CHAPDISC: DH 22, The Deathly Hallows

[jmnabers]

No: HPFGUIDX 183180

CHAPTER DISCUSSIONS: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Chapter 22, 
The Deathly Hallows

The chapter begins as Harry, Ron, and Hermione make their escape from 
the Death Eaters at the Lovegood household. Hermione casts protective 
spells over them as they return to their campsite; Harry and Ron both 
recognize her genius at getting them out of yet another tight spot.

The discussion quickly turns to the wealth of new questions that 
Xenophilius has raised: Is Luna still alive? Was the trip to the 
Lovegood household just a waste of time? Is there any truth in the 
story of the Deathly Hallows?

It is the last question that sparks the most vehement discussion. 
Hermione, predictably, finds the entire story implausible if not 
ridiculous. Ron disagrees, pointing out that lying under pressure is 
more difficult than she can imagine. As they argue, the three start 
to put together bits and pieces of information that might support (or 
in Hermione's case, disprove) the story of the three brothers.

Hermione is adamant that there can't be any truth to any of the 
magical items, referring to the Resurrection Stone while making 
finger quotation marks to show her disdain. Harry realizes that talk 
of living with the dead frightens her and he changes the subject to 
the grave they found in Godric's Hollow.

Hermione, with Kreacher's help, has discovered that the Peverell 
family was pure-blood but has been extinct in the male line for 
centuries. Harry suddenly remembers that Marvolo Gaunt, Voldemort's 
grandfather, claimed to be a descendent of the Peverell family. In an 
intuitive leap, Harry speculates that Marvolo's ring must contain the 
Resurrection Stone; furthermore, he realizes that Voldemort must not 
know about the powerful Deathly Hallows if he risked destroying one 
by turning it into a horcrux.

Harry, completely convinced that the Deathly Hallows are real, is 
sure that the key to defeating Voldemort is to find the 3 objects and 
become the master of Death. He realizes that he must be a descendent 
of Ignotus Peverell and that his invisibility cloak must be one of 
the Hallows. He also is convinced that the snitch from Dumbledore 
must contain the Resurrection Stone in the form of the destroyed 
horcrux.

Harry realizes he would only need the Elder Wand to complete the 
trio. He intuitively understands that Voldemort must be after the 
Elder Wand, too. Voldemort, not knowing its true power, wants it only 
for its alleged invincibility: the ultimate weapon that will destroy 
Harry.

Hermione tries valiantly to convince him that none of it can possibly 
be true, but Harry will not be swayed. He realizes there is some 
truth in Xenophilius's assessment of her as close-minded.

Weeks pass. Harry can think only of the Hallows; Hermione and Ron can 
think only of the horcruxes. Harry's scar begins to prickle again, 
but the images he sees are fuzzy and blurred. Finally, one night in 
March, they are able to pick up the Potterwatch program.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione are heartened to hear the voices of old 
friends that are supporting them. However, there is also distressing 
news. Ted Tonks has been murdered, Dean Thomas is missing, and Hagrid 
is on the run. As they hear the voices of their friends, the three 
are overcome with sadness, gratitude, and shame. Finally, Fred's 
voice appears and Harry laughs for the first time in weeks.

As the program ends, Harry's excitement prompts him to make a 
terrible error. He utters the taboo name, Voldemort, and they are 
instantaneously surrounded by Death Eaters.


Discussion Questions:
1) Why does Hermione do her best to protect Xenophilius from the 
Death Eaters? Is it only because of her feelings of friendship for 
Luna? Or did she, like Harry, recognize his desperation to save his 
child?

2) Why does Hermione consider the trips to Godric's Hollow and the 
Lovegood household "a waste of time"?

3) Harry realizes that his "talk of living with dead people" had 
scared of Hermione. Why is living with dead people comforting to 
Harry and yet frightening to Hermione?

4) Why is Harry able to put the story together so quickly? It says 
his "imagination was racing ahead, far beyond Ron and Hermione's." Is 
it imagination, experience, or something else that allows Harry to 
make the intuitive leaps that other cannot?

5) When Harry realizes that Voldemort must also want the Elder Wand, 
it "extinguishes" all of his hope and happiness. Why?

6) If Harry is right, Dumbledore did not tell him the secret to being 
the master of Death because he needed Harry to discover it for 
himself. Does this agree with Dumbledore's previous treatment of 
Harry? How would Harry be different if Dumbledore did tell him what 
he needed rather than letting Harry work it out for himself? What 
role do Ron and Hermione play in his discoveries?

7) Harry wishes his scar would burn again because "for the first time 
ever, he and Voldemort were united in wanting the very same thing." 
When his visions do return, they are blurred. Why are the visions 
different now than they have been in the past?

8) Harry feels that Ron and Hermione are obsessed with the horcuxes. 
She accuses him of being obsessed with the Hallows and tells him that 
they are "the ones trying to do what Dumbledore wanted us to do!" Why 
are they at an impasse over the way to proceed? Why does Harry "give 
up on her"?

9) As Harry retreats into his own imagination, Ron starts to take 
charge. Is Ron only capable of leadership because Harry is distracted 
or is it something else?

10)If Harry is so determined that finding the Elder Wand is the way 
to proceed, why do they waste months without making any real 
progress? What, if anything, is achieved in these long months of 
camping?

11)What is it about the Potterwatch broadcast that makes Harry feel 
more connected to the world?

12) Why do Lupin's words cause Harry to feel "a mixture of gratitude 
and shame"?

13) Why does Lupin say that Harry's instincts are "good and nearly 
always right"? Are these words in reference to the past, or are they 
meant to foreshadow events to come?

14) Is the rush of emotions Harry felt while listening to Potterwatch 
responsible for his reckless saying of Voldemort's name? If not, what 
causes him to break the taboo that he's kept for months?

jmnabers


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