CHAPTER DISCUSSION: DH - Chapter Twenty-One - The Tale of th

[Jerri/Dan Chase]

No: HPFGUIDX 183026

My thanks to Goddlefrood for summary and questions.  I hope to get 
back to the rest, but have a point that I have been wanting to make 
for some time related to this question:
>11. By this stage, the trio having being at the Lovegood house
>for some time, were you expecting Xenophilius to betray the trio?
>Did you feel some sympathy with Xenophilius and his reasons
>for being a Quisling or not given the status of the WW at the time?

I may be alone in this, but I feel great sympathy with Xenophilius. 
His only daughter is a hostage, who knows where with who knows what 
being done to her.  How many of you parents feel CERTAIN that you 
would have the strength not to betray a person who you supported in 
theory but didn't know when your child's life was on the line?

Also, I have wondered ever since DH, why Lord V. didn't take Ginny 
hostage very soon in the school year.  After all, he did know that the 
Weasley's were closely connected with Harry, or else why the raid on 
the wedding.  It seems such an obvious thing for him to have done, and 
long before the time when the family took precautions against it. 
After all soul fragment/memory Tom Riddle understood the power of a 
young hostage.  And we will learn eventually that Lord V. is using 
lots of different hostages.

And, what do folks think that the Weasley's and Harry would have done
if Ginny had been a hostage?   Those who judge Xenophilius harshly
should consider this.

(And I know that it didn't happen because JKR couldn't let it happen.
But once the concept of Lord V. as a hostage taker is established, it
seems strange that he would draw the line at Ginny.  As Harry says to
DD in the cave in HBP "this is Lord Voldemort we're talking about", or
words to that effect.)

Jerri