CHAPDISC: DH1, The Dark Lord Ascending

[doddiemoemoe]

No: HPFGUIDX 175980

 "Ceridwen" wrote an excellent synopsis of DH Chap. 1
and posed several interesting 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?

I thought it was a reference to the Nazi salute of WW II one of the 
first of many in DH.

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?

I believe so.

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

Quite significant as it turns out. In all likelihood the peacocks 
were white peacocks rather than albinos. They are rare and 
expensive, making it a typical Malfoy show of wealth. Peacocks also 
make great guards and will sound the alarm at intruders.(They can be 
louder than the most massive of guard dogs.) And just one more dig--
the white peacocks, the Malfoys may have thought so-pure are 
actually genetic mutations. I find it ironic that these pure-
blood/DE fanatics have genetic mutations running around on their 
front lawn as pets.. 

Then there is the symbolism--the many eyes in the tail are often 
thought to ward off evil. During medieval times, the peacock was a 
symbol of everlasting life.

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

I worried it may have been McConogal, and was disgusted at my relief 
that it wasn't her because it did't make her toruture, death and 
final disposition any less significant or less difficult to read.

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?

Drao doesn't have the stomach for it. It is one thing to talk the 
talk, yet another to walk the walk. It's the difference between 
watching the war on television and being a soldier or even a 
civillian in a war torn country. I don't think Draco ever envisioned 
the rise of the purebloods to be such a bloody mess where people he 
knew--at least knew in passing were going to be killed in front of 
him on the dining table he once enjoyed holiday meals with his 
parents.

If Harry & Co. had a sense of forboding when various DE's gathered 
outside of Grimauld place, I believe Draco to be nothing short of 
terrified to have not only the DE's but Voldemort as well operating 
out of his home. IMHO

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"?

I'll give Snape credit on this one and say right hand man.

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?

I think Yaxley may have been misinformed...poor Dawlish--I wonder 
who got to him this time--I like to think Kingley, but maybe it was 
Arthur Weasley(we do know that Aruthur was being followed, but not 
who was doing the tailing of him)

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?

Judging from how fast the ministry fell I think this is a reasonable 
assumption. Rufus should have taken a leaf out of Mad-eye's book and 
remembered CONSTANT VIGILANCE! I think Rufus may have been too 
distracted by Harry Potter and DD's plans.

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

I thought it was Mundungus and I think Voldemort thought the same. 
The key being that not only was Dung being used to get info from, 
but he was also being used by Snape to pass DD's info to the order.
(double spy--imperios and creates another double spy)

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?

As I stated above, I don't think that Draco or any of the Malfoy's 
ever thought their own home would be used as DE headquarters. Folks 
being killed on their dining table, the moans of poor Olivander in 
the cellar..I'd say that Lucious is more disgraced by his use of the 
diary more than the botched MOM fiasco. Worse yet, now Draco's 
involved and it seems Draco's life is their #1 priority. The battle 
at Hogwarts--by that time all the Malfoys are wandless so I wasn't 
too surpsied not to see them tossing curses around as they couldn't.

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?

I'm sure it's a sign of both his physical deterioration and his 
small stature. Also remember he wants the protection of the biggest 
bully on the playground best too hide behind or even beneath them 
rather than sit beside them. I think it may be even more meaningful 
that he sent Wormtail, rather than Bella to go to the cellar 
and "quiet" the prisoner..(Voldemort still wants Olivander alive 
perhaps? and doesn't trust the malice of his other followers?) I 
still havn't figured out why Wormtail and Snape were shacked up 
together at the begginning of HBP..was Wormtail sent to spy on 
Snape? 

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?

Of course they are not happy, remember only a select few even went 
to look for Voldemort after that dreadful night in GH. Voldemort 
doesn't strike me as the forgiving type..10 years is a long time to 
wait for one of your "devoted followers" to come find you.

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?

Well I know Snape's Occlumency is strong I still have trouble 
believing he's DD's man--even after the pensieve memories. *grin* So 
yes, Snape is a supreme Occlumens Voldemort never doubts him for an 
instant.

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

This is how he operates, he keeps having his followers prove 
themselves in new ways. All that talk of pruning the family tree..he 
pruned his down to a stump, perhaps he see's Bella hasn't done this 
yet so has not risen as high as she possible could in his mind's eye-
-makes one wonder what happened to Snape's family and what story 
Snape told Voldemort about his family tree.

15. Where were the Lestrange brothers?

I dunno, didn't miss them though--perhaps busy tailing OOP members?

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?

I think he looks dispassionately and Charity due to the occlumency 
thing..can you imagine her pleading and the type of memories Snape 
would have been confronted with.
Although I often wonder if Snape may have been feeling an inkling of 
guilt over the death of Sirius as well as Em. Vance. Charity was 
someone Snape could not have saved without betraying his portrayal 
of loyalty towards Voldemort. This was not the first time he could 
not save someone. Definitely not Lily and James, perhaps not even 
Regulus and most importantly he could not save DD.

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?

Of course magic or at least knowledge of it can be stolen--we have 
cannon support for this one--Professor Lockhart and his lovely 
memory charms! The Waga-waga werewolf!LOL We see it over and over 
again when wizards talk about how the elderwand finds new masters
(often times it is stolen). Then we have Voldemort himself stealing 
powerful magical artifacts the cup, locket, ring, diadem and (at 
least to his belief) the sword of Griffindor. Voldemort can proclaim 
this so vehemently true because he himself has stolen magical 
knowledge.(I have a ridiculous image of a younger Riddle doning the 
diadem during his Albanian tour of delving further than any into the 
dark arts).  And I will not even delve into what he may or may not 
have taken from Bertha Jorkins..

So yes, it's possible but mud-bloods and muggle borns aren't 
theiving magic before age 11, when they are wandless, and may not 
even know that there is such a thing as a witch or wizard. It's 
absurd. Voldemort knows this. He just wants the ww under is complete 
domination.

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?

I think surprise mingled with relief that it wasn't one of them.

19. Why are the Purebloods dwindling?

Because the ol' gene pool needs a little chlorine..generation after 
generation of cousins marrying cousins is not such a great thing. 
(Think Hapsburgs).
Also it seems that Voldemort himself may be killing off many of his 
pureblood followers, not only are the DE's dying in the war 
supporting Voldemorts cause, but those not willing to join the cause 
have died as well.. And of course many who may have had children may 
have spent their more fertile years locked up in Azkaban. 

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?

Voldemort is in denial about his blood status, so of course his 
followers must be in denial about his blood status as well.

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

Voldemort thinks Lucius has caused enough damage already and I think 
it's safe to assume Voldemort will not be sending Lucius out on 
anymore "important" missions.(just impotent ones *groan*--sorry 
couldn't reisist that one especially since his last mission was to 
fetch Snape).  So, it is also a form of symbolic catration as well.

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

Absolutely...

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?

The reactions of others, disgust that they are forced to watch, 
relief that they are not the snacky treat.
I think Nagini may have eaten Bertha Jorkins, and since he was never 
found, Florean Fortescue.
It's part of her value to Voldemort and it is a treat. Voldemort 
probably thinks it's a treat for his Death Eater followers to watch 
this too. 

Thanks Crewiden!

Doddie