CHAPDISC: DH36, THE FLAW IN THE PLAN

[wildirishrose01us]

No: HPFGUIDX 185258

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?
> 
Carol responds:
I've already talked about Narcissa in several questions. As for
Slughorn, it's hard to say how much effect his return had in terms of
the outcome of the battle, aside from the morale boost that fresh
troops always bring. Harry is focused on other parts of the battle and
a lot of things are happening at once. However, Phineas Nigellus's
statement that "Slytherin did its part" indicates to me that they were
just as important to the battle as any other latecomers (townspeople,
centaurs, etc.). It's the principle of the thing--the HoH of Slytherin
leading troops into battle--that's important, IMO, because it severs
the association between Voldemort and Slytherin that we see throughout
the books. (The former HoH and Slytherin headmaster, Snape, working
against Voldemort at the cost of his life also helped.) Still, though,
whether they affected the outcome of the battle or not, I want to
believe that many if not most of the students who returned bringing
their families were Slytherins. (I think we can safely rule out Pansy
Parkinson, however!)

Marianne: Just quick.  I had to read this part of the book a couple 
times to figure out what happened to Slughorn.  P.734, Charlie 
Weasley overtaking Horace Slughorn.  I always figured that Charlie 
was overtaking Horace to take him down, seeing as he's Slytherin 
HoH.  Then Horace just disappeared from the story for me.  I'm 
thinking where did he go, did Charlie take him down?  Course, I was 
reading fast to get to the end, and it took awhile to start reading 
again.  (Family stuff) Finally I found the paragraph of him, 
McGonagall and Kingsley was fighting Voldemort.  I thought Slughorn 
saw what life would be like under Voldy's reign and he would fight 
for what was right.  Maybe not necessarily right, but what kind of 
life would be more comfortable for him.

Did anyone besides me found it surprising that McGonagall was 
fighting LV?  It don't surprise me now, because she is truly a 
powerful witch.  Magically and intelligent.

Oh, I will miss the discussions too.  I joined about halfway through 
book 7.  I wish I'd been here earlier.  I guess there are the 
archives.

Marianne