CHAPDISC: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Ch. 19: The Silver Doe

[Blair]

No: HPFGUIDX 182736

Debbie:
> 1.  Phineas Nigellus learns critical information about Harry's 
> location, which Hermione carelessly provides while the beaded bag is 
> open.  Has Phineas really been hanging out in that cramped bag all 
> this time?  Why is he willing to do this?

Oryomai:
I thought that perhaps Severus had told Phineas to keep watch on what
the three of them were doing.  Phineas would assume it was due to
Harry's status as Undesirable Number One and wouldn't question a
Slytherin headmaster anyway.
  
> 2.  What did you think initially of the appearance of the silver 
> doe?  Did you perceive clues (either on initial reading or rereading) 
> pointing to the identity of the doe?  Was it intended, in your view, 
> as misdirection?  Was it effective?  Does it seem odd that Harry did 
> not attempt to identify the doe?

Oryomai:
I had no idea where the silver doe had come from.  It never crossed my
mind that it was Severus.  I still had hope that he was on the side of
good, but I imagined him having a "darker" Patronus...actually, I
didn't believe he had any happy memories from which to make one.  On a
personal note, I have to say that Lily being represented by the doe
because James was a stag is offensive to me -- I don't think she
should be defined by her relationship to James alone.  But I digress...

> 5.  Why did it have to be Ron who destroyed the Horcrux?  Wouldn't 
> Harry have been able to destroy it just as effectively?  If Harry had 
> wielded the sword, do you think the locket would have found a way to 
> torment him instead?

Oryomai:
I think it just had to be.  Ron and Hermione had been on this trip
with him, had both risked their lives.  They deserved to be part of
the solution.  If Ron hadn't showed up when he did, Harry would have
drowned.  Save the day, destroy the Horcrux.


> 6.  The locket tortures Ron, but it begins with an observation and a 
> prophecy of sorts:  "I have seen your dreams, Ronald Weasley, and I 
> have seen your fears.  All you desire is possible, but all that you 
> dread is also possible."  What does this statement tell us about 
> Ron's character?  And why didn't the locket just get on with the 
> torturing?

Oryomai:
That Ron's not as dumb as he may appear.  There's no way that Ron does
not suffer all the time from the weight of being the best friend of
the famous Harry Potter.  He desires the fame that comes with being
part of the Trio, but he fears that he will be shoved to the
background every time Harry comes along.  I don't think the
Horcrux!Locket had to be that smart of a magical object to figure that
out *eg*.

> 7.  What is the significance of the scarlet in Ron's eye just before 
> he destroys the locket Horcrux?

Oryomai:
I think he almost went over to the Dark Side.  The Horcrux was showing
him his worst fears, and it probably crossed his mind that he would be
able to be the famous one if he didn't destroy it.  The scarlet in
Tom's eyes affect everyone around him.
 
> 8.  What, if anything, do you make of the fact that the sword of 
> Gryffindor was used only to destroy Horcruxes with a significant 
> Slytherin connection (the locket, the ring and Nagini)?  

Oryomai:
We get it JKR.  Gryffindors are good, Slytherins are bad.  Yeah, got it.
  
> 11.  This chapter is outwardly about Ron, but in retrospect the 
> subtext is all Snape.  Is there a connection between these two 
> characters?  How are they alike.  To what extent are their 
> differences the result of circumstances rather than character?

Oryomai:
I think there is a connection. They are both self conscious boys from
families that are not well off.  I think alot of the differences
between them are due to the family life they each had.  Ron had a
loving family while Severus had parents that constantly fought.  Ron
is tempted by the power that the Horcrux offers him and is only able
to turn it down because he has known familial love.  The closest thing
Severus ever had to a family was the Death Eaters.

Oryomai
Fab questions!