Dumbledore isn’t personally afraid. But he knows that Voldemort will win sooner or later unless peopel fight against him, and hard. Neither one could win against the massed power of his opponent’s forces - Voldemort would lose against a gazillion aurors and Dumbledore would lose against all the Death Eaters.
That would be kind of pointless. That’s like having the ghost of Obi Wan declare thar Chewbacca is the one who will kill Emperor Palpatine.
I’d also like to say I think Rowling gave some small confirmation of my suspicion that Draco Malfoy will be a key figure in defeating Voldemort. First, of course, the sorting hat implies that all hogwarts students will untit, and that that is going to be neccessary in the future. Likewise, Drao does not seem to be beholden to the Dark Lord: he reacts with genuine fear when Harry talks about Voldemort. It seems that perhaps the elder Death eaters neglected their children’s education a wee bit…
Yes, but I was under the impression You-Know-Who knows that Snape has left permenantly, and even went so far as to say that he would be killed. I think this was at the end of book 4.
And there was someone else who ran, I believe that was Karkaroff? And he said he would be made to see the error of his ways. (I don’t remember the exact wording, sorry.)
But she’s the only one besides Dumbledore who knows the prophecy. He won’t dare torture Dumbledore, and Trelawney may be a fraud, but I think there are any number of spells Voldemort could use to access her memory.
Your memory of the statement agrees with mine, except that no names were named with respect to who the traitor was. Snape is the logical choice, but if he is able to continue his activities as it seems he is (as a spy or something close), then either Voldemort (1) already knows Snape is a double agent, or (2) there’s another reformed deatheater out there we should be taking into account, or (3) Snape was who Voldemort meant, but Snape subsequently convinced V to change his mind–highly unlikely, IMHO.
I thought that the room that Sirius died in was referred to as the “death” room. I got the impression that the archway was literally “the gateway between life and death”. Sirius died went through the gateway. Even if the spell hadn’t killed him, once through the arch…there was no coming back.
I need to read the whole scene through again though.
Otherwise, I thought the book was quite good, although I did catch the part about the thestrals, and Harry not seeing them until after Cedric died.
As far as Harry using one of the unforgivable curses – it didn’t work for but a few seconds. I would have tried to use the crucatius curse too. That bitch. It wasn’t just what she did to Sirius, but remembering what she did to Neville’s parents, and how she gloated about it to Neville. The scene in the hospital with Neville’s mum broke my heart.
Hit submit too soon–the “but I couldn’t disapparate” excuse would point to a second reformed deatheater, or possibly support Snape in convincing V of Snape’s innocence. I don’t think V would be likely to be “convinced”–his statement showed he was quite positive there was a truly reformed deatheater out there. So, maybe the reformed one isn’t Snape after all. Who is it?
My first thought when I read this was “Lucius Malfoy.” That would be the neatest twist. But I don’t think it can quite work.
The problem is that we don’t know enough Death Eaters.
Perhaps Voldemort didn’t tell Malfoy that Snape was a traitor, and Snape doesn’t know that Voldemort knows because Malfoy doesn’t? So then Malfoy can pass on some information to Snape, but can be used to pass on false info by Voldemort?
Well, even the Death Eaters are afraid of Voldemort. And what do you want them to tell their kids? “Daddy was a lieutenant of a dictatorial psychopath and guilty of terrible atrocities, but he used his influence to get off punishment”?
I thought Rowling really showed exactly who the next DotDA teacher was going to be, ie, Harry Potter. If not the person in the spoiler box then that person will likely have a lot of influence with it. Perhaps that person will have the private DotDA and Occlumency lessons to build power.
Wait, didn’t V give his “one will be killed” speach to all the Death Eaters? So I imagine they would all know who the traitor is, especially Malfoy. And if Malfoy knows who the traitor is, why would he be so chummy with him?
Actually, since the events in book 4, has he been all that chummy with Snape? I don’t think so. I haven’t seen it.
That completely wrecked me. I was a blubbering mess.
Also, I heard that Lupin’s experience as a werewolf/lycanthropy is a metaphor for AIDs. Or at least how AIDs was originally viewed.
Did anyone else think that the Prophecy implied that Harry and Voldemort are kind of like positive and negative particles. Neither can exist at the same time. Obviously, they are existing at the same time now. That they both are alive, is an aberration. Maybe Voldemort imbued a part of himself in Harry during their Goblet of Fire encounter. You know what would be a better Prophecy rather than the “Duh!” one we got? A Prophecy saying that if Voldemort dies, Harry will die.
I’m really curious how James and Lily defied Voldemort three times. I hope we’ll get more backstory on that. And I’m curious about Aunt Petunia. Is she really a wizard passing as a Muggle? Her reaction to the news that Voldemort was really curious for a Muggle.
