Chapter 29 - The Lost Diadem“Alecto, Amycus’s sister, teaches Muggle Studies, which is compulsory for everyone. We’ve all got to listen to her explain how Muggles are like animals, stupid and dirty, and how they drove wizards into hiding by being vicious toward them, and how the natural order is being reestablished. I got this one,” he indicated another slash to his face, “for asking her how much Muggle blood she and her brother have got.”Q1 - Obviously not entertaining Death Eater ideas, but do they have any kind of point?Thing was,” he faced them, and Harry was astonished to see that he was grinning, “they bit off a bit more than they could chew with Gran. Little old witch living alone, they probably thought they didn’t need to send anyone particularly powerful. Anyway,” Neville laughed, “Dawlish is still in St. Mungo’s and Gran’s on the run. She sent me a letter,” he clapped a hand to the breast pocket of his robes, “telling me she was proud of me, that I’m my parents’ son, and to keep it up.”Q2 - What do you think of all the students rebelling at Hogwarts?Q3 - What do you think about the Room of Requirement hideout?“There’s something important we need to do —” “What is it?” “I — I can’t tell you.” There was a ripple of muttering at this: Neville’s brows contracted. “Why can’t you tell us? It’s something to do with fighting YouKnow-Who, right?” “Well, yeah —” “Then we’ll help you.” The other members of Dumbledore’s Army were nodding, some enthusiastically, others solemnly. A couple of them rose from their chairs to demonstrate their willingness for immediate action. “You don’t understand.” Harry seemed to have said that a lot in the last few hours. “We — we can’t tell you. We’ve got to do it — alone.” Q4 - Is it good they’re being so secretive? Harry looked from Ron to Hermione, who murmured, “I think Ron’s right. We don’t even know what we’re looking for, we need them.” And when Harry looked unconvinced, “You don’t have to do everything alone, Harry.” Q5 - Should they tell?Q6 - Where is the Diadem?“Which came first, the phoenix or the flame?” “Hmm . . . What do you think, Harry?” said Luna, looking thoughtful. “What? Isn’t there just a password?” “Oh no, you’ve got to answer a question,” said Luna. “What if you get it wrong?” “Well, you have to wait for somebody who gets it right,” said Luna. “That way you learn, you see?” “Yeah . . . Trouble is, we can’t really afford to wait for anyone else, Luna.” “No, I see what you mean,” said Luna seriously. “Well then, I think the answer is that a circle has no beginning.” Q7 - What do you think about the Ravenclaw tower’s entrance?Harry stepped out from under the Cloak and climbed up onto Ravenclaw’s plinth to read them. “‘Wit beyond measure is man’s greatest treasure.’” “Which makes you pretty skint, witless,” said a cackling voice. Harry whirled around, slipped off the plinth, and landed on the floor. The sloping-shouldered figure of Alecto Carrow was standing before him, and even as Harry raised his wand, she pressed a stubby forefinger to the skull and snake branded on her forearm. Chapter 30 - The Sacking of Severus Snape“We can push it off on the kids,” said Amycus, his piglike face suddenly crafty. “Yeah, that’s what we’ll do. We’ll say Alecto was ambushed by the kids, them kids up there” — he looked up at the starry ceiling toward the dormitories — “and we’ll say they forced her to press her Mark, and that’s why he got a false alarm. . . . He can punish them. Couple of kids more or less, what’s the difference?” “Only the difference between truth and lies, courage and cowardice,” said Professor McGonagall, who had turned pale, “a difference, in short, which you and your sister seem unable to appreciate. But let me make one thing very clear. You are not going to pass off your many ineptitudes on the students of Hogwarts. I shall not permit it.” Q1 - Thoughts on McGongall and the Carrows?“It’s not a case of what you’ll permit, Minerva McGonagall. Your time’s over. It’s us what’s in charge here now, and you’ll back me up or you’ll pay the price.” And he spat in her face. Harry pulled the Cloak off himself, raised his wand, and said, “You shouldn’t have done that.” As Amycus spun around, Harry shouted, “Crucio!” Q2 - Should Harry have used crucio?“Time’s running out, Voldemort’s getting nearer. Professor, I’m acting on Dumbledore’s orders, I must find what he wanted me to find! But we’ve got to get the students out while I’m searching the castle — it’s me Voldemort wants, but he won’t care about killing a few more or less, not now —” not now he knows I’m attacking Horcruxes, Harry finished the sentence in his head. “You’re acting on Dumbledore’s orders?” she repeated with a look of dawning wonder. Then she drew herself up to her fullest height. “We shall secure the school against He-Who-Must-Not-BeNamed while you search for this — this object.” “Is that possible?” “I think so,” said Professor McGonagall dryly, “we teachers are rather good at magic, you know. I am sure we will be able to hold him off for a while if we all put our best efforts into it. Of course, something will have to be done about Professor Snape —” She marched toward the door, and as she did so she raised her wand. From the tip burst three silver cats with spectacle markings around their eyes. The Patronuses ran sleekly ahead, filling the spiral staircase with silvery light, as Professor McGonagall, Harry, and Luna hurried back down.Q3 - What was the doe Patronus?“No, he’s not dead,” said McGonagall bitterly. “Unlike Dumbledore, he was still carrying a wand . . . and he seems to have learned a few tricks from his master.” With a tingle of horror, Harry saw in the distance a huge, batlike shape flying through the darkness toward the perimeter wall. There were heavy footfalls behind them, and a great deal of puffing: Slughorn had just caught up.Q4 - Is Snape as dark as Voldemort?“My word,” he puffed, pale and sweaty, his walrus mustache aquiver. “What a to-do! I’m not at all sure whether this is wise, Minerva. He is bound to find a way in, you know, and anyone who has tried to delay him will be in most grievous peril —” “I shall expect you and the Slytherins in the Great Hall in twenty minutes, also,” said Professor McGonagall. “If you wish to leave with your students, we shall not stop you. But if any of you attempt to sabotage our resistance or take up arms against us within this castle, then, Horace, we duel to kill.” “Minerva!” he said, aghast. “The time has come for Slytherin House to decide upon its loyalties,” interrupted Professor McGonagall. “Go and wake your students, Horace.”Q5 - Do we trust Slughorn?There was a scuffling and a great thump: Someone else had clambered out of the tunnel, overbalanced slightly, and fallen. He pulled himself up on the nearest chair, looked around through lopsided horn-rimmed glasses, and said, “Am I too late? Has it started? I only just found out, so I — I —” Percy spluttered into silence. Evidently he had not expected to run into most of his family.Q6 - Do we trust Percy? How do you like him coming back at this moment?“I was a fool!” Percy roared, so loudly that Lupin nearly dropped his photograph. “I was an idiot, I was a pompous prat, I was a — a —” “Ministry-loving, family-disowning, power-hungry moron,” said Fred. Percy swallowed. “Yes, I was!” “Well, you can’t say fairer than that,” said Fred, holding out his hand to Percy. Mrs. Weasley burst into tears. She ran forward, pushed Fred aside, and pulled Percy into a strangling hug, while he patted her on the back, his eyes on his father. “Where’s Ron?” asked Harry. “Where’s Hermione?” “They must have gone up to the Great Hall already,” Mr. Weasley called over his shoulder. “I didn’t see them pass me,” said Harry. “They said something about a bathroom,” said Ginny, “not long after you left.” “A bathroom?” Q7 - Where did they go?Chapter 31 - The Battle of HogwartsQ1 - What did you think of the students staying back to help and do they stand any chance against Voldemort and the Elder wand?“Well, help me, then!” Her composure was slipping. “It — it is not a question of —” she stammered. “My mother’s diadem —” “Your mother’s?” She looked angry with herself. “When I lived,” she said stiffly, “I was Helena Ravenclaw.” “You’re her daughter? But then, you must know what happened to it!” Q2 - What do you think about the Grey Lady?“He tracked me to the forest where I was hiding. When I refused to return with him, he became violent. The Baron was always a hot-tempered man. Furious at my refusal, jealous of my freedom, he stabbed me.” “The Baron? You mean — ?” “The Bloody Baron, yes,” said the Gray Lady, and she lifted aside the cloak she wore to reveal a single dark wound in her white chest. “When he saw what he had done, he was overcome with remorse. He took the weapon that had claimed my life, and used it to kill himself. All these centuries later, he wears his chains as an act of penitence . . . as he should,” she added bitterly. Q3 - What do you think of her story?“He hid the diadem in the castle, the night he asked Dumbledore to let him teach!” said Harry. Saying it out loud enabled him to make sense of it all. “He must’ve hidden the diadem on his way up to, or down from, Dumbledore’s office! But it was still worth trying to get the job — then he might’ve got the chance to nick Gryffindor’s sword as well — thank you, thanks!” Q4 - Do you understand why he applied for the job now?“— attacking because they haven’t handed you over, yeah,” said Aberforth, “I’m not deaf, the whole of Hogsmeade heard him. And it never occurred to any of you to keep a few Slytherins hostage? There are kids of Death Eaters you’ve just sent to safety. Wouldn’t it have been a bit smarter to keep ’em here?” Q5 - Would you have kept a few Slytherins captive?“I was the last to come through,” said Mrs. Longbottom. “I sealed it, I think it unwise to leave it open now Aberforth has left his pub. Have you seen my grandson?” “He’s fighting,” said Harry. “Naturally,” said the old lady proudly. “Excuse me, I must go and assist him.” With surprising speed she trotted off toward the stone steps. Q6 - Understand why I love Neville so much now?Q7 - What do you think of Crabbe and Goyle and Malfoy?And he saw them: Malfoy with his arms around the unconscious Goyle, the pair of them perched on a fragile tower of charred desks, and Harry dived. Malfoy saw him coming and raised one arm, but even as Harry grasped it he knew at once that it was no good: Goyle was too heavy and Malfoy’s hand, covered in sweat, slid instantly out of Harry’s — “IF WE DIE FOR THEM, I’LL KILL YOU, HARRY!” roared Ron’s voice, and, as a great flaming chimaera bore down upon them, he and Hermione dragged Goyle onto their broom and rose, rolling and pitching, into the air once more as Malfoy clambered up behind Harry.Q8 - What do you think about Harry saving them and Crabbe dying?He pulled the diadem from his wrist and held it up. It was still hot, blackened with soot, but as he looked at it closely he was just able to make out the tiny words etched upon it: Wit beyond measure is man’s greatest treasure. A bloodlike substance, dark and tarry, seemed to be leaking from the diadem. Suddenly Harry felt the thing vibrate violently, then break apart in his hands, and as it did so, he thought he heard the faintest, most distant scream of pain, echoing not from the grounds or the castle, but from the thing that had just fragmented in his fingers.Q9 - They’re getting close…Nagini is only left?Then he heard a terrible cry that pulled at his insides, that expressed agony of a kind neither flame nor curse could cause, and he stood up, swaying, more frightened than he had been that day, more frightened, perhaps, than he had been in his life. . . . And Hermione was struggling to her feet in the wreckage, and three redheaded men were grouped on the ground where the wall had blasted apart. Harry grabbed Hermione’s hand as they staggered and stumbled over stone and wood. “No — no — no!” someone was shouting. “No! Fred! No!” And Percy was shaking his brother, and Ron was kneeling beside them, and Fred’s eyes stared without seeing, the ghost of his last laugh still etched upon his face. Q10 - RIP Fred…Chapter 32 - The Elder WandShe had pulled Ron behind a tapestry: They seemed to be wrestling together, and for one mad second Harry thought that they were embracing again; then he saw that Hermione was trying to restrain Ron, to stop him running after Percy. “Listen to me — LISTEN, RON!” “I wanna help — I wanna kill Death Eaters —” His face was contorted, smeared with dust and smoke, and he was shaking with rage and grief. “Ron, we’re the only ones who can end it! Please — Ron — we need the snake, we’ve got to kill the snake!” said Hermione. But Harry knew how Ron felt: Pursuing another Horcrux could not bring the satisfaction of revenge; he too wanted to fight, to punish them, the people who had killed Fred, and he wanted to find the other Weasleys, and above all make sure, make quite sure, that Ginny was not — but he could not permit that idea to form in his mind — Q1 - What do you think of Ron’s anger and grief here?Q2 - Is Hagrid dead?“How — how’re we going to get in?” panted Ron. “I can — see the place — if we just had — Crookshanks again —” “Crookshanks?” wheezed Hermione, bent double, clutching her chest. “Are you a wizard, or what?”Q3 - Do you remember where you first read this line?“. . . my Lord, their resistance is crumbling —” “— and it is doing so without your help,” said Voldemort in his high, clear voice. “Skilled wizard though you are, Severus, I do not think you will make much difference now. We are almost there . . . almost.” “Let me find the boy. Let me bring you Potter. I know I can find him, my Lord. Please.” Snape did not speak. “Perhaps you already know it? You are a clever man, after all, Severus. You have been a good and faithful servant, and I regret what must happen.” “My Lord —” “The Elder Wand cannot serve me properly, Severus, because I am not its true master. The Elder Wand belongs to the wizard who killed its last owner. You killed Albus Dumbledore. While you live, Severus, the Elder Wand cannot be truly mine.” “My Lord!” Snape protested, raising his wand. “It cannot be any other way,” said Voldemort. “I must master the wand, Severus. Master the wand, and I master Potter at last.” And Voldemort swiped the air with the Elder Wand. It did nothing to Snape, who for a split second seemed to think he had been reprieved: But then Voldemort’s intention became clear. The snake’s cage was rolling through the air, and before Snape could do anything more than yell, it had encased him, head and shoulders, and Voldemort spoke in Parseltongue. “Kill.” Q4 - Initially you were happy Snape died…has your tune changed?Harry took off the Invisibility Cloak and looked down upon the man he hated, whose widening black eyes found Harry as he tried to speak. Harry bent over him, and Snape seized the front of his robes and pulled him close. A terrible rasping, gurgling noise issued from Snape’s throat. “Take . . . it. . . . Take . . . it. . . .” Something more than blood was leaking from Snape. Silvery blue, neither gas nor liquid, it gushed from his mouth and his ears and his eyes, and Harry knew what it was, but did not know what to do — A flask, conjured from thin air, was thrust into his shaking hands by Hermione. Harry lifted the silvery substance into it with his wand. When the flask was full to the brim, and Snape looked as though there was no blood left in him, his grip on Harry’s robes slackened. “Look . . . at . . . me. . . .” he whispered. The green eyes found the black, but after a second, something in the depths of the dark pair seemed to vanish, leaving them fixed, blank, and empty. The hand holding Harry thudded to the floor, and Snape moved no more. Q6 - What do you think?Q7 - Voldemort owns the Elder Wand now?

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 every drop of his sweat and every blister felt like a gift to the elf who had saved their lives. Q1 - Why did Harry want to do this without magic?“No,” Harry said, and Bill looked startled. “I need both of them here. I need to talk to them. It’s important.” He heard the authority in his own voice, the conviction, the sense of purpose that had come to him as he dug Dobby’s grave. All of their faces were turned toward him, looking puzzled. Dobby would never be able to tell them who had sent him to the cellar, but Harry knew what he had seen. A piercing blue eye had looked out of the mirror fragment, and then help had come. Help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it.Q2 - What’s the deal with the mirror?You gave Ron the Deluminator. You understood him. . . . You gave him a way back. . . . And you understood Wormtail too. . . . You knew there was a bit of regret there, somewhere. . . . And if you knew them . . . What did you know about me, Dumbledore? Am I meant to know, but not to seek? Did you know how hard I’d find that? Is that why you made it this difficult? So I’d have time to work that out?Q3 - Do you think he’s right about Dumbledore here?Q4 - They’re going to break into Gringotts? Are they going to succeed?“I took this wand from Draco Malfoy by force,” said Harry. “Can I use it safely?” “I think so. Subtle laws govern wand ownership, but the conquered wand will usually bend its will to its new master.” Q5 - Is Harry truly the master of Draco’s wand?Yes, if you won it, it is more likely to do your bidding, and do it well, than another wand.” “And this holds true for all wands, does it?” asked Harry. “I think so,” replied Ollivander, his protuberant eyes upon Harry’s face. “You ask deep questions, Mr. Potter. Wandlore is a complex and mysterious branch of magic.” “So, it isn’t necessary to kill the previous owner to take true possession of a wand?” asked Harry. Ollivander swallowed. “Necessary? No, I should not say that it is necessary to kill.” Q6 - Do you think this is true? That wands can pass without killing?“You told him about the twin cores? You said he just had to borrow another wizard’s wand?” Ollivander looked horrified, transfixed, by the amount that Harry knew. He nodded slowly. “But it didn’t work,” Harry went on. “Mine still beat the borrowed wand. Do you know why that is?” Ollivander shook his head as slowly as he had just nodded. “I had . . . never heard of such a thing. Your wand performed something unique that night. The connection of the twin cores is incredibly rare, yet why your wand should have snapped the borrowed wand, I do not know. . . .” Q7 - Why do you think Harry’s wand acted like this?“Gregorovitch had the Elder Wand a long time ago,” he said. “I saw You-Know-Who trying to find him. When he tracked him down, he found that Gregorovitch didn’t have it anymore: It was stolen from him by Grindelwald. How Grindelwald found out that Gregorovitch had it, I don’t know — but if Gregorovitch was stupid enough to spread the rumor, it can’t have been that difficult.” Voldemort was at the gates of Hogwarts; Harry could see him standing there, and see too the lamp bobbing in the pre-dawn, coming closer and closer. “And Grindelwald used the Elder Wand to become powerful. And at the height of his power, when Dumbledore knew he was the only one who could stop him, he dueled Grindelwald and beat him, and he took the Elder Wand.” “Dumbledore had the Elder Wand?” said Ron. “But then — where is it now?” Q8 - What do you think about this?And here it was, beside the lake, reflected in the dark waters. The white marble tomb, an unnecessary blot on the familiar landscape. He felt again that rush of controlled euphoria, that heady sense of purpose in destruction. He raised the old yew wand: How fitting that this would be its last great act. The tomb split open from head to foot. The shrouded figure was as long and thin as it had been in life. He raised the wand again. The wrappings fell open. The face was translucent, pale, sunken, yet almost perfectly preserved. They had left his spectacles on the crooked nose: He felt amused derision. Dumbledore’s hands were folded upon his chest, and there it lay, clutched beneath them, buried with him. Had the old fool imagined that marble or death would protect the wand? Had he thought that the Dark Lord would be scared to violate his tomb? The spiderlike hand swooped and pulled the wand from Dumbledore’s grasp, and as he took it, a shower of sparks flew from its tip, sparkling over the corpse of its last owner, ready to serve a new master at last. Chapter 25 - Shell Cottage“Harry admits he could have imagined the eye! Don’t you, Harry?” “I could have,” said Harry without looking at her. “But you don’t think you did, do you?” asked Ron. “No, I don’t,” said Harry. “There you go!” said Ron quickly, before Hermione could carry on. “If it wasn’t Dumbledore, explain how Dobby knew we were in the cellar, Hermione?” “I can’t — but can you explain how Dumbledore sent him to us if he’s lying in a tomb at Hogwarts?”Q1 - Is Dumbledore alive?Q2 - Does the sword really belong to Goblins?Q3 - Do you think he plan will go well with Griphook?“So, au revoir, Mr. Ollivander,” said Fleur, kissing him on both cheeks. “And I wonder whezzer you could oblige me by delivering a package to Bill’s Auntie Muriel? I never returned ’er tiara.” “It will be an honor,” said Ollivander with a little bow, “the very least I can do in return for your generous hospitality.” Fleur drew out a worn velvet case, which she opened to show the wandmaker. The tiara sat glittering and twinkling in the light from the low-hanging lamp. “Moonstones and diamonds,” said Griphook, who had sidled into the room without Harry noticing. “Made by goblins, I think?” Q4 - Could Danny’s tiara theory be right all along?Lupin fell over the threshold. He was white-faced, wrapped in a traveling cloak, his graying hair windswept. He straightened up, looked around the room, making sure of who was there, then cried aloud, “It’s a boy! We’ve named him Ted, after Dora’s father!” Hermione shrieked. “Wha — ? Tonks — Tonks has had the baby?” “Yes, yes, she’s had the baby!” shouted Lupin. All around the table came cries of delight, sighs of relief: Hermione and Fleur both squealed, “Congratulations!” and Ron said, “Blimey, a baby!” as if he had never heard of such a thing before. “Yes — yes — a boy,” said Lupin again, who seemed dazed by his own happiness. He strode around the table and hugged Harry; the scene in the basement of Grimmauld Place might never have happened. “You’ll be godfather?” he said as he released Harry. “M-me?” stammered Harry “You, yes, of course — Dora quite agrees, no one better —” “I — yeah — blimey —” Q5 - What do you think about Lupin and Tonks having a baby?Harry had an ominous feeling now; he wondered whether Bill guessed more than he was letting on. “All I am saying,” said Bill, setting his hand on the door back into the sitting room, “is to be very careful what you promise goblins, Harry. It would be less dangerous to break into Gringotts than to renege on a promise to a goblin.” Q6 - Are they dumb to trust Griphook?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 is the wand that killed Sirius!” Q1 - Should they snap this wand in two?Harry looked down at the hawthorn wand that had once belonged to Draco Malfoy. He had been surprised, but pleased, to discover that it worked for him at least as well as Hermione’s had done. Remembering what Ollivander had told them of the secret workings of wands, Harry thought he knew what Hermione’s problem was: She had not won the walnut wand’s allegiance by taking it personally from Bellatrix. Q2 - Is this true?He realized now that they could hardly have laid Dobby to rest in a more beautiful place, but Harry ached with sadness to think of leaving him behind. Looking down on the grave, he wondered yet again how the elf had known where to come to rescue them. His fingers moved absentmindedly to the little pouch still strung around his neck, through which he could feel the jagged mirror fragment in which he had been sure he had seen Dumbledore’s eye. Then the sound of a door opening made him look around. Q3 - Any further theories on who sent Dobby?“They know!” whispered Griphook in Harry’s ear. “They must have been warned there might be an impostor!” “Your wand will do, madam,” said the goblin. He held out a slightly trembling hand, and in a dreadful blast of realization Harry knew that the goblins of Gringotts were aware that Bellatrix’s wand had been stolen. “Act now, act now,” whispered Griphook in Harry’s ear, “the Imperius Curse!” Harry raised the hawthorn wand beneath the cloak, pointed it at the old goblin, and whispered, for the first time in his life, “Imperio!” Q4 - What do you think about Harry using the Imperius curse?Q5 - Is Travers going to permanently be in a crack in the wall in Gringotts?Q6 - What do you think of all the enchantments at Gringotts?“Harry, could this be — ? Aargh!” Hermione screamed in pain, and Harry turned his wand on her in time to see a jeweled goblet tumbling from her grip. But as it fell, it split, became a shower of goblets, so that a second later, with a great clatter, the floor was covered in identical cups rolling in every direction, the original impossible to discern amongst them. “It burned me!” moaned Hermione, sucking her blistered fingers. “They have added Gemino and Flagrante Curses!” said Griphook. “Everything you touch will burn and multiply, but the copies are worthless — and if you continue to handle the treasure, you will eventually be crushed to death by the weight of expanding gold!” Q7 - What do you think about this?The tiny golden cup, skewered by the handle on the sword’s blade, was flung into the air. The goblin still astride him, Harry dived and caught it, and although he could feel it scalding his flesh he did not relinquish it, even while countless Hufflepuff cups burst from his fist.Q8 - Do they have the cup?Q9 - How do you like their dragon heist?Chapter 27 - The Final Hiding Place“Well, on the upside,” said Ron finally, who was sitting watching the skin on his hands regrow, “we got the Horcrux. On the downside —” “— no sword,” said Harry through gritted teeth, as he dripped dittany through the singed hole in his jeans onto the angry burn beneath. Q1 - How will they destroy this Horcrux?The sky, the smell of lake water, the sound of Ron’s voice were extinguished: Pain cleaved Harry’s head like a sword stroke. He was standing in a dimly lit room, and a semicircle of wizards faced him, and on the floor at his feet knelt a small, quaking figure. “What did you say to me?” His voice was high and cold, but fury and fear burned inside him. The one thing he had dreaded — but it could not be true, he could not see how . . . The goblin was trembling, unable to meet the red eyes high above his. “Say it again!” murmured Voldemort. “Say it again!” “M-my Lord,” stammered the goblin, its black eyes wide with terror, “m-my Lord . . . we t-tried t-to st-stop them. . . . Im-impostors, my Lord . . . broke — broke into the — into the Lestranges’ v-vault. . . .” “Impostors? What impostors? I thought Gringotts had ways of revealing impostors? Who were they?” “It was . . . it was . . . the P-Potter b-boy and t-two accomplices. . . .” “And they took?” he said, his voice rising, a terrible fear gripping him. “Tell me! What did they take?” “A . . . a s-small golden c-cup, m-my Lord . . .” The scream of rage, of denial left him as if it were a stranger’s: He was crazed, frenzied, it could not be true, it was impossible, nobody had ever known: How was it possible that the boy could have discovered his secret? Q2 - What do you think of this?But surely if the boy had destroyed any of his Horcruxes, he, Lord Voldemort, would have known, would have felt it?Q3 - So has Voldemort not felt these horcruxes being destroyed?But he must know, he must be sure. . . . He paced the room, kicking aside the goblin’s corpse as he passed, and the pictures blurred and burned in his boiling brain: the lake, the shack, and Hogwarts —Q4 - Where at Hogwarts?As for the school: He alone knew where in Hogwarts he had stowed the Horcrux, because he alone had plumbed the deepest secrets of that place. . . . And there was still Nagini, who must remain close now, no longer sent to do his bidding, under his protection. . . . Q5 - If Voldemort is checking the hiding places, how much time do the trio have?“But how are we going to get in?” “We’ll go to Hogsmeade,” said Harry, “and try to work something out once we see what the protection around the school’s like. Get under the Cloak, Hermione, I want to stick together this time.” “But we don’t really fit —” “It’ll be dark, no one’s going to notice our feet.” The flapping of enormous wings echoed across the black water: The dragon had drunk its fill and risen into the air. They paused in their preparations to watch it climb higher and higher, now black against the rapidly darkening sky, until it vanished over a nearby mountain. Then Hermione walked forward and took her place between the other two. Harry pulled the Cloak down as far as it would go, and together they turned on the spot into the crushing darkness.Chapter 28 - The Missing MirrorHe 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 doe Patronus to us!” “Brains like that, you could be a Death Eater, son. Haven’t I just proved my Patronus is a goat?” “Oh,” said Ron. “Yeah . . . well, I’m hungry!” he added defensively as his stomach gave an enormous rumble“My brother Albus wanted a lot of things,” said Aberforth, “and people had a habit of getting hurt while he was carrying out his grand plans. You get away from this school, Potter, and out of the country if you can. Forget my brother and his clever schemes. He’s gone where none of this can hurt him, and you don’t owe him anything.”Q2 - Is Aberforth a reliable story teller? “It destroyed her, what they did: She was never right again. She wouldn’t use magic, but she couldn’t get rid of it; it turned inward and drove her mad, it exploded out of her when she couldn’t control it, and at times she was strange and dangerous. But mostly she was sweet and scared and harmless. Q3 - What do you think this looks like?But he did all right for a few weeks . . . till he came.” And now a positively dangerous look crept over Aberforth’s face. “Grindelwald. And at last, my brother had an equal to talk to, someone just as bright and talented as he was. And looking after Ariana took a backseat then, while they were hatching all their plans for a new Wizarding order, and looking for Hallows, and whatever else it was they were so interested in. Grand plans for the benefit of all Wizardkind, and if one young girl got neglected, what did that matter, when Albus was working for the greater good? He got angry. He told me what a stupid little boy I was, trying to stand in the way of him and my brilliant brother. . . . Didn’t I understand, my poor sister wouldn’t have to be hidden once they’d changed the world, and led the wizards out of hiding, and taught the Muggles their place? Q4 - What do you think of Grindewald now?“He was never free,” said Harry. “I beg your pardon?” said Aberforth. “Never,” said Harry. “The night that your brother died, he drank a potion that drove him out of his mind. He started screaming, pleading with someone who wasn’t there. ‘Don’t hurt them, please . . . hurt me instead.’” Q5 - Do you think Dumbledore really never forgave himself?“Because,” said Harry before Hermione could answer, “sometimes you’ve got to think about more than your own safety! Sometimes you’ve got to think about the greater good! This is war!” “You’re seventeen, boy!” “I’m of age, and I’m going to keep fighting even if you’ve given up!” “Who says I’ve given up?” “‘The Order of the Phoenix is finished,’” Harry repeated. “‘YouKnow-Who’s won, it’s over, and anyone who’s pretending different’s kidding themselves.’” “I don’t say I like it, but it’s the truth!” “No, it isn’t,” said Harry. “Your brother knew how to finish YouKnow-Who and he passed the knowledge on to me. I’m going to keep going until I succeed — or I die. Don’t think I don’t know how this might end. I’ve known it for years.” Q6 - What do you think of this whole story?Q7 - How will this end?

