten up - yes.  All but Bella.  

> 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?
> 

colebiancardi:

Voldy has a soft spot for Nagini - he loves to give her treats.  I am
sure Nagini has eaten quite a few people - perhaps those that were
mentioned in HBP's Spinner's End.