[HPforGrownups] CHAPDISC: DH27, The Final Hiding Place

[elfundeb]

No: HPFGUIDX 184139

1) What did you think would be the 'final hiding place' when reading
the chapter title? Were you expecting a Horcrux at Hogwarts all
along?

Debbie:
Hah!  I never read chapter titles!  However, as Hogwarts is
the central locale in each of the first six books, I would have been
astonished if the horcrux hunt did not end there, so I was certain that the
last one would be in the RoR.

2) This is likely the shortest chapter in all of the HP books, yet
descriptions of the dragon take up quite a few paragraphs at the
beginning: how the dragon feels, what it's doing while the Trio rest
by the lake, where it might go next, etc. Then right before leaving
the lakes, they watch the dragon take flight until it vanishes, even
though Harry insisted they must leave at once. Do you think the
dragon plays a symbolic role? Is it a significant part of this
chapter for another reason? Or did you find the mentions of the
dragon more filler?

Debbie:
I found the image of the freed dragon flying off, silhouetted against a
darkening sky, to be very compelling, and one that has stayed with me.  The
image of freedom contrasts sharply to our first view of the dragon at
Gringotts, in chains and made to obey through abuse.  The dragon's freedom,
an unanticipated consequence of the Gringotts break-in, and the fact that
the Trio stayed to watch it despite their haste to get to Hogsmeade, seems
to foreshadow the outcome of the upcoming battle at Hogwarts -- which we now
know will happen due to Harry's vision.  This is what Harry is fighting for
-- to free the WW from Voldemort's tyranny.  The free dragon contrasts
sharply with the image of Voldemort killing his own followers when things do
not go his own way.

There also is a parallel to the rescue of Norbert in the first book.

3) Harry's vision of Voldemort killing everyone within reach at
Malfoy Manor is a first-hand view of Voldemort using the Elder wand.
Do you believe Voldemort exhibits extraordinary magical power in this
scene or were his powers about what you expected he was capable of
regardless of the wand? Any thoughts on Bellatrix and
Lucius '[throwing] others behind them in their race for the door'?

Debbie:
Voldemort's killing spree required not a small bit of firepower, but his
targets were headed for the door, so I don't think he needed extraordinary
power to get the job done.  Lucius' actions show that he is first and
foremost out for himself, which of course becomes important later.

4) Voldemort initially believes his Horcruxes must be safe because
he would feel 'if he, himself, most important and precious, had been
attacked, mutilated[.]' Comments about either Voldemort's reasoning
or how he describes his Horcruxes? Did the course of Voldemort's
thoughts about his Horcruxes and the realization that Harry is
hunting them offer any new glimpses into his interior life?

Debbie:
I second Olivier's very insightful comments on Voldemort.

5) If you were a Harry!Horcrux theorist, or argued against the
theory, did you think the possibility of Harry being the final
Horcrux was defunct when the last Horcrux was revealed as an object
hidden at Hogwarts? Were you keeping count at that point? Were you
already suspecting the possibility of a twist with the Horcruxes?

Debbie:
I declare myself guilty of being an ardent Harrycrux theorist, but I thought
the evidence pointed to Accidental Harrycrux (because otherwise the fact
that Voldemort was trying to kill Harry would make no sense).  Moreover, I
expected the realization that he would have to sacrifice himself would come
to Harry only after the other Horcruxes had been destroyed, so Voldemort's
revelation was to my mind entirely consistent with my theories.

6) Voldemort is fairly certain the Potter boy couldn't know of his
connection to the Gaunts, or about the cave, until he remembers
Dumbledore. In a final assessment of why Dumbledore was the only
wizard Voldemort reportedly feared, what was the basis of Voldemort's
fear? Did it have to do with Dumbledore's knowledge of Tom Riddle's
past or other factors?

Debbie:
I don't think Dumbledore's knowledge is the source of the fear.  Voldemort
feared Dumbledore because he had no power over Dumbledore, in that Voldemort
could not charm Dumbledore the way he could charm other people he needed.
He seems to have known from his first meeting that Dumbledore was different
in this regard.  The underlying reason why Dumbledore can't be charmed
probably derives at least in part from his legilimency skills and the
consequent knowledge he has gained thereby rather than any specific
knowledge regarding Riddle's past.

7) Harry is the one to determine when they jump off the dragon; he's
the one who casts the protective spells. When Hermione attempts to
plan their trip to Hogwarts rather than following Harry's lead,
Harry 'firmly' decides the course of action. Is this a new twist in
the Harry/Hermione relationship? Do you think something changed
between them over the course of the year or is it typical that Harry
takes over in certain situations?
8) Any thoughts on Harry's decision to go to Hogsmeade even after
learning Voldemort believed it would be 'impossible' for Harry to
enter Hogsmeade undetected? Did Harry forget this point in his haste
to find the last Horcrux?

HRH did not enter Gringotts undetected; yet they still managed to accomplish
their mission.  They have to get to Hogwarts, and it appears that the only
way to check the defences or to get in is through Hogsmeade.  It seemed to
me to be a necessary gamble, and Harry knew best that they didn't have time
for reflection and planning anymore.

Thanks for the great questions!

Debbie


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