Chapter 21 - The Tale of the Three Brothers“ ‘There were once three brothers who were traveling along a lonely, winding road at twilight —’ ” “Midnight, our mum always told us,” said Ron, who had stretched out, arms behind his head, to listen. Hermione shot him a look of annoyance.We are talking about a cloak that really and truly renders the wearer completely invisible, and endures eternally, giving constant and impenetrable concealment, no matter what spells are cast at it. How many cloaks have you ever seen like that, Miss Granger?” Hermione opened her mouth to answer, then closed it again, looking more confused than ever. She, Harry, and Ron glanced at one another, and Harry knew that they were all thinking the same thing. It so happened that a cloak exactly like the one Xenophilius had just described was in the room with them at that very moment. Q1 - Do you think Harry’s cloak could be one of the Hallows?Q2 - If it exists, where do you think the Resurrection stone is?“So where do you think the Elder Wand is now?” asked Ron. “Alas, who knows?” said Xenophilius, as he gazed out of the window.Q3 - If it exists, where is the wand?“It’s just a morality tale, it’s obvious which gift is best, which one you’d choose —” The three of them spoke at the same time; Hermione said, “the Cloak,” Ron said, “the wand,” and Harry said, “the stone.” They looked at each other, half surprised, half amused. Q4 - Which is the best?Harry held out his left hand. Ron vanished beneath the Cloak. The printing press blocking the stairs was vibrating: Xenophilius was trying to shift it using a Hover Charm. Harry did not know what Hermione was waiting for. “Hold tight,” she whispered. “Hold tight . . . any second . . .” Xenophilius’s paper-white face appeared over the top of the sideboard. “Obliviate!” cried Hermione, pointing her wand first into his face, then at the floor beneath them. “Deprimo!” She had blasted a hole in the sitting room floor. They fell like boulders, Harry still holding onto her hand for dear life; there was a scream from below, and he glimpsed two men trying to get out of the way as vast quantities of rubble and broken furniture rained all around them from the shattered ceiling. Hermione twisted in midair and the thundering of the collapsing house rang in Harry’s ears as she dragged him once more into darkness. Q5 - What is Hermione doing here?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 everyone we’ve met?“Yes . . . and that’s all very interesting,” said Hermione cautiously, “but Harry, if you’re thinking what I think you’re think —” “Well, why not? Why not?” said Harry, abandoning caution. “It was a stone, wasn’t it?” He looked at Ron for support. “What if it was the Resurrection Stone?” Ron’s mouth fell open. “Blimey — but would it still work if Dumbledore broke — ?”Q2 - Do you think that the stone is the ring?And he saw himself, possessor of the Hallows, facing Voldemort, whose Horcruxes were no match . . . Neither can live while the other survives. . . . Was this the answer? Hallows versus Horcruxes? Was there a way, after all, to ensure that he was the one who triumphed? If he were the master of the Deathly Hallows, would he be safe? Q3 - What do you think of Harry’s questions here?He turned his back on their strained, incredulous faces. He knew it was the truth. It all made sense. Voldemort was not seeking a new wand; he was seeking an old wand, a very old wand indeed. Harry walked to the entrance of the tent, forgetting about Ron and Hermione as he looked out into the night, thinking. . . . “Harry, this isn’t a game, this isn’t practice! This is the real thing, and Dumbledore left you very clear instructions: Find and destroy the Horcruxes! That symbol doesn’t mean anything, forget the Deathly Hallows, we can’t afford to get sidetracked —” Q4 - What did Dumbledore want?“But before we hear from Royal and Romulus,” Lee went on, “let’s take a moment to report those deaths that the Wizarding Wireless Network News and Daily Prophet don’t think important enough to mention. It is with great regret that we inform our listeners of the murders of Ted Tonks and Dirk Cresswell.” “I’d tell him we’re all with him in spirit,” said Lupin, then hesitated slightly. “And I’d tell him to follow his instincts, which are good and nearly always right.” Q5 - Are Harry’s instincts always right?“And the rumors that he keeps being sighted abroad?” asked Lee. “Well, who wouldn’t want a nice little holiday after all the hard work he’s been putting in?” asked Fred. “Point is, people, don’t get lulled into a false sense of security, thinking he’s out of the country. Maybe he is, maybe he isn’t, but the fact remains he can move faster than Severus Snape confronted with shampoo when he wants to, so don’t count on him being a long way away if you’re planning on taking any risks. I never thought I’d hear myself say it, but safety first!” Chapter 23 - Malfoy ManorQ1 - How unfortunate is the end of the last chapter and this one?“Like ’ell you are,” said the man called Scabior. “We know Stan Shunpike, ’e’s put a bit of work our way.”Q2 - Is Stan actually bad?The emaciated figure stirred beneath its thin blanket and rolled over toward him, eyes opening in a skull of a face. . . . The frail man sat up, great sunken eyes fixed upon him, upon Voldemort, and then he smiled. Most of his teeth were gone. . . . “So, you have come. I thought you would . . . one day. But your journey was pointless. I never had it.” “You lie!” Q3 - What does he mean that he never had it?Q4  - Why doesn’t Draco identify them here?She stopped struggling, her dark eyes fixed upon something Harry could not see. Jubilant at her capitulation, Lucius threw her hand from him and ripped up his own sleeve — “STOP!” shrieked Bellatrix. “Do not touch it, we shall all perish if the Dark Lord comes now!” Q5 - Why is Bella so freaked out?Hermione’s screams echoed off the walls upstairs, Ron was half sobbing as he pounded the walls with his fists, and Harry in utter desperation seized Hagrid’s pouch from around his neck and groped inside it: He pulled out Dumbledore’s Snitch and shook it, hoping for he did not know what — nothing happened — he waved the broken halves of the phoenix wand, but they were lifeless — the mirror fragment fell sparkling to the floor, and he saw a gleam of brightest blue — Dumbledore’s eye was gazing at him out of the mirror. “Help us!” he yelled at it in mad desperation. “We’re in the cellar of Malfoy Manor, help us!” The eye blinked and was gone. Q6 - What was going on there?“Kill me, then, Voldemort, I welcome death! But my death will not bring you what you seek. . . . There is so much you do not understand. . . .” Q7 - What does Voldemort not understand?Harry could barely breathe. “You’re going to kill me?” Harry choked, attempting to prise off the metal fingers. “After I saved your life? You owe me, Wormtail!” The silver fingers slackened. Harry had not expected it: He wrenched himself free, astonished, keeping his hand over Wormtail’s mouth. He saw the ratlike man’s small watery eyes widen with fear and surprise: He seemed just as shocked as Harry at what his hand had done, at the tiny, merciful impulse it had betrayed, and he continued to struggle more powerfully, as though to undo that moment of weakness. “And we’ll have that,” whispered Ron, tugging Wormtail’s wand from his other hand. Wandless, helpless, Pettigrew’s pupils dilated in terror. His eyes had slid from Harry’s face to something else. His own silver fingers were moving inexorably toward his own throat. “No —” Without pausing to think, Harry tried to drag back the hand, but there was no stopping it. The silver tool that Voldemort had given his most cowardly servant had turned upon its disarmed and useless owner; Pettigrew was reaping his reward for his hesitation, his moment of pity; he was being strangled before their eyes. Q8 - Poetic justice here? What do you think about Harry trying to save Pettigrew?At the last word there was a peculiar grinding noise from above. All of them looked upward in time to see the crystal chandelier tremble; then, with a creak and an ominous jingling, it began to fall. Bellatrix was directly beneath it; dropping Hermione, she threw herself aside with a scream. The chandelier crashed to the floor in an explosion of crystal and chains, falling on top of Hermione and the goblin, who still clutched the sword of Gryffindor. Glittering shards of crystal flew in all directions: Draco doubled over, his hands covering his bloody face. As Ron ran to pull Hermione out of the wreckage, Harry took his chance: He leapt over an armchair and wrested the three wands from Draco’s grip, pointed all of them at Greyback, and yelled, “Stupefy!” The werewolf was lifted off his feet by the triple spell, flew up to the ceiling, and then smashed to the ground. Q9 - Does triple wand power work greater?The tiny elf trotted into the room, his shaking finger pointing at his old mistress. “You must not hurt Harry Potter,” he squeaked. “Kill him, Cissy!” shrieked Bellatrix, but there was another loud crack, and Narcissa’s wand too flew into the air and landed on the other side of the room. “You dirty little monkey!” bawled Bellatrix. “How dare you take a witch’s wand, how dare you defy your masters?” “Dobby has no master!” squealed the elf. “Dobby is a free elf, and Dobby has come to save Harry Potter and his friends!”“Dobby, no, don’t die, don’t die —” The elf’s eyes found him, and his lips trembled with the effort to form words. “Harry . . . Potter . . .” And then with a little shudder the elf became quite still, and his eyes were nothing more than great glassy orbs, sprinkled with light from the stars they could not see. Q10 - Raise a glass to Dobby

Chapter 17 - Bathilda’s SecretHarry, stop.” “What’s wrong?” They had only just reached the grave of the unknown Abbott. “There’s someone there. Someone watching us. I can tell. There, over by the bushes.”Q1 - What do you think of the monuments to the Potters?Was it possible that she had been waiting for them all these long months? That Dumbledore had told her to wait, and that Harry would come in the end? Was it not likely that it was she who had moved in the shadows in the graveyard and had followed them to this spot? Even her ability to sense them suggested some Dumbledore-ish power that he had never encountered before. Q2 - What would you have done in this situation?The dust vanished from the photographs, and he saw at once that half a dozen were missing from the largest and most ornate frames. He wondered whether Bathilda or somebody else had removed them. Then the sight of a photograph near the back of the collection caught his eye, and he snatched it up. It was the golden-haired, merry-faced thief, the young man who had perched on Gregorovitch’s windowsill, smiling lazily up at Harry out of the silver frame. And it came to Harry instantly where he had seen the boy before: in The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore, arm in arm with the teenage Dumbledore, and that must be where all the missing photographs were: in Rita’s book. Q3 - Who is this?Then she closed her eyes and several things happened at once: Harry’s scar prickled painfully; the Horcrux twitched so that the front of his sweater actually moved; the dark, fetid room dissolved momentarily. He felt a leap of joy and spoke in a high, cold voice: Hold him! Q4 - How chilling is this?And his scream was Harry’s scream, his pain was Harry’s pain . . . that it could happen here, where it had happened before . . . here, within sight of that house where he had come so close to knowing what it was to die . . . to die. . . . The pain was so terrible . . . ripped from his body. . . . But if he had no body, why did his head hurt so badly; if he was dead, how could he feel so unbearably, didn’t pain cease with death, didn’t it go . . . He forced the door open, cast aside the chair and boxes hastily piled against it with one lazy wave of his wand . . . and there she stood, the child in her arms. At the sight of him, she dropped her son into the crib behind her and threw her arms wide, as if this would help, as if in shielding him from sight she hoped to be chosen instead. . . . “Not Harry, not Harry, please not Harry!” “Stand aside, you silly girl . . . stand aside, now.” “Not Harry, please no, take me, kill me instead —” “This is my last warning —” “Not Harry! Please . . . have mercy . . . have mercy. . . . Not Harry! Not Harry! Please — I’ll do anything —” “Stand aside. Stand aside, girl!” He could have forced her away from the crib, but it seemed more prudent to finish them all. . . .Q5 - Does any of this info give you hints or clues as to what is going on?And then he broke: He was nothing, nothing but pain and terror, and he must hide himself, not here in the rubble of the ruined house, where the child was trapped and screaming, but far away . . . far away. . . . “No,” he moaned. The snake rustled on the filthy, cluttered floor, and he had killed the boy, and yet he was the boy. . . . “No . . .” And now he stood at the broken window of Bathilda’s house, immersed in memories of his greatest loss, and at his feet the great snake slithered over broken china and glass. . . . He looked down and saw something . . . something incredible. . . . “No . . .” “Harry, it’s all right, you’re all right!” He stooped down and picked up the smashed photograph. There he was, the unknown thief, the thief he was seeking. . .Q6 - What is going on here? “You’re the one who needs sleep. No offense, but you look terrible. I’m fine. I’ll keep watch for a while. Where’s my wand?” She did not answer, she merely looked at him. “Where’s my wand, Hermione?” She was biting her lip, and tears swam in her eyes. “Harry . . .” “Where’s my wand?” She reached down beside the bed and held it out to him. The holly and phoenix wand was nearly severed in two. One fragile strand of phoenix feather kept both pieces hanging together. The wood had splintered apart completely. Harry took it into his hands as though it was a living thing that had suffered a terrible injury. He could not think properly: Everything was a blur of panic and fear. Then he held out the wand to Hermione. “Lumos!” The wand sparked feebly, then went out. Harry pointed it at Hermione. “Expelliarmus!” Hermione’s wand gave a little jerk, but did not leave her hand. The feeble attempt at magic was too much for Harry’s wand, which split into two again. He stared at it, aghast, unable to take in.Q7 - Do they really stand a chance now?Chapter 18 - The Life and Lies of Albus DumbledoreNever, 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 desperation they had talked themselves into believing that Godric’s Hollow held answers, convinced themselves that they were supposed to go back, that it was all part of some secret path laid out for them by Dumbledore; but there was no map, no plan. Dumbledore had left them to grope in the darkness, to wrestle with unknown and undreamed-of terrors, alone and unaided: Nothing was explained, nothing was given freely, they had no sword, and now, Harry had no wand. And he had dropped the photograph of the thief, and it would surely be easy now for Voldemort to find out who he was. . . . Voldemort had all the information now. . . Q2 - Why didn’t Dumbledore give them more?Educated at Durmstrang, a school famous even then for its unfortunate tolerance of the Dark Arts, Grindelwald showed himself quite as precociously brilliant as Dumbledore. Rather than channel his abilities into the attainment of awards and prizes, however, Gellert Grindelwald devoted himself to other pursuits. At sixteen years old, even Durmstrang felt it could no longer turn a blind eye to the twisted experiments of Gellert Grindelwald, and he was expelled. Q3 - What did he do to get himself expelled from Durmstrang?Gellert — Your point about Wizard dominance being FOR THE MUGGLES’ OWN GOOD — this, I think, is the crucial point. Yes, we have been given power and yes, that power gives us the right to rule, but it also gives us responsibilities over the ruled. We must stress this point, it will be the foundation stone upon which we build. Where we are opposed, as we surely will be, this must be the basis of all our counterarguments. We seize control FOR THE GREATER GOOD. And from this it follows that where we meet resistance, we must use only the force that is necessary and no more. (This was your mistake at Durmstrang! But I do not complain, because if you had not been expelled, we would never have met.) AlbusQ4 - Is Albus really a good wizard?This dreadful coffin-side brawl, known only to those few who attended Ariana Dumbledore’s funeral, raises several questions. Why exactly did Aberforth Dumbledore blame Albus for his sister’s death? Was it, as “Batty” pretends, a mere effusion of grief? Or could there have been some more concrete reason for his fury? Grindelwald, expelled from Durmstrang for near-fatal attacks upon fellow students, fled the country hours after the girl’s death, and Albus (out of shame or fear?) never saw him again, not until forced to do so by the pleas of the Wizarding world. Q5 - Along with all these questions, what do you think Dumbledore saw in the Mirror of Erised?“Harry, I’m sorry, but I think the real reason you’re so angry is that Dumbledore never told you any of this himself.” “He loved you,” Hermione whispered. “I know he loved you.” Harry dropped his arms. “I don’t know who he loved, Hermione, but it was never me. This isn’t love, the mess he’s left me in. Q6 - What do we think of Harry and Dumbledore’s relationship after this?Chapter 19 - The Silver DoeIt was snowing by the time Hermione took over the watch at midnight. Harry’s dreams were confused and disturbing: Nagini wove in and out of them, first through a gigantic, cracked ring, then through a wreath of Christmas roses. He woke repeatedly, panicky, convinced that somebody had called out to him in the distance, imagining that the wind whipping around the tent was footsteps or voices. He had just held up a hand in front of his face to see whether he could make out his fingers when it happened. A bright silver light appeared right ahead of him, moving through the trees. Whatever the source, it was moving soundlessly. The light seemed simply to drift toward him. Q1 - Was Harry dumb to trust this?But instinct, overwhelming instinct, told him that this was not Dark Magic. He set off in pursuit. Q2 - Is Harry’s instinct good?His heart skipped into his mouth: He dropped to his knees at the pool’s edge and angled the wand so as to flood the bottom of the pool with as much light as possible. A glint of deep red . . . It was a sword with glittering rubies in its hilt. . . . The sword of Gryffindor was lying at the bottom of the forest pool. Q3 - How did the sword get there? Is the Doe and the Sword by the same person? Who?An owl hooted somewhere as he stripped off, and he thought with a pang of Hedwig.Q4 - Was this Hedwig??Every pore of his body screamed in protest: The very air in his lungs seemed to freeze solid as he was submerged to his shoulders in the frozen water. He could hardly breathe; trembling so violently the water lapped over the edges of the pool, he felt for the blade with his numb feet. He only wanted to dive once. Q5 - Ever experienced this kind of cold?“Are — you — mental?” Nothing but the shock of hearing that voice could have given Harry the strength to get up. Shivering violently, he staggered to his feet. There before him stood Ron, fully dressed but drenched to the skin, his hair plastered to his face, the sword of Gryffindor in one hand and the Horcrux dangling from its broken chain in the other….Harry could not answer. The silver doe was nothing, nothing compared with Ron’s reappearance; he could not believe it. Q6 - Were you shocked by the return?“I did think I saw something move over there, but I was running to the pool at the time, because you’d gone in and you hadn’t come up, so I wasn’t going to make a detour to — hey!” Harry was already hurrying to the place Ron had indicated. The two oaks grew close together; there was a gap of only a few inches between the trunks at eye level, an ideal place to see but not be seen.Q7 - Who was it?Ron looked toward him, and Harry thought he saw a trace of scarlet in his eyes. “Ron — ?” The sword flashed, plunged: Harry threw himself out of the way, there was a clang of metal and a long, drawn-out scream.Q8 - What was going on there?“You come back after weeks — weeks — and you think it’s all going to be all right if you just say sorry?” “Well, what else can I say?” Ron shouted, and Harry was glad that Ron was fighting back. “Oh, I don’t know!” yelled Hermione with awful sarcasm. “Rack your brains, Ron, that should only take a couple of seconds —” Q9 - Is Hermione right to be this mad at Ron?“Yeah,” said Ron. “Could’ve been worse. Remember those birds she set on me?” “I still haven’t ruled it out,” came Hermione’s muffled voice from beneath her blankets, but Harry saw Ron smiling slightly as he pulled his maroon pajamas out of his rucksack. Q10 - What do you think of Ron’s Dilumenator?Chapter 20 - Xenophilius LovegoodHermione’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 a problem calling him V —” “NO!” roared Ron, causing Harry to jump into the hedge and Hermione (nose buried in a book at the tent entrance) to scowl over at them. “Q1 - What do you think of the tracking of this?Harry did not laugh at Ron, because he understood too well the longing behind the question. The idea that Dumbledore had managed to come back to them, that he was watching over them, would have been inexpressibly comforting. He shook his head. Q2 - Any chance that this Doe could have been Dumbledore?“But don’t you think if it was, Dumbledore would have told me about it before he died?” “Maybe . . . maybe it’s something you need to find out for yourself,” said Hermione with a faint air of clutching at straws. “Yeah,” said Ron sycophantically, “that makes sense.” “No, it doesn’t,” snapped Hermione, “but I still think we ought to talk to Mr. Lovegood. A symbol that links Dumbledore, Grindelwald, and Godric’s Hollow? Harry, I’m sure we ought to know about this!” Q3 - Will Hermione and Ron ever reconcile?Q4 - Danny nailed the prediction on Luna not being thereQ5 - What would you have done in Xeno’s position?He turned away from the window and his gaze fell upon another peculiar object standing upon the cluttered, curved sideboard: a stone bust of a beautiful but austere-looking witch wearing a most bizarre-looking headdress. Two objects that resembled golden ear trumpets curved out from the sides. A tiny pair of glittering blue wings was stuck to a leather strap that ran over the top of her head, while one of the orange radishes had been stuck to a second strap around her forehead. “Ah, you have spotted my pet invention,” Xeno said, “Modeled, fittingly enough, upon the head of the beautiful Rowena Ravenclaw. ‘Wit beyond measure is man’s greatest treasure!’ ” Q6 - Danny you paused at this for a bit, why?

Chapter 13 - The Muggle Born Registration CommissionBeneath the title was a picture of a red rose with a simpering face in the middle of its petals, being strangled by a green weed with fangs and a scowl. There was no author’s name upon the pamphlet, but again, the scars on the back of his right hand seemed to tingle as he examined it.Q1 - How vile is this?The witch glanced toward the shining mahogany door facing the space full of pamphlet-makers; Harry looked too, and rage reared in him like a snake. Where there might have been a peephole on a Muggle front door, a large, round eye with a bright blue iris had been set into the wood — an eye that was shockingly familiar to anybody who had known Alastor Moody.Q2 - Does this make you hate Umbridge even more?“Undesirable Number One,” Harry muttered under his breath as he replaced Mr. Weasley’s folder and shut the drawer. He had an idea he knew who that was, and sure enough, as he straightened up and glanced around the office for fresh hiding places, he saw a poster of himself on the wall, with the words undesirable no. 1 emblazoned across his chest.Q3 - What do you think of Harry’s new nickname?The lift doors opened; the old witch with the anthill hair left, and Ron darted past her out of sight. Harry made to follow him, but found his path blocked as Percy Weasley strode into the lift, his nose buried in some papers he was reading. Not until the doors had clanged shut again did Percy realize he was in a lift with his father. He glanced up, saw Mr. Weasley, turned radish red, and left the lift the moment the doors opened again. For the second time, Harry tried to get out, but this time found his way blocked by Mr. Weasley’s arm. Q4 - Do you think Percy’s still evil?And as he reached the foot of the stairs and turned to his right he saw a dreadful scene. The dark passage outside the courtrooms was packed with tall, black-hooded figures, their faces completely hidden, their ragged breathing the only sound in the place. The petrified Muggle-borns brought in for questioning sat huddled and shivering on hard wooden benches. Most of them were hiding their faces in their hands, perhaps in an instinctive attempt to shield themselves from the dementors’ greedy mouths. Some were accompanied by families, others sat alone. The dementors were gliding up and down in front of them, and the cold, and the hopelessness, and the despair of the place laid themselves upon Harry like a curse. . . . At the foot of the platform, a bright-silver, long-haired cat prowled up and down, up and down, and Harry realized that it was there to protect the prosecutors from the despair that emanated from the dementors: That was for the accused to feel, not the accusersQ5 - How is Umbridge able to cast a Patronus?She cried harder than ever. Umbridge laughed a soft girlish laugh that made Harry want to attack her. She leaned forward over the barrier, the better to observe her victim, and something gold swung forward too, and dangled over the void: the locket.Whether because the Patronus had vanished or because they sensed that their masters were no longer in control, they seemed to have abandoned restraint. Mrs. Cattermole let out a terrible scream of fear as a slimy, scabbed hand grasped her chin and forced her face back. “EXPECTO PATRONUM!” The silver stag soared from the tip of Harry’s wand and leaped toward the dementors, which fell back and melted into the dark shadows again. The stag’s light, more powerful and more warming than the cat’s protection, filled the whole dungeon as it cantered around and around the room. Q6 - What do you think Harry and Hermione thought of for their Patronus?Q7 - Ron let’s them know that the ruse was up because Harry took the eye…was he dumb to take the eye?“LET’S GO!” Harry yelled. He seized Hermione by the hand and Ron by the arm and turned on the spot. Darkness engulfed them, along with the sensation of compressing bands, but something was wrong. . . . Hermione’s hand seemed to be sliding out of his grip. . . . He wondered whether he was going to suffocate; he could not breathe or see and the only solid things in the world were Ron’s arm and Hermione’s fingers, which were slowly slipping away. . . . And then he saw the door of number twelve, Grimmauld Place, with its serpent door knocker, but before he could draw breath, there was a scream and a flash of purple light; Hermione’s hand was suddenly vicelike upon his and everything went dark again. Q8 - What happened?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. . . . You don’t mean he’s at Grimmauld Place? He can’t get in there?” Q1 - Can they return to Grimmauld Place?Q2 - Did they leave anything of importance behind?“That’s as much as I can do. At the very least, we should know they’re coming, I can’t guarantee it will keep out Vol —” “Don’t say the name!” Ron cut across her, his voice harsh. Harry and Hermione looked at each other. “I’m sorry,” Ron said, moaning a little as he raised himself to look at them, “but it feels like a — a jinx or something. Can’t we call him You-Know-Who — please?” “Dumbledore said fear of a name —” began Harry. “In case you hadn’t noticed, mate, calling You-Know-Who by his name didn’t do Dumbledore much good in the end,” Ron snapped back. “Just — just show You-Know-Who some respect, will you?”Q3 - Has Ron gone crazy?“Can you feel it, though?” Ron asked in a hushed voice, as he held it tight in his clenched fist. “What d’you mean?” Ron passed the Horcrux to Harry. After a moment or two, Harry thought he knew what Ron meant. Was it his own blood pulsing through his veins that he could feel, or was it something beating inside the locket, like a tiny metal heart?Q4 - How are they going to open this to destroy it?The surrounding silence was broken by odd rustlings and what sounded like crackings of twigs: Harry thought that they were caused by animals rather than people, yet he kept his wand held tight at the ready. His insides, already uncomfortable due to their inadequate helping of rubbery mushrooms, tingled with unease. Q5 - Do you think someone is watching them?Nameless forebodings crept upon him as he sat there in the dark: He tried to resist them, push them away, yet they came at him relentlessly. Neither can live while the other survives. Ron and Hermione, now talking softly behind him in the tent, could walk away if they wanted to: He could not. And it seemed to Harry as he sat there trying to master his own fear and exhaustion, that the Horcrux against his chest was ticking away the time he had left. . . . Stupid idea, he told himself, don’t think that. . . .Q6 - What are each of the trios biggest fear?Harry’s voice was high, clear, and cold, his wand held in front of him by a long-fingered white hand. The man at whom he was pointing was suspended upside down in midair, though there were no ropes holding him; he swung there, invisibly and eerily bound, his limbs wrapped about him, his terrified face, on a level with Harry’s, ruddy due to the blood that had rushed to his head. He had pure-white hair and a thick, bushy beard: a trussed-up Father Christmas. “I have it not, I have it no more! It was, many years ago, stolen from me!”Q7 - What does he want?“He read Gregorovitch’s mind, and I saw this young bloke perched on a windowsill, and he fired a curse at Gregorovitch and jumped out of sight. He stole it, he stole whatever You-Know-Who’s after. And I . . . I think I’ve seen him somewhere. . . .” Q8 - Who is the thief?What was Voldemort trying to find? Why, with the Ministry of Magic and the Wizarding world at his feet, was he far away, intent on the pursuit of an object that Gregorovitch had once owned, and which had been stolen by the unknown thief? Harry could still see the blond-haired youth’s face; it was merry, wild; there was a Fred and George-ish air of triumphant trickery about him. He had soared from the windowsill like a bird, and Harry had seen him before, but he could not think where. . . . With Gregorovitch dead, it was the merry-faced thief who was in danger now, and it was on him that Harry’s thoughts dwelled, as Ron’s snores began to rumble from the lower bunk and as he himself drifted slowly into sleep once more. Chapter 15 - The Goblin’s RevengeHarry and Hermione felt that it was best not to stay anywhere too long, and Ron agreed, with the sole proviso that their next move took them within reach of a bacon sandwich. “But you can make a brilliant Patronus!” protested Ron, when Harry arrived back at the tent empty-handed, out of breath, and mouthing the single word, dementors. “I couldn’t . . . make one,” he panted, clutching the stitch in his side. “Wouldn’t . . . come.” Q1 - Why wasn’t Harry able to cast a Patronus?Q2 - What is the Horcrux actually doing to them?Q3 - Is it dumb to wear it everywhere?“You told us that You-Know-Who asked Dumbledore to give him a job after he left,” said Hermione. “That’s right,” said Harry. “And Dumbledore thought he only wanted to come back to try and find something, probably another founder’s object, to make into another Horcrux?” Q4 - Is there something in Hogwarts that’s a Horcrux?Q5 - Why did Ginny and co try to steal the sword?Phineas snorted impatiently. “I believe that the last time I saw the sword of Gryffindor leave its case was when Professor Dumbledore used it to break open a ring.” Hermione whipped around to look at Harry. Neither of them dared say more in front of Phineas Nigellus, who had at last managed to locate the exit. “And Dumbledore didn’t give it to me because he still needed it, he wanted to use it on the locket —” “— and he must have realized they wouldn’t let you have it if he put it in his will —” “— so he made a copy —” “— and put a fake in the glass case —” “— and he left the real one — where?” They gazed at each other; Harry felt that the answer was dangling invisibly in the air above them, tantalizingly close. Why hadn’t Dumbledore told him? Or had he, in fact, told Harry, but Harry had not realized it at the time? “Think!” whispered Hermione. “Think! Where would he have left it?” Q6 - Where do you think Dumbledore left the sword?“Leave the Horcrux,” Harry said. Ron wrenched the chain from over his head and cast the locket into a nearby chair. He turned to Hermione. “What are you doing?” “What do you mean?” “Are you staying, or what?” “I . . .” She looked anguished. “Yes — yes, I’m staying. Ron, we said we’d go with Harry, we said we’d help —” “I get it. You choose him.” “Ron, no — please — come back, come back!” She was impeded by her own Shield Charm; by the time she had removed it he had already stormed into the night. Harry stood quite still and silent, listening to her sobbing and calling Ron’s name amongst the trees. Q7 - How surprising is it that Ron has left? Will he come back?Chapter 16 - Godric's HollowThey 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 locations of Gryffindor’s sword, but the more they talked about the places in which Dumbledore might have hidden it, the more desperate and far-fetched their speculation became. Q2 - Where do you think the sword is?They were spending many evenings in near silence, and Hermione took to bringing out Phineas Nigellus’s portrait and propping it up in a chair, as though he might fill part of the gaping hole left by Ron’s departure… Indeed, Phineas Nigellus inadvertently emphasized this fact by slipping in leading questions about Harry and Hermione’s whereabouts.Q3 - Is Hermione actually crazy to do this?Apparently she had not been listening to him. She leaned forward and held out The Tales of Beedle the Bard. “Look at that symbol,” she said, pointing to the top of a page. Above what Harry assumed was the title of the story (being unable to read runes, he could not be sure), there was a picture of what looked like a triangular eye, its pupil crossed with a vertical line. “I never took Ancient Runes, Hermione.” “I know that, but it isn’t a rune and it’s not in the syllabary, either. All along I thought it was a picture of an eye, but I don’t think it is! It’s been inked in, look, somebody’s drawn it there, it isn’t really part of the book. Think, have you ever seen it before?” “No . . . No, wait a moment.” Harry looked closer. “Isn’t it the same symbol Luna’s dad was wearing round his neck?” “Well, that’s what I thought too!” “Then it’s Grindelwald’s mark.” Q4 - What does this all mean for the story?She pointed to the dark stone. Harry stooped down and saw, upon the frozen, lichen-spotted granite, the words Kendra Dumbledore and, a short way below her dates of birth and death, and Her Daughter Ariana. There was also a quotation: Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Q5 - What do you make of that quote?“Here!” cried Hermione again a few moments later from out of the darkness. “Oh no, sorry! I thought it said Potter.” She was rubbing at a crumbling, mossy stone, gazing down at it, a little frown on her face. “Harry, come back a moment.” He did not want to be sidetracked again, and only grudgingly made his way back through the snow toward her. “What?” “Look at this!” The grave was extremely old, weathered so that Harry could hardly make out the name. Hermione showed him the symbol beneath it. “Harry, that’s the mark in the book!” Q6 - Is this mark different?The headstone was only two rows behind Kendra and Ariana’s. It was made of white marble, just like Dumbledore’s tomb, and this made it easy to read, as it seemed to shine in the dark. Harry did not need to kneel or even approach very close to it to make out the words engraved upon it. James Potter Born 27 March 1960 Died October 31 1981 Lily Potter, born January 30, 1960 Died October 31, 1981. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. Q7 - Why are these words on the gravestone?But they were not living, thought Harry: They were gone. The empty words could not disguise the fact that his parents’ moldering remains lay beneath snow and stone, indifferent, unknowing. And tears came before he could stop them, boiling hot then instantly freezing on his face, and what was the point in wiping them off or pretending? He let them fall, his lips pressed hard together, looking down at the thick snow hiding from his eyes the place where the last of Lily and James lay, bones now, surely, or dust, not knowing or caring that their living son stood so near, his heart still beating, alive because of their sacrifice and close to wishing, at this moment, that he was sleeping under the snow with them.

