CHAPDISC: DH26, Gringotts

[Beatrice23]

No: HPFGUIDX 184044

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CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Chapter 26, Gringotts

The chapter opens with Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Griphook finalizing
their plan to break into the Lestranges' Gringott's Vault.  The plan
includes using a black hair the trio found on Hermione's sweater and
Bellatrix's actual wand to help Hermione pass as Bellatrix.

Hermione complains about Bellatrix's wand not working properly for
her.  Harry resists reminding Hermione of the way she scoffed at his
loathing of the blackthorn wand.  Ron, however, sees the wand and the
evil that has been committed with it as an opportunity for Hermione
to "get into character." Hermione reminds Ron that the wand tortured
the Longbottoms and performed the curse that killed Sirius, and Harry
has the sudden urge to destroy the wand.

Hermione wishes that Ollivander could make her a wand as he recently
sent Luna a new wand from Auntie Muriel's house.  Harry, on the other
hand, is surprisingly pleased with the performance of Draco's
hawthorn wand and knows that it is because he won the wand's
allegiance by disarming Draco himself. As soon as this thought occurs
to Harry, Griphook opens the bedroom door and enters.  Harry reaches
territorially for the sword of Gryffindor.

Harry regrets this action, because he doesn't want Griphook to sense
his reluctance about the deal that they have reached.  In the
previous chapter, Griphook agrees to help the trio if they give him
the sword of Gryffindor.  They agree, but reluctantly, as they know
that they need the sword to complete their task of destroying
Horcruxes.  Harry and Ron agree that they will give Griphook the
sword, but that they will not give it to him until they are done with
their task.  Hermione is not comfortable with this double cross and
refuses to help them determine how to do this.

The date and time of their departure is set for the next morning.
They have obtained a new tent from Bill after losing the old one when
they were apprehended by Greyback, et al.  Harry is thrilled that
Hermione was able to conceal the beaded bag with the majority of
their supplies.  Harry has mixed feelings about leaving Shell
Cottage.  He is sorry to leave Bill, Fleur, Luna, and Dean, but will
be glad to be rid of Griphook, who has been spying on them, looking
for signs of their duplicity.

The morning dawns and Harry thinks sadly of leaving Dobby's grave
behind as he waits in the garden for Hermione and Griphook.  Hermione
appears in the form of Bellatrix Lestrange with Griphook in tow.
Hermione comments that Bellatrix "tasted disguisting, worse than
Gurdyroots." Hermione transforms Ron's appearance, and Harry and
Griphook disappear underneath the invisibility cloak.

When they arrive at the Leaky Cauldron, Hermione immediately acts out
of character by being too nice to the barman, Tom.  Harry warns her
about this as they move out into Diagon Alley.  For the first time in
a long time, the reader is made aware of the stark changes to the
Wizarding World.  New shops devoted to the Dark Arts have opened in
Diagon Alley, wanted posters of Harry are posted everywhere, and
ragged people are huddled in doorways begging for gold.  Hemione is
accosted by a ragged man demanding to know where his children are.
As he lunges for her, Ron reacts quickly, stunning him, but the
disgust he feels is etched on his face.  They have little time to
think about this as Travers approaches "Bellatrix," and he joins them
as they move toward Gringotts.

Travers expresses his surprise at seeing Bellatrix, and we learn that
it is rumored that Bellatrix and the Malfoys have been confined to
Malfoy Manor.  Hermione disabuses Travers of this notion, asserting
the importance of her position, and Travers immediately changes the
subject to ask about the stunned, ragged man.  Hermione loftily
replies that he will not offend her again, and Travers recounts his
own encounters with a new class in the Wizarding World: "the
wandless."  Hermione introduces Ron as a foreign sympathizer.

