[HPforGrownups] CHAPDISC: DH4, The Seven Potters

[Kimberly]

No: HPFGUIDX 177758



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CHAPTER DISCUSSIONS: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,
Chapter 4, The Seven Potters

The chapter begins the moment the Dursleys have left. Harry gathers
Hedwig's cage, his Firebolt and his rucksack to wait for his escort.
He thinks about the times he had been left alone in the past. He
remembers sneaking food from the fridge, playing on Dudley's
computer, watching television. "It gave him an odd, empty feeling to
remember those times; it was like remembering a younger brother whom
he had lost."

Harry is very pensive in this chapter. Hedwig is ignoring him as he
walks around the house, reminiscing about things that happened in the
past. He looks at the front door and remarks on Dudley's throwing up
on the mat, and Dumbledore's visit last year. Harry shows Hedwig
where he used to sleep and recalls the dream about a flying
motorcycle. At that moment he hears a sudden deafening roar. His
escort has arrived.

The party consists of Hagrid, Hermione, Ron, Mad-Eye, Fred, George,
Bill, Fleur, Arthur, Tonks, Lupin, Kingsley, and Mundungus. There is
a brief moment of chatter. We learn that Tonks and Remus are married.
Mad-Eye gets right to the briefing.

Pius Thicknesse has gone over. He had made it an imprisonable offense
to connect this house to the Floo Network, place a Portkey or to use
Apparition at the house. Moody feels it does nothing to protect
Harry, but is designed to prevent the Order from taking him. Harry
learns about the Trace, a charm that detects magical activity around
under-aged wizards. The Ministry will know if a spell is cast near
Harry. Therefore, Voldemort would know too.

Lily's protection will break as soon as Harry turns 17 or as soon as
he no longer calls Privet Drive home. A false lead has been set that
Harry will be moved on July 30. However, Moody expects Death Eaters
are watching the area. Twelve houses with some connection to the
Order have been enchanted with protective spells, so that the Death
Eaters won't be able to determine where Harry is being taken. Seven
Potters each with an escort will fly to different safe houses, then
Portkey to the Burrow. The specific houses mentioned are Moody's,
Kingsley's, Tonks's parents', and Molly's Auntie Muriel's.

Harry realizes that 6 of his friends plan to drink Polyjuice Potion
to turn into him. He protests. Hermione says she told them he would
react this way. Ron, Fred and George use humor to counter him. Moody
threatens to use force and states that everyone is overage and all
prepared to take the risk. Mundungus doesn't appear to be as
willing. Moody says that the Death Eaters will be attempting to kill
the guards, but to capture Harry.

Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, Fleur and Mundungus drink Polyjuice
Potion. The twins make a joke about being identical, though Fred
thinks he's better looking. A few moments later Fred pretends to be
George. Fleur thinks she looks hideous; Hermione comments on Harry's
poor eyesight; Ron remarks that he knew there wasn't a tattoo. Most
of them need to change into different robes. Harry is discomforted by
the whole procedure and feels more modesty about his variously
exposed bodies than the fakes do.

Moody assigns the pairs: Moody/Mundungus, Arthur/Fred, Remus/George,
Tonks/Ron on brooms; Bill/Fleur, Kingsley/Hermione on thestrals; and
Harry is riding with Hagrid in a sidecar attached to Sirius's
motorcycle. Moody chose the bike for Harry because he thinks the
Death Eaters will expect Harry to be on a broom. He believes Snape
will have told Voldemort everything about Harry. Hagrid recalls how
small Harry had been the last time they rode it. Harry is embarrassed
and feels like a child compared to the others.

As soon as they are airborne they are surrounded by about 30 Death
Eaters. Immediately Harry loses his Firebolt. Seconds later Hedwig
is killed. Harry sees his companions under attack and calls for
Hagrid to go back. Hagrid bellows, "My job's ter get you there safe,
Harry!"

Four Death Eaters are following Harry and Hagrid. Harry counters
their attacks with Stunning Spells. The bike shoots out a brick wall,
a net, and a burst of dragon fire. The sidecar is wrenched loose of
the motorbike and starts to fall. Harry keeps it airborne until
Hagrid swoops down and pulls him onto the bike. Harry casts
a "Confringo" causing the sidecar to explode.