Chapter 9 - A Place to Hide“When you say you’ve got the Cloak, and clothes . . .” said Harry, frowning at Hermione, who was carrying nothing except her small beaded handbag, in which she was now rummaging. “Yes, they’re here,” said Hermione, and to Harry and Ron’s utter astonishment, she pulled out a pair of jeans, a sweatshirt, some maroon socks, and finally the silvery Invisibility Cloak. Q1 - Is Hermione the greatest or what?Harry threw the Invisibility Cloak around his shoulders and pulled it up over his head, vanishing from sight. He was only just beginning to appreciate what had happened. “The others — everyone at the wedding —”Q2 - You think everyone is safe?After a minute or two, Ron said, “You know, we’re not far from the Leaky Cauldron here, it’s only in Charing Cross —” “Ron, we can’t!” said Hermione at once. “Not to stay there, but to find out what’s going on!” “We know what’s going on! Voldemort’s taken over the Ministry, what else do we need to know?” “Okay, okay, it was just an idea!” They relapsed into a prickly silence. The gum-chewing waitress shuffled over and Hermione ordered two cappuccinos: As Harry was invisible, it would have looked odd to order him one. A pair of burly workmen entered the café and squeezed into the next booth. Hermione dropped her voice to a whisper. Q3 - How did the Death Eaters find them?“What are we going to do with them?” Ron whispered to Harry through the dark; then, even more quietly, “Kill them? They’d kill us. They had a good go just now.” Hermione shuddered and took a step backward. Harry shook his head. “We just need to wipe their memories,” said Harry. “It’s better like that, it’ll throw them off the scent. If we killed them it’d be obvious we were here.”Q4 - What should they do with these people?“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. Q5 - Would you go back to the Burrow for your good pair of jeans?Gingerly Harry took another step forward. Something shifted in the shadows at the end of the hall, and before any of them could say another word, a figure had risen up out of the carpet, tall, dustcolored, and terrible: Hermione screamed and so did Mrs. Black, her curtains flying open; the gray figure was gliding toward them, faster and faster, its waist-length hair and beard streaming behind it, its face sunken, fleshless, with empty eye sockets: Horribly familiar, dreadfully altered, it raised a wasted arm, pointing at Harry. “No!” Harry shouted, and though he had raised his wand no spell occurred to him. “No! It wasn’t us! We didn’t kill you —” On the word kill, the figure exploded in a great cloud of dust: Coughing, his eyes watering, Harry looked around to see Hermione crouched on the floor by the door with her arms over her head, and Ron, who was shaking from head to foot, patting her clumsily on the shoulder and saying, “It’s all r-right. . . . It’s g-gone. . . .” Q6 - Are these good defenses?“But then you’ve got to close your mind!” said Hermione shrilly. “Harry, Dumbledore didn’t want you to use that connection, he wanted you to shut it down, that’s why you were supposed to use Occlumency! Otherwise Voldemort can plant false images in your mind, remember —” Q7 - Would Voldemort do this again and would Harry be tricked by it again?He turned his back on Ron and Hermione, pretending to examine the old tapestry of the Black family tree on the wall. Then Hermione shrieked: Harry drew his wand again and spun around to see a silver Patronus soar through the drawing room window and land upon the floor in front of them, where it solidified into the weasel that spoke with the voice of Ron’s father. “Family safe, do not reply, we are being watched.” Q8 - Can you fake Patronuses?“More, Rowle, or shall we end it and feed you to Nagini? Lord Voldemort is not sure that he will forgive this time. . . . You called me back for this, to tell me that Harry Potter has escaped again? Draco, give Rowle another taste of our displeasure. . . . Do it, or feel my wrath yourself!”Q9 - Do you feel bad for Draco?Chapter 10 - Kreacher’s TaleHarry 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 after Sirius died?Q1 - Has someone been looking through Grimmauld Place?Thank you, thank you, for Harry’s birthday present! It was his favorite by far. One year old and already zooming along on a toy broomstick, he looked so pleased with himself, I’m enclosing a picture so you can see. You know it only rises about two feet off the ground, but he nearly killed the cat and he smashed a horrible vase Petunia sent me for Christmas (no complaints there). Q2 - Was there something behind Petunia’s gift?Bathilda drops in most days, she’s a fascinating old thing with the most amazing stories about Dumbledore, I’m not sure he’d be pleased if he knew! I don’t know how much to believe, actually, because it seems incredible that Dumbledore…Q3 - What was this going to say? And why was Dumbledore using the cloak?He read the letter again, but could not take in any more meaning than he had done the first time, and was reduced to staring at the handwriting itself. She had made her “g”s the same way he did: He searched through the letter for every one of them, and each felt like a friendly little wave glimpsed from behind a veil. The letter was an incredible treasure, proof that Lily Potter had lived, really lived, that her warm hand had once moved across this parchment, tracing ink into these letters, these words, words about him, Harry, her son.They had had a cat . . . perhaps it had perished, like his parents, at Godric’s Hollow Q4 - Is this cat Crookshanks?His parents had known Bathilda Bagshot; had Dumbledore introduced them? Dumbledore’s still got his Invisibility Cloak . . . There was something funny there. . . .“Harry, do you really think you’ll get the truth from a malicious old woman like Muriel, or from Rita Skeeter? How can you believe them? You knew Dumbledore!” “I thought I did,” he muttered. “But you know how much truth there was in everything Rita wrote about you! Doge is right, how can you let these people tarnish your memories of Dumbledore?” He looked away, trying not to betray the resentment he felt. There it was again: Choose what to believe. He wanted the truth. Why was everybody so determined that he should not get it? Q5 - What is the truth here?This, then, was how Voldemort had tested the defenses surrounding the Horcrux: by borrowing a disposable creature, a house-elf . . . “There was a b-basin full of potion on the island. The D-Dark Lord made Kreacher drink it. . . .” The elf quaked from head to foot. “Kreacher drank, and as he drank, he saw terrible things. . . . Kreacher’s insides burned. . . . Kreacher cried for Master Regulus to save him, he cried for his Mistress Black, but the Dark Lord only laughed. . . . He made Kreacher drink all the potion. . . . He dropped a locket into the empty basin. . . . He filled it with more potion. Q6 - How much pity do you have for Kreacher?Kreacher knew how to open the concealed entrance to the underground cavern, knew how to raise the tiny boat; this time it was his beloved Regulus who sailed with him to the island with its basin of poison. . . . “And he made you drink the potion?” said Harry, disgusted. But Kreacher shook his head and wept. Hermione’s hands leapt to her mouth: She seemed to have understood something. “M-Master Regulus took from his pocket a locket like the one the Dark Lord had,” said Kreacher, tears pouring down either side of his snoutlike nose. “And he told Kreacher to take it and, when the basin was empty, to switch the lockets. . . .”Q7 - What do you think of Kreacher’s Tale?“Kreacher, I want you, please, to go and find Mundungus Fletcher. We need to find out where the locket — where Master Regulus’s locket is. It’s really important. We want to finish the work Master Regulus started, we want to — er — ensure that he didn’t die in vain.” Kreacher dropped his fists and looked up at Harry. “Find Mundungus Fletcher?” he croaked. “And bring him here, to Grimmauld Place,” said Harry. “Do you think you could do that for us?” As Kreacher nodded and got to his feet, Harry had a sudden inspiration. He pulled out Hagrid’s purse and took out the fake Horcrux, the substitute locket in which Regulus had placed the note to Voldemort. Q8 - How will they open the locket?Chapter 11 - The Bribe“Will you stop it!” she cried on the third evening of Kreacher’s absence, as all light was sucked from the drawing room yet again. “Sorry, sorry!” said Ron, clicking the Deluminator and restoring the lights. “I don’t know I’m doing it!” “Well, can’t you find something useful to occupy yourself?” “What, like reading kids’ stories?” “Dumbledore left me this book, Ron —” “— and he left me the Deluminator, maybe I’m supposed to use it!” Q1 - Any further theories on why Dumbledore left them these objects?“I had to Apparate very precisely onto the top step outside the front door to be sure that they would not see me. They can’t know you’re in here or I’m sure they’d have more people out there; they’re staking out everywhere that’s got any connection with you, Harry. Let’s go downstairs, there’s a lot to tell you, and I want to know what happened after you left the Burrow.”Q2 - How does the Fidelius Charm actually work?“So, you came straight here after the wedding?” “No,” said Harry, “only after we ran into a couple of Death Eaters in a café on Tottenham Court Road.” Lupin slopped most of his butterbeer down his front. “What?” They explained what had happened; when they had finished, Lupin looked aghast. “But how did they find you so quickly? It’s impossible to track anyone who Apparates, unless you grab hold of them as they disappear!”Q3 - How did the Death Eaters find him?“There were about a dozen of them, but they didn’t know you were there, Harry. Arthur heard a rumor that they tried to torture your whereabouts out of Scrimgeour before they killed him; if it’s true, he didn’t give you away.” Q4 - Does this make you think highly of Scrimgeour?Q5 - What do you think of the Muggle Born Registration Committee?“I know,” said Lupin. “Nevertheless, unless you can prove that you have at least one close Wizarding relative, you are now deemed to have obtained your magical power illegally and must suffer the punishment.” Ron glanced at Hermione, then said, “What if purebloods and half-bloods swear a Muggle-born’s part of their family? I’ll tell everyone Hermione’s my cousin —” Q6 - How cute is Ron here? “I’ll understand if you can’t confirm this, Harry, but the Order is under the impression that Dumbledore left you a mission.” “He did,” Harry replied, “and Ron and Hermione are in on it and they’re coming with me.” “Can you confide in me what the mission is?” Harry looked into the prematurely lined face, framed in thick but graying hair, and wished that he could return a different answer. “I can’t, Remus, I’m sorry. If Dumbledore didn’t tell you I don’t think I can.” Q7 - Danny during the liveread you said “Don’t do it.” Why?“Remus,” said Hermione tentatively, “is everything all right . . . you know . . . between you and —” “Everything is fine, thank you,” said Lupin pointedly. Hermione turned pink. There was another pause, an awkward and embarrassed one, and then Lupin said, with an air of forcing himself to admit something unpleasant, “Tonks is going to have a baby.” “Oh, how wonderful!” squealed Hermione. “Excellent!” said Ron enthusiastically. “Congratulations,” said Harry. Q8 - How’d ya guess that Jenn?“You don’t understand,” said Lupin at last. “Explain, then,” said Harry. Lupin swallowed. “I — I made a grave mistake in marrying Tonks. I did it against my better judgment and I have regretted it very much ever since.” “I see,” said Harry, “so you’re just going to dump her and the kid and run off with us?” Lupin sprang to his feet: His chair toppled over backward, and he glared at them so fiercely that Harry saw, for the first time ever, the shadow of the wolf upon his human face. “Don’t you understand what I’ve done to my wife and my unborn child? I should never have married her, I’ve made her an outcast!”Q9 - Should Lupin have married Tonks?“Remus!” whispered Hermione, tears in her eyes. “Don’t say that — how could any child be ashamed of you?” “Oh, I don’t know, Hermione,” said Harry. “I’d be pretty ashamed of him.” Harry did not know where his rage was coming from, but it had propelled him to his feet too. Lupin looked as though Harry had hit himQ10 - How did Harry handle this whole situation?Q11 - What do you think was the truth about Ariana Dumledore?There was the sound of pattering feet, a blaze of shining copper, an echoing clang, and a shriek of agony: Kreacher had taken a run at Mundungus and hit him over the head with a saucepan. “Call ’im off, call ’im off, ’e should be locked up!” screamed Mundungus, cowering as Kreacher raised the heavy-bottomed pan again. “Kreacher, no!” shouted Harry. Kreacher’s thin arms trembled with the weight of the pan, still held aloft. “Perhaps just one more, Master Harry, for luck?” Ron laughed. “We need him conscious, Kreacher, but if he needs persuading you can do the honors,” said Harry. “Thank you very much, Master,” said Kreacher with a bow, and he retreated a short distance, his great pale eyes still fixed upon Mundungus with loathing.Q12 - Isn’t is crazy how you can go from hating a character so quick to loving him?Chapter 12 - Magic is MightA 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 image of Phineas Nigellus Black was able to flit between his portrait in Grimmauld Place and the one that hung in the headmaster’s office at Hogwarts: the circular tower-top room where Snape was no doubt sitting right now, in triumphant possession of Dumbledore’s collection of delicate, silver magical instruments, the stone Pensieve, the Sorting Hat and, unless it had been moved elsewhere, the sword of Gryffindor.Q2 - Do you think Snape had ever spied on them using that before?Q3 - They are going to storm the ministry? Should they be doing this? The door opened: A laughing woman stood there. Her face fell as she looked into Harry’s face: humor gone, terror replacing it. . . . “Gregorovitch?” said a high, cold voice. She shook her head: She was trying to close the door. A white hand held it steady, prevented her shutting him out. . . . “I want Gregorovitch.” “I hate it, I hate the fact that he can get inside me, that I have to watch him when he’s most dangerous. But I’m going to use it.” “Dumbledore —” “Forget Dumbledore. This is my choice, nobody else’s. I want to know why he’s after Gregorovitch.” Q4 - Is Harry foolish to try this?Q5 - How is their plan to get into the ministry?Harry looked more closely and realized that what he had thought were decoratively carved thrones were actually mounds of carved humans: hundreds and hundreds of naked bodies, men, women, and children, all with rather stupid, ugly faces, twisted and pressed together to support the weight of the handsomely robed wizards. The golden grilles slid apart again and Hermione gasped. Four people stood before them, two of them deep in conversation: a longhaired wizard wearing magnificent robes of black and gold, and a squat, toadlike witch wearing a velvet bow in her short hair and clutching a clipboard to her chest.

Chapter 5 - Fallen WarriorQ1 - How convinced were you that this was Hagrid?No sooner had Mrs. Weasley bent over her son than Lupin grabbed Harry by the upper arm and dragged him, none too gently, back into the kitchen, where Hagrid was still attempting to ease his bulk through the back door. “Oi!” said Hagrid indignantly. “Le’ go of him! Le’ go of Harry!” Lupin ignored him. “What creature sat in the corner the first time that Harry Potter visited my office at Hogwarts?” he said, giving Harry a small shake. “Answer me!” “A — a grindylow in a tank, wasn’t it?” Lupin released Harry and fell back against a kitchen cupboard. “Wha’ was tha’ about?” roared Hagrid. “I’m sorry, Harry, but I had to check,” said Lupin tersely. “We’ve been betrayed. Voldemort knew that you were being moved tonight and the only people who could have told him were directly involved in the plan. You might have been an impostor.”Q1 - Who was the betrayer?“So you think I should have killed Stan Shunpike?” said Harry angrily. “Of course not,” said Lupin, “but the Death Eaters — frankly, most people! — would have expected you to attack back! Expelliarmus is a useful spell, Harry, but the Death Eaters seem to think it is your signature move, and I urge you not to let it become so!” Q2 - Why is Harry so defensive of Stan?“The last words Albus Dumbledore spoke to the pair of us?” “ ‘Harry is the best hope we have. Trust him,’ ” said Lupin calmly. Q3 - What does Dumbledore mean by this?Perhaps roused by the sound of Fred and their father’s arrival, George stirred. “How do you feel, Georgie?” whispered Mrs. Weasley. George’s fingers groped for the side of his head. “Saintlike,” he murmured. “What’s wrong with him?” croaked Fred, looking terrified. “Is his mind affected?” “Saintlike,” repeated George, opening his eyes and looking up at his brother. “You see . . . I’m holy. Holey, Fred, geddit?” “Ron was great,” said Tonks warmly, relinquishing her hold on Lupin. “Wonderful. Stunned one of the Death Eaters, straight to the head, and when you’re aiming at a moving target from a flying broom —” “You did?” said Hermione, gazing up at Ron with her arms still around his neck. “Always the tone of surprise,” he said a little grumpily, breaking free. “Are we the last back?” Q4 - Did Ron kill someone?Lupin nodded. With a wave to the others, Kingsley walked away into the darkness toward the gate. Harry thought he heard the faintest pop as Kingsley Disapparated just beyond the Burrow’s boundaries. Q5 - Confirmation Kingsley’s got a small butt?Mrs. Weasley ran forward, but the hug Bill bestowed upon her was perfunctory. Looking directly at his father, he said, “Mad-Eye’s dead.” Q6 - What are your thoughts on Mad-Eye’s death?She glared around at them all, tear tracks still etched on her beautiful face, silently daring any of them to contradict her. Nobody did. The only sound to break the silence was that of Hagrid hiccuping from behind his handkerchief. Harry glanced at Hagrid, who had just risked his own life to save Harry’s — Hagrid, whom he loved, whom he trusted, who had once been tricked into giving Voldemort crucial information in exchange for a dragon’s egg. . . . “No,” Harry said aloud, and they all looked at him, surprised: The firewhisky seemed to have amplified his voice. “I mean . . . if somebody made a mistake,” Harry went on, “and let something slip, I know they didn’t mean to do it. It’s not their fault,” he repeated, again a little louder than he would usually have spoken. “We’ve got to trust each other. I trust all of you, I don’t think anyone in this room would ever sell me to Voldemort.” Q7 - Is Harry foolish to be saying this?The rest of them now dropped into chairs, all except for Harry, who remained standing. The suddenness and completeness of death was with them like a presence. “I’ve got to go too,” said Harry. Ten pairs of startled eyes looked at him. “Don’t be silly, Harry,” said Mrs. Weasley. “What are you talking about?” Q8 - Is Harry and idiot?“No,” said Harry. “The bike was falling, I couldn’t have told you where Voldemort was, but my wand spun in my hand and found him and shot a spell at him, and it wasn’t even a spell I recognized. I’ve never made gold flames appear before.” Q9 - What spell did Harry perform?And then, out of nowhere, the pain in his scar peaked. As he clutched his forehead and closed his eyes, a voice screamed inside his head. “You told me the problem would be solved by using another’s wand!” And into his mind burst the vision of an emaciated old man lying in rags upon a stone floor, screaming, a horrible, drawn-out scream, a scream of unendurable agony. . . . “No! No! I beg you, I beg you. . . .” “You lied to Lord Voldemort, Ollivander!” “I did not. . . . I swear I did not. . . .” “You sought to help Potter, to help him escape me!” “I swear I did not. . . . I believed a different wand would work. . . .” “Explain, then, what happened. Lucius’s wand is destroyed!” “I cannot understand. . . . The connection . . . exists only . . . between your two wands. . . .” “Lies!” “Please . . . I beg you. . . .” And Harry saw the white hand raise its wand and felt Voldemort’s surge of vicious anger, saw the frail old man on the floor writhe in agony — “Harry?” It was over as quickly as it had come: Q10 - What is going on here? Is Olivander lying?“But it was supposed to have stopped! Your scar — it wasn’t supposed to do this anymore! You mustn’t let that connection open up again — Dumbledore wanted you to close your mind!” When he did not reply, she gripped his arm. “Harry, he’s taking over the Ministry and the newspapers and half the Wizarding world! Don’t let him inside your head too!” Q11 - Did Voldemort want Harry to see this?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 mean Fleur and Mrs. Weasley. “It’s one extra day,” said Ron, when Harry looked mutinous. “Don’t they realize how important — ?” “ ’Course they don’t,” said Ron. “They haven’t got a clue. And now you mention it, I wanted to talk to you about that.”“Ron and Hermione seem to think that the three of you are dropping out of Hogwarts,” she began in a light, casual tone. “Oh,” said Harry. “Well, yeah. We are.”Q2 - Do you find it shocking that Mrs Weasley is still sending Ginny to Hogwarts?“Now, Ron, have you cleaned out your room yet?” “Why?” exclaimed Ron, slamming his spoon down and glaring at his mother. “Why does my room have to be cleaned out? Harry and I are fine with it the way it is!” “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 —” “Don’t talk to your mother like that,” said Mr. Weasley firmly. “And do as you’re told.” “We were just talking about Mad-Eye,” Ron told Harry. “I reckon he might have survived.” “But Bill saw him hit by the Killing Curse,” said Harry. “Yeah, but Bill was under attack too,” said Ron. “How can he be sure what he saw?” “Even if the Killing Curse missed, Mad-Eye still fell about a thousand feet,” said Hermione, now weighing Quidditch Teams of Britain and Ireland in her hand. “He could have used a Shield Charm —” “Fleur said his wand was blasted out of his hand,” said Harry. “Well, all right, if you want him to be dead,” said Ron grumpily, punching his pillow into a more comfortable shape. Q3 - Do you think Ron could be right?“What are you doing with all those books anyway?” Ron asked, limping back to his bed. “Just trying to decide which ones to take with us,” said Hermione. “When we’re looking for the Horcruxes.” “Oh, of course,” said Ron, clapping a hand to his forehead. “I forgot we’ll be hunting down Voldemort in a mobile library.” “Ha ha,” said Hermione, looking down at Spellman’s Syllabary. “I wonder . . . will we need to translate runes? It’s possible. . . . I think we’d better take it, to be safe.” Q4 - If you were hunting Voldemort, what 5 items would you bring?“Listen,” said Harry. He had sat up straight. Ron and Hermione looked at him with similar mixtures of resignation and defiance. “I know you said after Dumbledore’s funeral that you wanted to come with me,” Harry began. “Here he goes,” Ron said to Hermione, rolling his eyes. “As we knew he would,” she sighed, turning back to the books. “You know, I think I will take Hogwarts, A History. Even if we’re not going back there, I don’t think I’d feel right if I didn’t have it with —” “Listen!” said Harry again. “No, Harry, you listen,” said Hermione. “We’re coming with you. That was decided months ago — years, really.” “But —” “Shut up,” Ron advised him. “I’ve also modified my parents’ memories so that they’re convinced they’re really called Wendell and Monica Wilkins, and that their life’s ambition is to move to Australia, which they have now done. That’s to make it more difficult for Voldemort to track them down and interrogate them about me — or you, because unfortunately, I’ve told them quite a bit about you. “Assuming I survive our hunt for the Horcruxes, I’ll find Mum and Dad and lift the enchantment. If I don’t — well, I think I’ve cast a good enough charm to keep them safe and happy. Wendell and Monica Wilkins don’t know that they’ve got a daughter, you see. Q5 - Will Hermione’s plan work?There was silence in the room, broken only by gentle thuds as Hermione continued to throw books onto one pile or the other. Ron sat watching her, and Harry looked from one to the other, unable to say anything. The measures they had taken to protect their families made him realize, more than anything else could have done, that they really were going to come with him and that they knew exactly how dangerous that would be. He wanted to tell them what that meant to him, but he simply could not find words important enough. Harry, who did not believe that Hermione really understood his desire to return to Godric’s Hollow. His parents’ graves were only part of the attraction: He had a strong, though inexplicable, feeling that the place held answers for him. Perhaps it was simply because it was there that he had survived Voldemort’s Killing Curse; now that he was facing the challenge of repeating the feat, Harry was drawn to the place where it had happened, wanting to understand. Q6 - What answers will Godric’s Hollow have?“And the more I’ve read about them,” said Hermione, “the more horrible they seem, and the less I can believe that he actually made six. It warns in this book how unstable you make the rest of your soul by ripping it, and that’s just by making one Horcrux!” Harry remembered what Dumbledore had said about Voldemort moving beyond “usual evil.” “Isn’t there any way of putting yourself back together?” Ron asked. “Yes,” said Hermione with a hollow smile, “but it would be excruciatingly painful.” “Why? How do you do it?” asked Harry. “Remorse,” said Hermione. “You’ve got to really feel what you’ve done. There’s a footnote. Apparently the pain of it can destroy you. I can’t see Voldemort attempting it somehow, can you?” Q7 - Do you think he’d ever experience remorse for what he’s done?“It has to be something so destructive that the Horcrux can’t repair itself. Basilisk venom only has one antidote, and it’s incredibly rare —”Q8 - What else do you think can kill a Horcrux?“Hang on,” said Ron, frowning. “The bit of soul in that diary was possessing Ginny, wasn’t it? How does that work, then?” “While the magical container is still intact, the bit of soul inside it can flit in and out of someone if they get too close to the object. I don’t mean holding it for too long, it’s nothing to do with touching it,” she added before Ron could speak. “I mean close emotionally. Ginny poured her heart out into that diary, she made herself incredibly vulnerable. You’re in trouble if you get too fond of or dependent on the Horcrux.” “I wonder how Dumbledore destroyed the ring?” said Harry. “Why didn’t I ask him? I never really . . .” Q9 - Will any of them become possessed by Voldemort’s soul?Q10 - How did Dumbledore kill the Horcrux?Chapter 7 - The Will of Albus DumbledoreHe was walking along a mountain road in the cool blue light of dawn. Far below, swathed in mist, was the shadow of a small town. Was the man he sought down there, the man he needed so badly he could think of little else, the man who held the answer, the answer to his problem . . . ?Q1 - What is going on?Q2 - Who’s Gregorovitch?Harry seized the wand lying beside his camp bed, pointed it at the cluttered desk where he had left his glasses, and said, “Accio Glasses!” Although they were only around a foot away, there was something immensely satisfying about seeing them zoom toward him, at least until they poked him in the eye.  Q3 - What was your most memorable “18” or “21” story?“This isn’t your average book,” said Ron. “It’s pure gold: Twelve Fail-Safe Ways to Charm Witches. Explains everything you need to know about girls. If only I’d had this last year I’d have known exactly how to get rid of Lavender and I would’ve known how to get going with . . . Well, Fred and George gave me a copy, and I’ve learned a lot. You’d be surprised, it’s not all about wandwork, either.” Harry sat down, took the square parcel she had indicated, and unwrapped it. Inside was a watch very like the one Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had given Ron for his seventeenth; it was gold, with stars circling around the face instead of hands. “It’s traditional to give a wizard a watch when he comes of age,” said Mrs. Weasley, watching him anxiously from beside the cooker. “I’m afraid that one isn’t new like Ron’s, it was actually my brother Fabian’s and he wasn’t terribly careful with his possessions, it’s a bit dented on the back, but —” The rest of her speech was lost; Harry had got up and hugged her. He tried to put a lot of unsaid things into the hug and perhaps she understood them, because she patted his cheek clumsily when he released her, then waved her wand in a slightly random way, causing half a pack of bacon to flop out of the frying pan onto the floor. Q4 - Do you remember who Fabian Pruitt is?“The Prewetts, Gideon and Fabian. It took five Death eaters to bring them down, they fought like heroes.”  (GOBLET OF FIRE)Although Lupin smiled as he shook Harry’s hand, Harry thought he looked rather unhappy. It was all very odd; Tonks, beside him, looked simply radiant. Q5 - What’s going on between them?“The Minister — but why — ? I don’t understand —” But there was no time to discuss the matter; a second later, Mr. Weasley had appeared out of thin air at the gate, accompanied by Rufus Scrimgeour, instantly recognizable by his mane of grizzled hair. Q6 - What do you think of the Minister for Magic?“That law was created to stop wizards passing on Dark artifacts,” said Hermione, “and the Ministry is supposed to have powerful evidence that the deceased’s possessions are illegal before seizing them! Are you telling me that you thought Dumbledore was trying to pass us something cursed?” “Are you planning to follow a career in Magical Law, Miss Granger?” asked Scrimgeour.Q7 - Do you think Ministry members think Dumbledore was evil?However, Scrimgeour did not seem to be listening. He put his hand inside his cloak and drew out a drawstring pouch much larger than the one Hagrid had given Harry. From it, he removed a scroll of parchment which he unrolled and read aloud. “ ‘The Last Will and Testament of Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore’ . . . Yes, here we are. . . . ‘To Ronald Bilius Weasley, I leave my Deluminator, in the hope that he will remember me when he uses it.’ ” Scrimgeour took from the bag an object that Harry had seen before: It looked something like a silver cigarette lighter, but it had, he knew, the power to suck all light from a place, and restore it, with a simple click. Scrimgeour leaned forward and passed the Deluminator to Ron, who took it and turned it over in his fingers, looking stunned. “That is a valuable object,” said Scrimgeour, watching Ron. “It may even be unique. Certainly it is of Dumbledore’s own design. Why would he have left you an item so rare?” Q8 - Why did he leave this to Ron?“ ‘To Miss Hermione Jean Granger, I leave my copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, in the hope that she will find it entertaining and instructive.’ ” Scrimgeour now pulled out of the bag a small book that looked as ancient as the copy of Secrets of the Darkest Art upstairs. Its binding was stained and peeling in places. Hermione took it from Scrimgeour without a word. She held the book in her lap and gazed at it. Harry saw that the title was in runes; he had never learned to read them. As he looked, a tear splashed onto the embossed symbols. “Why do you think Dumbledore left you that book, Miss Granger?” asked Scrimgeour.Q9 - Why did he leave this to Hermione?“ ‘To Harry James Potter,’ ” he read, and Harry’s insides contracted with a sudden excitement, “ ‘I leave the Snitch he caught in his first Quidditch match at Hogwarts, as a reminder of the rewards of perseverance and skill.’ ” As Scrimgeour pulled out the tiny, walnut-sized golden ball, its silver wings fluttered rather feebly, and Harry could not help feeling a definite sense of anticlimax. “Why did Dumbledore leave you this Snitch?” asked Scrimgeour.Q10 - Why did he leave this to Harry?“Dumbledore left you a second bequest, Potter.” “What is it?” asked Harry, excitement rekindling. Scrimgeour did not bother to read from the will this time. “The sword of Godric Gryffindor,” he said. Q11 - Why did he leave this to Harry?“It — it was nothing,” he growled. “I . . . regret your attitude,” he said, looking Harry full in the face once more. “You seem to think that the Ministry does not desire what you — what Dumbledore — desired. We ought to be working together.” He nearly dropped the Snitch in surprise and excitement. Hermione was quite right. Engraved upon the smooth golden surface, where seconds before there had been nothing, were five words written in the thin, slanting handwriting that Harry recognized as Dumbledore’s: I open at the close. Q12 - What does this mean?“Ron, you know full well Harry and I were brought up by Muggles!” said Hermione. “We didn’t hear stories like that when we were little, we heard ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ and ‘Cinderella’ —” “What’s that, an illness?” asked Ron.Chapter 8 - The WeddingHarry 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 can all wear what you like, and I’ll put a full Body-Bind Curse on Mum until it’s all over.” Q2 - Who do you think Fred and George are going to marry?An odd symbol, rather like a triangular eye, glistened from a golden chain around his neck. “Sign?” said Harry, looking over at Xenophilius too. The strange triangular eye was gleaming on his chest. “Why? What’s wrong with it?” “Grindelvald. That is Grindelvald’s sign.” “Grindelwald . . . the Dark wizard Dumbledore defeated?” “Exactly.” Krum’s jaw muscles worked as if he were chewing, then he said, “Grindelvald killed many people, my grandfather, for instance. Of course, he vos never poverful in this country, they said he feared Dumbledore — and rightly, seeing how he vos finished. But this” — he pointed a finger at Xenophilius — “this is his symbol, I recognized it at vunce: Grindelvald carved it into a vall at Durmstrang ven he vos a pupil there. Some idiots copied it onto their books and clothes, thinking to shock, make themselves impressive — until those of us who had lost family members to Grindelvald taught them better.” Krum cracked his knuckles menacingly and glowered at Xenophilius. Harry felt perplexed. It seemed incredibly unlikely that Luna’s father was a supporter of the Dark Arts, and nobody else in the tent seemed to have recognized the triangular, runelike shape. Q3 - Victor nearly fights him because of this symbol…what is it?“Hello, Harry!” she said. “Er — my name’s Barny,” said Harry, flummoxed. “Oh, have you changed that too?” she asked brightly. “How did you know — ?” “Oh, just your expression,” she said. “Hmm. Made an excuse, did he? Not as gormless as he looks in press photographs, then. I’ve just been instructing the bride on how best to wear my tiara,” she shouted at Harry. “Goblin-made, you know, and been in my family for centuries. She’s a good-looking girl, but still — French. Well, well, find me a good seat, Ronald, I am a hundred and seven and I ought not to be on my feet too long.” Q4 - Is this tiara anything special?Harry did not answer. He pretended to watch the dancers, like Krum, but he was thinking hard. So Voldemort was looking for a celebrated wandmaker, and Harry did not have to search far for a reason: It was surely because of what Harry’s wand had done on the night that Voldemort had pursued him across the skies. The holly and phoenix feather wand had conquered the borrowed wand, something that Ollivander had not anticipated or understood. Would Gregorovitch know better? Was he truly more skilled than Ollivander, did he know secrets of wands that Ollivander did not? Q5 - Does Gregorivitch know secrets of wandlore that Olivander doesn’t?“Well, in that interview,” Harry went on, “Rita Skeeter hinted that Professor Dumbledore was involved in the Dark Arts when he was young.” “Don’t believe a word of it!” said Doge at once. “Not a word, Harry! Let nothing tarnish your memories of Albus Dumbledore!” Q6 - What’s the truth here?“Why did nobody ever see her, Elphias?” squawked Muriel. “Why did half of us never even know she existed, until they carried the coffin out of the house and held a funeral for her? Where was saintly Albus while Ariana was locked in the cellar? Off being brilliant at Hogwarts, and never mind what was going on in his own house!” “What d’you mean, locked in the cellar?” asked Harry. “What is this?” Doge looked wretched. Auntie Muriel cackled again and answered Harry. Doge looked to be on the verge of tears. Auntie Muriel, who seemed to be enjoying herself hugely, snapped her fingers for more champagne. Numbly Harry thought of how the Dursleys had once shut him up, locked him away, kept him out of sight, all for the crime of being a wizard. Had Dumbledore’s sister suffered the same fate in reverse: imprisoned for her lack of magic? And had Dumbledore truly left her to her fate while he went off to Hogwarts, to prove himself brilliant and talented?Q7 - Could this be true?“And I’ll tell you something else,” Muriel said, hiccuping slightly as she lowered her goblet. “I think Bathilda has spilled the beans to Rita Skeeter. All those hints in Skeeter’s interview about an important source close to the Dumbledores — goodness knows she was there all through the Ariana business, and it would fit!” Q8 - Is Bathilda Bagshot the source?“Bathilda Bagshot lives in Godric’s Hollow?” “Oh yes, she’s been there forever! The Dumbledores moved there after Percival was imprisoned, and she was their neighbor.” “The Dumbledores lived in Godric’s Hollow?” “Yes, Barry, that’s what I just said,” said Auntie Muriel testily. Harry felt drained, empty. Never once, in six years, had Dumbledore told Harry that they had both lived and lost loved ones in Godric’s Hollow. Why? Were Lily and James buried close to Dumbledore’s mother and sister? Had Dumbledore visited their graves, perhaps walked past Lily’s and James’s to do so? And he had never once told Harry . . . never bothered to say . . . Q9 - Is Dumbledore a good person?Harry did not know where to begin, but it did not matter. At that moment, something large and silver came falling through the canopy over the dance floor. Graceful and gleaming, the lynx landed lightly in the middle of the astonished dancers. Heads turned, as those nearest it froze absurdly in mid-dance. Then the Patronus’s mouth opened wide and it spoke in the loud, deep, slow voice of Kingsley Shacklebolt. “The Ministry has fallen. Scrimgeour is dead. They are coming.” 

