ChapDisc - DH 16, Godric's Hollow

[Caius Marcius]

No: HPFGUIDX 182113

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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
CHAPDISC:  Chapter 16 – Godric's Hollow

When Harry awakens the next morning, it takes him several seconds to
remember Ron's desertion the previous evening. He is still unable to
fully assimilate it.  Hermione, morose and uncommunicative, does not
speak to Harry, but turns her face away instead. She seems just as
stunned as Harry, just as unable to believe that Ron is really gone.

Breakfasting in silence, they both realize that once they leave their
current encampment, it will be virtually impossible for Ron to find
them again. Hermione dawdles while packing up their things, hoping
that Ron will re-appear, and Harry likewise can't help hoping
(just "a little") for Ron's return. At the same time, he feels great
anger over Ron's unanswerable accusation, "We thought you knew what
you were doing!"

After an hour's delay, Harry and Hermione Disapparate to a new
location. Hermione breaks down sobbing, while Harry finds himself too
cold with anger against Ron to comfort her. Over the next few days,
Harry and Hermione reach an unspoken agreement not to discuss Ron.
Harry, who has resolved to never mention his name again, begins
watching the Marauder's Map, expecting to see the appearance of a dot
labeled "Ron".  No such dot ever appears, though Harry finds himself
obsessively staring at the dot labeled "Ginny Weasley".

Harry and Hermione's speculations over the possible whereabouts of
Gryffindor's Sword grow increasingly sterile. Harry inwardly vents
his anger against both Ron and Dumbledore. Harry perforce admits that
Ron was right – Dumbledore *should* have given him a specific plan to
find the remaining Horcrux, but instead, he gave them virtually
nothing.  Harry is overwhelmed with feelings of hopelessness and
guilt –how could he have asked his two best friends to accompany him
on what has turned out to have been an utterly futile effort? Harry
is now "constantly vigilant" for signs that Hermione, too, might "do
a Weasley."

Hermione, to break up the monotony, begins pulling out the portrait
of Phineas Nigellus, who consents to be blindfolded as he converses
with the Duo. Via Phineas' snide commentary, Harry is able to piece
together some of what is going on at Hogwarts. Harry's greatest
interest is sparked by news of an understated but continual DA
challenge to the authority of Headmaster Snape, led primarily by
Ginny, but with Neville & Luna presumably involved.  Harry's
homesickness for Hogwarts at this point is so intense that he briefly
fantasizes about giving up his quest and returning to the comfort of
Gryffindor's dormitory – then he remembers that, as Undesirable No.
1, he would be in grave danger the moment he dared to show his face
at Hogwarts.

Harry and Hermione continue their aimless trajectory across the
British Isles as Christmas approaches. Harry finally dares to
approach Hermione to make a request, feeling rather as he did in PoA
when he asked McGonagall to approve his visit to Hogsmeade.
Hermione, absorbed in a re-reading of The Tales of Beadle the Bard,
asks Harry's help in interpreting a symbol she found in the book.
Harry realizes it's the same sign that Xenophilius Lovegood wore, the
sign that Viktor Krum identified as Grindelwald's mark.  Hermione,
hearing this story for the first time, is astonished – why would the
sign of a Dark Lord be represented in a children's book? and why
didn't Scrimgeour recognize it?

Harry then tells Hermione straight out that he wants to go to
Godric's Hollow – to his surprise, Hermione immediately agrees.
Godric's Hollow, she explains, being the birthplace of Godric
Gryffindor, makes it all the more likely that "it's there."  Harry,
completely puzzled by what "it" is supposed to be, is amused (for the
first time in months, it seems), as Pedant!Hermione  gives another
lengthy exposition from Hogwarts – A History by Bathilda
Bagshot.  "It" is of course, the Sword of Gryffindor, and Hermione
concludes that Dumbledore expected that Harry would have made the
connection between Godric Gryffindor, Godric's Hollow, and the Sword
of Gryffindor. When Harry reminds her of Aunt Muriel's statement that
Bathilda still lives in Godric's Hollow, Hermione gasps dramatically –
 what if Dumbledore entrusted the Sword to Bathilda?  Harry isn't so
sure, and sees some problems with that theory, but anxious as he is
to see his parents' gravesite, he suppresses his doubts.

