CHAPTER DISCUSSION: PS/SS 2, The Vanishing Glass

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 187730

Potioncat:
<SNIPS summary>

1.
"Don't ask questions--that was the first rule for a quiet life with the
Dursleys." It seems Harry and DD learned similar rules. Harry doesn't ask
questions; Dumbledore doesn't tell more than he has to. Do you think JKR is
merely withholding information from the reader as a plot device, or is
communication breakdown also a true theme within the HP series?


Alla:

I would not call miscommunication a true theme within the series, no. I would say that in this context, Harry not asking questions is written well enough and plausibly enough to feel believable (Harry growing in abusive home and having not to ask questions ingrained in him helps JKR indeed to keep information from readers as plot device IMO and keeps readers (only talking about myself of course) from rolling their eyes. But for me to call something a theme it should go through the series and I have to see examples of it left and right. I don't. I can name a couple of examples but certainly not enough for me to call it a theme.

But I would certainly call keeping a secrets and what it can lead to one of the themes of the series.


3. Petunia says she doesn't want to leave Harry alone because she'd come home to
find the house in ruins. Harry says he won't blow up the house. Just how much
does Petunia know about Lily's death? What is she really concerned about?

Alla:

Hm, good question. I would guess that yes she knows enough, probably from that letter, but as to the question of what she is concerned about, I would answer *her house*.



4. Why does Petunia treat Harry so badly--jealousy or resentment or something
else? Does Harry's accidental magic remind Petunia of her childhood with Lily
and Sev? Now that you know about the childhood of this trio, how do you feel
about the way the Dursleys and Snape treat Harry?


Alla:

Had baby Harry already produce accidental magic when left on Petunia's doorstep and that made her remember her childhood and thus treat him badly to allow Dudley to prod and pinch him for weeks?

I do not know what Harry accidental magic reminded her of, the magic that Harry did when he was at least couple years older, right? Quite probably it could have reminded her of Lily.

Personally I wish the fact that her nephew remained orphan reminded her of how family member should treat a child who is a family member.

Hm, how do I feel about the ways Dursleys and Snape treat Harry? Did you even have to ask? I think that they are mean and rotten "people" for treating innocent like this. Do I think that their childhood somehow justifies or excuses what they did to Harry? No, of course I do not. Does it make it more understandable? No, I do not think so.

Actually no, let me scratch it, Snape loving Lily and losing her to James is as far as I am concerned  was a primary reason for him mistreating Harry, so I certainly consider it to be a *reason*. I just do not think it is a good one.

With Petunia, I do not even know how to come up with reason based on their childhood. If she herself say was in love with James, I suppose I also would say that her mistreating a Harry because he looked like James would be a reason, a rotten one, but a reason nevertheless.

But she was not, she was jealous over her sister being a witch. I guess if you are saying that she transferred her jealousy on her kid simply because he was a wizard, I suppose that could be a reason. But boy, oh boy I think it such an ugly one.

I remember conversation with fellow Potter fan few years ago (she is not a member of this list as far as I know) who said that if my sister died, her baby would be most lovable boy in the world for me, as simple as that. I can only say amen to that.



6. The narrator describes the boa constrictor as "the largest snake in the
place. It could have wrapped its body twice around Uncle Vernon's car and
crushed it into a trash can
." How does this snake compare to the basilisk or to
Nagini? In Deathly Hallows (ch 13), Tom Riddle says that snakes find him and
whisper to him. How does this affect your reaction to Harry's conversation with
the boa constrictor?


Alla:

It does not affect my reaction at all, honestly. I always found this snake to be, I don't know, sweet. And was secretly fond of the theory that snake is going to show up in book 7 to help Harry somehow.

7. Vernon sends Harry to the cupboard after they return home. There he thinks
about strangers who have spoken to him on the street-- a tiny man in a violet
top hat; a wild-looking old woman dressed all in green; a bald man in a very
long purple coat. How did these witches and wizards recognize Harry? Is it just
coincidence that they're there? Can we identify any of them?

Alla:

I know the theory that they were the members of the order, but their appearance is to me one of the biggest holes in Protection actually protecting Harry. Why the heck they were able to approach him at all, I have no idea. I suppose bald man could be Shacklebolt, I do not know any others.

Thank you for great questions.