Chapter 1 - The Dark Lord AscendingThe 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 the house and not outside it, no, not from others but from them, their bloody strife. We sing to you, dark gods beneath the earth. Now hear, you blissful powers underground — answer the call, send help. Bless the children, give them triumph now. Aeschylus, The Libation BearersDeath is but crossing the world, as friends do the seas; they live in one another still. For they must needs be present, that love and live in that which is omnipresent. In this divine glass they see face to face; and their converse is free, as well as pure. This is the comfort of friends, that though they may be said to die, yet their friendship and society are, in the best sense, ever present, because immortal. William Penn, More Fruits of Solitude Q1 - What do you think of the forward and dedication?The drawing room was full of silent people, sitting at a long and ornate table. The room’s usual furniture had been pushed carelessly up against the walls. Illumination came from a roaring fire beneath a handsome marble mantelpiece surmounted by a gilded mirror. Snape and Yaxley lingered for a moment on the threshold. As their eyes grew accustomed to the lack of light, they were drawn upward to the strangest feature of the scene: an apparently unconscious human figure hanging upside down over the table, revolving slowly as if suspended by an invisible rope, and reflected in the mirror and in the bare, polished surface of the table below. None of the people seated underneath this singular sight was looking at it except for a pale young man sitting almost directly below it. He seemed unable to prevent himself from glancing upward every minute or so.Q2 - What do you think of this scene?“Severus, here,” said Voldemort, indicating the seat on his immediate right. “Yaxley — beside Dolohov.” The two men took their allotted places. Most of the eyes around the table followed Snape, and it was to him that Voldemort spoke first. “So?” “My Lord, the Order of the Phoenix intends to move Harry Potter from his current place of safety on Saturday next, at nightfall.” The interest around the table sharpened palpably: Some stiffened, others fidgeted, all gazing at Snape and Voldemort. “Saturday . . . at nightfall,” repeated Voldemort. His red eyes fastened upon Snape’s black ones with such intensity that some of the watchers looked away, apparently fearful that they themselves would be scorched by the ferocity of the gaze. Snape, however, looked calmly back into Voldemort’s face and, after a moment or two, Voldemort’s lipless mouth curved into something like a smile. “Good. Very good. And this information comes —” “— from the source we discussed,” said Snape. Q3 - What is going on here and who is their source?Again, Voldemort looked up at the slowly revolving body as he went on, “I shall attend to the boy in person. There have been too many mistakes where Harry Potter is concerned. Some of them have been my own. That Potter lives is due more to my errors than to his triumphs.” “I have been careless, and so have been thwarted by luck and chance, those wreckers of all but the best-laid plans. But I know better now. I understand those things that I did not understand before. I must be the one to kill Harry Potter, and I shall be.” Q4 - Is Voldemort right here?At these words, seemingly in response to them, a sudden wail sounded, a terrible, drawn-out cry of misery and pain. Many of those at the table looked downward, startled, for the sound had seemed to issue from below their feet. “Wormtail,” said Voldemort, with no change in his quiet, thoughtful tone, and without removing his eyes from the revolving body above, “have I not spoken to you about keeping our prisoner quiet?”Q5 - Who is their prisoner?“As I was saying,” continued Voldemort, looking again at the tense faces of his followers, “I understand better now. I shall need, for instance, to borrow a wand from one of you before I go to kill Potter.” The faces around him displayed nothing but shock; he might have announced that he wanted to borrow one of their arms. Q6 - Why does he need to borrow one of their wands?“No higher pleasure,” repeated Voldemort, his head tilted a little to one side as he considered Bellatrix. “That means a great deal, Bellatrix, from you.” Her face flooded with color; her eyes welled with tears of delight. “My Lord knows I speak nothing but the truth!” “No higher pleasure . . . even compared with the happy event that, I hear, has taken place in your family this week?” She stared at him, her lips parted, evidently confused. “I don’t know what you mean, my Lord.” “I’m talking about your niece, Bellatrix. And yours, Lucius and Narcissa. She has just married the werewolf, Remus Lupin. You must be so proud.” Q7 - To Jenn’s point, why do they follow Voldemort?“You must prune yours, must you not, to keep it healthy? Cut away those parts that threaten the health of the rest.” “Yes, my Lord,” whispered Bellatrix, and her eyes swam with tears of gratitude again. “At the first chance!” “You shall have it,” said Voldemort. “And in your family, so in the world . . . we shall cut away the canker that infects us until only those of the true blood remain. . . .”Q8 - Is he talking about killing Lupin and Tonks?“For those of you who do not know, we are joined here tonight by Charity Burbage who, until recently, taught at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.”Q9 - Did Snape give up his coworker here?Nobody laughed this time: There was no mistaking the anger and contempt in Voldemort’s voice. For the third time, Charity Burbage revolved to face Snape. Tears were pouring from her eyes into her hair. Snape looked back at her, quite impassive, as she turned slowly away from him again. “Avada Kedavra.”Q10 - How evil is this scene?Chapter 2 - In MemoriamHarry 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 his godfather’s last gift except powdered glass, which clung to the deepest layer of debris like glittering grit. Q2 - Will this come back in the end of the story?For his part, Albus had arrived at Hogwarts under the burden of unwanted notoriety. Scarcely a year previously, his father, Percival, had been convicted of a savage and well-publicized attack upon three young Muggles. Albus never attempted to deny that his father (who was to die in Azkaban) had committed this crime; on the contrary, when I plucked up courage to ask him, he assured me that he knew his father to be guilty. Beyond that, Dumbledore refused to speak of the sad business, though many attempted to make him do so. Q3 - Is this true? Why didn’t Harry know anything about this?In a matter of months, however, Albus’s own fame had begun to eclipse that of his father. By the end of his first year he would never again be known as the son of a Muggle-hater, but as nothing more or less than the most brilliant student ever seen at the school. Q4 - Is this a realistic depiction of Albus? Can a first year be the best student in the school?When Albus and I left Hogwarts we intended to take the then-traditional tour of the world together, visiting and observing foreign wizards, before pursuing our separate careers. However, tragedy intervened. On the very eve of our trip, Albus’s mother, Kendra, died, leaving Albus the head, and sole breadwinner, of the family. I postponed my departure long enough to pay my respects at Kendra’s funeral, then left for what was now to be a solitary journey. With a younger brother and sister to care for, and little gold left to them, there could no longer be any question of Albus accompanying me. Q5 - Did you know Dumbledore had a sister?Though Ariana had been in poor health for a long time, the blow, coming so soon after the loss of their mother, had a profound effect on both of her brothers. All those closest to Albus — and I count myself one of that lucky number — agree that Ariana’s death, and Albus’s feeling of personal responsibility for it (though, of course, he was guiltless), left their mark upon him forevermore. Q6 - Why would Dumbledore feel personally responsible?He died as he lived: working always for the greater good and, to his last hour, as willing to stretch out a hand to a small boy with dragon pox as he was on the day that I met him. Q7 - What do you think of the line “for the greater good.”He had never thought to ask Dumbledore about his past. No doubt it would have felt strange, impertinent even, but after all, it had been common knowledge that Dumbledore had taken part in that legendary duel with Grindelwald, and Harry had not thought to ask Dumbledore what that had been like, nor about any of his other famous achievements. No, they had always discussed Harry, Harry’s past, Harry’s future, Harry’s plans . . . and it seemed to Harry now, despite the fact that his future was so dangerous and so uncertain, that he had missed irreplaceable opportunities when he had failed to ask Dumbledore more about himself, even though the only personal question he had ever asked his headmaster was also the only one he suspected that Dumbledore had not answered honestly: “What do you see when you look in the mirror?” “I? I see myself holding a pair of thick, woolen socks.”Q8 - What do you think he saw in the mirror?In person, Rita Skeeter is much warmer and softer than her famously ferocious quill-portraits might suggest. Greeting me in the hallway of her cozy home, she leads me straight into the kitchen for a cup of tea, a slice of pound cake and, it goes without saying, a steaming vat of freshest gossip. Q9 - Will any of this biography be true?Skeeter was certainly quick off the mark. Her nine-hundred-page book was completed a mere four weeks after Dumbledore’s mysterious death in June. But old Dodgy Doge can get off his high hippogriff, because I’ve had access to a source most journalists would swap their wands for, one who has never spoken in public before and who was close to Dumbledore during the most turbulent and disturbing phase of his youth.”Q10 - Who is this source?No, it’s the mother and the sister that intrigued me, and a little digging uncovered a positive nest of nastiness — but, as I say, you’ll have to wait for chapters nine to twelve for full details. All I can say now is, it’s no wonder Dumbledore never talked about how his nose got broken.” Q11 - Will any of this be true? What is she talking about here?It’s been called unhealthy, even sinister. . . . Q12 - How would you describe their relationship with each other?Harry sat down hard on the bed. The broken bit of mirror danced away from him; he picked it up and turned it over in his fingers, thinking, thinking of Dumbledore and the lies with which Rita Skeeter was defaming him. . . . A flash of brightest blue. Harry froze, his cut finger slipping on the jagged edge of the mirror again. He had imagined it, he must have done. He glanced over his shoulder, but the wall was a sickly peach color of Aunt Petunia’s choosing: There was nothing blue there for the mirror to reflect. He peered into the mirror fragment again, and saw nothing but his own bright green eye looking back at him. He had imagined it, there was no other explanation; imagined it, because he had been thinking of his dead headmaster. If anything was certain, it was that the bright blue eyes of Albus Dumbledore would never pierce him again. Q13 - What just happened?Chapter 3 - The Dursleys DepartingHarry pressed on remorselessly. “Once I’m seventeen, the protective charm that keeps me safe will break, and that exposes you as well as me. The Order is sure Voldemort will target you, whether to torture you to try and find out where I am, or because he thinks by holding you hostage I’d come and try to rescue you.”Q1 - What do you think of this?Q2 - Do you think the Dursleys are ridiculous? Do you have any sympathy for them?The prospect of parting — probably forever — from his aunt, uncle, and cousin was one that he was able to contemplate quite cheerfully, but there was nevertheless a certain awkwardness in the air. What did you say to one another at the end of sixteen years’ solid dislike? “Well, this is good-bye, then, boy.” He swung his right arm upward to shake Harry’s hand, but at the last moment seemed unable to face it, and merely closed his fist and began swinging it backward and forward like a metronome. “Ready, Diddy?” asked Aunt Petunia, fussily checking the clasp of her handbag so as to avoid looking at Harry altogether. Dudley did not answer, but stood there with his mouth slightly ajar, reminding Harry a little of the giant, Grawp. “Come along, then,” said Uncle Vernon. He had already reached the living room door when Dudley mumbled, “I don’t understand.” “What don’t you understand, popkin?” asked Aunt Petunia, looking up at her son. Dudley raised a large, hamlike hand to point at Harry. “Why isn’t he coming with us?” Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia froze where they stood, staring at Dudley as though he had just expressed a desire to become a ballerina. “What?” said Uncle Vernon loudly. “Why isn’t he coming too?” asked Dudley. “Well, he — he doesn’t want to,” said Uncle Vernon, turning to glare at Harry and adding, “You don’t want to, do you?” “Not in the slightest,” said Harry. “There you are,” Uncle Vernon told Dudley. “Now come on, we’re off.” He marched out of the room. They heard the front door open, but Dudley did not move and after a few faltering steps Aunt Petunia stopped too. “What now?” barked Uncle Vernon, reappearing in the doorway. It seemed that Dudley was struggling with concepts too difficult to put into words. After several moments of apparently painful internal struggle he said, “But where’s he going to go?” Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon looked at each other. It was clear that Dudley was frightening them. Hestia Jones broke the silence. “But . . . surely you know where your nephew is going?” she asked, looking bewildered. “Certainly we know,” said Vernon Dursley. “He’s off with some of your lot, isn’t he? Right, Dudley, let’s get in the car, you heard the man, we’re in a hurry.” Again, Vernon Dursley marched as far as the front door, but Dudley did not follow. “Off with some of our lot?” Hestia looked outraged. Harry had met this attitude before: Witches and wizards seemed stunned that his closest living relatives took so little interest in the famous Harry Potter. “It’s fine,” Harry assured her. “It doesn’t matter, honestly.” “Doesn’t matter?” repeated Hestia, her voice rising ominously. “Don’t these people realize what you’ve been through? What danger you are in? The unique position you hold in the hearts of the antiVoldemort movement?” “Er — no, they don’t,” said Harry. “They think I’m a waste of space, actually, but I’m used to —” “I don’t think you’re a waste of space.” If Harry had not seen Dudley’s lips move, he might not have believed it. As it was, he stared at Dudley for several seconds before accepting that it must have been his cousin who had spoken; for one thing, Dudley had turned red. Harry was embarrassed and astonished himself. “Well . . . er . . . thanks, Dudley.” Again, Dudley appeared to grapple with thoughts too unwieldy for expression before mumbling, “You saved my life.” “Not really,” said Harry. “It was your soul the dementor would have taken. . . .” He looked curiously at his cousin. They had had virtually no contact during this summer or last, as Harry had come back to Privet Drive so briefly and kept to his room so much. It now dawned on Harry, however, that the cup of cold tea on which he had trodden that morning might not have been a booby trap at all. Although rather touched, he was nevertheless quite relieved that Dudley appeared to have exhausted his ability to express his feelings. After opening his mouth once or twice more, Dudley subsided into scarletfaced silence.Q3 - What do you think of Dudley doing this? Aunt Petunia, whose face had been buried in her handkerchief, looked around at the sound. She did not seem to have expected to find herself alone with Harry. Hastily stowing her wet handkerchief into her pocket, she said, “Well — good-bye,” and marched toward the door without looking at him. “Good-bye,” said Harry. She stopped and looked back. For a moment Harry had the strangest feeling that she wanted to say something to him: She gave him an odd, tremulous look and seemed to teeter on the edge of speech, but then, with a little jerk of her head, she bustled out of the room after her husband and son. Q4 - What do you think she wanted to say to him?Chapter 4 - The Seven PottersQ1 - 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 spider or two. Those had been the days before he had known anything about his true identity; before he had found out how his parents had died or why such strange things often happened around him. But Harry could still remember the dreams that had dogged him, even in those days: confused dreams involving flashes of green light and once — Uncle Vernon had nearly crashed the car when Harry had recounted it — a flying motorbike . . . Q2 - Is there anything else about that flash of green light you think is important?Harry’s heart seemed to expand and glow at the sight: He felt incredibly fond of all of them, even Mundungus, whom he had tried to strangle the last time they had met. “You got married?” Harry yelped, looking from her to Lupin. “I’m sorry you couldn’t be there, Harry, it was very quiet.” “That’s brilliant, congrat —” “All right, all right, we’ll have time for a cozy catch-up later!”Q3 - What do you think of Lupin and Tonks getting married?“So this time, when you leave, there’ll be no going back, and the charm will break the moment you get outside its range. We’re choosing to break it early, because the alternative is waiting for You-KnowWho to come and seize you the moment you turn seventeen. Q4 - What would your plan be to get Harry out safely?From inside his cloak Moody now withdrew a flask of what looked like mud. There was no need for him to say another word; Harry understood the rest of the plan immediately. “No!” he said loudly, his voice ringing through the kitchen. “No way!” “I told them you’d take it like this,” said Hermione with a hint of complacency. “If you think I’m going to let six people risk their lives — !” “— because it’s the first time for all of us,” said Ron. “This is different, pretending to be me —” “Well, none of us really fancy it, Harry,” said Fred earnestly. “Imagine if something went wrong and we were stuck as specky, scrawny gits forever.” Harry did not smile. Q5 - Jenn you mentioned this is unsafe in that Harry doesn’t even know who they are? Are any of them using polyjuice here to cover themselves up?They might not be able to get at you or this house while your mother’s charm holds, but it’s about to break and they know the rough position of the place. Our only chance is to use decoys. Even You-Know-Who can’t split himself into seven.” Harry caught Hermione’s eye and looked away at once. “So, Potter — some of your hair, if you please.” Q6 - What would the harm be in telling everyone about Voldemort's Horcruxes?Harry dropped the hair into the mudlike liquid. The moment it made contact with its surface, the potion began to froth and smoke, then, all at once, it turned a clear, bright gold. Q7 - Any significance of it turning gold here?When he straightened up again, there were six Harry Potters gasping and panting in front of him. 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, examining his reflection in the kettle. “Bah,” said Fleur, checking herself in the microwave door, “Bill, don’t look at me — I’m ’ideous.” Q8 - How about the slight dig that Fleur gives here?Q9 - Who would you want guarding you if you were one of the seven potters?The broomstick spun to earth, but he just managed to seize the strap of his rucksack and the top of the cage as the motorbike swung the right way up again. A second’s relief, and then another burst of green light. The owl screeched and fell to the floor of the cage. “No — NO!” The motorbike zoomed forward; Harry glimpsed hooded Death Eaters scattering as Hagrid blasted through their circle. “Hedwig — Hedwig —” But the owl lay motionless and pathetic as a toy on the floor of her cage. Q10 - How do you feel about Hedwig’s death?Harry saw the strangely blank face of Stanley Shunpike — Stan — “Expelliarmus!” Harry yelled. “That’s him, it’s him, it’s the real one!” The hooded Death Eater’s shout reached Harry even above the thunder of the motorbike’s engine: Next moment, both pursuers had fallen back and disappeared from view. Q11 - Is Stan Shunpike an actual Death Eater?Q12 - Why has Expelliarmus become Harry’s calling card?Harry felt the bike drop a little, though the lights down on the ground still seemed remote as stars. Then the scar on his forehead burned like fire; as a Death Eater appeared on either side of the bike, two Killing Curses missed Harry by millimeters, cast from behind — And then Harry saw him. Voldemort was flying like smoke on the wind, without broomstick or thestral to hold him, his snakelike face gleaming out of the blackness, his white fingers raising his wand again —Q13 - How terrifying is this scene?It was over: He could not see or hear where Voldemort was; he glimpsed another Death Eater swooping out of the way and heard, “Avada —” As the pain from Harry’s scar forced his eyes shut, his wand acted of its own accord. He felt it drag his hand around like some great magnet, saw a spurt of golden fire through his half-closed eyelids, heard a crack and a scream of fury. The remaining Death Eater yelled; Voldemort screamed, “No!”: Somehow, Harry found his nose an inch from the dragon-fire button. He punched it with his wand-free hand and the bike shot more flames into the air, hurtling straight toward the ground. Q14 - How did this happen?He felt Voldemort before he saw him. Looking sideways, he stared into the red eyes and was sure they would be the last thing he ever saw: Voldemort preparing to curse him once more — And then Voldemort vanished. Harry looked down and saw Hagrid spread-eagled on the ground below him. He pulled hard at the handlebars to avoid hitting him, groped for the brake, but with an earsplitting, ground-trembling crash, he smashed into a muddy pond. Q15 - How good of an ending is this chapter and the title of the next…

