CHAPDISC: DH25, Shell Cottage

[Beatrice23]

No: HPFGUIDX 184006

Beatrice:  Aussie, Thanks for the nice summary and questions!
---------------------------------------------------------
> Questions:
> 
> 1) Any suggestions why JKR had these characters (Trio, Bill, Fleur,
> Mr Ollivander, Griphook, Luna, Dean) in a small house for weeks,
> maybe months?

Beatrice:  First, the trio get important information from Ollivander
(the learn what LV is after and about wand lore), Luna (she tells them
about the diadem -although they don't realize the importance at the
time), Griphook (tells them about the workings of Gringotts), Bill
(tells them about goblins and about some of the changes in the WW as
well as telling them that the other Weasley's are safe), and Dean
(gives us some insight into the dangers faced by muggleborn wizards /
witches).  It is also a break in the action and gives readers a pause
before JKR's mad dash for the end of the novel.    
> 
> 2) There is a relaxed mood in this chapter, with no spells used in
> anger. Some (adrenaline junkie) readers may have been tempted to skip
> this chapter to get on with the fighting, and filling of body bags.
> This chapter filled a few holes in what goes on with families in
> other parts of the Wizarding World. What tidbit did you enjoy, hidden
> in this chapter?

Beatrice: I enjoyed the references to the diadem and the fact that the
trio rescued Luna, Dean, Ollivander, and Griphook from the Death
Eaters.  I was also glad to hear that many of the trio's friends were
safely in hiding (the Weasleys, Lupin, etc).  
> 
> 3) Fleur seemed to react worse to Griphook than the others. Were
> Wizard - Goblin relations worse in France?

Beatrice:  I doubt it.  I think that Fleur may have more difficulty
hiding her distaste for Griphook, but that this is shared by many of
the others.  Fleur, after all, is forced to serve Griphook - nursing
him, and then serving his meals as indicated in the chapter.  It can't
be easy to wait on someone who is so ungrateful and demanding.
> 
> 4) There is a saying, "History was written by the winners". The Daily
> Prophet has been doing it in most of the books. So are wizards
> the "lesser evil" compared to the "not fluffy bunnies", or just as
> bad, or worse?

Beatrice: I am not sure that I understand this question.  I think you
are asking if history has been colored against goblins and therefore
if wizards are better or the same as goblins.  I would certainly agree
with the quote above.  I don't know if I agree that the Daily Prophet
has been writing history throughout the novels.  I suspect that after
LV is defeated there will be significant changes in the Daily Prophet
and I would argue that history will be written by other writers,
contemporary versions of Bathilida Bagshot for example.  

But back to your question: I don't think that either race is fairly
represented.  Goblins certainly have reasons to distrust wizards and I
might even argue that the goblin views about ownership aren't
necessarily incorrect.  They simply aren't accepted by wizards.  Thus
goblins can't enforce their own concepts of ownership.  If goblins
were the dominant culture, there might be a different way to look at
property and the way it is passed down.  
> 
> 5) We see many heroes in the Harry Potter books have bad qualities.
> Is the possibility of Godric Gryffindor's stealing the sword ("For
> the greater good") the thing Harry has to come to terms with about
> his house hero?

Beatrice: I think that there is certainly a question of whether this
is true or not.  But I think that it maybe about Harry and the READER.
 First, Harry has to accept and embrace the flaws of his heroes -
their humanity if you will.  A person can still be a hero, one can
still admire them even if they are flawed.  And Harry has to learn to
forgive himself for his own mistakes.

As readers, perhaps we also have to forgive these characters for their
mistakes.  (Although, I would argue that if they were perfect they
would be much less interesting.)   Dumbledore, for instance is an
interesting character, but the more we learn about him the more depth
his character has and the more interesting and compelling he becomes.
> 
> 6) To seal the bargain, Griphook shook hands with Harry Potter. That
> sounded ominously like "Just sign here for Dumbledore's Army" to me.
> How did you feel about it?

Beatrice: Well, I didn't really think about it at the time.  I guess
it was possible, but a handshake seems more like Griphook is
attempting to use a human form of formalizing a bargain more than
creating an unbreakable vow or anything.
> 
> 7) Luna deserves her own question. Flowers on Dobby's grave: loyalty
> to her father; the only one who Mr Ollivander gave a personal
> compliment to as he left; and never complained despite her account of
> missing Christmas in a cellar jail. Why do you think she is such an
> important presence in Harry Potter's life?

Beatrice: Well, there is a purity and an innocence to her character
that is missing in well, everyone.  Despite everything she endures,
there is such a beautiful and childlike spirit in her that she is
wonderfully compelling.  I also think that she humbles Harry. 

> 9) Did you pick up that subtle reminder of the "Lost Diadem of
> Ravenclaw" in your first reading? Were there enough clues to identify
> this as the last Horcrux?

Beatrice:  I did think it was interesting that it was mentioned a
couple of times.  I actually thought after read HBP that the tiara in
the RoR was a Horcrux, so I had my antenna up looking for references.
> 
> 10) Every culture has differences with Births, Marriages and Deaths
> (Hatch, Match and Dispatch). Lupin offers us our only insight into
> Wizard Births. Especially a new born Metamorphmagus. Anything special
> you see here?

Beatrice: I thought that it was pretty standard actually.  The
metamorphmagus is different certainly, but the celebration and the
good wishes and the sharing of the news is certainly similar to our
culture anyway.  I was a little surprised that Lupin asked Harry to be
 godfather right away.  I don't know if this is standard, or if we are
just slow in our family, but we didn't ask until later.  Although,
Lupin may have felt some urgency as Harry has been out of touch for
much of the year.   
> 
> 11) Goblin ownership laws: "the true owner of an object is the maker,
> not the purchaser". This sounds like our copyright and patent laws. I
> can't buy a CD and copy a song onto my I-Pod. Are arguments against
> the goblin law grounds for authors to re-think copyright laws?

Beatrice:  Not really, as this seems to reinforce our understanding of
copyright.  When we purchase a song or a book we obtain it for
personal use, but ultimately ownership of the material stays with the
creator (author or performer). Actually, you can buy a CD and copy it
to your I-Pod (unless copyright laws are different for you)  what you
can't do in the US is put a copy of the song on the I-Pods of everyone
you know.  Or sell copies for your own personal gain.  Perhaps, it
does bring up the question of different types and standards governing
ownership.  But, I guess we could argue that Grandma Edna's Ming Vase
can't be circulated for profit in the way a photocopy of a HP novel or
a 1,000 pirated CD's can be.  
> 
> 12) Is Harry getting reckless, like his thoughts on Sirius? Any other
> thoughts about Harry being a godfather?

Beatrice: Bold, yes.  Reckless, no.  Sirus seemed to like the thrill
of breaking the rules.  Harry breaks the rules, but he isn't a thrill
seeker.