Now jointly resolved to visit Godric's Hollow, Hermione outlines the
necessary preparations and precautions they should make (practice
Disapparating together, Disillusionment Charms, Polyjuice disguises),
but Harry isn't really listening to her – he feels excitement as he
is about to go home, to the village where, if not for Voldemort, he would have grown to maturity as a normal Wizarding boy, perhaps with younger siblings, invitations to friends to visit his house, and a mother who would have baked his 17th birthday cake. After Hermione retires for the night, Harry pulls out the old photo album that Hagrid gave him at the end of Year One to gaze at his parents' smiling and waving images, his mind no doubt haunted by
tantalizing "what-ifs?"

The next morning, Harry is ready to set out, but the more wary
Hermione wants to take every possible precaution. It is a full week
later, after having procured suitable Muggle disguises via Polyjuice,
and having practiced Disapparating under the Invisibility Cloak, that
Hermione finally OKs going to Godric's Hollow.

The Duo appear in Godric's Hollow in the guise of a nondescript
middle-aged Muggle couple. One thing Hermione failed to consider –
snow! - is falling, meaning that all of her careful plans to stay
concealed will go for naught. Harry, throwing caution to the winds,
urges Hermione to dispense with the Invisibility Cloak – "we don't
look like us and there's no one around," so the Duo begin exploring
the village of Harry's birth in plain sight.

Harry is hopeful – while, rationally knowing that it's impossible –
that he might recognize his parents' home or some other significant
landmark.  He muses that his parents' home may still be invisible
under the Fidelius Charm.  The Duo note the village's landmarks – a
war memorial, shop, a post office, a pub, and a little church.
Observing the villagers' strolling through town and overhearing
snatches of music makes Hermione realize that it must be Christmas.
Harry is surprised by this, having completely lost track of the date.

Hermione points out the cemetery behind the church, and Harry feels
both excitement and fear as they approach it.  He senses Hermione
must be feeling the same way, as she takes his hand and pulls him
forward. She then notices the seemingly Muggle war memorial transform
itself into a statue of the James, Lily and infant Harry.  Never
expecting to find such a tribute, Harry stares in wonder at his
parents' image as well as his own scarless representation.

Moving toward the church, the sounds of the carols irresistibly fills
Harry with hopeless yearning for all the Hogwarts Christmases of
yore.  Entering the cemetery, they begin to search for the Potters'
tombstones.  After some searching, Hermione comes across the
gravesite of Kendra and Ariana Dumbledore, with the
inscription "Where your treasure is, there too your heart will be
also" (a quote that Harry says he does not understand).   Harry muses
that Rita and Muriel got at least some of their facts right, and goes
on to bitterly wonder why Dumbledore never thought to tell him of
their common link to Godric's Hollow.

As they continue to search for James and Lily, Hermione finds another
gravestone of note- an extremely old and weathered stone for
one "Ignotus," – with what seems to be the mark of Grindelwald/Beadle
the Bard!  Going deeper and deeper into the cemetery, the Duo see
many markers of family names familiar from Hogwarts, or other
multiple generations of Wizarding families who had seemingly died out
or moved away from Godric's Hollow.  Finally, Hermione cries
out, "Harry, they're here – right here."

Harry's grief swells inside him as he approaches his parents'
headstone.  It seems to shine in the dark, making it easy to read.

JAMES POTTER
BORN 27 MARCH 1960
DIED OCTOBER 31 1981

LILY POTTER
BORN JANUARY 30 1960
DIED OCTOBER 31 1981

"The last enemy that shall be defeated is death."