Chapter 28 - The Flight of the PrinceQ1 - 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 sneering. “No Unforgivable Curses from you, Potter!” he shouted over the rushing of the flames, Hagrid’s yells, and the wild yelping of the trapped Fang. “You haven’t got the nerve or the ability —” “Incarc —” Harry roared, but Snape deflected the spell with an almost lazy flick of his arm. Q3 - Is Snape really an amazing wizard?“Fight back!” Harry screamed at him. “Fight back, you cowardly —” “Coward, did you call me, Potter?” shouted Snape. “Your father would never attack me unless it was four on one, what would you call him, I wonder?” “Sectum — !” Snape flicked his wand and the curse was repelled yet again; but Harry was mere feet away now and he could see Snape’s face clearly at last: He was no longer sneering or jeering; the blazing flames showed a face full of rage. Mustering all his powers of concentration, Harry thought, Levi — “No, Potter!” screamed Snape. “You dare use my own spells against me, Potter? It was I who invented them — I, the Half-Blood Prince! And you’d turn my inventions on me, like your filthy father, would you? I don’t think so . . . no!” Q4 - Thoughts on Snape being the Half-Blood Prince?“Kill me then,” panted Harry, who felt no fear at all, but only rage and contempt. “Kill me like you killed him, you coward —” “DON’T—” screamed Snape, and his face was suddenly demented, inhuman, as though he was in as much pain as the yelping, howling dog stuck in the burning house behind them — “CALL ME COWARD!”Q5 - Is Snape a coward?Harry heard Hagrid’s moan of pain and shock, but he did not stop; he walked slowly forward until he reached the place where Dumbledore lay and crouched down beside him. He had known there was no hope from the moment that the full Body-Bind Curse Dumbledore had placed upon him lifted, known that it could have happened only because its caster was dead, but there was still no preparation for seeing him here, spread-eagled, broken: the greatest wizard Harry had ever, or would ever, meet. Dumbledore’s eyes were closed; but for the strange angle of his arms and legs, he might have been sleeping. Harry reached out, straightened the half-moon spectacles upon the crooked nose, and wiped a trickle of blood from the mouth with his own sleeve. Then he gazed down at the wise old face and tried to absorb the enormous and incomprehensible truth: that never again would Dumbledore speak to him, never again could he help. . . . Q6 - Dumbledore is actually dead?To the Dark Lord I know I will be dead long before you read this but I want you to know that it was I who discovered your secret. I have stolen the real Horcrux and intend to destroy it as soon as I can. I face death in the hope that when you meet your match, you will be mortal once more. R.A.BQ7 - Theories on who RAB is?Q8 - Did Dumbledore die for nothing?Q9 - What is your favorite Dumbledore memory?Chapter 29 - The Phoenix LamentFear stirred in Harry’s chest again: He had forgotten the inert figures he had left behind. “Ginny, who else is dead?” “Don’t worry, none of us.” “But the Dark Mark — Malfoy said he stepped over a body —” “He stepped over Bill, but it’s all right, he’s alive.” There was something in her voice, however, that Harry knew boded ill. “Are you sure?” “Of course I’m sure . . . he’s a — a bit of a mess, that’s all. Greyback attacked him. Madam Pomfrey says he won’t — won’t look the same anymore. . . .”Q1 - Do you think Harry understands the cost of what this fight is all about?“No!” Lupin looked wildly from Ginny to Harry, as though hoping the latter might contradict her, but when Harry did not, Lupin collapsed into a chair beside Bill’s bed, his hands over his face. Harry had never seen Lupin lose control before; he felt as though he was intruding upon something private, indecent. He turned away and caught Ron’s eye instead, exchanging in silence a look that confirmed what Ginny had said. Q2 - Have you ever experienced grief like this?Gulping, Madam Pomfrey pressed her fingers to her mouth, her eyes wide. Somewhere out in the darkness, a phoenix was singing in a way Harry had never heard before: a stricken lament of terrible beauty. And Harry felt, as he had felt about phoenix song before, that the music was inside him, not without: It was his own grief turned magically to song that echoed across the grounds and through the castle windows. How long they all stood there, listening, he did not know, nor why it seemed to ease their pain a little to listen to the sound of their mourning, but it felt like a long time later that the hospital door opened again and Professor McGonagall entered the ward. Like all the rest, she bore marks of the recent battle: There were grazes on her face and her robes were ripped. “Snape,” repeated McGonagall faintly, falling into the chair. “We all wondered . . . but he trusted . . . always . . . Snape . . . I can’t believe it. . . .”Q3 - Do you think the professors knew better?Q4 - Is there anything about the story that the group is giving that is strange to you or hits you differently? Are there any clues in there?“Of course, it doesn’t matter how he looks. . . . It’s not r-really important . . . but he was a very handsome little b-boy . . . always very handsome . . . and he was g-going to be married!” “And what do you mean by zat?” said Fleur suddenly and loudly. “What do you mean, ‘ ’e was going to be married?’ ” Mrs. Weasley raised her tear-stained face, looking startled. “Well — only that —” “You theenk Bill will not wish to marry me anymore?” demanded Fleur. “You theenk, because of these bites, he will not love me?” “No, that’s not what I —” “Because ’e will!” said Fleur, drawing herself up to her full height and throwing back her long mane of silver hair. “It would take more zan a werewolf to stop Bill loving me!” “Well, yes, I’m sure,” said Mrs. Weasley, “but I thought perhaps — given how — how he —” “You thought I would not weesh to marry him? Or per’aps, you hoped?” said Fleur, her nostrils flaring. “What do I care how he looks? I am good-looking enough for both of us, I theenk! All these scars show is zat my husband is brave! And I shall do zat!” she added fiercely, pushing Mrs. Weasley aside and snatching the ointment from her. Q5 - How cool is Fleur?“You see!” said a strained voice. Tonks was glaring at Lupin. “She still wants to marry him, even though he’s been bitten! She doesn’t care!” “It’s different,” said Lupin, barely moving his lips and looking suddenly tense. “Bill will not be a full werewolf. The cases are completely —” “But I don’t care either, I don’t care!” said Tonks, seizing the front of Lupin’s robes and shaking them. “I’ve told you a million times. . . .” And the meaning of Tonks’s Patronus and her mouse-colored hair, and the reason she had come running to find Dumbledore when she had heard a rumor someone had been attacked by Greyback, all suddenly became clear to Harry; it had not been Sirius that Tonks had fallen in love with after all. “And I’ve told you a million times,” said Lupin, refusing to meet her eyes, staring at the floor, “that I am too old for you, too poor . . . too dangerous. . . .” “I’ve said all along you’re taking a ridiculous line on this, Remus,” said Mrs. Weasley over Fleur’s shoulder as she patted her on the back. “I am not being ridiculous,” said Lupin steadily. “Tonks deserves somebody young and whole.” “But she wants you,” said Mr. Weasley, with a small smile. “And after all, Remus, young and whole men do not necessarily remain so.” Q6 - What do you think of Lupin and Tonks?“Harry,” she said, “I would like to know what you and Professor Dumbledore were doing this evening when you left the school.” “I can’t tell you that, Professor,” said Harry. Q7 - Why doesn’t Harry tell more people about this?“Dunno,” said Harry, lying back on his bed fully clothed and staring blankly upwards. He felt no curiosity at all about R.A.B.: He doubted that he would ever feel curious again. As he lay there, he became aware suddenly that the grounds were silent. Fawkes had stopped singing. And he knew, without knowing how he knew it, that the phoenix had gone, had left Hogwarts for good, just as Dumbledore had left the school, had left the world . . . had left Harry. Chapter 30 - The White TombThere might still be as many as four Horcruxes out there somewhere, and each would need to be found and eliminated before there was even a possibility that Voldemort could be killed. He kept reciting their names to himself, as though by listing them he could bring them within reach: the locket . . . the cup . . . the snake . . . something of Gryffindor’s or Ravenclaw’s . . . the locket . . . the cup . . . the snake . . . something of Gryffindor’s or Ravenclaw’s . . . Q1 - Any further ideas on what the Horcruxes could be?“I should’ve shown the book to Dumbledore,” said Harry. “All that time he was showing me how Voldemort was evil even when he was at school, and I had proof Snape was too —” Q2 - If Harry could have Dumbledore back for one question, what question should he ask him?The crowd continued to swell; with a great rush of affection for both of them, Harry saw Neville being helped into a seat by Luna. Neville and Luna alone of the D.A. had responded to Hermione’s summons the night that Dumbledore had died, and Harry knew why: They were the ones who had missed the D.A. most . . . probably the ones who had checked their coins regularly in the hope that there would be another meeting. Q3 - What do you think of Umbridge at the funeral?And then, without warning, it swept over him, the dreadful truth, more completely and undeniably than it had until now. Dumbledore was dead, gone. . . . He clutched the cold locket in his hand so tightly that it hurt, but he could not prevent hot tears spilling from his eyes: He looked away from Ginny and the others and stared out over the lake, toward the forest, as the little man in black droned on. . . . There was movement among the trees. The centaurs had come to pay their respects too. They did not move into the open but Harry saw them standing quite still, half hidden in shadow, watching the wizards, their bows hanging at their sides. And Harry remembered his first nightmarish trip into the forest, the first time he had ever encountered the thing that was then Voldemort, and how he had faced him, and how he and Dumbledore had discussed fighting a losing battle not long thereafter. It was important, Dumbledore said, to fight, and fight again, and keep fighting, for only then could evil be kept at bay, though never quite eradicated. . . . Q4 - Will Harry win this fight?And Harry saw very clearly as he sat there under the hot sun how people who cared about him had stood in front of him one by one, his mother, his father, his godfather, and finally Dumbledore, all determined to protect him; but now that was over. He could not let anybody else stand between him and Voldemort; he must abandon forever the illusion he ought to have lost at the age of one, that the shelter of a parent’s arms meant that nothing could hurt him. There was no waking from his nightmare, no comforting whisper in the dark that he was safe really, that it was all in his imagination; the last and greatest of his protectors had died, and he was more alone than he had ever been before. “Ginny, listen . . .” he said very quietly, as the buzz of conversation grew louder around them and people began to get to their feet, “I can’t be involved with you anymore. We’ve got to stop seeing each other. We can’t be together.” She said, with an oddly twisted smile, “It’s for some stupid, noble reason, isn’t it?” “It’s been like . . . like something out of someone else’s life, these last few weeks with you,” said Harry. “But I can’t . . . we can’t . . . I’ve got things to do alone now.”Q5 - You think Harry is right to break up with Ginny?“I’m not coming back even if it does reopen,” said Harry. Ron gaped at him, but Hermione said sadly, “I knew you were going to say that. But then what will you do?” “I’m going back to the Dursleys’ once more, because Dumbledore wanted me to,” said Harry. “But it’ll be a short visit, and then I’ll be gone for good.” Q6 - What is Harry going to do?“We’ll be there, Harry,” said Ron. “What?” “At your aunt and uncle’s house,” said Ron. “And then we’ll go with you wherever you’re going.” “No —” said Harry quickly; he had not counted on this, he had meant them to understand that he was undertaking this most dangerous journey alone. “You said to us once before,” said Hermione quietly, “that there was time to turn back if we wanted to. We’ve had time, haven’t we? “We’re with you whatever happens,” said Ron. “But mate, you’re going to have to come round my mum and dad’s house before we do anything else, even Godric’s Hollow.” “Why?” “Bill and Fleur’s wedding, remember?” Harry looked at him, startled; the idea that anything as normal as a wedding could still exist seemed incredible and yet wonderful. “Yeah, we shouldn’t miss that,” he said finally. His hand closed automatically around the fake Horcrux, but in spite of everything, in spite of the dark and twisting path he saw stretching ahead for himself, in spite of the final meeting with Voldemort he knew must come, whether in a month, in a year, or in ten, he felt his heart lift at the thought that there was still one last golden day of peace left to enjoy with Ron and Hermione. Q7 - How’d you like this book?Q8 - What is in store for the group in the future?Q9 - Rank the books so far?

Chapter 25 - The Seer OverheardHarry found himself newly and happily impervious to gossip over the next few weeks. After all, it made a very nice change to be talked about because of something that was making him happier than he could remember being for a very long time, rather than because he had been involved in horrific scenes of Dark Magic. Q1 - What is the happiest you’ve been in recent memory?“Well, why not? Harry, there aren’t any real princes in the Wizarding world! It’s either a nickname, a made-up title somebody’s given themselves, or it could be their actual name, couldn’t it? No, listen! If, say, her father was a wizard whose surname was Prince, and her mother was a Muggle, then that would make her a ‘halfblood Prince’!” Q2 - Could Hermione be right here?“The headmaster has intimated that he would prefer fewer visits from me,” she said coldly. “I am not one to press my company upon those who do not value it. If Dumbledore chooses to ignore the warnings the cards show —” Her bony hand closed suddenly around Harry’s wrist. “Again and again, no matter how I lay them out —” And she pulled a card dramatically from underneath her shawls. “— the lightning-struck tower,” she whispered. “Calamity. Disaster. Coming nearer all the time . . .” Q3 - What is she talking about here?I must confess that, at first, I thought he seemed ill-disposed toward Divination . . . and I remember I was starting to feel a little odd, I had not eaten much that day . . . but then . . .” And now Harry was paying attention properly for the first time, for he knew what had happened then: Professor Trelawney had made the prophecy that had altered the course of his whole life, the prophecy about him and Voldemort. “. . . but then we were rudely interrupted by Severus Snape!” It was Snape who had overheard the prophecy. It was Snape who had carried the news of the prophecy to Voldemort. Snape and Peter Pettigrew together had sent Voldemort hunting after Lily and James and their son. . . . Q4 - What do you think about Snape interrupting?Q5 - Why did Dumbledore hire Snape?“Professor Snape made a terrible mistake. He was still in Lord Voldemort’s employ on the night he heard the first half of Professor Trelawney’s prophecy. Naturally, he hastened to tell his master what he had heard, for it concerned his master most deeply. But he did not know — he had no possible way of knowing — which boy Voldemort would hunt from then onward, or that the parents he would destroy in his murderous quest were people that Professor Snape knew, that they were your mother and father —” “You have no idea of the remorse Professor Snape felt when he realized how Lord Voldemort had interpreted the prophecy, Harry. I believe it to be the greatest regret of his life and the reason that he returned —” “But he’s a very good Occlumens, isn’t he, sir?” said Harry, whose voice was shaking with the effort of keeping it steady. “And isn’t Voldemort convinced that Snape’s on his side, even now? Professor . . . how can you be sure Snape’s on our side?” Dumbledore did not speak for a moment; he looked as though he was trying to make up his mind about something. At last he said, “I am sure. I trust Severus Snape completely.” Q6 - Why does he trust Snape? And why does he say Snape regrets it?“I . . . they’re up to something!” said Harry, and his hands curled into fists as he said it. “Professor Trelawney was just in the Room of Requirement, trying to hide her sherry bottles, and she heard Malfoy whooping, celebrating! He’s trying to mend something dangerous in there and if you ask me, he’s fixed it at last and you’re about to just walk out of school without —” “Enough,” said Dumbledore. He said it quite calmly, and yet Harry fell silent at once; he knew that he had finally crossed some invisible line. “Do you think that I have once left the school unprotected during my absences this year? I have not. Tonight, when I leave, there will again be additional protection in place. Please do not suggest that I do not take the safety of my students seriously, Harry.” Q7 - What did Draco just do?“If I tell you to hide, you will do so?” “Yes.” “If I tell you to flee, you will obey?” “Yes.” “If I tell you to leave me and save yourself, you will do as I tell you? “I —” “Harry?” They looked at each other for a moment. “Yes, sir.”Q8 - Is this stuff actually going to happen?“No!” said Hermione, as Ron unwrapped the tiny little bottle of golden potion, looking awestruck. “We don’t want it, you take it, who knows what you’re going to be facing?” “I’ll be fine, I’ll be with Dumbledore,” said Harry. “I want to know you lot are okay. . . . Don’t look like that, Hermione, I’ll see you later. . . .”Harry turned. At once, there was that horrible sensation that he was being squeezed through a thick rubber tube; he could not draw breath, every part of him was being compressed almost past endurance and then, just when he thought he must suffocate, the invisible bands seemed to burst open, and he was standing in cool darkness, breathing in lungfuls of fresh, salty air. Q9 - What is going to happen in the cave?Chapter 26 - The CaveHe 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, harsh view, the sea and the rock unrelieved by any tree or sweep of grass or sand. “What do you think?” asked Dumbledore. He might have been asking Harry’s opinion on whether it was a good site for a picnic. Q1 - What do you think of Dumbledore and Harry’s interactions?I imagine that Riddle climbed down; magic would have served better than ropes. And he brought two small children with him, probably for the pleasure of terrorizing them. I think the journey alone would have done it, don’t you?” Q2 - Shouldn’t Riddle have been found out with underage magic? What happened here?“Yes, this is the place,” said Dumbledore. “How can you tell?” Harry spoke in a whisper. “It has known magic,” said Dumbledore simply….“Here,” he said. “We go on through here. The entrance is concealed.” Harry did not ask how Dumbledore knew. He had never seen a wizard work things out like this, simply by looking and touching; but Harry had long since learned that bangs and smoke were more often the marks of ineptitude than expertise. Q3 - How do you sense magic?Q4 - How good of a wizard is Dumbledore?“You are very kind, Harry,” said Dumbledore, now passing the tip of his wand over the deep cut he had made in his own arm, so that it healed instantly, just as Snape had healed Malfoy’s wounds. “But your blood is worth more than mine. Ah, that seems to have done the trick, doesn’t it?Harry had not expected this, but cleared his throat and said loudly, wand aloft, “Accio Horcrux!” With a noise like an explosion, something very large and pale erupted out of the dark water some twenty feet away; before Harry could see what it was, it had vanished again with a crashing splash that made great, deep ripples on the mirrored surface. Harry leapt backward in shock and hit the wall; his heart was still thundering as he turned to Dumbledore. “What was that?” “Something, I think, that is ready to respond should we attempt to seize the Horcrux.” Harry looked back at the water. The surface of the lake was once more shining black glass: The ripples had vanished unnaturally fast; Harry’s heart, however, was still pounding. Q5 - How chilling is this?“I do not think you will count, Harry: You are underage and unqualified. Voldemort would never have expected a sixteen-year-old to reach this place: I think it unlikely that your powers will register compared to mine.” These words did nothing to raise Harry’s morale; perhaps Dumbledore knew it, for he added, “Voldemort’s mistake, Harry, Voldemort’s mistake . . . Age is foolish and forgetful when it underestimates youth. . . . Now, you first this time, and be careful not to touch the water.” And then Harry saw it, marble white, floating inches below the surface. “Professor!” he said, and his startled voice echoed loudly over the silent water. “Harry?” “I think I saw a hand in the water — a human hand!” “Yes, I am sure you did,” said Dumbledore calmly. Harry stared down into the water, looking for the vanished hand, and a sick feeling rose in his throat. “So that thing that jumped out of the water — ?” But Harry had his answer before Dumbledore could reply; the wandlight had slid over a fresh patch of water and showed him, this time, a dead man lying faceup inches beneath the surface, his open eyes misted as though with cobwebs, his hair and his robes swirling around him like smoke. Q6 - What do you think about Voldemort’s protections?Q7 - Who’s bodies are these?“There is nothing to be feared from a body, Harry, any more than there is anything to be feared from the darkness. Lord Voldemort, who of course secretly fears both, disagrees. But once again he reveals his own lack of wisdom. It is the unknown we fear when we look upon death and darkness, nothing more.” “Lord Voldemort would not want to kill the person who reached this island.” Harry couldn’t believe it. Was this more of Dumbledore’s insane determination to see good in everyone? “Sir,” said Harry, trying to keep his voice reasonable, “sir, this is Voldemort we’re —” “I’m sorry, Harry; I should have said, he would not want to immediately kill the person who reached this island,” Dumbledore corrected himself. “He would want to keep them alive long enough to find out how they managed to penetrate so far through his defenses and, most importantly of all, why they were so intent upon emptying the basin. Do not forget that Lord Voldemort believes that he alone knows about his Horcruxes.” Q8 - Who else knows?“Undoubtedly,” he said, finally, “this potion must act in a way that will prevent me taking the Horcrux. It might paralyze me, cause me to forget what I am here for, create so much pain I am distracted, or render me incapable in some other way. This being the case, Harry, it will be your job to make sure I keep drinking, even if you have to tip the potion into my protesting mouth. You understand?” Their eyes met over the basin, each pale face lit with that strange, green light. Harry did not speak. Was this why he had been invited along — so that he could force-feed Dumbledore a potion that might cause him unendurable pain? “You remember,” said Dumbledore, “the condition on which I brought you with me?” Harry hesitated, looking into the blue eyes that had turned green in the reflected light of the basin. “But what if — ?” “You swore, did you not, to follow any command I gave you?” “Yes, but —” “I warned you, did I not, that there might be danger?” “Yes,” said Harry, “but —” “Well, then,” said Dumbledore, shaking back his sleeves once more and raising the empty goblet, “you have my orders.” “Why can’t I drink the potion instead?” asked Harry desperately. “Because I am much older, much cleverer, and much less valuable,” said Dumbledore. “Once and for all, Harry, do I have your word that you will do all in your power to make me keep drinking?” “Couldn’t — ?” “Do I have it?” “But —” “Your word, Harry.” “I — all right, but —” Before Harry could make any further protest, Dumbledore lowered the crystal goblet into the potion. For a split second, Harry hoped that he would not be able to touch the potion with the goblet, but the crystal sank into the surface as nothing else had; when the glass was full to the brim, Dumbledore lifted it to his mouth. “Your good health, Harry.”Q9 - Should Harry have drunk this?And obediently, Dumbledore drank, as though it was an antidote Harry offered him, but upon draining the goblet, he sank to his knees, shaking uncontrollably. “It’s all my fault, all my fault,” he sobbed. “Please make it stop, I know I did wrong, oh please make it stop and I’ll never, never again . . .” Dumbledore began to cower as though invisible torturers surrounded him; his flailing hand almost knocked the refilled goblet from Harry’s trembling hands as he moaned, “Don’t hurt them, don’t hurt them, please, please, it’s my fault, hurt me instead . . .” Q10 - What is Dumbledore seeing here?“Drink this, Professor. Drink this. . . .” Dumbledore drank, and no sooner had he finished than he yelled, “KILL ME!” “This — this one will!” gasped Harry. “Just drink this . . . It’ll be over . . . all over!” Dumbledore gulped at the goblet, drained every last drop, and then, with a great, rattling gasp, rolled over onto his face. “No!” shouted Harry, who had stood to refill the goblet again; instead he dropped the cup into the basin, flung himself down beside Dumbledore, and heaved him over onto his back; Dumbledore’s glasses were askew, his mouth agape, his eyes closed. “No,” said Harry, shaking Dumbledore, “no, you’re not dead, you said it wasn’t poison, wake up, wake up — Rennervate!” he cried, his wand pointing at Dumbledore’s chest; there was a flash of red light but nothing happened. “Rennervate — sir — please —” Dumbledore’s eyelids flickered; Harry’s heart leapt. “Sir, are you — ?” “Water,” croaked Dumbledore.The goblet filled and emptied once more. And now Dumbledore’s breathing was fading. His brain whirling in panic, Harry knew, instinctively, the only way left to get water, because Voldemort had planned it so . . . Q11 - How sick is Voldemort?Q12 - Could you have done what Harry is doing?And pulling Dumbledore’s uninjured arm around his shoulders, Harry guided his headmaster back around the lake, bearing most of his weight. “The protection was . . . after all . . . well-designed,” said Dumbledore faintly. “One alone could not have done it. . . . You did well, very well, Harry. . . .” “It’s going to be all right, sir,” Harry said over and over again, more worried by Dumbledore’s silence than he had been by his weakened voice. “We’re nearly there. . . . I can Apparate us both back. . . . Don’t worry. . . .” “I am not worried, Harry,” said Dumbledore, his voice a little stronger despite the freezing water. “I am with you.” Q13 - How intense was this chapter?Q14 - If the cave was protected like this, was it the same for the Gaunt shack and all the other horcruxes?Chapter 27 - The Lightning Struck Tower“What has happened?” asked Dumbledore. “Rosmerta, what’s wrong?” “The — the Dark Mark, Albus.” And she pointed into the sky, in the direction of Hogwarts. Dread flooded Harry at the sound of the words. . . . He turned and looked. There it was, hanging in the sky above the school: the blazing green skull with a serpent tongue, the mark Death Eaters left behind whenever they had entered a building . . . wherever they had murdered. . . . Q1 - Dumbledore is exhausted here, what’s the tiredest you’ve ever been?Harry hurried over to the door leading to the spiral staircase, but his hand had only just closed upon the iron ring of the door when he heard running footsteps on the other side. He looked around at Dumbledore, who gestured him to retreat. Harry backed away, drawing his wand as he did so. The door burst open and somebody erupted through it and shouted, “Expelliarmus!” Harry’s body became instantly rigid and immobile, and he felt himself fall back against the tower wall, propped like an unsteady statue, unable to move or speak. He could not understand how it had happened — Expelliarmus was not a Freezing Charm — Then, by the light of the Mark, he saw Dumbledore’s wand flying in an arc over the edge of the ramparts and understood. . . . Dumbledore had wordlessly immobilized Harry, and the second he had taken to perform the spell had cost him the chance of defending himself. Q2 - Why did Dumbledore do this to Harry?Q3 - What do you think of Draco disarming Dumbledore? Draco Malfoy did nothing but stare at Albus Dumbledore, who, incredibly, smiled. “Draco, Draco, you are not a killer.” “How do you know?” said Malfoy at once. “But why? I don’t think you will kill me, Draco. Killing is not nearly as easy as the innocent believe. . . . So tell me, while we wait for your friends . . . how did you smuggle them in here? It seems to have taken you a long time to work out how to do it.” Q4 - What do you think of Dumbledore’s attitude here?“I tried, Draco. Professor Snape has been keeping watch over you on my orders —” “He hasn’t been doing your orders, he promised my mother —” “Of course that is what he would tell you, Draco, but —” “He’s a double agent, you stupid old man, he isn’t working for you, you just think he is!” “We must agree to differ on that, Draco. It so happens that I trust Professor Snape —” “Well, you’re losing your grip, then!” sneered Malfoy.Q5 - How much does it hurt to hear these words?“Someone’s dead,” said Malfoy, and his voice seemed to go up an octave as he said it. “One of your people . . . I don’t know who, it was dark. . . . I stepped over the body. . . . I was supposed to be waiting up here when you got back, only your Phoenix lot got in the way. . . .” Q6 - Has someone actually died?“Come over to the right side, Draco, and we can hide you more completely than you can possibly imagine. What is more, I can send members of the Order to your mother tonight to hide her likewise. Your father is safe at the moment in Azkaban. . . . When the time comes, we can protect him too. Come over to the right side, Draco . . . you are not a killer. . . .” Malfoy stared at Dumbledore. “But I got this far, didn’t I?” he said slowly. “They thought I’d die in the attempt, but I’m here . . . and you’re in my power. . . . I’m the one with the wand. . . . You’re at my mercy. . . .” “No, Draco,” said Dumbledore quietly. “It is my mercy, and not yours, that matters now.” Q7 - Is Malfoy redeemable?“We’ve got a problem, Snape,” said the lumpy Amycus, whose eyes and wand were fixed alike upon Dumbledore, “the boy doesn’t seem able —” But somebody else had spoken Snape’s name, quite softly. “Severus . . .” The sound frightened Harry beyond anything he had experienced all evening. For the first time, Dumbledore was pleading. Snape said nothing, but walked forward and pushed Malfoy roughly out of the way. The three Death Eaters fell back without a word. Even the werewolf seemed cowed. Snape gazed for a moment at Dumbledore, and there was revulsion and hatred etched in the harsh lines of his face. “Severus . . . please . . .” Snape raised his wand and pointed it directly at Dumbledore. “Avada Kedavra!”Q8 - How evil is Snape?

