Harry Potter 7: Chapter Eleven

Welcome back to another round of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows chapter analysis. For links to my comments about Chapters 1-10, see this post.

Regular readers should note that there's been a slight change of policy.... from here on the chapter descriptions contain spoilers for the entire book, not just the chapters they refer to.

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Harry

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Seven.

Chapter Eleven: The Bribe

Picture: Lupin looks almost skeletal in this picture. Is it the candlelight? Also, if you look really closely, you can see a tiny picture of Harry in the newspaper under Lupin’s hand.

Chapter title: Very intriguing. It had me wondering throughout the whole chapter what on earth the bribe was going to be about.

Most memorable:

-Lupin appearing just when Harry, Ron and Hermione were so desperate to see a friendly face.

-The surprise of Harry being implicated in Dumbledore’s death.

-That Rufus Scrimgeour protected Harry even while he was being tortured. I give him a lot of credit for that.

-Ron’s fierce allegiance to Hermione.

-That Harry and Hermione address their former teacher as Remus. They are starting to sound like adults.

-Lupin’s misery, and his seeming lack of love for Tonks.

-Harry’s argument with Lupin. I was pretty shocked that Harry would say these kinds of things to one of his mentors, but I also agreed with him and was glad he took a stand. It was a more productive kind of righteous anger than Harry’s angst in Book 5.

-Umbridge has the locket? I got chills just reading that.

Funny:

-Ron turning the lights on and off without really paying attention. I know I would do this if I had a Deluminator… I wouldn’t be able to stop fidgeting with it.

Worth pointing out:

-The Deatheaters aren’t staking out the house because they think Harry is inside… they’re appearing because Harry and Hermione keep saying Voldemort’s name.

Question:

-Just how big is Lupin’s cloak? It seems that he keeps a lot under there… four bottles of butterbeer, a newspaper, etc. Sounds a bit like Hermione’s beaded bag.

Favorite quote:

Mundungus tries to defend his actions the night that the Order of the Phoenix moved Harry to the Burrow.

Mundungus: “I panicked, okay? I never wanted to come along, no offense, mate, but I never volunteered to die for you, an’ that was bleedin’ You-Know-Who come flying at me, anyone woulda got outta there, I said all along I didn’t wanna do it-“

“For your information, none of the rest of us Disapparated,” said Hermione.

“Well, you’re a bunch of bleedin’ ‘eroes then, aren’t you?”

(Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Scholastic hardcover, pg. 220.)

Harry Potter 7: Chapter Ten

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Chapter

Ten.

Chapter Ten: Kreacher’s Tale

Picture: I loved the photograph of Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs. At first glance, I thought Harry was in the picture, but then I noticed that it was James. It's a very subtle difference.

Most memorable:
The letter from Lily to Sirius. It was such a magical thing for an orphan like Harry to find.

-Harry, Ron and Hermione figuring out who R.A.B. was and the awful realization that they had thrown the locket in the trash.

-The images of Voldemort, Kreacher and Regulus in the cave. Before I read the book, I couldn’t imagine how on earth Regulus would have figured out about the cave, but the explanation Kreacher gave made perfect sense.

-The way Regulus sacrificed his own life to save Kreacher and stop Voldemort.

-Kreacher with tears in his eyes.

-Harry giving Regulus’ locket to Kreacher.

Worth pointing out:
-Petunia cares about Lily more than she lets on. In Lily’s letter to Sirius, it is mentioned that Petunia gave Lily a vase for Christmas (which Harry later smashed while tooling around on his broomstick). Although Petunia publicly acts as through she doesn’t have a sister… she still cares enough to send Christmas presents.

-Regulus Black is very similar to Draco Malfoy. They were both Slytherins, they were both Quidditch Seekers, they both became Death Eaters when they were 16, and they both got in over their head. Actually, they’re related too… I think they are second cousins.

Connection to previous books:
-If you have the Scholastic editions, compare R.A.B.’s letter (Half Blood Prince hardcover, pg. 609) to the note on Regulus door (Deathly Hallows, pg. 186). Both notes appear in the same handwriting font… which is a clue that Regulus is R.A.B. Thanks to Cheryl at Brooklyn Arden (who was one of the editors of the Scholastic edition) for pointing this out.
**Warning: don't read Cheryl's posts until you've finished the whole book.

-It’s interesting that Sirius gave Harry his first broomstick, because Sirius also gave Harry the Firebolt in Book 3.

