Chapter 30 - The White Tomb

Sep 18, 2005 09:04

Classes and examinations have been canceled. Students are being whisked away from Hogwarts by frightened parents. Ministry officials are staying at Hogwarts. Everyone is waiting for Dumbledore's funeral.

Harry spends his time with Ron, Hermione and Ginny, repeating his horcrux mantra, the locket...the cup...the snake...something of Gryffindor's or ( Read more... )

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house_elf_44 September 18 2005, 16:02:58 UTC
JKR said Ron matured in this book. When he said Eileen Prince wasn’t much of a looker, that reminded me of what he said before the Yule Ball. He got some snogging experience, and he can touch a girl without freaking out. That’s the extent of maturing I see. And he spoke before Hermione this time to say they’d be going with him.

Several things in this chapter reinforce the idea that Dumbledore’s death was fake. Pointing out that Harry had looked for a loophole in Sirius’death, but hadn’t for Dumbledore’s just begs for the opposite result that there was one this time.

Also, in several places the wording raises red flags for deception. Hagrid was carrying “what Harry knew to be Dumbledore’s body”, “Hagrid seemed to have placed the body on the table”, and then flames obscured the body, a phoenix flew away, and the table was encased. It’s possible that either Fawkes was wrapped in the purple velvet, or an alive Dumbledore transformed into a phoenix and flew away. If Dumbledore was going to plan his fake death, wouldn’t these be obvious options?

Some say Madame Pince is Eileen Prince, hidden by Dumbledore. The thick black veil down to her knees would fit with that, and Snape getting along with Filch, too. We’ve never seen behavior from her that shows she loves being a school librarian, so maybe she’s another one like Trelawny and Firenze. Using Hogwarts to hide people would also go with Dumbledore not wanting to leave Hogwarts. His replacement might get rid of them.

Harry sees “the barman of the Hogs Head”. That’s Aberforth Dumbledore, who looks somewhat like Albus, so why doesn‘t Harry see “Dumbledore’s brother”?

Why does the quartet file into a row as Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny? Why not Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione? If I was a R/Hr shipper, I’d feel cheated out of irrefutable boyfriend/girlfriend text. We got more “draw your own conclusion” wording instead, which is what Austen did in Emma intentionally. If it weren’t for The Interview, I’d say it’s the R/Hr shippers who are seeing what isn’t there. I’m joining the people who think The Interview was a decoy.

I don’t get why Harry wants and expects Ginny not to say “Be careful”. He’s seen several people terrified and fearful for their loved ones, so how did he get to this thought? I understand he doesn’t want to be told not to do it, but “Be careful” isn’t equivalent to that. I just means I care about you and want you to come back. Why wouldn’t he want that?

What is that hard blazing look on Ginny again? I don’t think it’s “I love you so much” or “I’ve always loved you”, because she only says she likes him. I tried to do it to figure out what it could mean. It could be that “U No Poo” look they kids were making when they were trying to get the hang of non-verbal spells. Maybe she cast a spell right before Harry kissed her without thinking about it, and now she’s ended the spell right before he breaks up with her. That’s why she had an oddly twisted smile instead of being upset. Maybe if she knew what he was going to do, she might take it this well, but she doesn’t know! It doesn’t make sense to me. No mention of getting back together later doesn’t help, either.

“It’s been like something out of someone else’s life...” adds to the feeling that he was influenced in some way. If it was love potion fumes, I’d say he overcame it because he wanted to, just like he can with Imperius and Veela.

Why have we not seen anyone use a Patented Daydream? Was it only for the image of a swooning girl on a pirate ship? I’m hoping it’s an obscure hint.

I’ve gone through the book twice now looking for evidence that my pet theories are impossible, and haven’t found any. I can’t wait to see what was deception, and explanations for the things that seemed so “off “. Book 7 has the potential to be like a fireworks finale with one reveal after the other, and I once again have high hopes. Well, as long as another interview doesn’t come along to puncture my life raft of hopes and suspicions.