Chapter 21 - The Unknowable RoomHarry fully expected to receive low marks on his, because he had disagreed with Snape on the best way to tackle Dementors, but he did not care: Slughorn’s memory was the most important thing to him now.Q1 - How do you think Snape takes on dementors? And is it better than Harry’s?‘It’s one of Fred and George’s Spell-Checking ones … but I think the charm must be wearing off …’ ‘Yes, it must,’ said Hermione, pointing at the title of his essay, ‘because we were asked how we’d deal with Dementors, not “Dugbogs”, and I don’t remember you changing your name to “Roonil Wazlib”, either.’ ‘Ah, no!’ said Ron, staring horror-struck at the parchment. ‘Don’t say I’ll have to write the whole thing out again!’ ‘It’s OK, we can fix it,’ said Hermione, pulling the essay towards her and taking out her wand. ‘I love you, Hermione,’ said Ron, sinking back in his chair, rubbing his eyes wearily.Q2 - Is this the first time Ron has said “I love you” to Hermione?Q3 - What is Malfoy doing in the Room of Requirement?‘God, I’ve been stupid,’ he said quietly. ‘It’s obvious, isn’t it? There was a great vat of it down in the dungeon … he could’ve nicked some any time during that lesson …’ ‘Nicked what?’ said Ron. ‘Polyjuice Potion. He stole some of the Polyjuice Potion Slughorn showed us in our first Potions lesson … there aren’t a whole variety of students standing guard for Malfoy … it’s just Crabbe and Goyle as usual … yeah, it all fits!’ Q4 - Is Harry (therefore Danny) right?Q5 - Do you ever remember when a teacher embarrassed you?‘Well, what Harry said is the most useful if we’re trying to tell them apart!’ said Ron. ‘When we come face to face with one down a dark alley we’re going to be having a shufti to see if it’s solid, aren’t we, we’re not going to be asking, “Excuse me, are you the imprint of a departed soul?”‘When you say you had lots in common,’ said Ron, sounding rather amused now, ‘d’you mean he lives in an S-bend, too?’ ‘No,’ said Myrtle defiantly, her voice echoing loudly around the old tiled bathroom. ‘I mean he’s sensitive, people bully him, too, and he feels lonely and hasn’t got anybody to talk to, and he’s not afraid to show his feelings and cry!’Q6 - Who is Myrtle talking about here?Q7 - Why was Tonks going to see Dumbledore?Q8 - Was she in love with Sirius?Chapter 22 - After the BurialQ1 - What do you think of Hagrid asking the trio to come out after dusk to the burial?‘Look, Potions will be almost empty this afternoon, with us all off doing our tests … try and soften Slughorn up a bit then!’ ‘Fifty-seventh time lucky, you think?’ said Harry bitterly. ‘Lucky,’ said Ron suddenly. ‘Harry, that’s it – get lucky!’ ‘What d’you mean?’ ‘Use your lucky potion!’ ‘Ron, that’s – that’s it!’ said Hermione, sounding stunned. ‘Of course! Why didn’t I think of it?’Q2 - Is this the best way to get the memory?Q3 - What do you think of Harry’s Euphoria potion?Harry took out the rolled-up socks at the bottom of his trunk and extracted the tiny, gleaming bottle. ‘Well, here goes,’ said Harry, and he raised the little bottle and took a carefully measured gulp. ‘What does it feel like?’ whispered Hermione. Harry did not answer for a moment. Then, slowly but surely, an exhilarating sense of infinite opportunity stole through him; he felt as though he could have done anything, anything at all … and getting the memory from Slughorn seemed suddenly not only possible, but positively easy …Q4 - What would you use Liquid Luck on?Getting through the portrait hole was simple; as he approached it, Ginny and Dean came through it and Harry was able to slip between them. As he did so, he brushed accidentally against Ginny. ‘Don’t push me, please, Dean,’ she said, sounding annoyed. ‘You’re always doing that, I can get through perfectly well on my own …’Q5 - Was Dean being chivalrous or annoying?After an hour or so, Hagrid and Slughorn began making extravagant toasts: to Hogwarts, to Dumbledore, to elf-made wine and to – ‘Harry Potter!’ bellowed Hagrid, slopping some of his fourteenth bucket of wine down his chin as he drained it. ‘Yes, indeed,’ cried Slughorn a little thickly, ‘Parry Otter, the Chosen Boy Who – well – something of that sort,’ he mumbled, and drained his mug, too.‘But she didn’t move. Dad was already dead, but she didn’t want me to go too. She tried to plead with Voldemort … but he just laughed …’ ‘That’s enough!’ said Slughorn suddenly, raising a shaking hand. ‘Really, my dear boy, enough … I’m an old man … I don’t need to hear … I don’t want to hear …’ ‘I forgot,’ lied Harry, Felix Felicis leading him on. ‘You liked her, didn’t you?’ ‘Liked her?’ said Slughorn, his eyes brimming with tears once more. ‘I don’t imagine anyone who met her wouldn’t have liked her … very brave … very funny … it was the most horrible thing …’ ‘But you won’t help her son,’ said Harry. ‘She gave me her life, but you won’t give me a memory.’Q6 - Is there any new info you gained from the Lily story?‘Be brave like my mother, Professor …’‘You’re a good boy,’ said Professor Slughorn, tears trickling down his fat cheeks into his walrus moustache. ‘And you’ve got her eyes … just don’t think too badly of me once you’ve seen it …’Q7 - What will this memory tell them?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 could do it!’‘Well,’ said Slughorn, not looking at Riddle, but fiddling with the ribbon on top of his box of crystallised pineapple, ‘well, it can’t hurt to give you an overview, of course. Just so that you understand the term. A Horcrux is the word used for an object in which a person has concealed part of their soul.’ ‘I don’t quite understand how that works, though, sir,’ said Riddle. His voice was carefully controlled, but Harry could sense his excitement. ‘Well, you split your soul, you see,’ said Slughorn, ‘and hide part of it in an object outside the body. Then, even if one’s body is attacked or destroyed, one cannot die, for part of the soul remains earthbound and undamaged. But, of course, existence in such a form …’ Q1 - What do you think of Horcruxes now?‘How do you split your soul?’ ‘Well,’ said Slughorn uncomfortably, ‘you must understand that the soul is supposed to remain intact and whole. Splitting it is an act of violation, it is against nature.’‘Yes, sir,’ said Riddle. ‘What I don’t understand, though – just out of curiosity – I mean, would one Horcrux be much use? Can you only split your soul once? Wouldn’t it be better, make you stronger, to have your soul in more pieces? I mean, for instance, isn’t seven the most powerfully magical number, wouldn’t seven –?’ ‘Merlin’s beard, Tom!’ yelped Slughorn. ‘Seven! Isn’t it bad enough to think of killing one person? And in any case … bad enough to divide the soul … but to rip it into seven pieces …’Q2 - Do you think Voldemort ripped his soul into seven pieces?‘But now, Harry, armed with this information, the crucial memory you have succeeded in procuring for us, we are closer to the secret of finishing Lord Voldemort than anyone has ever been before. You heard him, Harry: “Wouldn’t it be better, make you stronger, to have your soul in more pieces … isn’t seven the most powerfully magical number …” Isn’t seven the most powerfully magical number. Yes, I think the idea of a seven-part soul would greatly appeal to Lord Voldemort.’ ‘He made seven Horcruxes?’ said Harry, horror-struck, while several of the portraits on the walls made similar noises of shock and outrage. ‘But they could be anywhere in the world – hidden – buried or invisible –’ ‘I am glad to see you appreciate the magnitude of the problem,’ said Dumbledore calmly. ‘But firstly, no, Harry, not seven Horcruxes: six. The seventh part of his soul, however maimed, resides inside his regenerated body. That was the part of him that lived a spectral existence for so many years during his exile; without that, he has no self at all. That seventh piece of soul will be the last that anybody wishing to kill Voldemort must attack – the piece that lives in his body.’Q3 - Is Dumbledore right?‘But the six Horcruxes, then,’ said Harry, a little desperately, ‘how are we supposed to find them?’ ‘You are forgetting … you have already destroyed one of them. And I have destroyed another.’ ‘You have?’ said Harry eagerly. ‘Yes indeed,’ said Dumbledore, and he raised his blackened, burned-looking hand. ‘The ring, Harry. Marvolo’s ring. And a terrible curse there was upon it too. Had it not been – forgive me the lack of seemly modesty – for my own prodigious skill, and for Professor Snape’s timely action when I returned to Hogwarts, desperately injured, I might not have lived to tell the tale. However, a withered hand does not seem an unreasonable exchange for a seventh of Voldemort’s soul. The ring is no longer a Horcrux.’Q4 - What AND where are the other Horcruxes?Q5 - Does this make you trust Snape a bit more?‘He seems to have reserved the process of making Horcruxes for particularly significant deaths. You would certainly have been that. He believed that in killing you, he was destroying the danger the prophecy had outlined. He believed he was making himself invincible. I am sure that he was intending to make his final Horcrux with your death.Q6 - Did he have an object with him then and what would he have used for a Horcrux after killing Harry?‘Yes, I think so,’ said Dumbledore. ‘Without his Horcruxes, Voldemort will be a mortal man with a maimed and diminished soul. Never forget, though, that while his soul may be damaged beyond repair, his brain and his magical power remain intact. It will take uncommon skill and power to kill a wizard like Voldemort, even without his Horcruxes.’ ‘But I haven’t got uncommon skill and power,’ said Harry, before he could stop himself. ‘Yes, you have,’ said Dumbledore firmly. ‘You have a power that Voldemort has never had. You can –’ ‘I know!’ said Harry impatiently. ‘I can love!’ It was only with difficulty that he stopped himself adding, ‘Big deal!’ ‘Yes, Harry, you can love,’ said Dumbledore, who looked as though he knew perfectly well what Harry had just refrained from saying. ‘Which, given everything that has happened to you, is a great and remarkable thing. You are still too young to understand how unusual you are, Harry.’Q7 - What is the deeper thing here? Why is Harry too young to understand this?He heard the prophecy and he leapt into action, with the result that he not only handpicked the man most likely to finish him, he handed him uniquely deadly weapons!’ ‘But –’ ‘It is essential that you understand this!’ said Dumbledore, standing up and striding about the room, his glittering robes swooshing in his wake; Harry had never seen him so agitated. ‘By attempting to kill you, Voldemort himself singled out the remarkable person who sits here in front of me, and gave him the tools for the job! It is Voldemort’s fault that you were able to see into his thoughts, his ambitions, that you even understand the snakelike language in which he gives orders, and yet, Harry, despite your privileged insight into Voldemort’s world (which, incidentally, is a gift any Death Eater would kill to have), you have never been seduced by the Dark Arts, never, even for a second, shown the slightest desire to become one of Voldemort’s followers!’Q8 - How did Voldemort actually give him these powers and this connection?I do not think he understands why, Harry, but he was in such a hurry to mutilate his own soul, he never paused to understand the incomparable power of a soul that is untarnished and whole.’Harry watched Dumbledore striding up and down in front of him, and thought. He thought of his mother, his father and Sirius. He thought of Cedric Diggory. He thought of all the terrible deeds he knew Lord Voldemort had done. A flame seemed to leap inside his chest, searing his throat. ‘I’d want him finished,’ said Harry quietly. ‘And I’d want to do it.’ ‘Of course you would!’ cried Dumbledore. ‘You see, the prophecy does not mean you have to do anything! But the prophecy caused Lord Voldemort to mark you as his equal … in other words, you are free to choose your way, quite free to turn your back on the prophecy! But Voldemort continues to set store by the prophecy. He will continue to hunt you … which makes it certain, really, that –’ ‘That one of us is going to end up killing the other,’ said Harry. ‘Yes.’ But he understood at last what Dumbledore had been trying to tell him. It was, he thought, the difference between being dragged into the arena to face a battle to the death and walking into the arena with your head held high. Some people, perhaps, would say that there was little to choose between the two ways, but Dumbledore knew – and so do I, thought Harry, with a rush of fierce pride, and so did my parents – that there was all the difference in the world.Q9 - How do you destroy a Horcrux?Q10 - What do you think of this and everything in this chapter?Chapter 24 - SectumsempraQ1 - Why isn’t Dumbledore just doing this himself? Why is he roping Harry into this whole thing?‘I think I’m going to take another swig of Felix,’ said Harry, ‘and have a go at the Room of Requirement again.’ ‘That would be a complete waste of potion,’ said Hermione flatly, putting down the copy of Spellman’s Syllabary she had just taken out of her bag. ‘Luck can only get you so far, Harry. The situation with Slughorn was different; you always had the ability to persuade him, you just needed to tweak the circumstances a bit. Luck isn’t enough to get you through a powerful enchantment, though. Don’t go wasting the rest of that potion! You’ll need all the luck you can get if Dumbledore takes you along with him …’ She dropped her voice to a whisper.Q2 - How do you think Harry is going to use the last of the Felix Felicis?‘No one can help me,’ said Malfoy. His whole body was shaking. ‘I can’t do it … I can’t … it won’t work … and unless I do it soon … he says he’ll kill me …’ And Harry realised, with a shock so huge it seemed to root him to the spot, that Malfoy was crying – actually crying – tears streaming down his pale face into the grimy basin. Malfoy gasped and gulped and then, with a great shudder, looked up into the cracked mirror and saw Harry staring at him over his shoulder.Q3 - Is it shocking to see Draco in this state?Q4 - What is he talking about here?There was a loud bang and the bin behind Harry exploded; Harry attempted a Leg-Locker Curse that backfired off the wall behind Malfoy’s ear and smashed the cistern beneath Moaning Myrtle, who screamed loudly; water poured everywhere and Harry slipped over as Malfoy, his face contorted, cried, ‘Cruci—’ ‘SECTUMSEMPRA!’ bellowed Harry from the floor, waving his wand wildly.Q5 - Thoughts on Draco using Crucio?The door banged open behind Harry and he looked up, terrified: Snape had burst into the room, his face livid. Pushing Harry roughly aside, he knelt over Malfoy, drew his wand and traced it over the deep wounds Harry’s curse had made, muttering an incantation that sounded almost like song. The flow of blood seemed to ease; Snape wiped the residue from Malfoy’s face and repeated his spell. Now the wounds seemed to be knitting.He gasped. Despite his haste, his panic, his fear of what awaited him back in the bathroom, he could not help but be overawed by what he was looking at. He was standing in a room the size of a large cathedral, whose high windows were sending shafts of light down upon what looked like a city with towering walls, built of what Harry knew must be objects hidden by generations of Hogwarts inhab- itants. There were alleyways and roads bordered by teetering piles of broken and damaged furniture, stowed away, perhaps, to hide the evidence of mishandled magic, or else hidden by castle-proud houseelves. There were thousands and thousands of books, no doubt banned or graffitied or stolen. There were winged catapults and Fanged Frisbees, some still with enough life in them to hover half-heartedly over the mountains of other forbidden items; there were chipped bottles of congealed potions, hats, jewels, cloaks; there were what looked like dragon-egg shells, corked bottles whose contents still shimmered evilly, several rusting swords and a heavy, blood-stained axe.Q6 - What do you think of this room?Harry hurried forwards into one of the many alleyways between all this hidden treasure. He turned right past an enormous stuffed troll, ran on a short way, took a left at the broken Vanishing Cabinet in which Montague had got lost the previous year, finally pausing beside a large cupboard which seemed to have had acid thrown at its blistered surface. He opened one of the cupboard’s creaking doors: it had already been used as a hiding place for something in a cage that had long-since died; its skeleton had five legs. He stuffed the Half-Blood Prince’s book behind the cage and slammed the door. He paused for a moment, his heart thumping horribly, gazing around at the clutter … would he be able to find this spot again, amidst all this junk? Seizing the chipped bust of an ugly old warlock from on top of a nearby crate, he stood it on the cupboard where the book was now hidden, perched a dusty old wig and a tarnished tiara on the statue’s head to make it more distinctive, then sprinted back through the alleyways of hidden junk as fast as he could go, back to the door, back out on to the corridor, where he slammed the door behind him and it turned at once back into stone.Q7 - What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever just found?One by one Snape extracted Harry’s books and examined them. Finally the only book left was the Potions book, which he looked at very carefully before speaking. ‘This is your copy of Advanced Potion-Making, is it, Potter?’ ‘Yes,’ said Harry, still breathing hard. ‘You’re quite sure of that, are you, Potter?’ ‘Yes,’ said Harry, with a touch more defiance. ‘This is the copy of Advanced Potion-Making that you purchased from Flourish and Blotts?’ ‘Yes,’ said Harry firmly. ‘Then why,’ asked Snape, ‘does it have the name “Roonil Wazlib” written inside the front cover?’ Harry’s heart missed a beat. ‘That’s my nickname,’ he said. ‘Your nickname,’ repeated Snape. ‘Yeah … that’s what my friends call me,’ said Harry. ‘I understand what a nickname is,’ said Snape. The cold, black eyes were boring once more into Harry’s; he tried not to look into them. Close your mind … close your mind … but he had never learned how to do it properly … ‘Do you know what I think, Potter?’ said Snape, very quietly. ‘I think that you are a liar and a cheat and that you deserve detention with me every Saturday until the end of term. What do you think, Potter?’ ‘I – I don’t agree, sir,’ said Harry, still refusing to look into Snape’s eyes.Q8 - Hermione reprimands Harry for following the Prince…but who is the Prince?Harry looked around; there was Ginny running towards him; she had a hard, blazing look in her face as she threw her arms around him. And without thinking, without planning it, without worrying about the fact that fifty people were watching, Harry kissed her. The creature in his chest roaring in triumph, Harry grinned down at Ginny and gestured wordlessly out of the portrait hole. A long walk in the grounds seemed indicated, during which – if they had time – they might discuss the match.Q9 - Love at last?

Chapter 17 - A Sluggish MemoryQ1 - 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 a low, soft, musical cry. To Harry’s intense embarrassment, he suddenly realized that Dumbledore’s bright blue eyes looked rather watery, and stared hastily at his own knees. When Dumbledore spoke, however, his voice was quite steady. ‘I am very touched, Harry.’‘So they still don’t know where you go?’ asked Harry, hoping for more information on this intriguing subject, but Dumbledore merely smiled over the top of his half-moon spectacles. ‘No, they don’t, and the time is not quite right for you to know, either. Now, I suggest we press on, unless there’s anything else –?’Q2 - Where does Dumbledore go?Dumbledore listened to Harry’s story with an impassive face. When Harry had finished he did not speak for a few moments, then said, ‘Thank you for telling me this, Harry, but I suggest that you put it out of your mind. I do not think that it is of great importance.’ ‘Not of great importance?’ repeated Harry incredulously. ‘Professor, did you understand –?’ ‘Yes, Harry, blessed as I am with extraordinary brainpower, I understood everything you told me,’ said Dumbledore, a little sharply. ‘I think you might even consider the possibility that I understood more than you did. Again, I am glad that you have confided in me, but let me reassure you that you have not told me anything that causes me disquiet.’Q3 - Why doesn’t this bother Dumbledore?I believe that it was then that he dropped the name for ever, assumed the identity of Lord Voldemort, and began his investigations into his previously despised mother’s family – the woman whom, you will remember, he had thought could not be a witch if she had succumbed to the shameful human weakness of death.‘We have no memories to show us this, but I think we can be fairly sure what happened. Voldemort Stupefied his uncle, took his wand, and proceeded across the valley to “the big house over the way”. There he murdered the Muggle man who had abandoned his witch mother, and, for good measure, his Muggle grandparents, thus obliterating the last of the unworthy Riddle line and revenging himself upon the father who never wanted him. Then he returned to the Gaunt hovel, performed the complex bit of magic that would implant a false memory in his uncle’s mind, laid Morfin’s wand beside its unconscious owner, pocketed the ancient ring he wore and departed.’They were a motley collection; a mixture of the weak seeking protection, the ambitious seeking some shared glory, and the thuggish, gravitating towards a leader who could show them more refined forms of cruelty. In other words, they were the forerunners of the Death Eaters, and indeed some of them became the first Death Eaters after leaving Hogwarts.Q4 - What do you think about this memory and Voldermort’s power?Dumbledore took from an inside pocket another crystal phial and Harry fell silent at once, remembering that Dumbledore had said it was the most important one he had collected. Harry noticed that the contents proved difficult to empty into the Pensieve, as though they had congealed slightly; did memories go off?Q5 - Do memories go bad?As several of the boys tittered, something very odd happened. The whole room was suddenly filled with a thick white fog, so that Harry could see nothing but the face of Dumbledore, who was standing beside him. Then Slughorn’s voice rang out through the mist, unnaturally loudly: ‘– you’ll go wrong, boy, mark my words.’Q6 - What happened here?‘Look sharp, Tom,’ said Slughorn, turning round and finding him still present. ‘You don’t want to be caught out of bed out of hours, and you a prefect …’ ‘Sir, I wanted to ask you something.’ ‘Ask away, then, m’boy, ask away …’ ‘Sir, I wondered what you know about … about Horcruxes?’ And it happened all over again: the dense fog filled the room so that Harry could not see Slughorn or Riddle at all; only Dumbledore, smiling serenely beside him. Then Slughorn’s voice boomed out again, just as it had done before. ‘I don’t know anything about Horcruxes and I wouldn’t tell you if I did! Now get out of here at once and don’t let me catch you mentioning them again!’Q7 - What are Horcruxes?‘And so, for the first time, I am giving you homework, Harry. It will be your job to persuade Professor Slughorn to divulge the real memory, which will undoubtedly be our most crucial piece of information of all.’Q8 - What is going on here? Why is this important?Chapter 18 - Birthday SurprisesQ1 - Do you think Dumbledore doesn’t know what Horcruxes are?Harry dawdled behind, taking an inordinate amount of time to do up his bag. Neither Ron nor Hermione wished him luck as they left; both looked rather annoyed. At last Harry and Slughorn were the only two left in the room.Q2 - This obviously doesn’t work, but how do you think Harry will get the memory?“of the Horcrux, wickedest of magical inventions, we shall not speak nor give direction” Q3 - What is this dark magic?The second attempt was no better than the first. The third was just as bad. Not until the fourth did anything exciting happen. There was a horrible screech of pain and everybody looked around, terrified, to see Susan Bones of Hufflepuff wobbling in her hoop with her left leg still standing five feet away where she had started.Q4 - What would your preferred mode of wizard transportation be?Q5 - Where is Malfoy going? Is he really going off campus?‘Harry!’ said Ron suddenly. ‘What?’ ‘Harry, I can’t stand it!’ ‘You can’t stand what?’ asked Harry, now starting to feel definitely alarmed. Ron was rather pale and looked as though he was about to be sick. ‘I can’t stop thinking about her!’ said Ron hoarsely. Harry gaped at him. He had not expected this and was not sure he wanted to hear it. Friends they might be, but if Ron started calling Lavender ‘Lav-Lav’, he would have to put his foot down.Q6 - What do you think of the whole love potion thing?Q7 - Can you imagine if Ron died here?Chapter 19 - Elf Tales‘So, all in all, not one of Ron’s better birthdays?’ said Fred.Hermione gave an almost inaudible sniff. She had been exceptionally quiet all day. Having hurtled, white-faced, up to Harry outside the hospital wing and demanded to know what had happened, she had taken almost no part in Harry and Ginny’s obsessive discussion about how Ron had been poisoned, but merely stood beside them, clench-jawed and frightened-looking, until at last they had been allowed in to see him.Q1 - What is Hermione feeling?Q2 - What is the deal with these two failed attempts at danger?‘I dunno, Harry, I shouldn’ta heard it at all! I – well, I was comin’ outta the Forest the other evenin’ an’ I overheard ’em talkin’ – well, arguin’. Didn’t like ter draw attention to meself, so I sorta skulked an’ tried not ter listen, but it was a – well, a heated discussion, an’ it wasn’ easy ter block it out.’ ‘Well?’ Harry urged him, as Hagrid shuffled his enormous feet uneasily. ‘Well – I jus’ heard Snape sayin’ Dumbledore took too much fer granted an’ maybe he – Snape – didn’ wan’ ter do it any more –’ ‘Do what?’ ‘I dunno, Harry, it sounded like Snape was feelin’ a bit overworked, tha’s all – anyway, Dumbledore told him flat out he’d agreed ter do it an’ that was all there was to it. Pretty firm with him. An’ then he said summat abou’ Snape makin’ investigations in his house, in Slytherin. Well, there’s nothin’ strange abou’ that!’ Hagrid added hastily, as Harry and Hermione exchanged looks full of meaning. ‘All the Heads o’ House were asked ter look inter that necklace business –’Q3 - What is this conversation about?Harry added, getting to his feet and picking up his Firebolt, ‘will you stop pretending to be asleep when Lavender comes to see you? She’s driving me mad as well.’ ‘Oh,’ said Ron, looking sheepish. ‘Yeah. All right.’ ‘If you don’t want to go out with her any more, just tell her,’ said Harry. ‘Yeah … well … it’s not that easy, is it?’ said Ron. He paused. ‘Hermione going to look in before the match?’ he added casually.He hurried down through the deserted corridors; the whole school was outside, either already seated in the stadium or heading down towards it. He was looking out of the windows he passed, trying to gauge how much wind they were facing, when a noise ahead made him glance up and he saw Malfoy walking towards him, accompanied by two girls, both of whom looked sulky and resentful.Q4 - What is Draco up to?Q5 - How do you like Luna’s coverage of the match?‘Dobby is a free house-elf and he can obey anyone he likes and Dobby will do whatever Harry Potter wants him to do!’ said Dobby, tears now streaming down his shriveled little face on to his jumper.Q6 - What do you think of Dobby now?Chapter 20 - Lord Voldemort’s RequestHermione 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 examining a tapestry of trolls in tutus. She looked terrified at the sight of the approaching sixth-years and dropped the heavy brass scales she was carrying.Q1 - What does Secumsempra do?Q2 - Why do people stay together if they are miserable?‘I see,’ said Dumbledore eventually, peering at Harry over the top of his half-moon spectacles and giving Harry the usual sensation that he was being X-rayed.Q3 - Do you think Dumbledore is ever using Legilimency on Harry?Q4 - Do you think that the pensieve itself holds ancient magic? Like does it sift through thoughts and give you a better analysis of them?‘But now, Harry,’ said Dumbledore, ‘now things become murkier and stranger. If it was difficult to find evidence about the boy Riddle, it has been almost impossible to find anyone prepared to reminisce about the man Voldemort. In fact, I doubt whether there is a soul alive, apart from himself, who could give us a full account of his life since he left Hogwarts. ‘I wonder whether you know what it is, Tom? Pick it up, have a good look!’ whispered Hepzibah, and Voldemort stretched out a long-fingered hand and lifted the cup by one handle out of its snug silken wrappings. Harry thought he saw a red gleam in his dark eyes. His greedy expression was curiously mirrored on Hepzibah’s face, except that her tiny eyes were fixed upon Voldemort’s handsome features. ‘A badger,’ murmured Voldemort, examining the engraving upon the cup. ‘Then this was …?’ ‘Helga Hufflepuff’s, as you very well know, you clever boy!’ said Hepzibah, leaning forwards with a loud creaking of corsets and actually pinching his hollow cheek. ‘Didn’t I tell you I was distantly des- cended? This has been handed down in the family for years and years. Lovely, isn’t it? And all sorts of powers it’s supposed to possess, too, but I haven’t tested them thoroughly, I just keep it nice and safe in here …’Q5 - What power do magical objects possess?‘That’s right!’ said Hepzibah, delighted, apparently, at the sight of Voldemort gazing at her locket, transfixed. ‘I had to pay an arm and a leg for it, but I couldn’t let it pass, not a real treasure like that, had to have it for my collection. Burke bought it, apparently, from a ragged-looking woman who seemed to have stolen it, but had no idea of its true value –’ There was no mistaking it this time: Voldemort’s eyes flashed scarlet at her words and Harry saw his knuckles whiten on the locket’s chain.‘Time to leave, Harry,’ said Dumbledore quietly, and as the little elf bobbed away bearing the boxes, Dumbledore grasped Harry once again above the elbow and together they rose up through oblivion and back to Dumbledore’s office. ‘Hepzibah Smith died two days after that little scene,’ said Dumbledore, resuming his seat and indicating that Harry should do the same. ‘Hokey the house-elf was convicted by the Ministry of poisoning her mistress’s evening cocoa by accident.’Q6 - Why is he collecting these objects?Q7 - Is there anything else in the Hepzibah memory that seems odd to you?‘So, Tom … to what do I owe the pleasure?’ Voldemort did not answer at once, but merely sipped his wine. ‘They do not call me “Tom” any more,’ he said. ‘These days, I am known as –’ ‘I know what you are known as,’ said Dumbledore, smiling pleasantly. ‘But to me, I’m afraid, you will always be Tom Riddle. It is one of the irritating things about old teachers, I am afraid, that they never quite forget their charges’ youthful beginnings.’Q8 - Why is calling him Tom such a flex?I have come to you to ask that you permit me to return to this castle, to teach. I think you must know that I have seen and done much since I left this place. I could show and tell your students things they can gain from no other wizard.’ Dumbledore considered Voldemort over the top of his own goblet for a while before speaking. ‘Yes, I certainly do know that you have seen and done much since leaving us,’ he said quietly. ‘Rumors of your doings have reached your old school, Tom. I should be sorry to believe half of them.’ Voldemort’s expression remained impassive as he said, ‘Greatness inspires envy, envy engenders spite, spite spawns lies. You must know this, Dumbledore.’ ‘You call it “greatness”, what you have been doing, do you?’ asked Dumbledore delicately. ‘Certainly,’ said Voldemort, and his eyes seemed to burn red. ‘I have experimented; I have pushed the boundaries of magic further, perhaps, than they have ever been pushed –’ ‘Of some kinds of magic,’ Dumbledore corrected him quietly. ‘Of some. Of others, you remain … forgive me … woefully ignorant.’Q9 - What is he talking about here?Q10 - What is the magical power of love?‘I am surprised you have remained here so long,’ said Voldemort after a short pause. ‘I always wondered why a wizard such as yourself never wished to leave school.’Q11 - Does Tom have a point…why would Dumbledore stay on as headmaster and not anything greater?Dumbledore set down his empty glass and drew himself up in his seat, the tips of his fingers together in a very characteristic gesture. ‘… let us speak openly. Why have you come here tonight, surrounded by henchmen, to request a job we both know you do not want?’ Voldemort looked coldly surprised. ‘A job I do not want? On the contrary, Dumbledore, I want it very much.’ ‘Oh, you want to come back to Hogwarts, but you do not want to teach any more than you wanted to when you were eighteen. What is it you’re after, Tom? Why not try an open request for once?’Q12 - What is he coming back to the school for?‘The time is long gone when I could frighten you with a burning wardrobe and force you to make repayment for your crimes. But I wish I could, Tom … I wish I could …’Q13 - What do you think of this memory?