Favorite quote:
Harry wanders into Sirius’ room while Ron and Hermione are still asleep. Hermione bursts into Sirius’ room and finds Harry.
“We woke up and didn’t know where you were!” she said breathlessly.
“Ron! I’ve found him!”
Ron’s annoyed voice echoed distantly from several floors below.
“Good! Tell him from me he’s a git!” (Scholastic hardcover, page 183)

Harry Potter 7: Chapters Eight and Nine

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Chapter

Nine.



Chapter Eight: The Wedding

Picture: There were some great images in this chapter and so I found it an odd choice that the illustration was of the last sentence in the chapter. Is Harry the one on the far right?

General comment: A wedding is a wedding is a wedding. No matter if it’s magical or in the midst of a war… there are still difficult relatives, quirky neighbors and of course, jealous former boyfriends.

Most memorable:
-Xenophilius Lovegood. What a great name! It can’t be easy for him to fill out forms.

-That Luna was instantly knew who Harry was, even though he was disguised.

-There’s only one minister in the wizarding world?

-Auntie Muriel is a wonderful character. I love her comment that Xenophilius looks like an omelet.

-Ron and Hermione’s reactions to seeing Viktor Krum.

-It was fantastic the way the wedding ceremony changed seamlessly into the reception. I could have used that during my wedding.

-The power of gossip and rumor and how Auntie Muriel’s words cause deep doubt in Harry. Also, the helplessness of Elphias Doge at the mention of the scandals in Dumbledore’s youth.

-Scrimgeour's death. I felt like I was just getting to know him and this caught me by surprise.

Funny:
-Fred’s description of how Uncle Bilius used to behave at weddings.

-The fact that champagne bottles floated unsupported through the crowd, refilling glasses when needed.


Connection to previous books:
We now see why the brief mention of Gregorovitch the wandmaker in Book Four was important.

Also, Bathilda Bagshot- who to this point has only been mentioned once in Book One- and that was as the author of a book on Harry’s booklist.

In Book Four, Viktor Krum and Hermione were dancing at the Yule Ball and Ron was jealous and sitting next to Harry. When she was done dancing, Hermione was exhausted and sat down next to Harry while Viktor went to get more butterbeer.

In Book Seven, Ron and Hermione were dancing and Viktor was jealous and sitting next to Harry. When she was done dancing, Hermione was exhausted and sat down next to Harry while Ron went to get more butterbeer.


Favorite quote:
Viktor Krum casts an admiring look at Ginny during the reception.
Harry gets suddenly irritated and says: “She’s seeing someone. Jealous type. Big bloke. You wouldn’t want to cross him.”
Krum’s response: “Vot is the point of being an international Quidditch player if all the good-looking girls are taken?” (Scholastic hardcover, page 150).



Chapter Nine: A Place to Hide
Picture: Hermione’s dress. Wow. I had no idea it was that elaborate.

Most memorable:
-The image of Lupin and Tonks standing united together and putting up a solid defense.

-The incredibly quick mood change from the wedding reception to Tottenham Court Road.

-Harry, Ron and Hermione's great cover-up of the battle in the diner.

-The image of the corpse of Albus Dumbledore. That was incredibly creepy.

-The image of Draco Malfoy torturing a Death Eater- and the fact that Harry felt sorry for him.

Funny:
-Hermione’s small beaded purse that rattles like a cargo hold. This is probably one of my very favorite things in the whole book.

Favorite quote:
“Ron struggled for a moment before managing to extract his wand from his pocket.
‘It’s no wonder I can’t get it out, Hermione, you packed my old jeans, they’re tight.’
‘Oh, I’m so sorry,’ hissed Hermione, and as she dragged the waitress out of sight of the windows, Harry heard her mutter a suggestion as to where Ron could stick his wand instead.” (Scholastic hardcover, page 167.)

Harry Potter 7: Chapters Six and Seven

Spoilers



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Chapter Six




and Chapter Seven




This post is safe to read if you've finished Chapter 7.




Chapter Six: The Ghoul in Pajamas

Most memorable:
-Harry noticing that Mrs. Weasley’s eyes are the exact same color as Ginny’s eyes.
-Mrs. Weasley’s frantic obsession to keep Harry, Ron and Hermione apart.
-The things Ron and Hermione have done to protect their families.

Funny: Mr. Weasley keeping Sirius’ motorbike in the chicken coop.

Connection to previous books: The books that Hermione sorts in Ron’s bedroom are all ones that have been mentioned previously. I love that she has pores indecisively over Break with a Banshee (because of her crush on Gilderoy Lockhart) and that she tosses Defensive Magical Theory (the book from Umbridge’s class) into the trash without hesitation.

