First Time Readers

Chapter 28 - The Missing Mirror He raised his wand: He could not, would not, suffer the Dementor’s Kiss, whatever happened afterward. It was of Ron and Hermione that he thought as he whispered, “Expecto Patronum!”  Q1 - Should they have planned this a little better? Ron gasped. “The silver doe!” he said excitedly. “Was that you too?” “What are you talking about?” said Aberforth. “Someone sent a do...

Chapter 26 - Gringotts “I hate this thing,” she said in a low voice. “I really hate it. It feels all wrong, it doesn’t work properly for me. . . . It’s like a bit of her.” “It’ll probably help you get in character, though,” said Ron. “Think what that wand’s done!” “But that’s my point!” said Hermione. “This is the wand that tortured Neville’s mum and dad, and who knows how many other people? This...

Chapter 24 - The Wandmaker “I want to do it properly,” were the first words of which Harry was fully conscious of speaking. “Not by magic. Have you got a spade?” And shortly afterward he had set to work, alone, digging the grave in the place that Bill had shown him at the end of the garden, between bushes. He dug with a kind of fury, relishing the manual work, glorying in the non-magic of it, for...

Chapter 22 - The Deathly Hallows “Then she’ll be in Azkaban, I expect,” said Ron. “Whether she survives the place, though . . . Loads don’t. . . .” “She will,” said Harry. He could not bear to contemplate the alternative. “She’s tough, Luna, much tougher than you’d think. She’s probably teaching all the inmates about Wrackspurts and Nargles.”  Q1 - Who could survive Azkaban the best out of everyon...

Chapter 20 - Xenophilius Lovegood Hermione’s sulkiness could not mar his buoyant spirits: The sudden upswing in their fortunes, the appearance of the mysterious doe, the recovery of Gryffindor’s sword, and above all, Ron’s return, made Harry so happy that it was quite difficult to maintain a straight face.  “Oh, yeah. Well, it’s just a bad habit we’ve slipped into,” said Harry. “But I haven’t got...

Chapter 18 - The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore Never, until this moment, had he felt himself to be fatally weakened, vulnerable, and naked, as though the best part of his magical power had been torn from him. Q1 - Harry has lost the protection of the twin cores…what now? And his fury at Dumbledore broke over him now like lava, scorching him inside, wiping out every other feeling. Out of sheer...

Chapter 16 - Godric's Hollow They did not discuss Ron at all over the next few days. Harry was determined never to mention his name again, and Hermione seemed to know that it was no use forcing the issue, although sometimes at night when she thought he was sleeping, he would hear her crying.  Q1 - Is Harry being too hard here? By day, they devoted themselves to trying to determine the possible loc...

Chapter 14 - The Thief “As we Disapparated, Yaxley caught hold of me and I couldn’t get rid of him, he was too strong, and he was still holding on when we arrived at Grimmauld Place, and then — well, I think he must have seen the door, and thought we were stopping there, so he slackened his grip and I managed to shake him off and I brought us here instead!” “But then, where’s he? Hang on. . . . Yo...

Chapter 12 - Magic is Might A large picture of a familiar, hook-nosed, black-haired man stared up at them all, beneath a headline that read: SEVERUS SNAPE CONFIRMED AS HOGWARTS HEADMASTER  Q1 - What do you think of this? “Phineas Nigellus,” Hermione explained as she threw the bag onto the kitchen table with the usual sonorous, clanking crash. “Sorry?” said Ron, but Harry understood. The painted im...

Chapter 10 - Kreacher’s Tale Harry wondered whether they had fallen asleep holding hands. The idea made him feel strangely lonely.  The wardrobe doors stood open and the bedclothes had been ripped back. Harry remembered the overturned troll leg downstairs. Somebody had searched the house since the Order had left. Snape? Or perhaps Mundungus, who had pilfered plenty from this house both before and...

Chapter 8 - The Wedding Harry had taken a large dose of Polyjuice Potion and was now the double of a redheaded Muggle boy from the local village, Ottery St. Catchpole, from whom Fred had stolen hairs using a Summoning Charm. Q1 - How do you feel about this identity theft? “When I get married,” said Fred, tugging at the collar of his own robes, “I won’t be bothering with any of this nonsense. You c...

Chapter 6 - The Ghoul in Pajamas “Well, you can’t do anything about the” — Ron mouthed the word Horcruxes — “till you’re seventeen. You’ve still got the Trace on you. And we can plan here as well as anywhere, can’t we? Or,” he dropped his voice to a whisper, “d’you reckon you already know where the You-Know-Whats are?” “No,” Harry admitted.  Q1 - Where are the Horcruxes? Harry understood “they” to...

Chapter 4 - The Seven Potters Q1 - What did you think this chapter initially meant? It gave him an odd, empty feeling to remember those times; it was like remembering a younger brother whom he had lost.  Harry looked around at the stacked shoes and umbrellas, remembering how he used to wake every morning looking up at the underside of the staircase, which was more often than not adorned with a spi...