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muggle_prof September 18 2005, 18:06:43 UTC
Some say Madame Pince is Eileen Prince, hidden by Dumbledore. The thick black veil down to her knees would fit with that, and Snape getting along with Filch, too. We’ve never seen behavior from her that shows she loves being a school librarian, so maybe she’s another one like Trelawny and Firenze

Irma Pince = I am Prince
I love this theory. It also goes along with Dumbledore offering refuge to Draco and his mother; he could have done the same to Snape and his mother (and it could be part of the reason he trusts Snape). Is it just me, or did we see a lot more of Madam Pince in this book, as if we were supposed to notice her?

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woman_ironing September 19 2005, 08:58:17 UTC
Why have we not seen anyone use a Patented Daydream? Was it only for the image of a swooning girl on a pirate ship? I’m hoping it’s an obscure hint.

Some people have suggested it's a joke about the 'Passionate Trousers' books from the fanfic classic by epicyclical, The Draco Trilogy.

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troubleinchina September 19 2005, 09:35:23 UTC
Harry sees “the barman of the Hogs Head”. That’s Aberforth Dumbledore, who looks somewhat like Albus, so why doesn‘t Harry see “Dumbledore’s brother”?

Because despite that JKR has made this clear in interviews, it is *never* made clear in the books. At all. And it would confuse people who think that canon is only books, right? *sigh*

Sorry, this whole "find out the truth on the website" thing she keeps doing annoys the heck outta me.

If it weren’t for The Interview, I’d say it’s the R/Hr shippers who are seeing what isn’t there. I’m joining the people who think The Interview was a decoy.

I still don't see them as actually together. I see that they both like the other a lot, but that they're not dating.

Again, see above. God, woman, just *write it in the book*.

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troubleinchina September 20 2005, 00:24:58 UTC
I actually thought Dumbledore was lying about having a brother. I think he makes a lot of his stories up as he goes along, because they sound a bit crazy.

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troubleinchina September 21 2005, 20:32:25 UTC
You're right, that Mad-Eye does mention the brother, but DD mentioned him earlier in the series. Damned if I can remember where.

*shrug* I just kinda *wished* DD was stranger than he actually is. *smile*

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madderbrad September 20 2005, 09:31:11 UTC
Several things in this chapter reinforce the idea that Dumbledore’s death was fake.

I'd be very disappointed if Dumbledore does a Gandalf and swoops back, resurrected, to save Harry from Voldemort in book #7 ... but since I can't see Harry doing the job on his own, anything is possible I guess. Seems unlikely though ... the star of the series is supposed to be Harry Potter, not AD. It would be anti-climax city.

I like your analysis of the evidence that Dumbledore may not be dead, though. Still, they were all clustered around his body following the aftermath of the battle, weren't they?

Why have we not seen anyone use a Patented Daydream? Was it only for the image of a swooning girl on a pirate ship?

Livejournal user delicfcd wrote a story just yesterday that I think you might enjoy along those lines ... the URL is here.

High hopes for book #7, hey? Hmmmm ....

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house_elf_44 September 20 2005, 12:22:13 UTC
Still, they were all clustered around his body following the aftermath of the battle, weren't they?

I'm thinking Draught of Living Death, a powerful sleeping potion. We've never seen it used, so it's overdue. Harry thought if it weren't for the angle of his limbs, Dumbledore looked as if he could be sleeping. Whenever Harry thinks "it was as if", it usually "was". Also, Dumbledore said Slughorn was probably carrying antidote to Veritaserum, so why couldn't Dumbledore be carrying Draught of Living Death to be prepared for his fake death.

The book started with Slughorn's fake death - there's a good possibility we've got a second one at the end. And I hadn't thought of it until just now, but Snape questioned Harry about bezoars and Draught of Living Death in his first potions class. A bezoar had a major role in Harry's last year, so why not the Draught, too? A potion that can "bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses" was also mentioned, and would fit with love potion. SS pg 137 US I know we did see love potion, but I'm hoping there was more that hasn't been revealed yet.

Whether Dumbledore coaches or informs Harry from the portrait, or in secret visits, it doesn't make much difference.

I'm not saying I expect Dumbledore to kill Voldemort instead of Harry. On the other hand, Harry hasn't ramped up his skills, and if the final battle goes the same as all the others, there will be more dumb luck and intervention by others. It's a paradox. I suppose Harry could kill Voldemort and that would be love for mankind. How do you reconcile love and killing? Unless "vanquishing" doesn't have to mean "killing". She did say the prophecy was worded carefully.

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