As they enter Gringotts, they are greeted by security wizards
with "Probity Probes" which detect spells of concealment and hidden
magical objects.  Harry acts quickly and quietly, confunding the
guards so that they easily forget to examine "Bellatrix." As they
enter the bank, Harry is reminded again of the enormity of their task
by the warning posted in the lobby to thieves.  As they request
access to the Lestrange vault, the goblin demands identification in
the form of Bellatrix's wand, prompting Griphook to tell Harry that
the goblins know something is amiss, and Griphook urges Harry to use
the Imperius Curse.  Harry performs the curse on the goblin, Bogrod,
and on Travers, who immediately agree that Bellatrix's "new wand" is
excellent, and despite another goblin's attempt to delay them they
move toward the vault entrance.   Harry forces Travers to come with
them, but once inside he reveals himself and tells them of the
urgency, as Harry knows the goblins suspect them.  Harry tells Ron
and Hermione that he has used the Imperious Curse on Travers and
Bogrod, but says that he is not sure that he "did it strongly
enough."  Harry sends Travers to hide after Griphook tells him that
there won't be room for him in the cart.

The trio and the two goblins set off for the vault.  As they descend,
Harry thinks about how foolish it is to disguise Hermione as
Bellatrix and use her wand.  Suddenly they are hit with water and
thrown from the cart.  Hermione performs a cushioning charm, but
the "Thief's Downfall" has erased Ron and Hermione's disguises,
although Harry's cloak is still intact.  The Thief's Downfall has
lifted Bogrod's Imperius Curse and Harry once again places him under
the curse and forces him to continue their journey on foot.  Hermione
hears people coming and uses the shield charm to part the water and
clear their path.  Soon they come upon a dragon chained in front
of "four or five of the deepest vaults in the place. "  The dragon is
sickly and unhealthy looking, with "pale and flaky scales...eyes were
a milky pink
and scars made by vicious slashes across its face."
Griphook tells us that the dragon is "partially blind, but more
savage for it," and Harry realizes that it has been made to fear the
slashes of hot swords when it hears the "clankers," so the dragon
backs away from the vault and allows them to enter.  Bogrod places
his hand on the vault door and they enter and begin searching for the
cup or something with Ravenclaw's eagle.

They are plunged into darkness and Griphook urges them to light their
wands and hurry.  Harry notes the fake sword and glittering jewels.
Hermione seizes a jeweled cup, asking if this could be what they are
searching for, and immediately shrieks in pain as it burns her,
multiplying into a shower of goblets as it falls.  Griphook tell them
that the goblins have added Germino and Flagrante Curses to make
anything they touch burn and multiply.  Harry warns them not to touch
anything, but accidently hits a goblet with his foot, and more
explode on the floor.  Standing still, they search with their eyes
until Harry sees the cup on a high shelf as the flaming hot treasure
heats the tiny vault like a furnace.  Hermione attempts to Accio the
cup but has forgotten that this won't work.  Harry, using his wits,
asks for the sword and attempts to reach the cup.  He is unable to
reach it and pleads with Hermione for help.  Hermione instantly
whispers "Levicorpus," and Harry is hoisted in the air by his ankle,
hitting a burning suit of armor which multiplies, adding to the chaos
as the sound of clanking goblins approach, looking for the thieves.
Harry thrusts the sword through the handle of the cup, as Hermione
tries to protect herself, Ron, and Griphook from the burning hot
metal that threatens to crush them.  They scream, waist deep in
blazing treasure, and Griphook is completely covered with only his
fingers showing.  Harry pulls Griphook free and loses his grip on the
sword.  With Griphook on his back, he calls, frantically looking for
the sword and the cup.  Griphook, now on Harry's back, sees it and
seizes it and a handful of Harry's hair.  Harry realizes instantly
that Griphook never expected Harry to honor their bargain as he
raises the sword out of Harry's reach and the cup is launched in the
air.