By now there are only two Death Eaters in pursuit. Harry recognizes a
blank-faced Stan Shunpike. Harry casts an "Expelliarmus" which
reveals him as the real Harry Potter. The Death Eaters fly away.

For a frightening few moments the bike is not pursued. Harry turns
forward and urges Hagrid to go faster. Suddenly Voldemort appears. He
is "flying like smoke in the wind" without a broom. Hagrid bellows in
fear and flies into a vertical dive. Harry is firing at random. He
hits one Death Eater, who falls. The bike is hit and spirals out of
control. Another Death Eater flies near and Hagrid leaps off the bike
to attack him.

Voldemort closes in on Harry and begins the words, "Avada---" but
Harry's wand shoots gold fire and breaks the wand in Voldemort's
hand.

Harry tries an "Accio Hagrid," but the bike speeds downward.
Voldemort calls to the remaining Death Eater, "Your wand, Selwyn,
give me your wand!" Just as Harry expects to be cursed, Voldemort
vanishes. Harry sees Hagrid, spread-eagled on the ground, then
crashes into a muddy pond nearby.

Questions

1. There is a great deal of reflection in the beginning of the
chapter, with some plot arcs coming full circle. How do the memories
and events around Sirius's bike in this adventure compare with the
events from SS/PS? Did any other of Harry's musings resonate with
you?

It was so poignant, when he started walking back through the house and he 
visited the cupboard where he used to sleep.   It was emotional for me. 
There were so many points in this story where she referenced things from 
previous books, the cupboard, things in his trunk from prior books, etc. 
That was one of my favorite literary affects, seeing all those things and 
having her summarize the books as well as tell book 7's story.   I mentioned 
in another answer Sirius' bike and about Harry arriving and leaving Privet 
drive in the same way.

2. Can you explain what Harry's feeling in this quote? "It gave him
an odd, empty feeling to remember those times; it was like
remembering a younger brother whom he had lost." Does anyone remember
how a very similar line was used before? Bonus points if you can find
it.

Knowing that he would never come back, I'm thinking he was feeling 
nostalgic.  He knew that he was starting a new chapter of his life, whatever 
it may be.  Embarking on the new has a way of making you reflect on the 
past.   I think the odd, empty feeling was just that.... empty.   For the 
most part, when we look back at the last 10 years of our lives or are 
moving, leaving a job/school, etc. we look back with fond memories.   Harry 
had no fond, loving, happy memories so for him it was an odd and empty 
moment.

This reminds me of when he found out about Tom Riddle in book 2.   There's a 
line something to the affect of Tom Riddle being a friend he used to have 
but couldn't remember.   Something like that... LOL

3. Were you surprised by any of the team members--either at their
inclusion or behavior? Why do you think Moody made the team this way?
Why did JKR set it up like this?

I was surprised at who was making up the other Potters.   I thought they'd 
have fully qualified wizards, not Harry's mates.



5. What do you think about Tonks's parents and Molly's Auntie Muriel
providing safe houses? Are they Order members?

I thought it was odd, unusual.  I didn't pause to think about it too much 
though because I was SO anxious for what was coming !!


7. Immediately after the Firebolt is lost, Hedwig is killed. Harry's
attention is on the battle. Did the pacing of the story affect your
reaction to Hedwig's death? How did you react to the results of
the "Confringo"? Is there a literary reason for Hedwig's death and
the loss of the Firebolt?

I thought it was indicative of the end of Harry's childhood.  Besides his 
friends, those things were the last things to tie him to his childhood, he 
was leaving the Dursley's and was of age now.   The story was moving so fast 
and suddenly that I didn't have time to do much more than register that 
Hedwig was gone.   I kept reading.

8.  Should Harry have been paired with someone else?

I thought it was only right that he leave Privet Drive with Hagrid, on 
Sirius' motorbike.... that is after all how he arrived there.   It was for 
me, just another full circle from book 1.

9. Did you remember that Voldemort was not using his own wand? What
were your thoughts about Harry's wand acting on its own?

Seriously, I had to re-read that section in the chapter.  As for Harry's 
wand acting on it's own, I (am embarassed to admit this) thought it was 
somehow Dumbledore's power channeling through Harry's wand.   *G*

Kimberly