Chapter Discussion: Goblet of Fire Ch 1: The Riddle House

[nikkalmati]

No: HPFGUIDX 191341



--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "poomeg20" <poomeg20 at ...> wrote:
 GoF  Chapdisc 1: The Riddle House
>
> Questions:
> 
> 1. The first time you read the book, did you have a sense of the timeframe of
> the story, and therefore when "fifty years ago" would have been? Did you
> attribute any significance to that era?
> 

Nikkalmati

I did not think of anything other than a long time ago.  I was surprised the story did not bwegin with Harry.

Nikkalmati

> 2. What was your initial impression of the Riddle family?
> 
Nikkalmati

We are told they were arrogant and rude and monied, so I took that as what I was supposed to think.  

Nikkalmati

> 3. What or who did you think had caused their deaths?
> 

Nikkalmati

It did seem likely to be magic, but who it was (other than the teenaged boy seen by Frank) was not clear.

Nikkalmati

> 4. The Hanged Man is a pretty awesome pub name, considering the village is
> called Little Hangleton. What is your favorite pub name that comes up in the series?

Nikkalmati

I guess the Hog's Head. The Hnged Man is a bit gruesome. 

Nikkalmati

> 
> 5. Prior to the end of the chapter, did you think Frank Bryce would go on to be
> a more major character in the series?
> 
Nikkalmati

I thought it was possible, but not for long.  Ha, ha.

Nikkalmati

> 6. Do you think that Voldemort tried any other spells on his family before
> killing them with the AK?

Nikkalmati

They were found at dinner and with "a look of terror" on their faces; I think they knew who he was and he told them what he would do, and why, but I don't think he performed any other spells.  He probably had to hurry back to perform the spells on Morfin.

Nikkalmati
> 
> 7. Why do you think that Voldemort chose the house as his hideout?
> 
Nikkalmati
I do think that it was easy for him to go back there, because he knew where it was and that it was unoccupied.  I beleive, as suggested by others, that Lucius was the "wealthy man" who owned it.  LV could not have paid for Frank's services when he had just gotten out of school and during the period he was in hiding in Albania, but Malfoy could easily have done it for him.

Nikkalmati


> 8. Recognizing that he has no say in what Voldemort calls him, do you think that
> Peter Pettigrew likes being called Wormtail instead of his original name?
> 
Nikkalmati

He seems extremely fearful of LV at this time.  Whether he likes it or not he will not object.  I do get the sense that LV means it disparagingly.  LV does not seem grateful or pleased with Peter.  He despises him, in fact.  

I was surprised that Peter spoke up for Harry Potter and wanted to deflect LV from him.  I thought at the time it was evidence of the "life debt" Peter had recently come to owe Harry.

Nikkalmati

> 9. In Voldemort's comment about Bertha being useless, did you think it meant that
> she was useless in questioning, or that after the questioning methods, she was
> rendered useless.

Nikkalmati

I thought she was rendered useless because her mind was gone, but on rereading I see they discussed why LV did not just send her home with a Memory Charm, so she coud not have been gaga.  LV tells Peter he will be rewarded for the information she gave them, so I don't think she was useless to LV in that sense.

I am very confused about the murder LV says Peter must perform before they get to Harry.  Whom are they talking about?  Madeye isn't actually killed.  Barty Crouch, Sr. is killed by his son.  I can't figure it out.  What am I missing?

Nikkalmati
> 
> 10. Do you think that Voldemort knew Frank Bryce was there all along?
> 
Nikkalmati

No, he says Nagini told him.

Nikkalmati

Thank you for the questions.