I highly doubt that Potter will be a teacher while he’s a student. He’s not the Quiddich teacher, is he? He wouldn’t be able to give grades, he wouldn’t have the time to teach 28 different sessions of the class a week (7 years at Hogwarts times 4 houses), etc. He barely had enough time to teach 25 students once a week. If Dumbledore doesn’t think Harry has enough time to be a prefect, he certainly can’t be a teacher!
My curiosity about Petunia is definitely up. Someone said (I think it was on page 1 of this thread) that Rowling has indicated that some people may come into their powers late. That makes me wonder if she is referring to Petunia or perhaps Dudley - though I lean toward it being Petunia.
For a while I had the idea that Petunia was a Squib, but I’ve dropped that - it just doesn’t seem logical anymore. I do think, however, that if she develops magical powers, Vernon will leave her. Dudley might stay with her. Either way, Harry will become responsible for some basic training of Petunia.
I just finished yesterday. I thought the 100 or so pages after the events at Privet Drive were agonizingly slow. But the Privet Drive stuff–Dudley the big bully, dementors, and Aunt Petunia–I wonder about her. Maybe there IS more magic there than she’s willing to admit. I didn’t buy her story that she just overheard James and Lily taking about dementors and Azkaban. She remembered that? Azkaban? I find that hard to believe.
The death of Sirius went by too fast, but the events following it, especially Dumbledore’s talk with Harry were very emotional. I think Luna and Tonks are great, and I’d like to see more of Kingsley Shacklebolt. Luna definitely seems more interested in Ron than Harry, which she showed on the Hogwarts Express and then on her way to the Quidditch match.
The High Inquisitor stuff was fabulous. Anyone here watch Babylon 5? It reminded me of Earth’s tightening its hold on the station and sending out new laws every minute or so and starting the Nightwatch to look for “traitors.” Umbridge was great, in a really horrible way, of course.
And, finally, Ginny, Fred and George. Ginny has fast become my favorite Weasly. I expect great things from her. And Fred and George made what may have been the greatest exit in Hogwarts’ history. I expect them to be in the next edition of Hogwarts, A History.
Arabella Figg is a squib. She could see the dementors. Okay.
But if someone’s family produces a witch or warlock, does that make the family a magical family? And does that mean non-magical people in the family are squibs?
I guess what I’m asking is what is the difference between a squib and a muggle? If squibs can see dementors, then the difference isn’t just one of societal expectation, but of actual ability?
So, let’s talk about the Year 6 DADA teacher some.
I think it’s safe to say that Dumbledore will have carte blanche to run Hogwart’s however he feels. This may mean he’ll just bring back Remus, the only surviving competent DADA teacher.
Up until this point, I had assumed that while all the students claimed Snape wanted the DADA postion, that he was in fact content with Potions. Now we know that he has applied every year, and been turned down. This makes me wonder if perhaps the position is jinxed in some way (maybe just no one can hold the post for more than a year, maybe something more sinister). Dumbledore has therefore kept Snape out of the position, to ensure that Snape stays accessable at the school.
Another possibilty: If Snape were given DADA, it would open Potions up for someone who might not be as demanding as Snape, thus allowing Harry to continue taking NEWT level potions, working to become an Auror. (Though personally, I think he’ll abandon this goal, as he’ll have had enough fighting dark wizards by the time he graduates.)
If it’s not Remus or Snape (or maybe Dumbledore himself, but he’s probably too busy) I think we’ll see another member of the Order, like Tonks or Kingsley.
And Tonks is definately my favorite new character coughCoolidgeeffectcough
On Preview: jsgoddess - Since it seems anyone with one magic parent is expected to be magical themselves, a squib would be someone without powers, who has at least one magical parent. You raise a good point about Arabella seeing the Dementors, tho…
I thought the book was fabulous! Even in the slow parts after Privit Drive and before Hogwarts, I thought was great at setting up the suspense. Instead of action all the time, it was great at building up suspense, waiting and waiting for something to happen. Waiting, Waiting for Voldemort to do something, like the Order was.
I thought Rowling did a very good job in maturing as an author. The ability to write good suspence will only make the next few books that much better.
I really loved how she treated Harry’s frustrations. How he feels people should respect him more and his fuming that no one cares how he saved everyone from Voldemort so many times. It was great. Especially after Sirius died, and his rage brought him to the Crutatus Curse, and then yelling his head of at Dumbledore… and then his grief when finding the mirror and talking to Nick.
Luna was a great character, but I have a sneaking suspicion she was just put in to give Harry someone to talk to about death, to make him feel ok before he goes home (don’t want Harry to be all cruel when he gets back next year :D).
Neville REALLY came into his own. Even though he wasn’t the boy prophesized, I think that him being one of the two that could have fulfilled the prophesy will have significance… maybe HE’LL be the one that kills Voldemort and actually fulfills the prophacy. I’d love to see him kick more ass!
Great book… best so far (even beating PoA!)… can’t wait for the next one :D.