CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Prisoner of Azkaban Chapter 5: The Dementor

[dzturtleshell]

No: HPFGUIDX 189507

Why do you think Mr. Weasley tells Harry not to look for Black?
dzturtleshell: I never realized that was strange until now! I suppose he must have at least known Black was one of James' good friends and a double agent. I don't know if he'd know about the godfather part or the Secret Keeper part, it seems like that part was kept under wraps and I don't think Arthur was involved with law enforcement or the Order during the first war. 


How well do you think the Dementor scene worked after the build-up, and why?
dzturtleshell: The Dementor scene was pretty scary to me! I just wish Harry hadn't passed out so we could have seen the rest of the Dementor's visit in the compartment!


What did Dumbledore's speech add to our knowledge of Dementors?
dzturtleshell: Dumbledore essentially let us know that Dementors are highly perceptive and merciless. Dumbledore didn't make me feel much better about them, except for lulling me into believing that they must not be completely unreasonable/out-of-control to allow them to be stationed around the school. 


Chocolate is good for you. Discuss.
dzturtleshell: There's a chemical in chocolate that elevates mood. Also, carbohydrates (sugars) increase serotonin release, which will also elevate your mood. Biologically speaking, chocolate is fantastic for you!


Do you suppose Remus has been a teacher before?
dzturtleshell: I didn't think Remus had been a teacher before, but we don't know much about any form of education outside of Hogwarts. I think Dumbledore would have let any other werewolf-bitten children into Hogwarts as he did with Lupin, so there probably weren't too many opportunities for him to tutor outcast werewolf kids.   Maybe he was teaching overseas. Or maybe he just added "Professor" to the suitcase when he got the job.

What do you imagine are the requirements for teachers at Hogwarts?
dzturtleshell: Pretty sure you just have to be deemed worthy by the current Headmaster. (And if the Headmaster can't find anyone worthy & willing to teach, even a ghost, the Ministry will send in a spy). Harry pointed out that you don't even have to be a "fully-qualified" wizard when Hagrid's promotion was announced. 


What did you make of Ron & Harry noticing Professor Snape's expression of loathing of Lupin?
dzturtleshell: Any enemy of Snape is a friend of Harry (at this point at least...). I assumed there was a history between them, the wizarding world is a small world, after all. 


**Mike's question: In light of Dumbledore's speech at the end of the chapter, who authorized the Dementors' search of the Hogwarts Express? The driver obviously stopped for them, so it must have been set up in advance, wasn't it? What do you think of this decision?

dzturtleshell: I was always sure that Dumbledore had agreed to the search of the train, and thought it was senseless. Why not just have the Dementors there when everyone got off the train at Hogsmeade? Why not have the Dementors search the train at King's Cross when they got on when the parents were around? Why would you stop the train in the middle of nowhere in a rainstorm?? But I figured it was used to make the story more interesting. 

A few things I wondered about in this chapter:
**Why was Lupin on the train at all? I get that he's not wealthy, but couldn't he have just apparated to Hogsmeade and walked over from there? Did Dumbledore ask him to take the train to watch over Harry during the Dementor's search? If so, how could he have known Harry & co would happen to sit in the same compartment with Lupin? 

**Why did the lights go out when the Dementors boarded the train? They attacked in daylight in OoTP, so they can handle light... I assume it was to make the scene scarier for the reader, but can anyone think of a real reason?

**I feel like it's fairly well known that Dementors have an overwhelming effect on individuals with a traumatic past, so shouldn't everyone (adults at least) have expected Harry to have that reaction? They all seem somewhat surprised that he was overcome by being forced to relive the vicious murder of his parents... And why wasn't anyone worried about Ginny?! 

Thanks for the questions!
~ dzturtleshell :)