Re: CHAPDISC: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 17, Bathilda’s Secret

[bdclark0423]

No: HPFGUIDX 182435


Questions:
1. Does Harry pick up Hermione's habits?



Well, they have been friends for seven years, so whether productive or
not, friends would start to pick up each other's habit, I would
guess, `out of habit'


2. Satisfied in finally seeing Harry's home?

What was more moving for me was the scene in the cemetery, it was a
little more emotional.  Passing by the old home only gave a sense of
physical confirmation of his parents' existence. Harry reaches for
the gate simply to touch part of the house.

3. How does Nagini know where they're standing?

Obviously Nagini was there as part of Voldy's trap in the first
place.  Something would have alerted her of their presence.  Also, there
was fresh snow (after leaving cemetery, Hermione only looks over her
shoulder occasionally, this suggest she's not hiding their tracks). 
Harry had triggered the magical sign, magic always leaves a small trace.
Hermione makes an exclamation, while Harry begins to reply, then
realizes that someone is listening.  Also, Harry has part of Voldy's
soul, and he's wearing the locket, this possibly meant Nagini can
sense both.   Plus, I would think Nagini relies on senses that Humans
don't know about or use.

4. Any clues on what the dealy-oh is up with Bathilda?

The fact she never spoke except the one command `Come!'  was
telling me something wasn't right.  The foul smell and unkempt house
weren't any associations I made with possibility that Bathilda may
have been something other than what she seemed.

5. Harry's locket acts up, what was amiss?

For me, Carol's answer is spot on:

> justcarol67:

> I don't think that he could have guessed that "Bathilda"
> was a Horcrux herself, one soul bit responding to another, and his
> guess that the Horcrux sensed that the Sword of Gryffindor, an object
> capable of destroying Horcruxes, was near makes sense given his
> expectations and his interpretation of "Bathilda's" behavior.

6. With the state of B's house, shouldn't have H&H known
something was wrong?

They both decided to go to Godric's Hollow to see what they could
learn from Bathilda.  They knew all along that most likely Voldy would
lay a trap.  The fact that an old senile witch is living in such squalor
just makes the scene creepy, disgusting, yet intriguing.

7. Did you speculate correctly on the surprise outcome?

I was totally fooled by the outcome and how they almost got caught,
dropped the photo for Voldy to see, broke a wand and, what's worse,
they came up empty handed in trying to retrieve the sword.

8. What was your reaction to `Bathilda?'

Impressed that JKR was able to come up with such morbid and twisted
imagery
this and the proceeding chapter held me under their
captivating spell.

9. Again, how did the scene of Voldy killing J&L live up to your
expectations (I realize that
much of this has been discussed.)?

Much of this has been discussed.

10. How reliable are LV's memories of the fateful night in this case?



At this point, we know Harry only sees through Voldy's eyes whenever
there are strong enough emotions.  So this memory, accurate or not, is
powerful enough to stir Voldy, and I would think, Voldy would see it as
the truth.

11a. Do you think L&J were too trusting of the Fidelius charm?

Refresh my memory, but are Lily and James aware of the prophecy and that
it ties Voldy to Harry?  In any case, I don't see either one of them
living their lives in complete fear and mistrust.  How do you think your
children would turn out if they were brought up constantly feeling that
way---like a paranoid psychopath?

11.b  What about the picture of DD and Grindelwald arm in arm?

DD is totally gay.

11.c Do you think Harry and Hermione's relationship altered any as a
result of the events of that night?

With Ron gone, I feel that this part in the book is where Harry and
Hermione grow the closest.  Their best friend deserting them, narrowly
escaping death, continually living in hiding, discovering hidden parts
of DD past life, makes them (especially Harry) very vulnerable. 
It's when most things aren't going right and you can still
manage to function around another, only shows the closeness that's
there.

bdclark0423



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]