CHAPDISC: DH8, The Wedding

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 179405

Steph:
> First, thanks to ianuno3 for a great chapter recap and very
> thought-provoking questions!

SSSusan:
Yep, thanks IPPY!

IPPY:
> 1. How is that Harry can take a large dose of Polyjuice Potion and 
> it lasts the entire wedding and reception afterward? Throughout the
> books, Polyjuice Potion's effect lasts just one hour, unless the
> taker uses it again before that hour is up. How does a larger dose 
> suffice? Do we just assume Harry kept taking doses throughout the
> day/evening?

Steph: 
> I got the impression that the larger the dose taken, the longer 
> effects of polyjuice last. The chapter says something to the effect 
> that Harry took a large dose.

SSSusan:
I have to wonder along with Ian on this one.  If all it takes is a 
large dose to make it last longer, then why didn't the Trio take more 
in their first year?  And why would Mad-Eye have had to keep his 
flask constantly with him?  (I know, I know -- part of that was 
reinforcement of the "paranoid" description of him, but still.)  I 
thought it was sort of a strangity (I don't think that's a real word, 
but whatever :)) to bring in an apparent option of "large doses" at 
this point.

IPPY:
> 3. What is wrong with Lupin? He's at a celebration, why can't he
> enjoy it, especially since he and Tonks are newlyweds themselves?

Steph:
> As we don't find out later exactly what Lupin's problem is, I took 
> it to be some kind of uneasiness regarding Voldie and his plans, 
> that perhaps Lupin wasn't feeling as carefree at the wedding as 
> Tonks and everyone else, given the situation in the wizarding 
> world.  

SSSusan:
I'm trying to remember back to what I really thought on the first 
reading....  I think it was a combination of flat-out wondering what 
was wrong and also what Steph has said -- assuming that Lupin was 
just focusing on the "what could go wrong here" and the idea that 
they'd better be prepared for something coming from the DEs and Voldy.


IPPY: 
> 5. If the Lovegoods essentially were neighbors of the Weasleys, how
> come Ron and the other Weasleys (Ginny apparent knew Luna because
> they were in the same year) didn't know her before we met Luna in
> Order of the Phoenix on the train?
 
Steph:
> The Lovegoods seem like the type of people who would keep to
> themselves due to their quirkyness, or, rather, people would steer
> clear of them for the same reason.  

SSSusan:
I love this response -- either they keep to themselves because of 
their quirkyness or others avoid them because of it! Very likely!  
This also reminded me of when the Weasleys, Harry & Hermione went to 
the QWC at the start of GoF and they didn't really know the Diggorys 
either.  That didn't make much sense to me, especially as Cedric was 
a "cool" kid -- outgoing, friendly, popular -- someone it seems Fred 
& George might've wanted to hang out with a bit over breaks.  


IPPY:
> 7. Are we just to assume Ron and Hermione are an item now? Does
> everyone else assume they are? No one seems to acknowledge it except
> for a brief exchange between Viktor and Harry.
 
Steph:
> Yes, as they can't seem to keep their hands off each other, 
> although I did find it strange that no one seemed to acknowledge 
> it, especially after Hermione threw herself at Ron in the Fallen 
> Warrior chapter. 

SSSusan:
I just figured it was the small passage of time between DD's funeral 
and when we pick up the story again that we weren't privy to.  I 
assumed, from the scene we got of Ron & Hermione at the funeral, that 
they were going to be together then, and openly.  I guess I figured 
the family would recognize this pretty quickly, too... and most 
of 'em probably saw it coming as well. >;)

Steph:
> Not even the twins said anything, and you'd think they at least 
> would be teasing Ron about Hermione.  They usually find humor
> even during inappropriate times.

SSSusan:
This I'll agree is a bit odd. :)  OTOH, while I know I'm 
extrapolating here, I could see Ron being quite *firmly* open in his 
acknowledgement of his feelings for & relationship with Hermione, now 
that it was finally going.  I could actually see F&G respecting 
that.  Usually it's Ron's insecurities they pick up on & go after, 
but if Ron & Hermione were quite secure in & open about their 
relationship, I could see F&G backing off.  Or am I nuts? 

IPPY: 
> 12. Is Elphias Doge protecting Dumbledore's memory by telling Harry
> not to believe a word Rita Skeeter says?

SSSusan:
I didn't get the feeling it was that intentional.  I think he just 
really liked & respected DD and, as with so many people, couldn't 
possibly have believed there might have been any truth to what Rita 
was reporting -- especially because it was Rita.  I suppose he was 
meant to represent that strong (over)confidence in DD a bit?


IPPY:
> 13. What is the deal with Doge's relationship with Dumbledore? Did
> Doge love Dumbledore as more than a friend? Knowing Dumbledore's
> sexuality now, could Doge and Dumbledore also have been lovers at
> some period? Or could Doge have had that kind of affection for
> Dumbledore, but it was never realized in a physical sense? Was their
> planned yearlong journey around the world more than just two friends
> on a quest?
 
Steph:
> No way to know, except that Elphias seemed to have the same attitude
> toward DD that Peter Pettigrew had for James and Sirius - hero
> worship.  Or maybe you might want to call Elphias DD's fanboy! In 
> any case it appeared to have blinded him to any faults DD might 
> have had....

SSSusan:
I'm piggybacking on Steph once more (you said it all!).  I agree that 
we can't really know how likely any of the notions IPPY put forth 
are.  I rather doubt there was an actual love affair, though, because 
I suspect the tidbit of an actual relationship would have 
been "dropped" by JKR along with the crush on Grindelwald tidbit.  
But the way Doge went on & on about DD, it would make sense that it 
was either flat-out tremendous respect for him or an aspect of the 
hero worship/fanboy thing.  

I still think, too, that JKR wrote him to be representative of the 
admiration & faith people held towards DD, so that the discovery of 
his failings & mistakes would be even more powerful.

Siriusly Snapey Susan