Chapter 2 - In Memoriam Harry had spent the morning completely emptying his school trunk for the first time since he had packed it six years ago. Q1 - How gross is Harry? He recognized it at once. It was a two-inch-long fragment of the enchanted mirror that his dead godfather, Sirius, had given him. Harry laid it aside and felt cautiously around the trunk for the rest, but nothing more remained of...

Chapter 1 - The Dark Lord Ascending The dedication of this book Is split seven ways: To Neil, To Jessica, To David, To Kenzie, To Di, To Anne, And to you, If you have stuck with Harry until the very end.  Oh, the torment bred in the race, the grinding scream of death and the stroke that hits the vein, the haemorrhage none can staunch, the grief, the curse no man can bear. But there is a cure in th...

Chapter 28 - The Flight of the Prince Q1 - What are your thoughts on Dumbledore’s death? Q2 - Who do you think has died so far? “Cruc —” But Snape parried the curse, knocking Harry backward off his feet before he could complete it; “Cruc —” yelled Harry for the second time, aiming for the figure ahead illuminated in the dancing firelight, but Snape blocked the spell again. Harry could see him snee...

Chapter 26 - The Cave He was standing upon a high outcrop of dark rock, water foaming and churning below him. He glanced over his shoulder. A towering cliff stood behind them, a sheer drop, black and faceless. A few large chunks of rock, such as the one upon which Harry and Dumbledore were standing, looked as though they had broken away from the cliff face at some point in the past. It was a bleak...

Chapter 23 - Horcruxes ‘Good gracious, Harry,’ said Dumbledore in surprise. ‘To what do I owe this very late pleasure?’ ‘Sir – I’ve got it. I’ve got the memory from Slughorn.’ Harry pulled out the tiny glass bottle and showed it to Dumbledore. For a moment or two, the Headmaster looked stunned. Then his face split in a wide smile. ‘Harry, this is spectacular news! Very well done indeed! I knew you...

Chapter 20 - Lord Voldemort’s Request Hermione even escorted them down to breakfast, bringing with her the news that Ginny had argued with Dean. The drowsing creature in Harry’s chest suddenly raised its head, sniffing the air hopefully. ‘What did they row about?’ he asked, trying to sound casual as they turned into a seventh-floor corridor which was deserted but for a very small girl who had been...

Chapter 17 - A Sluggish Memory Q1 - At the beginning of this chapter, Harry gives Hermione the details about what happened with Malfoy…do you have any other theories or thoughts on that? ‘He accused me of being “Dumbledore’s man through and through”.’ ‘How very rude of him.’ ‘I told him I was.’ Dumbledore opened his mouth to speak and then closed it again. Behind Harry, Fawkes the phoenix let out...

Chapter 14 - Felix Felicis ‘But I still don’t get why Dumbledore’s showing you all this. I mean, it’s really interesting and everything, but what’s the point?’ ‘Dunno,’ said Harry, inserting a gum shield. ‘But he says it’s all important and it’ll help me survive.’ Q1 - Why is Dumbledore showing him all this? ‘“Slug Club”,’ repeated Ron with a sneer worthy of Malfoy. ‘It’s pathetic. Well, I hope yo...

Chapter 12 - Silver and Opals Where was Dumbledore and what was he doing? Q1 - Where was Dumbledore and what was he doing? Q2 - Is the Half-Blood Prince a dark person? Harry rather doubted he would be able to bring off this particular spell; he was still having difficulty with non-verbal spells, something Snape had been quick to comment on in every DADA class. On the other hand, the Prince had pro...

Chapter 9 - The Half-Blood Prince Hermione’s remonstration was drowned by a loud giggle; Lavender Brown had apparently found Ron’s remark highly amusing. She continued to laugh as she passed them, glancing back at Ron over her shoulder. Ron looked rather pleased with himself. Q1 - Does Lavender like Ron? ‘Humph,’ snorted Professor McGonagall. ‘It’s high time your grandmother learned to be proud of...

Chapter 6 - Draco’s Detour He spent most of his days playing two-a-side Quidditch in the Weasleys’ orchard (he and Hermione against Ron and Ginny; Hermione was dreadful and Ginny good, so they were reasonably well-matched). Q1 - How much does Ron suck at Quidditch? ‘And they’ve found Igor Karkaroff’s body in a shack up north. The Dark Mark had been set over it – well, frankly, I’m surprised he sta...

Chapter 4 - Horace Slughorn Despite the fact that he had spent every waking moment of the past few days hoping desperately that Dumbledore would indeed come to fetch him, Harry felt distinctly awkward as they set off down Privet Drive together. He had never had a proper conversation with his headmaster outside Hogwarts before; there was usually a desk between them.  Q1 - What is one question you’d...