CHAPDISC: DH25, Shell Cottage

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 184008

All questions Aussie and Speedy:
> 1) Any suggestions why JKR had these characters (Trio, Bill, Fleur,
> Mr Ollivander, Griphook, Luna, Dean) in a small house for weeks,
> maybe months?

Jen: It's two things: 1) A hint about different factions in the WW 
needing to come together to defeat LV at the end; and 2) Harry 
learning the lesson Dumbledore hoped to teach him: You don't have to 
like people/beings in order to work with them.
 
> 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?

Jen: Plans move forward, the injured heal, babies are born, new 
godfathers replace the old...life goes on.  That's what I took from 
the chapter.


> 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?

Jen: Griphook mainly represents the faction of goblins who work at 
Gringotts according to Bill.  It's not clear he represents the 
majority view.  Still, the bits & pieces of history throughout the 
series point to oppression of all non-human groups.  Fear is one 
reason for that with the goblins, and frankly I think wizards are 
prudent to consider the advisability of wands for a disgruntled group 
with sole power over the money supply!  Separation of powers and all 
that. Especially since the goblins in charge of the money supply & 
treasures believe at least some of the treasures belong to them.  
Maybe humans could offer wands in exchange for some oversight of 
Gringotts.  

> 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?

Jen: The incident is one of many in DH showing Harry considering what 
truth is: truth is murky sometimes and depends on the person telling 
the story.  Mainly the story foreshadows Griphook taking the sword 
though, gives a rationale for why he takes it even though he knows 
Harry needs it to defeat LV.

> 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?

Jen: The handshake was a human gesture. I wondered why Griphook 
requested it.  Griphook's group of goblins believe 'wizards cannot be 
trusted in matters of gold and treasure,' so Griphook might trust 
Harry more than the average wizard but he doesn't *really* trust 
him.  So I'm not sure what the handshake was about.  A handshake to 
agree they were both lying? ;)


> 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?

Jen: I can't say it any better than Carol did.  Ditto to what she 
wrote. The only thing to add is Luna is a truly compassionate person 
who turns the other check.  That characteristic isn't exactly common 
in Potterverse. 


> 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?

Jen: No, I don't think so.  I still thought Harry would be the 
surprise Horcrux IIRC.  Then JKR added that extra twist that Harry 
was the 7th Horcrux instead of the 6th.  


> 12) Is Harry getting reckless, like his thoughts on Sirius? Any 
other thoughts about Harry being a godfather?

Jen: Harry was already different because he actually wondered if his 
actions might make him an unacceptable godfather.  Sirius didn't 
think about such things:  "The risk is what makes it fun."  

Thanks Aussie & Speedy!!