The Deathly Hallows Discussion: Chapters 26-30

Harry, Ron and Heromine are finally on their way to Gringotts. Heromine takes the Polyjuice potion and changes to Bellatrix. The change is unsettling for her, but they embark on their journey with Harry and Griphook under the invisibility cloak, Ron looking physically different due to some spells and Heromine as the evil Bellatrix. They arrive in Diagon Alley, to find a Death Eater who insists on going with them to Gringotts.

They check Bellatrix's wand, thinking this is a new wand they allow her to enter. Some goblins raise objections due to the new regulations, Harry casts the imperious curse on the goblin leading them, so that he lets them through. Once they go deeper into Gringotts, Heromine's polyjuice potion stops working and Ron changes back to his usual self. They see the dragon guarding the bank. They soon enter the Lestrange vault, only to find many cups which replicate themselves if they're touched. They realize how serious the situation is, these cups burn and replicate once touched. They must be very careful, and fast since the goblins realized there's something going on there. They start going frantic, searching without avail. Heromine then casts a spell that gets Harry hung in the air to search for the Hufflepuff cup, he finds it and takes hold of it. Griphook takes the Gryffindor sword the first chance he can, and the trio realize that he didn't believe them when they promised it.

The vault opens, and Griphook runs to the goblins yelling 'Thieves'. Harry stuns the goblins, releases the dragon from its chains and tells Ron and Heromine to get on the dragon. The dragon's flames help making an opening for an escape, and Heromine helps with spells to enlarge it. They fly away, and for a long time wondering when will the dragon stop. After a while, the dragon starts descending and the trio jump into a lake.

Harry starts worrying about Voldemort and when he'll find out that the vault has been broken into and how they're looking for his horcruxes. Voldemort decides to check on his horcruxes and Harry learns that there's one in Hogwarts and that's where they should go.

They apparate into hogsmead at night, with all of them under the invisibility cloak. As soon as they're there, Death Eaters come out since they were clearly warned and they had charms at Hogsmead to detect any use of magic. They can't see them because they're under the cloak. They bring the dementors, and Harry produces a patronus and the Death Eaters know for sure that Harry is there. Suddenly, a man comes out of a shop and rescues the trio by convincing the Death Eaters that the patronus was his. He makes the trio enter his shop.

Harry realizes this is Dumbledore's brother, Aberforth. It was his eye he way seeing in the mirror, and it was him who sent Dobby to their rescue. They tell him that Dobby's dead, and he seems shaken by the news. Ron asks whether it was him who sent the doe, but Aberforth says no as his patrnous is a goat. He tells them to flee and hide, but Harry defends their quest saying Dumbledore left him with instructions he must follow. The argument heats up, and soon Aberforth is telling us their family story. They learn that Ariana, was attacked by muggle boys when they saw her practicing magic. She lost it, and became unable to control her use of magic. She accidently killed her mother, and so Dumbledore decided to go home and take care of his sister, though Aberforth volunteered to take care of his sister, Dumbledore wouldn't have it. He was doing fine, till his friend Gindelwald comes and they start planning their grand schemes. Aberforth warns Dumbledore, they get into a fight and soon the three of them are in a dual. She's there, and somebody's curse kills her.

The trio are astonished at what they learned. Harry tells Aberforth that Dumbledore feels guilty about that day, because he was hallucinating when he was with him saying "Don't hurt them, please... hurt me instead"

Then, they convince him that they must follow through with their plan. He says something to the portrait of his sister, and soon they see Neville Longbottom is coming towards them. He tells them how he was sure they were coming. He leads the way to Hogwarts and starts telling them about what the school has turned into. They arrive to the room of requirement. There, they find many of their old friends. They welcome them back, then they start discussing what could be the next horcrux, that's after their friends insist that they want to help. Harry asks about an object that belongs to Ravenclaw which might help them overthrow Voldemort. Cho tells them about diadem. Harry and Luna go to the Ravenclaw common room so that Harry can see what the diadem looks like because it appears in a portrait.

As soon as they enter, Alecto carrow touches her forearm and calls Voldemort. They're in serious danger as Harry feels Voldemort's happiness that Harry is found. Luna stuns her but it was very loud so it attracts attention. Professor McGonagall and professor Currow have an argument, and it leads to Currow spitting in her face. Harry gets seriously angry, removes the invisibility cloak and says 'crucio'. Harry explains to her how Voldemort knows he's here. McGonagall tells him that they'll protect the school and hold off Voldemort as long as they can. They decide that they should evacuate the school of students. Snape comes, and smells something suspicious. They fight, but other professors come to the rescue of McGonagall. Snape escapes and they all get to work. Harry returns to the room of requirements to find Lupin, Mr and Mrs Weasley and many others there. Everyone goes into action, Ginny wants to join them but her mother tells her that she's underage till they decide she'll wait at the room of requirements. Harry asks about Ron and Heromine, and they tell him they said something about a bathroom.

Questions:
1. When Voldemort finds out that one horcrux is stolen, he assures himself that all the others are safe because he didn't feel them destroyed. He remembers not feeling it when the diary was destroyed but convinces himself it was because of the fact that he had no body. What do you think? How can he be so naive and sure of himself?

2. Meeting Alberforth was a turning point, they learned more about Dumbledore through him. Not all good things. Yet, Harry's conviction of Dumbledore's actions is stronger now. Now that you know the truth about Dumbledore's family, what do you think of him?

3. Harry doesn't want his friends to get involved in the fight, but in the end he has no choice but to agree. Why doesn't he want them to get involved when it's not his fight alone?

4. Percy coming back says a lot about loyalty to one's family. What did you think of it? They forgave him because he's their son, and the fact that he's back at such a crucial moment says a lot about him. How do you think this proves that one's true self shows in tough situations?

Review and questions by Noor.