CHAPDISC: DH3, The Dursleys Departing

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 177341


 
> 11. How the Order was operating since Dumbledore's death?  It didn't
> seem to be much of democracy while he was alive.   How would
> decisions be made without him?

Potioncat:
Moody seems to be in charge. At least, he's in charge of the mission 
to move Harry. The team follow his orders more quickly than they did 
in OoP. But after Moody passes no one leader seems to come forward. 
Or, if one does, neither Harry nor the reader will see it. The very 
fact that they take turns with the Secret Keeper role, or all have it 
at all times, shows that it is not a well run organization. But, was 
it ever?

> 
> 12. Did you wonder what would happen to the Dursleys' lives while
> they were in hiding?  Would Vernon lose his job?   How would their
> bills get paid?  Or were you happy to see the back of them?  *grin*

Potioncat:
The Dursleys show up at the begining and end of each book. Like the 
Grangers--and to some extent the Weasley parents--their main role is 
to stay out of the way. So I gave them no more thought.

> 
> 13. In PS and CS, Hedwig travels directly from Privet Drive to
> Hogwarts on the train along with Harry.  In books 3-6, she is free 
to
> fly about on her own for a while before meeting Harry and returning
> to school.    Here, she is confined to her cage and not happy about
> it.  Did you see this as a foreshadowing of her fate in the next
> chapter?   Was it meant that way?

Potioncat:
I wondered about it during the chapter. And wondered more after the 
next. It makes Hedwig's death all the more poignant because there had 
been something of a rift between her and Harry. I seem to have felt 
it more than he did, though.

JKR said in one of her interviews that death was a major theme in the 
series. I'm not sure if she had always intended it. JKR has said her 
mother's death made a big impact on her writing. I can see it in DD's 
death on the tower, Harry's wishing he had DD more questions while he 
could, and here, with Hedwig's sudden death during a period of 
distance.


Thanks, Laura, for a very thoughtful set of discussion questions.