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

[nirupama76]

No: HPFGUIDX 182509

<Summary SNIP>

> 1. "Harry thought of A History of Magic;" – have Hermione's habits
> finally worn off on him?

Niru writes:

Yeah, I think so. And a good thing too! :)
 
> 2. We've waited for seven books to get our first glimpse of the 
house
> in Godric's Hollow. How satisfying was the scene where Harry 
finally
> sees his family home?

Niru writes:

Somehow I didn't pay a lot of attention to that aspect. I think I 
was all agog about Bathilda and what secrets she may hold. Plus I 
don't I ever held great expectations of finding something in Harry's 
old house. All in all it was ok.

> 3. "Bathilda" seems to be able to see Harry and Hermione beneath 
the
> Invisibility Cloak. Does this mean that Nagini can see through
> Cloaks? Does LV know they're there and communicates it to Nagini?
> Clearly, someone is there, since the sign has risen out of the
> ground, but how does LV!Nagini know where they're standing?

Niru writes:

Nagini could probably smell their presence. But I don't think LV 
knew they were there. In fact, wasn't it the other way around? Once 
they were in the house, didn't Nagini communicate it to him? 
Incidentally, how did she do that? (I don't have the book handy). 
Did he have to continuously poll her or something?

> 4. As Harry and Hermione enter the house, the description of 
Bathilda
> is actually a series of clues as to her state. Of course, we all 
have
> the advantage of hindsight; did any of this set off alarms for you 
on
> the first read?

Niru writes:

It was kind of spooky but I sort of agreed with Harry's thought that 
poor Bathilda needed some help. Only on the second read did the 
clues about her being dead stand out.

> 5. Harry's locket is again alive; should he have guessed that
> something was amiss by its behavior?

Niru writes:

He should have (and so should we have!). But I guess he (and we) 
were too eager to find the sword.

> 6. How much of the mess in Bathilda's house do you suppose is 
really
> the poor dear's own clutter and how much should have been a warning
> to Harry and Hermione that something was terribly wrong?
> 
> 7. Although the outcome of the visit was not what I expected (to 
say
> the least), I felt the tension was built well in this scene, and I
> was primed for some sort of surprise. What was your response to the
> buildup? Did you speculate correctly on the surprise outcome?

Niru writes:

With most posters here. I thought the condition of the house was 
gross. I felt the tension build up but definitely did NOT expect 
what actually happened. At one point I actually wondered if Harry 
and Hermione might help clean up the house after getting the 
sword! :)

> 8. This chapter contains one of the most grisly (if not THE most
> grisly) scenes in the HP series. What was your initial reaction to
> the – er – unveiling of Bathilda?

Niru writes:

Oh! THE most grisly scene of the series by far for me. It was worse 
than The Cave chapter of HBP and that was a scary, scary scene. And 
I had the misfortune to read both those chapters at midnight and 
couldn't sleep for a long time after that. Woe is me! Suffice it to 
say I haven't ventured to read Bathilda's Secret after dark again. :)

> 9. Again, we finally get another scene we've been waiting to see 
for
> seven books: the deaths of James and Lily Potter and Voldemort's
> destruction. How did the scene live up to your expectations?  What
> did it elucidate that had been unclear previously? (I realize that
> much of this has been discussed.)
> 
> 10. Voldemort is a pathological liar, although we know parts of the
> Potter death scene are true, thanks to Harry's Dementor memories. 
How
> reliable are LV's memories of the fateful night in this case?

Niru writes:

Answering both at once. It lived up to my expectations. James's mad 
dash to face LV (without a wand too). And Lily's attempts to protect 
Harry... even throwing her arms up to shield him. It all fit. And 
they were really naive IMHO. They placed a lot of faith in their 
friends. Plus did anyone else think they were crazy/naive/trusting 
to leave their wands lying around? Harry would never have done 
something like that. (I don't mean that they were stupid... just 
that they were perhaps very young and maybe they panicked a bit and 
they really didn't expect to be found). And I think LV's memories 
are accurate. He doesn't know that Harry is tapping into him 
consciously or unconsciously at times.

> 11. This chapter points up yet again one of JKR's themes: the
> vicissitudes of friendship. Do you think Lily and James were too
> trusting of the Fidelius charm, and they should have been armed
> constantly? What was your reaction to the picture of DD and
> Grindelwald arm in arm? Do you think Harry and Hermione's
> relationship altered any as a result of the events of that night?

Niru writes:

As I said in the previous answer, I think James and Lily should 
probably have been armed at all times. It may not have done much 
good, but placing a little less faith the the Fidelius may have 
helped. I can't remember having any reaction to the picture of DD 
and Grindelwald. Was too busy being scared I suppose! :) The 
breaking of Harry's wand did place a certain strain on the 
friendship of Harry and Hermione. But in the end I don't think it 
really altered it... or perhaps more accurately their friendship 
wasn't weakened.

- Niru