CHAPDISC: DH12, Magic is Might

[Troy Doyle]

No: HPFGUIDX 180817

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NOTE: This ChapDisc is the work of AFN. Mike only posted it for him.
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CHAPTER DISCUSSIONS: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,
Chapter Twelve, Magic Is Might

As Chapter 12 opens, Harry, Ron, and Hermione (HRH), are as
comfortably hidden in #12 Grimmauld Place as they ever will be.
Kreacher is now helpful and has retrieved Mundungus, who reveals
Umbridge is now in possession of the horcrux locket.  The Trio
realize that to get the locket back will require access to Umbridge
and the Ministry of Magic.

 While Death Eaters lurk around outside, life in Grimmauld Place has
taken a turn for the better in that Kreacher, no longer antagonistic
to HRH, cleans, cooks, and seems to take pride in pleasing the Trio.
Yet they are in for more surprises and concerns.  From the Daily
Prophet which Harry obtained by apparating under the invisibility
cloak, they learn that Snape has been appointed Headmaster at
Hogwarts.  Speculation about what this entails ensues.  They realize
Hogwarts will be very different this year and also express nostalgia
that they will not be going back to school for the beginning of that
term.  Hermione also realizes through the portrait of Phineas
Nigellus in Grimmauld Place Phineas can go to his other portrait in
the Headmaster's office and hence have communication with Snape.  So,
his Grimmauld Place portrait gets stuffed into the now familiar
beaded bag.

The Trio begin their plan to try to get the locket horcrux from
Umbridge and decide they should infiltrate the Ministry of Magic.
Their surveillance of the Ministry has given them a good deal of
information as to how it is entered and exited, the approximate
location, and so forth. With much trepidation, they decide that it is
time to act.

While finalizing the plan, Harry has another painful scar pain on his
forehead. By now he cannot really hide these episodes well from the
others.  Harry has a vision, which we later confirm is what Voldemort
is experiencing at the time.  He sees a foreign city and hears
Voldemort ask the woman who opens a door for Gregorovitch.  Harry
sees her fear and hears replies in a foreign language, pleading that
Gregorovitch is not there.  Then he sees her and two children fired
upon with a wand and a flash of green light. Harry regains his normal
consciousness violently to the sound of Hermione's shouts.

Confronted directly by Hermione, he tells what he experienced.  All
three discuss whether Harry should be trying to stop the visions, but
he insists he must know what Voldemort is doing, much to the chagrin
of Ron and Hermione.  Discussing the scene, Harry explains that
Gregorivitch is another expert wandmaker, along with Ollivander, who
made Victor Krum's wand.  What this could mean is not resolved.

So the three set out on their quest at the Ministry, not realizing
they'll no longer be able to use Grimmauld Place as sanctuary from
Death Eaters hunting them.  Armed with a number of things they
believe useful, including their ever handy supply of Polyjuice
Potion, they apparate just outside the Ministry, lying in wait for
employees whose identities they will assume. Hermione stuns Mafalda
Hopkirk and assumes her identity.  Then Hermione makes magical
maintenance worker Reg Cattermole eat a puking pastille, so they can
get the hairs they'll need for Ron's transformation.  Finally
inflicting a nosebleed on another worker, they get hairs for Harry.

After flushing themselves into the Ministry, they immediately see
that the Magical Brethren statue has been replaced to fit the new
regime.  The new statue depicts a witch and wizard sitting on thrones
that are portrayals of Muggles, now in their rightful place, to go
along with the inscription "Magic is Might."  Finding out more about
who they're impersonating, the Trio proceed by taking the elevator,
keen on pursuing their goal but not getting caught at the ruse. Ron,
as Reg, gets sent on a task by Yaxley.  Then as Harry and Hermione
ascend to the floor for the Minister of Magic and Support Staff,
discussing the advisability of sending Ron on his own, the doors open
and they come squarely into abrupt contact with none other than
Umbridge herself.


Discussion Questions

1. Were you surprised that the trio were apparating to Grimmauld
Place on the top outside step and why?

2. Harry says if Umbridge opened the locket it would make no
difference, since she was so evil to start with; however she did wear
it awhile.  Could its influence possibly have made her even more
malevolent than in the past?

3. Did you even think before we see the tidy kitchen that Kreacher's
transformation and efforts to please would or could be so dramatic?

4. We find out Snape is the new Headmaster at Hogwarts.  Who else did
you think might take this place?  Perhaps as Deputy Headmistress in
the past it could have been McGonagall?

5. Since Hermione got Phineas's picture off the wall, has she learned
how to defeat the charms that keep other pictures from being removed
or was Phineas's portrait not stuck to begin with?

6. What did you think about upon learning of the plot to infiltrate
the Ministry in search of Umbridge and the horcrux?  They discuss
timing, strategy, and logistics and express their own misgivings.
Could or should they have tried to get the horcrux in a less
dangerous and complicated manner?

7. There was concern over the painful scar Voldemort visions, about
Voldemort invading Harry's mind.  Why didn't Voldemort ever try to
invade Harry's mind?  Did the fact that Harry had a scar and that
Voldemort presumably did not have anything to do with this?

8. Did you find anything particularly interesting about how the trio
actually physically got into the Ministry building?

9. They will have to leave Grimmauld Place after the incident.  How
did you feel about the location while they are there?  For instance,
is it a safe refuge, Harry's real home, and positively nostalgic of
former times there, or merely an expedient and sometimes unpleasant
one at that?


~AFN

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Next chapdisc, Chapter 13, The Muggle-born Registration Commission –
February 4, 2008