CHAPDISC: DH36, THE FLAW IN THE PLAN

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 185257

 
> QUESTIONS
> 1.  I still don't get this "like a lover" stuff between Bellatrix & 
> Voldemort.  What *was* their relationship, in your opinion?  What 
> about Rodolphus, her husband?  Was theirs a marriage of 
convenience? 
> Did he not care, or did he know that if he did show he cared, 
> Voldemort would kill him?  

Potioncat:
There was a sexual nature to Bella's attraction to LV--just as 
perverted as she was. If you ask me, both Bella and Jo forgot all 
about Rodolphus and Rabastan.


> 
> 2.  Harry is surprised to not hear DE cheers, and is surprised that 
> Voldemort has fallen down.  Why?  After encountering the Baby-Voldy-
> Thing at King's Cross, wasn't he expecting Voldemort hadn't yet won?

Potioncat:
The only thing I can think is that he hadn't fully worked out who the 
baby was. At that point, I thought it was the soul bit from Harry's 
head, and not until I realized LV had been unconscious did I 
understand that it was him.


 
> 
> 6.  Do you believe Voldemort made his offer of forgiveness 
> sincerely?  Would those who surrendered have been forgiven and 
> allowed to live? 

Potioncat:
He says what ever he thinks will get him what he wants. I think any 
of the wizarding kind who surrendered and obeyed would have been 
allowed to live. At least unless they were nearby during a temper 
tantrum.

> 
> 7.  Okay, Voldy knows the untruth of Harry letting others sacrifice 
> themselves for him.  What is he trying to do in telling everyone at 
> Hogwarts that he was killed while running away and that he was 
never 
> anything but someone who let others sacrifice themselves for him?  
> Does Voldy believe what he's saying, or is he trying to convince 
the 
> others?

Potioncat:
He's trying to convince the others. Remember how many times the 
Hogwarts students turned against Harry following Daily Prophet 
stories.


> 
> 10.  Does it say anything beyond "only a true Gryffindor" that 
> Neville also found Gryffindor's sword in the Sorting Hat?  Does it 
> say anything about the Chosen One or about the prophecy?  Or not?

Potioncat:
I bet Snape could have pulled it out too. But I agree with what 
someone else said about Ron also getting the sword. It seems to 
respond to Gryffindor bravery and has nothing to do with the Chosen 
One. Although had Neville been the one Chosen, he would have done 
well at it. (Only it wouldn't have worked out the same, because Snape 
didn't ask for Alice to be spared.)(Unless some other DE did.)

> 
> 11.  There has been quite a varied response to Molly Weasley in 
this 
> scene.  What is yours?

Potioncat:
I'm glad she was shown as a powerful witch, glad she vanquished 
Bella, but didn't care for the writing.
> 
> 12.  If you had (or have) no vested interest in Harry Potter, what 
> would you think of Voldemort's remarks here?  Has he missed the 
point 
> entirely, or does he have a point about accidents and Dumbledore?  
> Does it make sense that he would see things this way?

Potioncat:
Yep. Snape saw to it that LV thought Harry was just lucky with 
tallented friends.

> 
> 13.  What do you think Harry thought the odds were that Riddle 
would 
> actually be able to find some remorse?  Did he believe it was 
> possible?  Was he doubting DD's statement that nothing could be 
done 
> to help the Voldy-Baby-Thing?  Was he offering this up to be able 
to 
> know that he'd done all he could?

Potioncat:
Harry has this saving people thing. Just as he tried to save Draco 
and Crabbe/Goyle, he's tryiing to save Riddle. I don't know if he 
thinks it will work or not, but he has to try.

(Crabbe/Goyle still can't remember which was which and which one 
didn't live.)
> 


> 
> 18.  This has been discussed much before, but just *why* do the 
> Malfoys look as if they're not sure whether they should be there? 
> Because of the part they had once played but had set aside? Because 
> there were no other Slytherins there to speak of?  Because...?

Potioncat:
They are sort of in between. But I don't quite get why no one has 
cuffed them and hauled them off to the local police station, or 
whatever Aurors do to DEs and other suspects.


> 
> 19.  Many were disappointed by the part Slytherin played at the 
end, 
> having hoped for so much more from students, children of DEs, etc.  
> Thinking of the roles of the Slytherins who *did* play a part – 
> Horace and Narcissa in particular – are those parts worth 
> celebrating?  How significant to the outcome were they?

Potioncat:
Slughorn, yes. Narcissa, no. Snape, yes.
> 
> 20.  Many left this book rather stunned at revelations about DD, 
not 
> altogether happy with the strings he pulled or decisions he made or 
> actions he took.  What do you make of the fact that, for Harry, 
DD's 
> pride and — let's face it — DD's approval were a balm equal to 
> phoenix song?

Potioncat:
I agree with Harry. I don't see his string pulling in as bad a light 
as others do.
> 
> 21.  Would you have kept any of the Deathly Hallows?  If so, which 
> one(s) and why?  If not, which would at least have tempted you?  
Are 
> there any to whose power you think you'd have been totally immune?

Potioncat:
The stone, even though I know better. Or maybe it's just that at this 
time of year I miss loved ones more.

> 
> 22.  As you finished this chapter for the first time, how satisfied 
> or dissatisfied were you?  Did it feel like a resolution befitting 
> our protagonist and antagonist?

Potioncat:
I like the resolution now. I was in shock the first time I read it 
and missed the last few chapters entirely.
> 
> 23.  So if you had to do it in your own words and as concisely as 
> possible, how would you sum up just what that "flaw in the plan" 
was?

Potioncat:
Why don't you ask Hermione? She seems to know.

That is, not a clue. Even after reading other opinions. I'm not very 
sure what DD expected to happen.

Thanks SSSusan for the summary and questions.

Let's do it all over again!