Favorite quote: Mrs. Weasley asks Ron to clean out his bedroom… and Ron demands why it needs to be cleaned. Mrs. Weasley: “We are holding your brother’s wedding here in a few days’ time, young man-”
“And are they getting married in my bedroom?” asked Ron furiously. “No! So why in the name of Merlin’s saggy left-” (Scholastic hardcover, page 92)




Chapter Seven: The Will of Albus Dumbledore

Picture: Is it just me, or does Harry look incredibly tall in this picture? Or is Ginny just short?

Most memorable:
-Harry reveling in turning of age and finally being able to do magic outside of Hogwarts
-Ginny’s birthday present for Harry
-Harry’s vision of Ginny marrying a faceless stranger
-The warning that came from Mr. Weasley’s Patronus. Although we know that the Order of the Phoenix communicates via Patronus and we’ve seen Dumbledore send one before… this was the first time we really saw the communication in action.
-Rufus Scrimgeour, who was much more openly hostile than the last time we met him.
-The wonderful puzzle in the objects that Dumbledore left to Harry, Ron and Hermione. Clearly they would be very important and I couldn't wait to find out how.
-Ron knowing more about a book than Hermione .

Funny: Norberta the Norwegian Ridgeback was very funny and I loved Twelve Fail-Safe Ways to Charm Witches.

Connection to previous books: That in his first ever Quidditch match (in Book One) Harry nearly swallowed the Snitch. I’ve always thought that was incredibly random and was glad to finally know that Rowling wrote it in deliberately.

Favorite quote: Hermione comments that she, Harry and Ron should get some sleep because it’s late and they wouldn’t want to oversleep Bill and Fleur’s wedding.
Ron agrees and says “A brutal triple murder by the bridegroom’s mother might put a bit of a damper on the wedding.” (Scholastic hardcover, page 136)

Harry Potter 7: Chapters Four and Five

Spoilers and lots of them!






This is safe to read if you've finished reading Chapters Four and Five... but please don't read this if you haven't. They are both such wonderful chapters and I'd hate to ruin them for you.







Chapter Four: The Seven Potters

General comment: Rowling doesn't mess around. It's only chapter four and she already has a major battle scene featuring Voldemort. Talk about hitting the ground running (or flying, as it were.)

Most memorable:
-Hedwig dying so quickly and unexpectedly.
-A solid brick wall appearing out of nowhere in midair.
-The helplessness that Harry experienced being with Hagrid who was the least talented wizard.
-The sidecar falling to earth.
-Shock that the Death Eaters figured out who the real Harry was.
-The terror of Voldemort catching up with Harry so soon.

Funny: The reactions of the characters who changed into Harry, and the image of each of them lining up to take a rucksack and an owl cage. I particularly liked Harry's comment that the doubles were being rather immodest with his body.

Connection to previous books: Hagrid does have Sirius' bike! I knew it! I'm glad Rowling brought it back. Also, Fred's comments about Mad Eye not being able to tell the twins apart is a mirror of Fred's conversation with Mrs. Weasley in Book 1 in the train station (Sorcerer's Stone, Scholastic hardcover, pg. 92).

Favorite quote: There were so many funny lines in the beginning of this chapter that it's hard to chose. I thought everything Fred and George said was hysterical. But if I had to pick just one, it would be after everyone has drunk the Polyjuice potion:
"Fred and George turned to each other and said together, 'Wow- we're identical!'
'I dunno, though, I think I'm still better looking,' said Fred." (Scholastic hardcover, pg. 51)



Chapter Five: Fallen Warrior

General comment: This was a fantastic and suspenseful chapter. It really kept me on the edge of my seat. Since it was the last book, I felt that really anyone could die... that no one was safe. I thought it was wonderful the way Rowling staggered the arrival times at the Burrow to leave the reader in suspense as long as possible.

Most memorable:
-The psych-out that Hagrid was dead. That was gut-wrenching.
-Harry's reaction to Andromeda Tonks.
-Lupin telling Harry that the time to disarm was past, now was the time to kill.
-Mr. Weasley's angry insistence to see his injured son.
-Mad Eye's death, because I always saw him as such a tough character.
-Bill's salute to Mad Eye which was done so quickly out of necessity.
-Fleur's allegiance to the Order of the Phoenix... it's the first time I really saw that.
-Harry trying to be an adult and proclaiming that he trusts everyone in the room.

Funny: Fred and George again, of course. I loved that George had a sense of humor even in light of a significant injury. I also liked the sight gag of Hagrid continually getting stuck in doorways.