Chapter 13 - The Secret Riddle‘Ah,’ said Dumbledore, ‘perhaps she could. But it is my belief – I am guessing again, but I am sure I am right – that when her husband abandoned her, Merope stopped using magic. I do not think that she wanted to be a witch any longer. Of course, it is also possible that her unrequited love and the attendant despair sapped her of her powers; that can happen. In any case, as you are about to see, Merope refused to raise her wand even to save her own life.’‘She wouldn’t even stay alive for her son?’ Dumbledore raised his eyebrows. ‘Could you possibly be feeling sorry for Lord Voldemort?’ ‘No,’ said Harry quickly, ‘but she had a choice, didn’t she, not like my mother –’ ‘Your mother had a choice, too,’ said Dumbledore gently. ‘Yes, Merope Riddle chose death in spite of a son who needed her, but do not judge her too harshly, Harry. She was greatly weakened by long suffering and she never had your mother’s courage. And now, if you will stand …’Q1 - What does Dumbledore mean that Lily had a choice?Q2 - It mentions that Dumbledore’s hair was Auburn…is he a Weasley?And then –’ Mrs Cole took another swig of gin, slopping a little over her chin this time, ‘on the summer outing – we take them out, you know, once a year, to the countryside or to the seaside – well, Amy Benson and Dennis Bishop were never quite right afterwards, and all we ever got out of them was that they’d gone into a cave with Tom Riddle. He swore they’d just gone exploring, but something happened in there, I’m sure of it. And, well, there have been a lot of things, funny things …’Q3 - Should Dumbledore have denied entrance for Tom knowing these things?‘I don’t believe you,’ said Riddle. ‘She wants me looked at, doesn’t she? Tell the truth!’ He spoke the last three words with a ringing force that was almost shocking. It was a command, and it sounded as though he had given it many times before. His eyes had widened and he was glaring at Dumbledore, who made no response except to continue smiling pleasantly. After a few seconds Riddle stopped glaring, though he looked, if anything, warier still.‘I can make things move without touching them. I can make animals do what I want them to do, without training them. I can make bad things happen to people who annoy me. I can make them hurt if I want to.’Q4 - Is it alarming that he is this advanced in magic already?‘I knew I was different,’ he whispered to his own quivering fingers. ‘I knew I was special. Always, I knew there was something.’Q5 - What do you think of Tom and Dumbledore’s interaction?‘He believed it much quicker than I did – I mean, when you told him he was a wizard,’ said Harry. ‘I didn’t believe Hagrid at first, when he told me.’Q6 - What’s the difference in Harry and Tom?‘Did you know – then?’ asked Harry. ‘Did I know that I had just met the most dangerous Dark wizard of all time?’ said Dumbledore. ‘No, I had no idea that he was to grow up to be what he is. However, I was certainly intrigued by him. I returned to Hogwarts intending to keep an eye upon him, something I should have done in any case, given that he was alone and friendless, but which, already, I felt I ought to do for others’ sake as much as his.‘Firstly, I hope you noticed Riddle’s reaction when I mentioned that another shared his first name, “Tom”?’ Harry nodded. ‘There he showed his contempt for anything that tied him to other people, anything that made him ordinary. Even then, he wished to be different, separate, notorious. He shed his name, as you know, within a few short years of that conversation and created the mask of “Lord Voldemort” behind which he has been hidden for so long.‘I trust that you also noticed that Tom Riddle was already highly self-sufficient, secretive and, apparently, friendless? He did not want help or companionship on his trip to Diagon Alley. He preferred to operate alone. The adult Voldemort is the same. You will hear many of his Death Eaters claiming that they are in his confidence, that they alone are close to him, even understand him. They are deluded. Lord Voldemort has never had a friend, nor do I believe that he has ever wanted one‘And lastly – I hope you are not too sleepy to pay attention to this, Harry – the young Tom Riddle liked to collect trophies. You saw the box of stolen articles he had hidden in his room. These were taken from victims of his bullying behavior, souvenirs, if you will, of particularly unpleasant bits of magic. Bear in mind this magpie-like tendency, for this, particularly, will be important later.Q7 - Why is this important?Q8 - What happened to the ring?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 you enjoy your party. Why don’t you try getting off with McLaggen, then Slughorn can make you King and Queen Slug –’ ‘We’re allowed to bring guests,’ said Hermione, who for some reason had turned a bright, boiling scarlet, ‘and I was going to ask you to come, but if you think it’s that stupid then I won’t bother!’Q2 - Is Ron being stupid?Q3 - Is Harry an idiot for interrupting their communication session?When Harry pushed open the tapestry to take their usual short cut up to Gryffindor Tower, however, they found themselves looking at Dean and Ginny, who were locked in a close embrace and kissing fiercely as if glued together. It was as though something large and scaly erupted into life in Harry’s stomach, clawing at his insides: hot blood seemed to flood his brain, so that all thought was extinguished, replaced by a savage urge to jinx Dean into a jelly.Q4 - Have you experienced the large scaly thing in your stomach?‘You go!’ said Ginny. ‘I want a word with my dear brother!’ Dean left, looking as though he was not sorry to depart the scene. ‘Right,’ said Ginny, tossing her long red hair out of her face and glaring at Ron, ‘let’s get this straight once and for all. It is none of your business who I go out with or what I do with them, Ron –’ ‘Yeah, it is!’ said Ron, just as angrily. ‘D’you think I want people saying my sister’s a –’ ‘A what?’ shouted Ginny, drawing her wand. ‘A what, exactly?’ ‘He doesn’t mean anything, Ginny –’ said Harry automatically, though the monster was roaring its approval of Ron’s words.Q5 - What was Ron going to call her?‘Been kissing Pigwidgeon, have you? Or have you got a picture of Auntie Muriel stashed under your pillow?’Q6 - Is Ginny a savage?They hurried up the stairs and along a seventh-floor corridor. ‘Oi, out of the way!’ Ron barked at a small girl who jumped in fright and dropped a bottle of toad-spawn. Harry hardly noticed the sound of shattering glass; he felt disorientated, dizzy; being struck by a lightning bolt must be something like this. It’s just because she’s Ron’s sister, he told himself. You just didn’t like seeing her kissing Dean because she’s Ron’s sister …Q7 - Harry loves Ginny, right?It seemed as though Gryffindor could do no wrong. Again and again they scored, and again and again, at the other end of the pitch, Ron saved goals with apparent ease. He was actually smiling now, and when the crowd greeted a particularly good save with a rousing chorus of the old favorite Weasley is our King, he pretended to conduct them from on high.Q8 - What was your favorite sports moment that made you feel like Ron?‘I didn’t put it in!’ said Harry, now grinning broadly. He slipped his hand inside his jacket pocket and drew out the tiny bottle that Hermione had seen in his hand that morning. It was full of golden potion and the cork was still tightly sealed with wax. ‘I wanted Ron to think I’d done it, so I faked it when I knew you were looking.’ He looked at Ron. ‘You saved everything because you felt lucky. You did it all yourself.’Q9 - Is Liquid Luck a placebo?Q10 - What’s the deal with Ron and Hermione? Chapter 15 - The Unbreakable VowHarry had to put up with the frequent presence of Lavender Brown, who seemed to regard any moment that she was not kissing Ron as a moment wasted.‘She can’t complain,’ he told Harry. ‘She snogged Krum. So she’s found out someone wants to snog me, too. Well, it’s a free country. I haven’t done anything wrong.’‘I never promised Hermione anything,’ Ron mumbled. ‘I mean, all right, I was going to go to Slughorn’s Christmas party with her, but she never said … just as friends … I’m a free agent …’Q1 - What will the outcome of this be between the two?‘There isn’t anyone I want to invite,’ mumbled Harry, who was still trying not to think about Ginny any more than he could help, despite the fact that she kept cropping up in his dreams in ways that made him devoutly thankful that Ron could not perform Legilimency.Q2 - What is Harry dreaming about?Q3 - What’s your favorite prom/dance story?Q4 - Hermione mentions that love potions aren’t dark…is she right?‘The library is now closed,’ she said. ‘Mind you return anything you have borrowed to the correct – what have you been doing to that book, you depraved boy?’ ‘It isn’t the library’s, it’s mine!’ said Harry hastily, snatching his copy of Advanced Potion-Making off the table as she lunged at it with a clawlike hand. ‘Despoiled!’ she hissed. ‘Desecrated! Befouled!’ ‘It’s just a book that’s been written in!’ said Harry, tugging it out of her grip. She looked as though she might have a seizure; Hermione, who had hastily packed her things, grabbed Harry by the arm and frogmarched him away.Q5 - Do you write in books?Q6 - Harry mentions there might be something going on between Pince and Filch. Is that possible?‘She’s a bit upset,’ said Luna. ‘I thought at first it was Moaning Myrtle in there, but it turned out to be Hermione. She said something about that Ron Weasley …’ ‘Yeah, they’ve had a row,’ said Harry. ‘He says very funny things sometimes, doesn’t he?’ said Luna, as they set off down the corridor together. ‘But he can be a bit unkind. I noticed that last year.’Q7 - Is Ron unkind?‘Hi, Harry,’ said Parvati who, like him, looked faintly embarrassed and bored by the behavior of their two friends. ‘Hi,’ said Harry. ‘How’re you? You’re staying at Hogwarts, then? I heard your parents wanted you to leave.’ ‘I managed to talk them out of it for the time being,’ said Parvati. ‘That Katie thing really freaked them out, but as there hasn’t been anything since … oh, hi, Hermione!’Q8 - Let’s rehash what has happened at Hogwarts…There was a noise like a plunger being withdrawn from a blocked sink and Ron surfaced.Q9 - Is Hermione kinda a low-key it girl?Ron looked strangely blank and said nothing. Harry was left to ponder in silence the depths to which girls would sink to get revenge.Q10 - Is Rufus Scrimgeor a vampire?Q11 - Are Slughorn’s parties good parties?Q12 - Should Harry have a biography written about him?‘Harry Potter!’ said Professor Trelawney in deep, vibrant tones, noticing him for the first time. ‘Oh, hello,’ said Harry unenthusiastically. ‘My dear boy!’ she said in a very carrying whisper. ‘The rumors! The stories! The Chosen One! Of course, I have known for a very long time … the omens were never good, Harry … but why have you not returned to Divination? For you, of all people, the subject is of the utmost importance!’Q13 - Should Harry have taken divination this year?‘Remind me what other subjects you’re taking, Harry?’ asked Slughorn. ‘Defense Against the Dark Arts, Charms, Transfiguration, Herbology …’ ‘All the subjects required, in short, for an Auror,’ said Snape, with the faintest sneer. ‘Yeah, well, that’s what I’d like to be,’ said Harry defiantly. ‘And a great one you’ll make, too!’ boomed Slughorn. ‘I don’t think you should be an Auror, Harry,’ said Luna unexpectedly. Everybody looked at her. ‘The Aurors are part of the Rotfang Conspiracy, I thought everyone knew that. They’re working from within to bring down the Ministry of Magic using a combination of Dark magic and gum disease.’Filch’s expression of outraged disappointment was perfectly predictable; but why, Harry wondered, watching him, did Malfoy look almost equally unhappy? And why was Snape looking at Malfoy as though both angry and … was it possible? … a little afraid?Q14 - Why is Snape afraid?‘Who suspects me?’ said Malfoy angrily. ‘For the last time, I didn’t do it, OK? That Bell girl must’ve had an enemy no one knows about – don’t look at me like that! I know what you’re doing, I’m not stupid, but it won’t work – I can stop you!’ There was a pause and then Snape said quietly, ‘Ah … Aunt Bellatrix has been teaching you Occlumency, I see. What thoughts are you trying to conceal from your master, Draco?’Q15 - Is it shocking to know that Draco has learned Occlumency?Q16 - Who is his master?‘Looks like you’ll have to break it, then, because I don’t need your protection! It’s my job, he gave it to me and I’m doing it. I’ve got a plan and it’s going to work, it’s just taking a bit longer than I thought it would!’Q17 - What is going on?Chapter 16 - A Very Frosty Christmas‘An Unbreakable Vow?’ said Ron, looking stunned. ‘Nah, he can’t have … are you sure?’ ‘Yes, I’m sure,’ said Harry. ‘Why, what does it mean?’ ‘Well, you can’t break an Unbreakable Vow …’ ‘I’d worked that much out for myself, funnily enough. What happens if you break it, then?’ ‘You die,’ said Ron simply. ‘Fred and George tried to get me to make one when I was about five. I nearly did, too, I was holding hands with Fred and everything when Dad found us. He went mental,’ said Ron, with a reminiscent gleam in his eyes. ‘Only time I’ve ever seen Dad as angry as Mum. Fred reckons his left buttock has never been the same since.’Q1 - Thoughts on Fred and George wooing muggle women with magic tricks?There was silence for a moment or two, then Ron said, ‘Course, you know what they’ll all say? Dad and Dumbledore and all of them? They’ll say Snape isn’t really trying to help Malfoy, he was just trying to find out what Malfoy’s up to.’ ‘They didn’t hear him,’ said Harry flatly. ‘No one’s that good an actor, not even Snape.’ ‘Yeah … I’m just saying, though,’ said Ron. Harry turned to face him, frowning. ‘You think I’m right, though?’ ‘Yeah, I do!’ said Ron hastily. ‘Seriously, I do! But they’re all convinced Snape’s in the Order, aren’t they?’Q2 - Do we trust Snape?‘You are determined to hate him, Harry,’ said Lupin with a faint smile. ‘And I understand; with James as your father, with Sirius as your godfather, you have inherited an old prejudice.Q3 - Do you think this is true?Q4 - What do you think of Lupin’s background and being bitten by Greyback?Everybody was wearing new sweaters when they all sat down for Christmas lunch, everyone except Fleur (on whom, it appeared, Mrs Weasley had not wanted to waste one) and Mrs Weasley herself, who was sporting a brand new midnight-blue witch’s hat glittering with what looked like tiny starlike diamonds, and a spectacular golden necklace.Q5 - Is Fleur that unbearable?She gave Lupin an annoyed look, as though it was all his fault she was getting Fleur for a daughter-in-law instead of Tonks, but Harry, glancing across at Fleur, who was now feeding Bill bits of turkey off her own fork, thought that Mrs Weasley was fighting a long-lost battle. He was, however, reminded of a question he had with regard to Tonks, and who better to ask than Lupin, the man who knew all about Patronuses? ‘Tonks’s Patronus has changed its form,’ he told him. ‘Snape said so, anyway. I didn’t know that could happen. Why would your Patronus change?’ Lupin took his time chewing his turkey and swallowing before saying slowly, ‘Sometimes … a great shock … an emotional upheaval …’ ‘It looked big, and it had four legs,’ said Harry, struck by a sudden thought and lowering his voice. ‘Hey … it couldn’t be –?’Q6 - What was Tonk’s new patronus form?Q7 - What do you think of Scrimgeor and his proposal?Q8 - HOW is Umbridge still working at the ministry?‘I don’t want to be used,’ said Harry. ‘Some would say it’s your duty to be used by the Ministry!’You don’t care whether I live or die, but you do care that I help you convince everyone you’re winning the war against Voldemort. I haven’t forgotten, Minister …’ He raised his right fist. There, shining white on the back of his cold hand, were the scars which Dolores Umbridge had forced him to carve into his own flesh: I must not tell lies.Q9 - Is Harry right or wrong?‘Well, it is clear to me that he has done a very good job on you,’ said Scrimgeour, his eyes cold and hard behind his wire-rimmed glasses. ‘Dumbledore’s man through and through, aren’t you, Potter?’ ‘Yeah, I am,’ said Harry. ‘Glad we straightened that out.’

Chapter 9 - The Half-Blood PrinceHermione’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 the grandson she’s got, rather than the one she thinks she ought to have – particularly after what happened at the Ministry.’Q2 - Do you ever think McGonagall could go bad?Q3 - Do you think Gryffindor will win the Quidditch Cup this year?Snape set off around the edge of the room, speaking now in a lower voice; the class craned their necks to keep him in view. ‘The Dark Arts,’ said Snape, ‘are many, varied, ever-changing and eternal. Fighting them is like fighting a many-headed monster, which, each time a neck is severed, sprouts a head even fiercer and cleverer than before. You are fighting that which is unfixed, mutating, indestructible.’ Harry stared at Snape. It was surely one thing to respect the Dark Arts as a dangerous enemy, another to speak of them, as Snape was doing, with a loving caress in his voice?His Shield Charm was so strong Snape was knocked off-balance and hit a desk. The whole class had looked round and now watched as Snape righted himself, scowling. ‘Do you remember me telling you we are practicing non-verbal spells, Potter?’ ‘Yes,’ said Harry stiffly. ‘Yes sir.’ ‘There’s no need to call me “sir”, Professor.’Q4 - Do you view Harry as a better wizard than Snape?This left Harry, Ron and Hermione to share a table with Ernie. They chose the one nearest a gold-coloured cauldron that was emitting one of the most seductive scents Harry had ever inhaled: somehow it reminded him simultaneously of treacle tart, the woody smell of a broomstick handle and something flowery he thought he might have smelled at The Burrow. He found that he was breathing very slowly and deeply and that the potion’s fumes seemed to be filling him up like drink. A great contentment stole over him; he grinned across at Ron, who grinned lazily back.Q5 - What do you think of the Amortentia?It’s supposed to smell differently to each of us, according to what attracts us, and I can smell freshly mown grass and new parchment and –’ But she turned slightly pink and did not complete the sentence.Q6 - What is the last smell Hermione smells?‘No, I don’t think so, sir. I’m Muggle-born, you see.’ Harry saw Malfoy lean close to Nott and whisper something; both of them sniggered, but Slughorn showed no dismay; on the contrary, he beamed and looked from Hermione to Harry, who was sitting next to her. ‘Oho! “One of my best friends is Muggle-born and she’s the best in our year!” I’m assuming this is the very friend of whom you spoke, Harry?’ ‘Yes, sir,’ said Harry. ‘Well, well, take twenty well-earned points for Gryffindor, Miss Granger,’ said Slughorn genially.Q7 - Is Slughorn growing on you?‘Amortentia doesn’t really create love, of course. It is impossible to manufacture or imitate love. No, this will simply cause a powerful infatuation or obsession. It is probably the most dangerous and powerful potion in this room – oh yes,’ he said, nodding gravely at Malfoy and Nott, both of whom were smirking skeptically. ‘When you have seen as much of life as I have, you will not underestimate the power of obsessive love …Q8 - What do you think of this line?Q9 - What do you think of Liquid Luck?Q10 - What is a time when you beat everyone in class at something?‘The clear winner!’ he cried to the dungeon. ‘Excellent, excellent, Harry! Good Lord, it’s clear you’ve inherited your mother’s talent, she was a dab hand at Potions, Lily was! Here you are, then, here you are – one bottle of Felix Felicis, as promised, and use it well!’Nobody else was looking. Harry bent low to retrieve the book and, as he did so, he saw something scribbled along the bottom of the back cover in the same small, cramped handwriting as the instructions that had won him his bottle of Felix Felicis, now safely hidden inside a pair of socks in his trunk upstairs. This Book is the Property of the Half-Blood PrinceQ11 - Who is the Half-Blood Prince?Chapter 10 - The House of GauntQ1 - Should Harry be following the book's advice?Q2 - What do you think of Snape and Slughorn in their roles?‘Well, I have decided that it is time, now that you know what prompted Lord Voldemort to try and kill you fifteen years ago, for you to be given certain information.’Q3 - Jenn, did your heart rate go up here?‘I told you everything I know. From this point forth, we shall be leaving the firm foundation of fact and journeying together through the murky marshes of memory into thickets of wildest guesswork. From hereon in, Harry, I may be as woefully wrong as Humphrey Belcher, who believed the time was ripe for a cheese cauldron.’Q4 - Where have you seen Little Hangleton before?There was a scuffling noise in the corner beside the open window and Harry realized that there was somebody else in the room, a girl whose ragged gray dress was the exact color of the dirty stone wall behind her. She was standing beside a steaming pot on a grimy black stove, and was fiddling around with the shelf of squalid-looking pots and pans above it. Her hair was lank and dull and she had a plain, pale, rather heavy face. Her eyes, like her brother’s, stared in opposite directions. She looked a little cleaner than the two men, but Harry thought he had never seen a more defeated-looking person.Q5 - What do you think of Merope and Morfin?Q6 - Is a Squib made from abuse?Q7 - What do you think of Tom Riddle’s origin story?‘Sir … is it important to know all this about Voldemort’s past?’ ‘Very important, I think,’ said Dumbledore. ‘And it … it’s got something to do with the prophecy?’ ‘It has everything to do with the prophecy.’Q8 - Why is this important?Q9 - What is the ring and what happened to Dumbledore’s hand?Chapter 11 - Hermione’s Helping HandNon-verbal spells were now expected, not only in Defence Against the Dark Arts, but in Charms and Transfiguration too. Harry frequently looked over at his classmates in the common room or at mealtimes to see them purple in the face and straining as though they had overdosed on U-No-Poo.‘We’ve got to go and explain,’ said Hermione, looking up at Hagrid’s huge empty chair at the staff table the following Saturday at breakfast. ‘We’ve got Quidditch tryouts this morning!’ said Ron. ‘And we’re supposed to be practicing that Aguamenti charm for Flitwick! Anyway, explain what? How are we going to tell him we hated his stupid subject?’Q1 - What is the Aguamenti charm?Q2 - Is Hagrid childish for this?‘Oh, come on, Harry,’ said Hermione, suddenly impatient. ‘It’s not Quidditch that’s popular, it’s you! You’ve never been more interesting and, frankly, you’ve never been more fanciable.’ Ron gagged on a large piece of kipper. Hermione spared him one look of disdain before turning back to Harry.Q3 - Why is Ron gagging?Q4 - Harry mentioned he hoped Lupin would write…why doesn’t Lupin write?Q5 - Do you think Stan Shunpike is a Death Eater?‘People are terrified – you know the Patil twins’ parents want them to go home? And Eloise Midgeon has already been withdrawn. Her father picked her up last night.’Q6 - If you had kids, would you take them out of Hogwarts?Q7 - Dumbledore is gone missing a lot…what is he doing?Q8 - How do you think this years Gryffindor quidditch team looks?Q9 - What do you think about Hermione confounding Cormac?‘But how can he have done, Harry?’ said Hermione, putting down the newspaper with a surprised look. ‘We were all searched when we arrived, weren’t we?’ ‘Were you?’ said Harry, taken aback. ‘I wasn’t!’ ‘Oh no, of course you weren’t, I forgot you were late … well, Filch ran over all of us with Secrecy Sensors when we got into the Entrance Hall. Any Dark object would have been found, I know for a fact Crabbe had a shrunken head confiscated. So you see, Malfoy can’t have brought in anything dangerous!’Q10 - What was this Shrunken head? And did Malfoy sneak anything in?Q11 - What’s the best party you’ve ever been to?Chapter 12 - Silver and OpalsWhere 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 proved a much more effective teacher than Snape so far.Q3 - Do you think Snape really is a good teacher and Harry is just blinded?Q4 - Is Harry dumb to be practicing these spells on his friends?Q5 - Harry thinks that the Prince could be his dad, do you think he’s right?Harry had pinned Mundungus against the wall of the pub by the throat. Holding him fast with one hand, he pulled out his wand. ‘Harry!’ squealed Hermione. ‘You took that from Sirius’s house,’ said Harry, who was almost nose-to-nose with Mundungus and was breathing in an unpleasant smell of old tobacco and spirits. ‘That had the Black family crest on it.’Q6 - What is Mundungus stealing from the Black house?At once, Katie rose into the air, not as Ron had done, suspended comically by the ankle, but gracefully, her arms outstretched, as though she were about to fly. Yet there was something wrong, something eerie … her hair was whipped around her by the fierce wind, but her eyes were closed and her face was quite empty of expression. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Leanne had all halted in their tracks, watching. Then, six feet above the ground, Katie let out a terrible scream. Her eyes flew open but whatever she could see, or whatever she was feeling, was clearly causing her terrible anguish. She screamed and screamed; Leanne started to scream too, and seized Katie’s ankles, trying to tug her back to the ground. Harry, Ron and Hermione rushed forwards to help, but even as they grabbed Katie’s legs, she fell on top of them; Harry and Ron managed to catch her but she was writhing so much they could hardly hold her. Instead they lowered her to the ground where she thrashed and screamed, apparently unable to recognise any of them.Q7 - What kind of magic is this?Q8 - What’s the worst amount of pain you’ve ever been in?Q9 - Why would someone want to curse an object? What else do you think you could do with objects in the wizarding world?Q10 - Who gave Katie the necklace and where was Katie delivering it?

Chapter 5 - An Excess of PhlegmQ1 - Tonks seems really sad and out of it at the beginning of this chapter…why?‘What do you like me to call you when we’re alone together?’ Even by the dim light of the lantern Harry could tell that Mrs Weasley had turned bright red; he himself felt suddenly warm around the ears and neck, and hastily gulped soup, clattering his spoon as loudly as he could against the bowl. ‘Mollywobbles,’ whispered a mortified Mrs Weasley into the crack at the edge of the door. ‘Correct,’ said Mr Weasley. ‘Now you can let me in.’Q2 - What do you think of Mollywobbles?Mrs Weasley made a noise that sounded like ‘tchah!’ ‘Mum hates her,’ said Ginny quietly. ‘I do not hate her!’ said Mrs Weasley in a cross whisper. ‘I just think they’ve hurried into this engagement, that’s all!’ ‘They’ve known each other a year,’ said Ron, who looked oddly groggy and was staring at the closed door. ‘Well, that’s not very long! I know why it’s happened, of course.Q3 - What do you think of Fleur coming back into the story?‘Nobody knows what it said, though,’ said Hermione quickly. ‘It got smashed.’ ‘Although the Prophet says –’ began Ron, but Hermione said, ‘Shh!’ ‘The Prophet’s got it right,’ said Harry, looking up at them both with a great effort: Hermione seemed frightened and Ron amazed. ‘That glass ball that smashed wasn’t the only record of the prophecy. I heard the whole thing in Dumbledore’s office, he was the one the prophecy was made to, so he could tell me. From what it said,’ Harry took a deep breath, ‘it looks like I’m the one who’s got to finish off Voldemort … at least, it said neither of us could live while the other survives.’ The three of them gazed at each other in silence for a moment.Q4 - What do you think of Harry telling Ron and Hermione the prophecy?Harry did not really listen. A warmth was spreading through him that had nothing to do with the sunlight; a tight obstruction in his chest seemed to be dissolving. He knew that Ron and Hermione were more shocked than they were letting on, but the mere fact that they were still there on either side of him, speaking bracing words of comfort, not shrinking from him as though he were contaminated or dangerous, was worth more than he could ever tell them.Q5 - Why do you think Harry is feeling this?Q6 - What do you think of Harry’s OWL results?Q7 - Do you remember what you got on your SATs?Harry looked back down at his results. They were as good as he could have hoped for. He felt just one tiny twinge of regret … this was the end of his ambition to become an Auror. He had not secured the required Potions grade. He had known all along that he wouldn’t, but he still felt a sinking in his stomach as he looked again at that small black ‘E’.Q8 - So Harry can’t become an Auror, what career path will he go down now?Chapter 6 - Draco’s DetourHe 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 stayed alive for even a year after deserting the Death Eaters; Sirius’s brother Regulus only managed a few days as far as I can remember.’Q2 - What do you think about Igor Karkaroff being dead?Q3 - What do you think of Ollivander being gone?Q4 - How is Bill able to take money out of Harry’s vault?‘I see that being Dumbledore’s favorite has given you a false sense of security, Harry Potter. But Dumbledore won’t always be there to protect you.’ Harry looked mockingly all around the shop. ‘Wow … look at that … he’s not here now! So why not have a go? They might be able to find you a double cell in Azkaban with your loser of a husband!’Q5 - Is Harry smart to instigate this?Why Are You Worrying About You-Know-Who? You SHOULD Be Worrying About U-NO-POO – the Constipation Sensation That’s Gripping the Nation!‘“Patented Daydream Charms …”’ Hermione had managed to squeeze through to a large display near the counter and was reading the information on the back of a box bearing a highly coloured picture of a handsome youth and a swooning girl who were standing on the deck of a pirate ship. ‘“One simple incantation and you will enter a top-quality, highly realistic thirty-minute daydream, easy to fit into the average school lesson and virtually undetectable (side-effects include vacant expression and minor drooling). Not for sale to under-sixteens.” You know,’ said Hermione, looking up at Harry, ‘that really is extraordinary magic!’ ‘For that, Hermione,’ said a voice behind them, ‘you can have one for free.’Q6 - How brilliant is the joke shop?Q7 - What is their best invention: Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder, Decoy Detonators, or Shield Hats?They had drawn level with the only shop in Knockturn Alley that Harry had ever visited: Borgin and Burkes, which sold a wide variety of sinister objects. There in the midst of the cases full of skulls and old bottles stood Draco Malfoy with his back to them, just visible beyond the very same large black cabinet in which Harry had once hidden to avoid Malfoy and his father. Judging by the movements of Malfoy’s hands he was talking animatedly. The proprietor of the shop, Mr Borgin, an oily-haired, stooping man, stood facing Malfoy. He was wearing a curious expression of mingled resentment and fear…‘… you know how to fix it?’ ‘Possibly,’ said Borgin, in a tone that suggested he was unwilling to commit himself. ‘I’ll need to see it, though. Why don’t you bring it into the shop?’ ‘I can’t,’ said Malfoy. ‘It’s got to stay put. I just need you to tell me how to do it.’Q8 - What is Draco trying to mend?‘No?’ said Malfoy and Harry knew, just by his tone, that Malfoy was sneering. ‘Perhaps this will make you more confident.’ He moved towards Borgin and was blocked from view by the cabinet. Harry, Ron and Hermione shuffled sideways to try and keep him in sight, but all they could see was Borgin, looking very frightened.Q9 - What did Draco show him?Chapter 7 - The Slug Club‘Malfoy, revenge? What can he do about it?’ ‘That’s my point, I don’t know!’ said Harry, frustrated. ‘But he’s up to something and I think we should take it seriously. His father’s a Death Eater and –’ Harry broke off, his eyes fixed on the window behind Hermione, his mouth open. A startling thought had just occurred to him. ‘Harry?’ said Hermione in an anxious voice. ‘What’s wrong?’ ‘Your scar’s not hurting again, is it?’ asked Ron nervously. ‘He’s a Death Eater,’ said Harry slowly. ‘He’s replaced his father as a Death Eater!’Q1 - You think Harry is right about Draco being a Death Eater?‘Au revoir, ’Arry,’ said Fleur throatily, kissing him goodbye. Ron hurried forwards, looking hopeful, but Ginny stuck out her foot and Ron fell, sprawling in the dust at Fleur’s feet. Furious, red-faced and dirt-spattered, he hurried into the car without saying goodbye.Q2 - Is Ginny becoming a mean girl?‘They’re staring at you because you were at the Ministry, too,’ said Harry, as he hoisted his trunk into the luggage rack. ‘Our little adventure there was all over the Daily Prophet, you must’ve seen it.’ ‘Yes, I thought Gran would be angry about all the publicity,’ said Neville, ‘but she was really pleased. Says I’m starting to live up to my dad at long last. She bought me a new wand, look!’ He pulled it out and showed it to Harry. ‘Cherry and unicorn hair,’ he said proudly. ‘We think it was one of the last Ollivander ever sold, he vanished next day – oi, come back here, Trevor!’Q3 - Is Neville going to be better or worse now that he has a new wand?Q4 - Why did Draco forgo his role as Prefect?Every now and then students would hurtle out of their compartments to get a better look at him. The exception was Cho Chang, who darted into her compartment when she saw Harry coming. As Harry passed the window he saw her deep in determined conversation with her friend Marietta, who was wearing a very thick layer of makeup that did not entirely obscure the odd formation of pimples still etched across her face. Smirking slightly, Harry pushed on.Q5 - Does Marietta deserve this?Q6 - What do you think about Slughorn’s little club?Q7 - Is Draco dating Pansy Parkinson?Malfoy yawned ostentatiously. ‘I mean, I might not even be at Hogwarts next year, what’s it matter to me if some fat old has-been likes me or not?’ ‘What do you mean, you might not be at Hogwarts next year?’ said Pansy indignantly, ceasing grooming Malfoy at once. ‘Well, you never know,’ said Malfoy with the ghost of a smirk. ‘I might have – er – moved on to bigger and better things.’Q8 - What do you think he means by this?‘I thought so,’ he said jubilantly. ‘I heard Goyle’s trunk hit you. And I thought I saw something white flash through the air after Zabini came back …’ His eyes lingered for a moment upon Harry’s trainers. ‘That was you blocking the door when Zabini came back in, I suppose?’ He considered Harry for a moment. ‘You didn’t hear anything I care about, Potter. But while I’ve got you here …’ And he stamped, hard, on Harry’s face. Harry felt his nose break; blood spurted everywhere.Q9 - What do you think of Draco besting Harry?Chapter 8 - Snape VictoriousQ1 - How do you think Tonks found Harry?‘Hagrid was late for the start-of-term feast, just like Potter here, so I took it instead. And incidentally,’ said Snape, standing back to allow Harry to pass him, ‘I was interested to see your new Patronus.’ He shut the gates in her face with a loud clang and tapped the chains with his wand again, so that they slithered, clinking, back into place. ‘I think you were better off with the old one,’ said Snape, the malice in his voice unmistakeable. ‘The new one looks weak.’Q2 - What do you think of Patronus’ changing form? How would it change form?Q3 - Why do you think Snape is mean to her?‘Fifty points from Gryffindor for lateness, I think,’ said Snape. ‘And, let me see, another twenty for your Muggle attire. You know, I don’t believe any house has ever been in negative figures this early in the term – we haven’t even started pudding. You might have set a record, Potter.’Q4 - The points are stupid.‘Professor Snape, meanwhile,’ said Dumbledore, raising his voice so that it carried over all the muttering, ‘will be taking over the position of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher.’ ‘No!’ said Harry, so loudly that many heads turned in his direction. He did not care; he was staring up at the staff table, incensed. How could Snape be given the Defence Against the Dark Arts job after all this time? Hadn’t it been widely known for years that Dumbledore did not trust him to do it?Q5 - What do you think of Snape getting the Defense against the Dark Arts job? And knowing the curse on the position, do you think he’ll be there after a year?

