CHAPDISC: DH2, In Memoriam

[Hagrid]

No: HPFGUIDX 176676

> CHAPTER DISCUSSIONS: DH, Chapter 2, 
> In Memoriam

> Rita has produced a 900-page biography just four weeks after 
> Dumbledore's death and asks how Rita managed it. Rita replies that 
> she is used to working against a deadline. 

aussie:
900 pages is bigger than OotP, and JKR knows what time and 
commitment it took to do that. She has no respect for Rita's writing 
ability.

> Questions:
>    
> 2. Harry ruminates on Hogwarts' inattention to teaching healing 
> charms.  Is this a flaw in the curriculum?  Do you suspect that it 
> might be taught at NEWT level?  Is this a post-Hogwarts curriculum 
> as Auror training is?  
> 
aussie:
First Aid isn't taught at Muggle schools. Any healing can leave 
scars if not done right. Besides, appart from Harry, students don't 
go to school expecting to be cut and attacked ... or did I lead a 
sheltered life? 
Maybe Harry should have joined the Wizarding Scouts and gone for his 
First Aid Badge.

>
> 5. Apart from the books, JKR is quite specific about what Harry 
> packs.  Why do you think she wanted to name each item?  Several 
> reappear, but not all.
> 
aussie:
(from above)... his old Sneakoscope, the RAB locket, ... his wand, 
potion-making kit, Invisibility Cloak, letters, a few books, the 
Marauders Map and some keepsakes, including Hagrid's photo album, 
the enchanted mirror shard.
   Anything left behind would be analised by Death Eaters. So I 
think the HBP Potion Book from last year went with him.

>
> 6. Already as a child, Dumbledore seems to be inclined to withhold 
> information, ...   Do we attribute this to personality or 
> to "family secrets?"  (All speculation welcome!)
> 
aussie:
After the attack on his sister, he (and his family) felt victimised 
and defensive. His mother became very secretive. Also, Grindlewald 
started their search for Hallows, the biggest secret in Wizarding 
history.

>
> 7. We see Dumbledore writing as a Hogwarts student to luminaries 
such 
> as Flamel, Bathilda Bagshot and Waffling.  We know Bathilda has a 
> role later in Rita Skeeter's expose; any speculation on how much 
of 
> early Dumbledore's correspondence she shared?
> 
aussie:
Bathilda would have shared none willingly. If the Potters had her 
around their house while hiding, she could be trusted to keep 
secrets. Rita would have used Vertisium, Imperius Curse and hide as 
an animagus beetle to bug Bathilda's house to get dirt on DD.

>
> 8. Doge just happens to be gone when Dumbledore and Grindelwald 
> become friends.  How much did/didn't Doge know about their 
friendship?
> 
aussie:
As I said earlier, Grindelwald came with whispers of the Hallows. 
There were things no-one, not even Doge knew about those gifted 
students.

>
> 9. Doge mentions the Grindelwald/Dumbledore duel, but clearly is 
> reporting from second-hand (at best) sources.  Are we looking at a 
> duel that grew in legend?  Is Rita Skeeter right?
> 
aussie:
Both are right. Grindelwald went ready for a duel and wouldn't have 
given up the Elder Wand without a fight.
But as Hermione says in the Burrow about reversing Horcruxes, a Dark 
Wizard has to show REMORSE. That was a key word Harry used to Tom in 
the final duel. It would have been the reason Grindelwald was 
captured, not killed.
DD spoke to his old friend during their battle (as DD did to Tom in 
MoM and on the Tower to Draco) and because of the younger sister, 
reached Grindelwald's heart til he showed remorse. "he conjured a 
handkerchief from his wand and went quietly."

>
> 11. Harry suspects that Dumbledore didn't answer frankly the one 
> personal question he asked.  What's the likelihood Dumbledore 
> would have answered any of Harry's personal questions frankly?
> 
Aussie:
DD said "socks" to an 11 year old boy. That was excusable. JKR used 
DD as a Narrator at times. He had to be factual enough without 
giving too much away.
>
> 14. Rita refers to Dumbledore's relationship with Harry 
> as "unhealthy."  While she is mining for sensation, how much 
> of this do you think has a ring of truth?
> 
Aussie:
This was to caste doubt against Harry and his part in accusing Snape 
while running from the scene of DD's murder. She is always willing 
to change teams to stay on the winning side.
> "DD's relationship with Harry, ...unhealthy, even sinister. She 
finishes by repeating the accounts that Harry was seen running from 
the scene of Dumbledore's death and that Harry blames Snape for 
Dumbledore's death, a man it is well known Harry hates.

aussie (thanks Anita)