Favorite quote: Fred's comment after George says that he's holey.
"Pathetic," he told George. "Pathetic! With the whole wide world of ear-related humor before you, you go for holey?" (Scholastic hardcover, pg. 75)

Harry Potter 7: Chapters Two and Three

Spoilers coming!!!!




It's safe to read this post if you've finished Chapters Two and Three of the Deathly Hallows... but do NOT read it if you haven't finished reading the Half Blood Prince.





As I move on to chapter two, I think I better start talking about them in outline form, otherwise it might take me longer to go through all the chapters than it did for J.K. Rowling to write the book. So here goes the (hopefully) streamlined discussion of the next few chapters.




Chapter Two: In Memoriam
Most memorable: When I read Dumbledore's obituary, I felt like I was mourning someone I knew personally. This was the first time my eyes watered while reading this book.

Funny: The Rita Skeeter interview was absolutely hysterical.

Worth pointing out: Aha! He found the mirror that Sirius gave him. I knew that would be important. The fact that Harry saw a blue eye in it made me think he was summoning Professor Dumbledore back from the dead, but I wasn't sure how. I kept thinking that the fragment would break apart once it was in his backpack.

Connection to previous books: Elphias Doge (the writer of Dumbledore's obituary) was one of the members of the Order of the Phoenix who escorted Harry to Grimmauld Place in Book 5.

Favorite quote: "The idea of a teenage Dumbledore was simply odd, like trying to imagine a stupid Hermione or a friendly Blast-Ended Skrewt." (Scholastic hardcover, pg. 21)



Chapter Three: The Dursleys Departing
Picture: I understand that Dudley has more muscle mass than in the past, but is it just me or does it look like he has balloons up his sleeves and has turned into a hunchback?

Most memorable: Harry standing up to the Dursleys, so completely unafraid of them... and actually protecting them. And of course, the fact that Dudley redeemed himself.

Funny: Dedalus Diggle. This is the first time we've really gotten a chance to see him say more than a a sentence or two, and he cracked me up. I loved when he asked Uncle Vernon if he knew how to drive. And his pocket watch is great. I could use one of those.

Connection to previous books: The image of Vernon Dursley packing and unpacking and repacking was reminiscent of his madness in Book One in The Letters From No One chapter.

Favorite quote:
Dedalus Diggle to Harry: "The hopes of the Wizarding world rest upon your shoulders."
"Oh," said Harry, "right." (Scholastic hardcover, pg. 41)

Harry Potter 7: Introduction and Chapter One

Look out, spoilers coming!






No, really, I mean it.






BIG spoilers.





Last chance to stop reading.






Okay. You asked for it.






Can you believe that the giant squid was a horcrux?





That was just a test to see if you really stopped reading this post.





Now for the real stuff...



I've got to start with the cover. Not the artwork... that was released weeks ago and it's been pored over minutely. It's the jacket flaps that are intriguing. There's no plot summary on the front one (just a one sentence introduction) and the back flap is completely blank. Totally intriguing and classy... and I've never seen it before. It heightened the sense of drama.

And next, the dedication. (Wow, this series of posts is going to be long, isn't it?) I love that it's split seven ways... to her husband (Neil), her children (Jessica, David and Mackenzie), sister (Diane) and mother (Anne)... and the readers. It thought it set the right tone to have the fans be included on the dedication and this the first book she's done it. It also felt like it made a full circle with the first book, which was dedicated to Jessica, Diane and Anne. (Neil, David and Mackenzie and the fans weren't in her life at the time). It's also the first time she's included quotations and I thought they were well chosen and also heightened the tension. Clearly, this book is going to talk about death. It's in the title. It's in the preface. There's no escaping it.

Just a quick note about the audiobook here. (I simultaneously listened to the audiobook and read the book.) All the Harry Potter audio books (the Random House Listening Library versions) begin the same way... a very short piece of music (the same music for every book), the title, the author's name, the narator's name and then Chapter One. For Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows the music was very different from the quick jaunty theme of the other books. It was much longer, more intense and more poignant. That coupled with the quotations made it a far lengthier introduction than usual... and I thought it was well done and very effective.

Chapter One: The Dark Lord Ascending
Raise your hand if at first you thought this was the same night that Snape fled Hogwarts. I certainly did. I've got to hand it to Rowling for an excellent psych-out. This was the first time we saw a Death Eater meeting, and it was intense. I didn't know whether or not to believe Snape's information but I liked that Draco was scared. I was surprised that Lucius was at the table, and thought the way Voldemort took his wand was a wonderful sucker punch. The words Charity Burbage used to plead for her life were an exact replica of Dumbledore's last words: "Severus... please." And the image of the snake slithering onto the table was suitably creepy.