CHAPDISC: DH Ch 9, A Place to Hide

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 179859


>Juli wrote:
> Discussion Questions:
> 
> 2. Were you ever a Boy (or Girl) Scout? If so, what do you think
> of Hermione's "Always prepared"? Do you think she would have made a
„« good Girl Scout?

Potioncat:
I was a Girl Scout leader, and if Hermione were in my troop, we'd 
have to have a little chat about that SNEAK jinx business. As for 
Girl Scouting in DH, she'd have to submit paperwork to show she had 
reviewed Safety-Wise, and she'd have to have a trained first aider. 
Oh, never mind. Hermione would be a Girl Guide and I don't know what 
their paperwork is like.

She was pretty well prepared given she didn't really know what Harry 
was up to. If she had known that he didn't know what he was up to 
either, I think she would have packed differently. (Like for a 
honeymoon in Bermuda.)

> 
> 3. Why do you think The Trio didn't want to kill the Death Eaters?
> They are 'good', we all get that, but they are in a war, and at
„« those times killing is allowed. Do you agree?

Potioncat:
I agree with Carol, the DEs were unconscious. It wouldn't be the 
right way to go about it. The difference between how Harry reacts now 
and how he'll use Dark magic later is quite dramatic.

But I also agree with Mike and Aussie. The Trio should have done more 
to keep them out of the war. But, you know, these are 3 kids who are 
just trying to stay alive at this point.
> 
> 4. How does Hermione know how to produce a speaking Patronus? This
> isn't taught in any book at all, only the Order knows how to. Has
> Tonks perhaps been teaching her? Or another Member? Who do you think
„« would be willing to teach her Order-Restricted incantations?

Potioncat:
I thought that she was a member of the Order. Her comments at Privet 
Dr. made it seem that she had been active in planning sessions. So I 
never thought twice about her knowing how to cast a speaking 
Patronus. 

But, the Patronus Charm hasn't stayed consistent. I'm not sure why it 
couldn't have been used for communication with Order members. Seems 
pretty useless all the way around. Also, Umbridge is able to cast a 
regular one and use it for prolonged periods, yet it was supposed to 
be an anti-Dark charm.
> 
> 5. What do you think were Harry's feelings as he entered 12
> Grimmauld Place, that dreaded place where his godfather once lived,
„« and is greeted by the ghost of his mentor?

Potioncat:
I don't know, but it scared the snot out of me! Afterwards, it seemed 
a strange, comical sort of jinx and I didn't quite "get it" as an 
anti-Snape device; unless it would have acted differently if Snape 
really had attempted to enter. 

> 6. The Trio see signs that someone has been at 12 GP. What did you
> think this meant? Did you think it had been Snape, and if so, how 
did you think he got past Moody's jinxes?
„« 

Potioncat:
Like an earlier post, I thought it was Mundungus, or the Order 
leaving in a rush. We don't get the look at the bedrooms yet, to know 
that someone has actually gone through the house looking for 
something. The scene does work to set up Foe!Snape and it sets up the 
possibility that he could have been in the house. I kept hoping that 
this was all part of an elaborate cover-up to protect Snape. It turns 
out you don't need any cover-up at all when the leader doesn't tell 
anything to anyone.
>
> 
> 7. Do you think Draco regrets not taking Dumbledore's side? Do
„« you think he would be better off on 'The Good Side'?

Potioncat:
The suggestion of an offer was made rather late in the game. Draco 
may wish he could have gone over, but at this point, I don't think he 
has a side. The Malfoys are just trying to stay alive.


Thanks, Juli, for a great discussion