[HPforGrownups] CHAPDISC: DH1, The Dark Lord Ascending

[Kimberly]

No: HPFGUIDX 176213

Thanks Ceridwin for the questions !

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

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'd have to say that I think so, yes.

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

The initial peacock passage refers to them as "pure" white.  Had it been 
just
stated as white, I would have paid less notice.  The pure reference, to me, 
was
symbolic of the "pure-blood" status and that theme.  Also, they are said to 
be
"strutting majetically".   Strutting, when I try to visualize strutting, I 
think of someone
holding their head high, giving off an air of pride, etc.   The Malfoys 
would qualify.
Lastly, "majestically", synonymous with regal, royal, king.

I took them to represent things that the Malfoys and other DE's stood for-
1. pure-bloods being superior
2. being proud, haughty
3. nobility, royal, and again, superior

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

That scene set an air of "This is going to be one dark book" for me.
I seriously, seriously, seriously was convinced it was McGonagall.
It was all I could do to keep reading.  It actually made me sick in my
stomach to read that scene.


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'm not really sure.  The jury's still out for me on how loyal LV
thought Snape was.   Was LV totally convinced of Snape's
loyalty or was he, like us, waiting for the end of book 7 to find
out !   (Not likely but funny to think...)

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 didn't think so ?


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?

Voldemort appears to have been unhappy with Malfoy for quite a
while.   We learn from DD that he was most unhappy with Lucius
after what happy to the diary.  Then he fouls up at the Ministry in OotP,
Draco fails to kill DD in HBP (which I believe Voldemort knew Draco
would fail and he was given the task as an assurance of having another
strike against his family).   The beginning of DH, the Malfoys aren't 
exactly
on Voldemort's good DE list.   I saw a realization there, perhaps the 
Malfoys
saw it too.   They were disposable in Voldemort's eyes.  He did not consider
Lucius to be faithful, he was no longer a trusted devoted or even needed
servant of the Dark Lord.  I think that's where Lucius and Narcissa must 
have
begun to think of preserving and protecting themselves, looking out for 
their
family unit rather than aiding and assisting Voldemort.


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?

A combination.... a small man anyway but also that he is afraid of
drawing attention to himself.

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?

I'm sure there are levels of happiness at the Dark Lord's return.
Measure Bellatrix up against Pettigrew.   Bellatrix is bursting with
excitement where as Pettigrew still seems cowardly, afraid, and
no where near as bold as a DE should be.  I think he made a wrong
choice ages ago but at this point is stuck where he is and he knows
it.  So no, I think there are some that now seeing what LV is
prepared to do, might not be happy at his return and are only going
along with it out of fear.


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

Because he's one sick, psychotic wizard.

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?

What choice did he have in that scene ?   If he'd have attempted to save her
then he'd have probably been killed in the process by LV or Bella or another
faithful servant.

19. Why are the Purebloods dwindling?

For one, they keep killing eachother.
Two, there are limited options as for finding someone to mate with.

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

I can see LV thinking that the only purpose of a wand
is to further his plans.  Lucius is no longer trusted to do the
Dark Lord's bidding so why would he need a wand ?

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

Yes, and the Malfoys think it too.

Kimberly