Harry dives and catches the cup with Griphook still on his back.  He
holds on to the cup gripping it as it burns his flesh and multiplies
around him.  They find themselves riding a tide of treasure as the
door to the vault is opened and they are washed out into the outer
chamber.  Harry shoves the cup in his pocket and looks around for
Griphook and the sword, but Griphook is sprinting toward the other
goblins yelling, "Thieves! Thieves! Help! Thieves!"  Harry, Ron, and
Hermione start bellowing "Stupefy!" at the approaching hoard and
retreat.  Harry, in a fit of inspiration, releases the dragon and
orders the others to climb up.  The dragon roars and takes to its
wings, knocking goblins aside and making a mad dash out of its
underground prison.  The passageways are too narrow, but the dragon
breathes fire and the floor and ceiling crumble.  Hermione helps,
yelling "Defodio."  Harry and Ron copy her, and together they clear
the way for their escape.  At last they burst out of Gringotts and
the dragon launches itself toward the open sky with Harry, Ron, and
Hermione clinging to its back.


Questions:

1. HRH plan on using "a single long, coarse black hair (plucked from
the sweater Hermione had been wearing at Malfoy Manor)" (DH 519).
This might remind our readers of another time HRH attempted to use
polyjuice potion.  As you were reading did you have any fears that
this attempt might end as poorly as the previous?

2. Why do the trio align themselves with Griphook?  Why not ask for
Bill's help?  Would Bill help them?  Why doesn't Harry even consider
this idea?

3. Harry has the sudden urge to destroy Bellatrix's wand when he is
reminded of the spells it has performed.  Is this rational?

4. Why does Ollivander make Luna and Luna alone a new wand?  Why not
make new wands for all of the people who were incarcerated with him?
Why not make new wands for as many people as possible who have been
victimized as he was by Death Eaters?  Why doesn't Ollivander think
about arming the enemies of his enemy?  What does this say about his
character?

5. Is Harry's plan to withhold the Sword of Gryffindor from Griphook
a double-cross?  Should Harry have explained their need of the sword
(withholding certain details of course) and do something to ensure
that Griphook would allow them to use it for a while?  Were you
comfortable with Harry's decision?  Or did you agree with Hermione?

6. Before they leave, Hermione comments that Bellatrix "tasted
disguisting."  How do you think that Harry tasted?  His polyjuice
potion certainly was a more pleasant color.  Is a person's
polyjuice "flavor" significant?

7. Hermione breaks character as Bellatrix when she says "good
morning" to Tom, the Leaky Cauldron barman.  Of the three, who is the
best actor?  Is Hermione the best choice to play Bellatrix?  Would
Harry or Ron have done a better job with her character?

8. How did you feel about the changes to Diagon Alley?  Were you
surprised by any of the changes to the Wizarding World?

9. Ron is forced to stun a man who attempts to assault
Bellatrix/Hermione.  Did you agree with his decision?  Does he have a
choice?  How does he feel about the situation?

10. There has been a lot of debate about Harry's use of unforgivable
curses.  Here we have the first time he uses one as he performs the
Imperius Curse on Bogrod and Travers.  Why doesn't he confound them
as he does the security guard?  Is it really necessary to use this
curse?  Is this more effective than a Confundus Charm?  Does Harry's
feeling that he did not perform a very strong curse make it more
acceptable that he uses this tactic?

11. How did you feel about the description of the dragon and the
cruel way in which it is kept?  Did this make you feel any different
about Gringotts or goblins?  Harry thought he saw dragon fire when he
first entered Gringotts in SS/PS.  Are there more dragons? Or is this
the only one?

12. As they enter the vault, they realize that the treasure has been
charmed or cursed to burn their flesh and multiply.  Should Griphook
have anticipated this little snag?  Why aren't they more prepared for
this?  Was Griphook's lapse intentional?

13. How do you feel about Griphook's treatment of Harry after Harry
pulls him from the crushing, burning weight of the treasure?
Griphook grabs the sword, and in the process the cup is almost lost.
Did Griphook really intend for Harry to obtain anything from the
vault? Griphook is accepted without question into the hoard of
approaching goblins.  What do you make of this?

14. Harry, Ron, and Hermione escape on the dragon's back in truly
spectacular fashion.  How did you feel about the dragon's escape?
How do you feel about Gringotts and goblins in general after Harry's
experiences?

Beatrice

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Next Chapter Discussion, Chapter 27, The Final Hiding Place, August 18