The Deathly Hallows Discussion: Chapters 11-15

While waiting for Kreacher to return with Mundungus Fletcher, the trio wiled away time about Number Twelve Grimmauld Place. The first sign of strains begin to show as little bouts of bickering bursts amongst them, but not turning into anything serious. They finally get a visit from someone in the Wizardingworld: Remus Lupin. Aided with a current copy of The Daily Prophet, Lupin lets them know how the world around them is slowly delving deeper into Lord Voldemort’s shroud of darkness. He lets them know that, though everyone is fine after the ambush on Bill and Fleur’s wedding, the Burrow was searched from top to bottom in addition to several houses connected with the Order of the Phoenix. One amusing thing to note here is that Ron’s ghoul trick actually worked as the Ministry officials stayed well clear of it.

The Ministry’s actions are not done without reason, as Lupin shows Harry a large picture of him in the Daily Prophet with the headline: “Wanted For Questioning About The Death Of Albus Dumbeldore”. He notes that this is a successful ploy to cause confusion, mistrust and fear in the Wizarding world, as people will not know who to trust anymore. The Daily Prophet holds more bad news, as Harry and Co. find out about the Muggle-Born Register. Witches and Wizards with Muggles as parents and no proof of magical ancestry will be assumed to have stolen the magic they possess and thus punished. Lupin offers to join the trio on their journey, but Harry is not quick to accept his offer. He questions Lupin about leaving behind his new bride, Tonks, which leads to Lupin letting them in a voice full of dismay that she is pregnant. Lupin goes on to admit that he regrets marrying Tonks, as he has now caused both her and their unborn child to be outcasts seeing as he is a werewolf and shunned in the community. Harry holds no sympathy for Lupin and tells him flat out that he is bailing out on his family and is a coward for doing so. The makes Lupin blast Harry away in rage and walk out on them all. The Daily Prophet holds more unpleasant news as Harry comes across an extract from Rita Skeeter’s Biography of Dumbledore that revolves around his mother Kendra, and the mysterious way in which she hid awayher daughter, Dumberdore’s sister, Ariana from the world.

Kreacher finally returns from his Mundungus hunt successfully, and the trio find out the Mundungus had indeed seized the locket in the hope of selling it for some profit. Instead, they were horrified to find out that Dolores Umbridge got it off him as a bribe for not reporting him as an illegal merchant. Harry hands over Regulus’ fake locket as a sign of goodwill to Kreacher. This small act of kindness changed the house elf’s disposition to them all, as he became warm-hearted, caring and friendly. After several weeks of planning, the trio finally decide to infiltrate the Ministry to grab a hold of the locket. They disguise themselves as three Ministry workers, by means of Polyjuice potion.

Once within the Ministry, they are sicknedby a statue in the middle of the Ministry’s Atrium that is composed of a handsome pair of witch and wizard sitting upon a throne of Muggle bodies. They find out that Umbridge is the head of the Muggle-born registration commission and the three get separated, with Hermione following Umbridge to the courtroom to question Muggle-born wizards, Ron trying to get rid of a rain curse in an office of a wizard, and Harry looking for Umbridge’s office. After making sure that the locket is not in Umbridge’s office, Harry makes his way down to the courtroom where Umbridge is questioning Muggle-borns, Hermione by her side. Harry sees the locket around Umbridge’s neck, and acting in impulse, blasts her with a stunning spell. They grab the Horcrux and make their way out of the Ministry, but not all in one piece as Ron ended up being splinched when they disapparated, a piece of his arm missing. The trio are unable to return to Grimmauld Place, their refuge of several months, due to the Ministry finding its location.


This brings us to a new section of the story, when Harry and Co., not having a safe place anymore, are forced to move from area to area, setting up camp and surrounding themselves with protective enchantments every time. The three examine the locket, and can all feel a heartbeat within it as though there is a living being inside. Knowing that the Horcrux can have a dark effect upon anyone who comes in direct contact with it, they decide to take turns to wear it. Harry is the first, and while he keeping watch outside the tent, his scar begins to prickle and he sleeps off into a day dream. Harry is Voldemort looking at the wizard Gregorovitch suspended upside down. He demands an item from the suspended wizard, but the wizard shows Harry that the item has been stolen by a golden haired thief. Harry demands the identity of the thief, and with Gregorovitch not knowing, kills him with a flash of green light. Harry wakes up, sprawled on the floor. Wondering who the thief was, where the other Horcruxes are, where they should off to, what they should do next, the trio while the time away Disapprating and Apparating in different areas of England. The strain, stress and bickering increases as they go on their days repeating the same things that have been said before not discovering anything new or useful, with Horcrux casting a darkness upon its bearer.

One evening, while arguing about the state of the food they are forced to eat, the trio hear voices outside their tent. Protected by the enchantments around their tent, they are delighted to discover a company of wizards and goblins on the run as well. Harry and Co. eavesdrop on their conversation, learning of the even worse state the wizarding world has fallen into. They learn that Ginny, Neville and Luna had attempted to snatch the Gryffindor sword from Snape’s headmaster office, but were caught and punished. This incident lead to the sword being transferred to a vault in Gringotts for safekeeping. One of the Goblin’s delightfully reveals that the sword that is in the vault is in fact a fake wizard-made one and that the original goblin-made one is still somewhere to be found. Delighted by this news, Harry and Hermione are quick to begin brainstorming why Dumbeldore switched the swords and where the real one might be. Ron however, does not share in their delight.


With the locket around his neck, he attacks Harry, telling him that the sword is just another thing they have to find in addition the Horcruxes, and that Harry has no idea what he is doing at all. Ron tells Harry that both he and Hermione are disappointed in him. Stung, Harry yells at Ron to go home if thats how he felt. Ron demands of Hermione her decision of staying or leaving. Hermione lets him know that she is sticking with Harry, and with that Ron walks out on his two best friends leaving them both shocked at the sudden turn of events.

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Questions:

1- What do you think of Lupin’s new found feelings for his wife and unborn child? Do you agree with Harry on branding him a “coward”?

2- How much do you loath Umbridge and what is your main reason for doing so? (Sorry, the question's a bit biased because I seriously hate this woman)

3- Do you see any connection’s with the story’s “pure blood, mud blood” statuses and our own real world?

4- What do you think of Ron walking out on his friends? Do you understand why he did it?

Review and questions by Sara.