Harry reads the inscription slowly, the last phrase aloud – then he
is seized with a near-panic.  "Isn't that a Death Eater idea? Why is
it there?"

Always better read than Harry, Hermione explains that the phrase
refers to a life after death.  Harry is again bitter as he reflects
that his parents are *not* alive, that their mere physical remains
beneath the ground cannot recognize him, or have any interest in his
presence.  Harry weeps unabashedly, lamenting his parents' sacrifice,
wishing he could be beneath the earth with them.  He regrets that he
bought no flowers, but Hermione, seeming to realize his need,
conjures of a wreath of Christmas roses, which Harry catches and lays
upon their grave.

Harry and Hermione, their arms around one another, quietly leave the
Godric's Hollow cemetery, walking again past the tombs of Kendra and
Ariana Dumbledore.


1. How do Harry and Hermione differ in their reaction to Ron's
departure? (or do they differ?)

2. Following off that question, I was struck by the richness of the
interplay between Harry and Hermione in this chapter.  What is your
favorite H/H moment from Chapter 16?

3. By the end of DH, we know that Phineas is working for the Good
Guys, and that he is trying to help pinpoint the whereabouts of the
Duo so SilverDoe!Snape can drop off the Sword of Gryffindor.  How
competent does Phineas seem at his assigned task?

4. Why did it take so long for Harry & Hermione to make the
connection between Godric's Hollow, the Sword of Gryffindor and
Bagshot?

5. Harry fantasizes how, if not for Voldemort, he would have grown up
as an ordinary wizard boy in Godric's Hollow.  Had that occurred,
it's easy to think of all the ways in which Harry would have been
different – what (if anything) about Harry would have stayed the same?

6. The only evidence of the Wizarding World that Harry and Hermione
see in Godric's Hollow (in this chapter) are the Potter memorial
statue, and the tombstones.  Where are the signs of life in GH?

7. Why didn't Dumbledore tell Harry about their common roots in
Godric's Hollow?

8. What did you first make of the gravesite of "Ignotus" and the
mysterious symbol? (BTW, "ignotus" in Latin means obscure or
ignorant).

9. This chapter offer two quotations from the New Testament – the
first verse upon the Dumbledore family headstone is from Matthew 6:21
(i.e., Jesus' Sermon on the Mount). Here is the passage in its
context (from the New American Standard Bible):

--- 19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth
--- and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 "But
--- store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth
--- nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;
--- 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

The quote also appears in Luke 12:33-34, with a somewhat different
introduction (from the New American Standard Bible):

--- 33 Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves
--- money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in
--- heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. 34 For
--- where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Harry says he does not know what the inscription means. What does it
mean? (in the context of DH).

10. The second Scripture verse, upon the Potters' headstone, is from
Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians, 15:26 (the King James
Version).  Here is the passage in its context (from the New American
Standard Bible):

--- 20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits
--- of those who are asleep. 21 For since by a man came death, by a
--- man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all
--- die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his
--- own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are
--- Christ's at His coming, 24 then comes the end, when He hands over
--- the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule
--- and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign until He has
--- put all His enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will
--- be abolished is death.

"The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." – Harry's initial
reaction is that this is a Death Eater slogan.  How does this
statement differ from the Death Eater philosophy?

11. Harry supposes that Dumbledore selected the inscription for his
mother and sister – who selected the epitaph for the Potters?

12. If you were unaware that these were Biblical passages, did that
change your interpretation of these epitaphs?

13.  Throughout the cemetery sequence, Harry and Hermione are in the
guise of a middle-aged Muggle couple.  If you were directing the film
version of Deathly Hallows, would you drop the Polyjuice disguises
and have Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson perform the scene?  Or
would you film it with Harry and Hermione portrayed by two completely
unfamiliar actors?

- CMC (Novissimus destruetur hostis mors)

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