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

[Zara]

No: HPFGUIDX 182737

<snip Debbie's excellent summary>
  
> 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?

Zgirnius:
I agree with everyone who has cited his apparent fondness for/pride 
in Snape, and his obligation to serve Snape, the Headmaster.

I disagree the bag is cramped. It appears to contain a capacious 
storage area, from which assorted objects can fly to within arm's 
reach of the bag's mouth. It might also be an interesting place to 
be, since clearly Harry is the one doing things and going places on 
Albus's orders. Finally, Hogwarts is probably a somewhat depressing 
place to roam around compared ot previous years.

> 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?

Zgirnius:
I got up and interrupted my all-night reading for a brief but 
enthusiastic victory dance when the sword showed up. George's ear 
caused me considerable unrest (and still caused me some confusion 
after this scene) but this was when I was certain I had been right 
about the important points of Snape's story (Lily, and Dumbledore's 
Man). Why was I so sure?

First, I had been convinced that no one else knew Albus had wanted 
Snape to kill him, so I was on the lookout for anonymous ways for 
Harry to receive help. A mysterious Patronus fir the bill. Second, 
Snape was the person with the best opportunity to get the real sword. 
(If Albus had switched them before his death, this might not be the 
case, but I did not start to wonder whether Albus's trust of Snape 
was genuine – merely whether it had been well placed.) And finally, 
feeling certain it was Snape's, it was not much of a leap to connect 
it to Lily.

Did she intend it as misdirection and did it work? I think perhaps it 
did. I've read a lot of speculation in my day about Snape's Patronus, 
and bats, unpleasant magical creatures of various sorts, and snakes 
all tended to feature prominently in such discussions. Fans going 
into DH with such expectations might find the doe unSnapelike.

> 3.  How long do you think Snape stayed behind the trees to watch?  
> Did he leave when the sword was recovered, or might he have seen 
the 
> destruction of the locket?  How might Snape have interpreted this 
> action, given that he was unaware of the nature of the Trio's 
mission?

Zgirnius:
We have no way of knowing. The level of magic we know Snape to be 
capable of would permit him to observe the scene in secret. I think 
just as Ron arrived on the scene, he was emerging from behind the two 
trees to rescue Harry, and realized this was no longer necessary. I 
think he would have stuck around long enough to see the sword was 
retrieved and Harry was relatively unharmed, at the least, but he 
could have stayed longer. Disillusioned and perched up in the tree, 
or what have you,

I also do not think it would actually have affected any of his 
observed behavior. If he spent nights reviewing Horcrux lore, neither 
we nor Harry have any idea. <g>

This evening, I am of the mind that he left once Harry was clearly 
safe. He asked Albus why Harry needed the sword, and Albus refused to 
answer, right before these events. He could have insisted, to Albus's 
face. I don't think he went behind his back instead.

> 4.  The sword at the bottom of the lake is reminiscent of Arthurian 
> legend.  JKR is known for borrowing the stuff of legends and 
> reworking those legends for her own purposes.  Is that what 
happened 
> here?  Is Harry at all comparable to King Arthur?  If so, how?  And 
> what about Ron's Arthurian connections, since it was Ron who 
> succeeded in retrieving the sword of Gryffindor?

 Zgirnius:
If Harry is Arthur, I guess that makes Ron, Lancelot. At least in his 
own mind, Ron is in love with Harry's girl.

> 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?

Zgirnius:
If Dumbledore is to be believed, it had to be Ron. It was Ron that 
retrieved 
the sword under the necessary conditions of "need and valor".

I think the locket would have found a way to attack anyone who 
threatened it.

> 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?

Zgirnius:
I thought the cited text was just the locket being the soul bit of an 
Evil Overlord. It was taunting Ron with its knowledge and power 
over him before getting down to business.

I thought what it said later was more indicative of Ron's
character.

> 7.  What is the significance of the scarlet in Ron's eye just 
before 
> he destroys the locket Horcrux?
>
Zgirnius:
I thought it was supposed to suggest the locket was beginning to
have some evil effect on Ron, so that Ron destroyed it just in time.

> 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)?  

Zgirnius:
I agree with Carol's post on this topic. Though I will state in brief,
that the Diary's Slytherin connection seems as strong as Nagini's, 
to me, so I would disagree with the premise of this question.
 
> 9.  As Harry comforts Ron after the destruction of the locket, he 
> finally realizes, now that Ron is back, "how much his absence had 
> cost them."  What was the cost?  How did Ron's absence affect their 
> progress?  How does his return change things?

Zgirnius:
I thought this referred just to Ron's value as a friend. When he is 
not 
being surly and affected by an evil Horcrux, he jokes around and 
makes life more fun. 

> 10.  Harry concludes that Ron's return went about as well as 
> possible, despite Hermione's reaction.  Do you agree?  Why?  What 
> purpose did that exchange serve?

Zgirnius:
I thought trying to beat Ron up and have two pages of hysterics 
was a pretty reasonable reaction by Hermione. She settled down 
after that, consenting to listen to Ron's story and make sarcastic,
and later even, intelligent, remarks.

> 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?

Zgirnius: 
Hmm. Ron and Snape. I don't see it. <g> I tried to make 
something out of very bad moves made in anger (leaving 
vs. "Mudblood") but I am not getting anywhere. 

Great questions. I enjoyed answering them both times. 
*curses Yahoomort under her breath*