Chapter 1 - The Other MinisterIt was nearing midnight and the Prime Minister was sitting alone in his office, reading a long memo that was slipping through his brain without leaving the slightest trace of meaning behind. Q1 - What do you think of the book opening like this?He turned over the second page of the memo, saw how much longer it went on, and gave it up as a bad job. Stretching his arms above his head he looked around his office mournfully. It was a handsome room, with a fine marble fireplace facing the long sash windows, firmly closed against the unseasonable chill. With a slight shiver, the Prime Minister got up and moved over to the windows, looking out at the thin mist that was pressing itself against the glass. It was then, as he stood with his back to the room, that he heard a soft cough behind him.Q2 - Did you think Umbridge was back?It was coming – as the Prime Minister had known at the first cough – from the froglike little man wearing a long silver wig who was depicted in a small and dirty oil-painting in the far corner of the room. ‘To the Prime Minister of Muggles. Urgent we meet. Kindly respond immediately. Sincerely, Fudge.’ The man in the painting looked enquiringly at the Prime Minister.He was not remotely pleased to see Fudge, whose occasional appearances, apart from being downright alarming in themselves, generally meant that he was about to hear some very bad news. Furthermore, Fudge was looking distinctly careworn. He was thinner, balder and greyer, and his face had a crumpled look. The Prime Minister had seen that kind of look in politicians before, and it never boded well.At this, the Prime Minister had found his voice at last. ‘You’re – you’re not a hoax, then?’ It had been his last, desperate hope. ‘No,’ said Fudge gently. ‘No, I’m afraid I’m not. Look.’ And he had turned the Prime Minister’s teacup into a gerbil. ‘But,’ said the Prime Minister breathlessly, watching his teacup chewing on the corner of his next speech, ‘but why – why has nobody told me –?’ ‘The Minister for Magic only reveals him or herself to the Muggle Prime Minister of the day,’ said Fudge, poking his wand back inside his jacket. ‘We find it the best way to maintain secrecy.’ ‘But then,’ bleated the Prime Minister, ‘why hasn’t a former Prime Minister warned me –?’ At this, Fudge had actually laughed. ‘My dear Prime Minister, are you ever going to tell anybody?’Q3 - Do you think the President gets a familiar visit from the US magical authorities?‘So you think that …’ he had squinted down at the name in his left hand, ‘Lord Vol—’ ‘He Who Must Not Be Named!’ snarled Fudge. ‘I’m sorry … you think that He Who Must Not Be Named is still alive, then?’ ‘Well, Dumbledore says he is,’ said Fudge, as he had fastened his pinstriped cloak under his chin, ‘but we’ve never found him. If you ask me, he’s not dangerous unless he’s got support, so it’s Black we ought to be worrying about. You’ll put out that warning, then? Excellent. Well, I hope we don’t see each other again, Prime Minister! Goodnight.’Q4 - Do you think Fudge here believes Dumbledore?Whatever the press and the opposition might say, the Prime Minister was not a foolish man. It had not escaped his notice that, despite Fudge’s assurances at their first meeting, they were now seeing rather a lot of each other, nor that Fudge was becoming more flustered with each visit. Little though he liked to think about the Minister for Magic (or, as he always called Fudge in his head, the Other Minister), the Prime Minister could not help but fear that the next time Fudge appeared it would be with graver news still. Q5 - Cool point about who the other minister is…Fudge took a great, deep breath and said, ‘Prime Minister, I am very sorry to have to tell you that he’s back. He Who Must Not Be Named is back.’ ‘Yes, alive,’ said Fudge. ‘That is – I don’t know – is a man alive if he can’t be killed? I don’t really understand it, and Dumbledore won’t explain properly – but anyway, he’s certainly got a body and is walking and talking and killing, so I suppose, for the purposes of our discussion, yes, he’s alive.’Q6 - Why won’t Dumbledore explain it, and what is he explaining?‘I thought Dementors guard the prisoners in Azkaban?’ he said cautiously. ‘They did,’ said Fudge wearily. ‘But not any more. They’ve deserted the prison and joined He Who Must Not Be Named. I won’t pretend that wasn’t a blow.’ ‘But,’ said the Prime Minister, with a sense of dawning horror, ‘didn’t you tell me they’re the creatures that drain hope and happiness out of people?’ ‘That’s right. And they’re breeding. That’s what’s causing all this mist.’Q7 - Will you ever look at mist the same way again?‘Now see here, Fudge – you’ve got to do something! It’s your responsibility as Minister for Magic!’ ‘My dear Prime Minister, you can’t honestly think I’m still Minister for Magic after all this? I was sacked three days ago! The whole wizarding community has been screaming for my resignation for a fortnight. I’ve never known them so united in my whole term of office!’ said Fudge, with a brave attempt at a smile.Q8 - What do you think of Fudges sacking? Do you have pity for him at all?‘I wish him luck,’ said Fudge, sounding bitter for the first time. ‘I’ve been writing to Dumbledore twice a day for the past fortnight, but he won’t budge. If he’d just been prepared to persuade the boy, I might still be … well, maybe Scrimgeour will have more success.’Q9 - What does Fudge mean, “persuade the boy?”The Prime Minister’s first, foolish thought was that Rufus Scrimgeour looked rather like an old lion. There were streaks of grey in his mane of tawny hair and his bushy eyebrows; he had keen yellowish eyes behind a pair of wire-rimmed spectacles and a certain rangy, loping grace even though he walked with a slight limp. There was an immediate impression of shrewdness and toughness; the Prime Minister thought he understood why the wizarding community preferred Scrimgeour to Fudge as a leader in these dangerous times.Q10 - What are your impressions of Scrimgeour?The Prime Minister gazed hopelessly at the pair of them for a moment, then the words he had fought to suppress all evening burst from him at last. ‘But for heaven’s sake – you’re wizards! You can do magic! Surely you can sort out – well – anything!’ Scrimgeour turned slowly on the spot and exchanged an incredulous look with Fudge, who really did manage a smile this time as he said kindly, ‘The trouble is, the other side can do magic too, Prime Minister.’ And with that, the two wizards stepped one after the other into the bright green fire and vanished.Q11 - What do you think of the first chapter?Chapter 2 - Spinner’s EndThe harsh cry startles the fox, now crouching almost flat in the undergrowth. It leapt from its hiding place and up the bank. There was a flash of green light, a yelp, and the fox fell back to the ground, dead.Q1 - Why did they kill the fox?“He lives here?” asked Bella in a voice of contempt. “Here? In this muggle dunghill? We must be the first of our kind ever to set foot —”Q2 - Why does Snape live here?Some of the streetlamps were broken; the two women were running between patches of light and deep darkness. The pursuer caught up with her prey just as she turned another corner, this time succeeding in catching hold of her arm and swinging her round so that they faced each other. ‘Cissy, you must not do this, you can’t trust him –’ ‘The Dark Lord trusts him, doesn’t he?’ ‘The Dark Lord is … I believe … mistaken,’ Bella panted, and her eyes gleamed momentarily under her hood as she looked around to check that they were indeed alone. ‘In any case, we were told not to speak of the plan to anyone. This is a betrayal of the Dark Lord’s –’ ‘Let go, Bella!’ snarled Narcissa and she drew a wand from beneath her cloak, holding it threateningly in the other’s face. Bella merely laughed. ‘Cissy, your own sister? You wouldn’t –’ ‘There is nothing I wouldn’t do any more!’ Narcissa breathed, a note of hysteria in her voice.Q3 - What is the difference between Narcissa and Lily here?‘So, what can I do for you?’ Snape asked, settling himself in the armchair opposite the two sisters. ‘We … we are alone, aren’t we?’ Narcissa asked quietly. ‘Yes, of course. Well, Wormtail’s here, but we’re not counting vermin, are we?’ He pointed his wand at the wall of books behind him and, with a bang, a hidden door flew open, revealing a narrow staircase upon which a small man stood frozen…‘Wormtail will get us drinks, if you’d like them,’ said Snape. ‘And then he will return to his bedroom.’ Wormtail winced as though Snape had thrown something at him. ‘I am not your servant!’ he squeaked, avoiding Snape’s eye. ‘Really? I was under the impression that the Dark Lord placed you here to assist me.’ Q4 - What is Wormtail helping Snape with?‘Narcissa, I think we ought to hear what Bellatrix is bursting to say; it will save tedious interruptions. Well, continue, Bellatrix,’ said Snape. ‘Why is it that you do not trust me?’ ‘A hundred reasons!’ she said loudly, striding out from behind the sofa to slam her glass upon the table. ‘Where to start! Where were you when the Dark Lord fell? Why did you never make any attempt to find him when he vanished? What have you been doing all these years that you’ve lived in Dumbledore’s pocket? Why did you stop the Dark Lord procuring the Philosopher’s Stone? Why did you not return at once when the Dark Lord was reborn? Where were you a few weeks ago, when we battled to retrieve the prophecy for the Dark Lord? And why, Snape, is Harry Potter still alive, when you have had him at your mercy for five years?’ She paused, her chest rising and falling rapidly, the color high in her cheeks. Behind her Narcissa sat motionless, her face still hidden in her hands. Snape smiled. ‘Before I answer you – oh, yes, Bellatrix, I am going to answer! You can carry my words back to the others who whisper behind my back, and carry false tales of my treachery to the Dark Lord! Before I answer you, I say, let me ask a question in turn. Do you really think that the Dark Lord has not asked me each and every one of those questions? And do you really think that, had I not been able to give satisfactory answers, I would be sitting here talking to you?’ She hesitated. ‘I know he believes you, but –’ ‘You think he is mistaken? Or that I have somehow hoodwinked him? Fooled the Dark Lord, the greatest wizard, the most accomplished Legilimens the world has ever seen?’Q5 - Is Snape fooling Dumbledore or Voldemort?Q6 - Why didn’t Snape attempt to find the Dark Lord?Why did Snape stand between the Dark Lord and the Sorcerer’s stone?Why didn’t he return when the dark mark burned?Why didn’t he fight at the ministry?Why has Snape not killed Harry Potter?Q7 - Are Snape’s answer’s satisfying to you?‘You are avoiding my last question, Snape. Harry Potter. You could have killed him at any point in the past five years. You have not done it. Why?’ ‘Have you discussed this matter with the Dark Lord?’ asked Snape. ‘He … lately, we … I am asking you, Snape!’ ‘If I had murdered Harry Potter, the Dark Lord could not have used his blood to regenerate, making him invincible –’Q8 - Is the Dark Lord invincible with Harry’s blood?‘And through all this we are supposed to believe Dumbledore has never suspected you?’ asked Bellatrix. ‘He has no idea of your true allegiance, he trusts you implicitly still?’ ‘I have played my part well,’ said Snape. ‘And you overlook Dumbledore’s greatest weakness: he has to believe the best of people. I spun him a tale of deepest remorse when I joined his staff, fresh from my Death Eater days, and he embraced me with open arms – though, as I say, never allowing me nearer the Dark Arts than he could help. Dumbledore has been a great wizard – oh yes, he has’ (for Bellatrix had made a scathing noise) ‘the Dark Lord acknowledges it. I am pleased to say, however, that Dumbledore is growing old. The duel with the Dark Lord last month shook him. He has since sustained a serious injury because his reactions are slower than they once were. But through all these years, he has never stopped trusting Severus Snape, and therein lies my great value to the Dark Lord.’Q9 - Is Dumbledore weak?Narcissa looked up at him, her face eloquent with despair. ‘Yes, Severus. I – I think you are the only one who can help me, I have nowhere else to turn. Lucius is in jail and …’ She closed her eyes and two large tears seeped from beneath her eyelids. ‘The Dark Lord has forbidden me to speak of it,’ Narcissa continued, her eyes still closed. ‘He wishes none to know of the plan. It is … very secret. But –’ ‘If he has forbidden it, you ought not to speak,’ said Snape at once. ‘The Dark Lord’s word is law.’Q10 - What is this plan?‘Severus,’ she whispered, tears sliding down her pale cheeks. ‘My son … my only son …’ ‘Draco should be proud,’ said Bellatrix indifferently. ‘The Dark Lord is granting him a great honor. And I will say this for Draco: he isn’t shrinking away from his duty, he seems glad of a chance to prove himself, excited at the prospect –’Q11 - What is Draco doing? Why is he part of this?‘Severus – oh, Severus – you would help him? Would you look after him, see he comes to no harm?’ ‘I can try.’ She flung away her glass; it skidded across the table as she slid off the sofa into a kneeling position at Snape’s feet, seized his hand in both of hers and pressed her lips to it. ‘If you are there to protect him … Severus, will you swear it? Will you make the Unbreakable Vow?’ ‘The Unbreakable Vow?’ Snape’s expression was blank, unreadable: Bellatrix, however, let out a cackle of triumphant laughter.Q12 - What is the unbreakable vow?Q13 - Can you break it, or what would happen if you do break it?Chapter 3 - Will and WontQ1 - Is it good to get back into Harry’s head?Though Ministry spokeswizards have hitherto refused even to confirm the existence of such a place, a growing number of the wizarding community believe that the Death Eaters now serving sentences in Azkaban for trespass and attempted theft were attempting to steal a prophecy. The nature of that prophecy is unknown, although speculation is rife that it concerns Harry Potter, the only person ever known to have survived the Killing Curse, and who is also known to have been at the Ministry on the night in question. Some are going so far as to call Potter the ‘Chosen One’, believing that the prophecy names him as the only one who will be able to rid us of He Who Must Not Be Named.Q2 - Is Harry the Chosen one? Q3 - What do you think about the ministry trying to cover up all this? Should this information be in the public domain?Rufus Scrimgeour, previously Head of the Auror Office in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, has succeeded Cornelius Fudge as Minister for Magic. The appointment has largely been greeted with enthusiasm by the wizarding community, though rumors of a rift between the new Minister and Albus Dumbledore, newly reinstated Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, surfaced within hours of Scrimgeour taking office.Q4 - What is the rift between the two?Q5 - The ministry leaflet talks about Inferi, what do you think these are?Dear Harry, If it is convenient to you, I shall call at number four, Privet Drive this coming Friday at eleven p.m. to escort you to The Burrow, where you have been invited to spend the remainder of your school holidays. If you are agreeable, I should also be glad of your assistance in a matter to which I hope to attend on the way to The Burrow. I shall explain this more fully when I see you. Kindly send your answer by return of this owl. Hoping to see you this Friday, I am, yours most sincerely Albus DumbledoreQ6 - What do you think of this letter, and what is the matter he wants to attend to with Harry?‘I don’t mean to be rude –’ he began, in a tone that threatened rudeness in every syllable. ‘– yet, sadly, accidental rudeness occurs alarmingly often,’ Dumbledore finished the sentence gravely. ‘Best to say nothing at all, my dear man. Ah, and this must be Petunia.’ The kitchen door had opened, and there stood Harry’s aunt, wearing rubber gloves and a housecoat over her nightdress, clearly halfway through her usual pre-bedtime wipe-down of all the kitchen surfaces. Her rather horsy face registered nothing but shock. ‘Albus Dumbledore,’ said Dumbledore, when Uncle Vernon failed to effect an introduction. ‘We have corresponded, of course.’ Harry thought this an odd way of reminding Aunt Petunia that he had once sent her an exploding letter, but Aunt Petunia did not challenge the term. ‘And this must be your son Dudley?’Q7 - What do you think of this intro?As he replaced his wand in his pocket, Harry saw that his hand was blackened and shrivelled; it looked as though his flesh had been burned away. ‘Sir – what happened to your –?’Q8 - What happened to Dumbledore’s hand?‘This is, in the main, fairly straightforward,’ Dumbledore went on. ‘You add a reasonable amount of gold to your account at Gringotts and you inherit all of Sirius’s personal possessions. The slightly problematic part of the legacy –’ ‘His godfather’s dead?’ said Uncle Vernon loudly from the sofa. Dumbledore and Harry both turned to look at him. The glass of mead was now knocking quite insistently on the side of Vernon’s head; he attempted to beat it away. ‘He’s dead? His godfather?’ ‘Yes,’ said Dumbledore. He did not ask Harry why he had not confided in the Dursleys. ‘Our problem,’ he continued to Harry, as if there had been no interruption, ‘is that Sirius also left you number twelve, Grimmauld Place.’‘But how are you going to find out if I’m allowed to own it?’ ‘Fortunately,’ said Dumbledore, ‘there is a simple test.’ He placed his empty glass on a small table beside his chair, but before he could do anything else, Uncle Vernon shouted, ‘Will you get these ruddy things off us?’ Harry looked round; all three of the Dursleys were cowering with their arms over their heads as their glasses bounced up and down on their skulls, the contents flying everywhere.‘You see,’ Dumbledore said, turning back to Harry and again speaking as though Uncle Vernon had not uttered, ‘if you have indeed inherited the house, you have also inherited –’ He flicked his wand for a fifth time. There was a loud crack and a house-elf appeared, with a snout for a nose, giant bat’s ears and enormous bloodshot eyes, crouching on the Dursleys’ shag carpet and covered in grimy rags.Q9 - How is Dumbledore able to summon Kreacher like this?‘Now, as you already know, the wizard called Lord Voldemort has returned to this country. The wizarding community is currently in a state of open warfare. Harry, whom Lord Voldemort has already attempted to kill on a number of occasions, is in even greater danger now than the day when I left him upon your doorstep fifteen years ago, with a letter explaining about his parents’ murder and expressing the hope that you would care for him as though he were your own.’ Dumbledore paused, and although his voice remained light and calm, and he gave no obvious sign of anger, Harry felt a kind of chill emanating from him and noticed that the Dursleys drew very slightly closer together. ‘You did not do as I asked. You have never treated Harry as a son. He has known nothing but neglect and often cruelty at your hands. The best that can be said is that he has at least escaped the appalling damage you have inflicted upon the unfortunate boy sitting between you.’Q10 - What do you think of this?None of the Dursleys said anything. Dudley was frowning slightly, as though he was still trying to work out when he had ever been mistreated. Uncle Vernon looked as though he had something stuck in his throat; Aunt Petunia, however, was oddly flushed.Q11 - Why was Petunia flushed?‘And now, Harry, let us step out into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure.’Q12 - Where are they going?

Join Jon, Jen, Kaylie, and Danny as they discuss the good and the bad of Deathly Hallows Part 2. A lot of bad, a little bit of good, and a little bit of controversy.

Chapter 34 - The Department of MysteriesThis is mad,ʹ Ron murmured, moving his free hand gingerly up and down his horseʹs neck. ʹMad… if I could just see it ‐ʹ  ʹYouʹd better hope it stays invisible,ʹ said Harry darkly. ʹWe all ready, then?ʹ Q1 - Is Harry being a dick here?Q2 - Thoughts on riding on an invisible horse?Q3 - What animal would you want to ride from the magical world?Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and business.ʹ  ʹHarry Potter, Ron Weasley Hermione Granger,ʹ Harry said very quickly, ʹGinny Weasley, Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood… weʹre here to save someone, unless your Ministry can do it first!ʹ  Thank you,ʹ said the cool female voice. ʹVisitors, please take the badges and attach them to the front of your robes.ʹ  Half a dozen badges slid out of the metal chute where returned coins normally appeared. Hermione scooped them up and handed them mutely to Harry over Ginnyʹs head; he glanced at the topmost one, Harry Potter, Rescue Mission.Q4 - Is Harry dumb to say this stuff?ʹWhatʹre those things?ʹ whispered Ron. ʹDunno,ʹ said Harry. ʹAre they fish?ʹ breathed Ginny. ʹAquavirius Maggots!ʹ said Luna excitedly. ʹDad said the Ministry were breeding —ʹ  ʹNo,ʹ said Hermione. She sounded odd. She moved forward to look through the side of the tank. Theyʹre brains.ʹ  ʹBrains?ʹ ʹYes… I wonder what theyʹre doing with them?ʹQ5 - What is the ministry doing with these brains?Instead of a chained chair, however, there was a raised stone dais in the centre of the pit, on which stood a stone archway that looked so ancient, cracked and crumbling that Harry was amazed the thing was still standing. Unsupported by any surrounding wall, the archway was hung with a tattered black curtain or veil which, despite the complete stillness of the cold surrounding air, was fluttering very slightly as though it had just been touched. ʹWhoʹs there?ʹ said Harry, jumping down on to the bench below. There was no answering voice, but the veil continued to flutter and sway.Q6 - Is there someone behind this veil?ʹI can hear them too,ʹ breathed Luna, joining them around the side of the archway and gazing at the swaying veil. There are people in there!ʹ  ʹWhat do you mean, ʺin thereʺ?ʹ demanded Hermione, jumping down from the bottom step and sounding much angrier than the occasion warranted, ʹthere isnʹt any ʺin thereʺ, itʹs just an archway, thereʹs no room for anybody to be there. Harry, stop it, come away ‐ʹ Q7 - What’s going on with this veil?Q8 - Why is Hermione so angry?Q9 - Why didn’t Harry make a quick stop to Grimmauld Place?S.P.T. to A.P.W.B.D. Dark Lord and (?)Harry PotterQ10 - What does this all mean?Nothing whatsoever happened. The others moved in closer around Harry, gazing at the orb as he brushed it free of the clogging dust. And then, from right behind them, a drawling voice spoke. ʹVery good, Potter. Now turn around, nice and slowly, and give that to me.ʹ Q11 - Who’s voice is this?Chapter 35 - Beyond the VeilʹItʹs time you learned the difference between life and dreams, Potter,ʹ said Malfoy. ʹNow give me the prophecy, or we start using wands.ʹ Q1 - Thoughts on this being a prophecy?ʹSo,ʹ said Harry, ʹwhat kind of prophecy are we talking about, anyway?ʹ  He could not think what to do but to keep talking. Nevilleʹs arm was pressed against his, and he could feel him shaking; he could feel one of the othersʹ  quickened breath on the back of his head. He was hoping they were all thinking hard about ways to get out of this, because his mind was blank. ʹWhat kind of prophecy?ʹ repeated Bellatrix, the grin fading from her face. ʹYou jest, Harry Potter.ʹ  ʹNope, not jesting,ʹ said Harry, his eyes flicking from Death Eater to Death Eater,.looking for a weak link, a space through which they could escape. ʹHow come Voldemort wants it?ʹ Several of the Death Eaters let out low hisses. ʹYou dare speak his name?ʹ whispered Bellatrix. ʹYeah,ʹ said Harry, maintaining his tight grip on the glass ball, expecting another attempt to bewitch it from him. ʹYeah, Iʹve got no problem with saying Vol—ʹ  ʹShut your mouth!ʹ Bellatrix shrieked. ʹYou dare speak his name with your unworthy lips, you dare besmirch it with your half‐bloodʹs tongue, you dare ‐ʹ ʹDid you know heʹs a half‐blood too?ʹ said Harry recklessly. Hermione gave a little moan in his ear. ʹVoldemort? Yeah, his mother was a witch but his dad was a Muggle ‐ or has he been telling you lot heʹs pure‐blood?ʹ Q2 - Is Harry right to instigate here?ʹDumbledore never told you the reason you bear that scar was hidden in the bowels of the Department of Mysteries?ʹ Malfoy sneered.Q3 - Why didn’t Dumbledore tell Harry?Harry stared into the slitted eye‐holes through which Malfoyʹs grey eyes were gleaming. Was this prophecy the reason Harryʹs parents had died, the reason he carried his lightning‐bolt scar? Was the answer to all of this clutched in his hand?The jet of red light flew right over the Death Eaterʹs shoulder and hit a glass‐ fronted cabinet on the wall full of variously shaped hour‐glasses; the cabinet fell to the floor and burst apart, glass flying everywhere, sprang back up on to the wall, fully mended, then fell down again, and shattered ‐ Q4 - What happened here?The Death Eater had pulled his head out of the bell jar. His appearance was utterly bizarre, his tiny babyʹs head bawling loudly while his thick arms flailed dangerously in all directions, narrowly missing Harry, who had ducked. Harry raised his wand but to his amazement Hermione seized his arm. ʹYou canʹt hurt a baby!ʹ Q5 - Thoughts on Hermione saying this?But the Death Eater Hermione had just struck dumb made a sudden slashing movement with his wand; a streak of what looked like purple flame passed right across Hermioneʹs chest. She gave a tiny ʹOh!ʹ as though of surprise and crumpled on to the floor, where she lay motionless.Q6 - What is this magic and is Hermione dead?Neville kicked aside the broken fragments of his own wand as they walked slowly towards the door. ʹMy granʹs going do kill be,ʹ said Neville thickly, blood spattering from his nose as he spoke, ʹdat was by dadʹs old wand.ʹ Q7 - Thoughts on this?ʹPotter, your race is run,ʹ drawled Lucius Malfoy, pulling off his mask, ʹnow hand me the prophecy like a good boy.ʹ  ʹLet ‐ let the others go, and Iʹll give it to you!ʹ said Harry desperately. A few of the Death Eaters laughed. ʹYou are not in a position to bargain, Potter,ʹ said Lucius Malfoy, his pale face flushed with pleasure. ʹYou see, there are ten of us and only one of you… or hasnʹt Dumbledore ever taught you how to count?ʹ  ʹHeʹs dot alone!ʹ shouted a voice from above them. ʹHeʹs still god be!ʹ Q8 - Do you see why I love Neville so much now?Harry did not have to think; there was no choice. The prophecy was hot with the heat of his clutching hand as he held it out. Malfoy jumped forwards to take it. Then, high above them, two more doors burst open and five more people sprinted into the room: Sirius, Lupin, Moody, Tonks and Kingsley.ʹHarry, take the prophecy, grab Neville and run!ʹ Sirius yelled, dashing to meet Bellatrix. Harry did not see what happened next: Kingsley swayed across his field of vision, battling with the pockmarked and no longer masked Rookwood; another jet of green light flew over Harryʹs head as he launched himself towards Neville ‐ Q9 - thoughts on everything happening here?He gave another stupendous heave and Nevilles robes tore all along the left seam ‐ the small spun‐glass ball dropped from his pocket and, before either of them could catch it, one of Nevilleʹs floundering feet kicked it: it flew some ten feet to their right and smashed on the step beneath them. As both of them stared at the place where it had broken, appalled at what had happened, a pearly‐white figure with hugely magnified eyes rose into the air, unnoticed by any but them..Harry could see its mouth moving, but in all the crashes and screams and yells surrounding them, not one word of the prophecy could he hear. The figure stopped speaking and dissolved into nothingness.Harry turned to look where Neville was staring. Directly above them, framed in the doorway from the Brain Room, stood Albus Dumbledore, his wand aloft, his face white and furious. Harry felt a kind of electric charge surge through every particle of his body ‐ they were saved.Q10 - How good do you feel that Dumbledore is here?Only one pair was still battling, apparently unaware of the new arrival. Harry saw Sirius duck Bellatrixʹs jet of red light: he was laughing at her. ʹCome on, you can do better than that!ʹ he yelled, his voice echoing around the cavernous room. The second jet of light hit him squarely on the chest. The laughter had not quite died from his face, but his eyes widened in shock. Harry released Neville, though he was unaware of doing so. He was jumping down the steps again, pulling out his wand, as Dumbledore, too, turned towards the dais. It seemed to take Sirius an age to fall: his body curved in a graceful arc as he sank backwards through the ragged veil hanging from the arch. Harry saw the look of mingled fear and surprise on his godfatherʹs wasted, once‐ handsome face as he fell through the ancient doorway and disappeared behind the veil, which fluttered for a moment as though in a high wind, then fell back into place. Harry heard Bellatrix Lestrangeʹs triumphant scream, but knew it meant nothing ‐ Sirius had only just fallen through the archway, he would reappear from the other side any second… But Sirius did not reappear. ʹSIRIUS!ʹ Harry yelled. ʹSIRIUS!ʹ  He had reached the floor, his breath coming in searing gasps. Sirius must be just behind the curtain, he, Harry, would pull him back out… But as he reached the ground and sprinted towards the dais, Lupin grabbed Harry around the chest, holding him back. Thereʹs nothing you can do, Harry ‐ʹ  ʹGet him, save him, heʹs only just gone through!ʹ  ʹ‐ itʹs too late, Harry.ʹ  ʹWe can still reach him ‐ʹ Harry struggled hard and viciously, but Lupin would not let go… Thereʹs nothing you can do, Harry… nothing… heʹs gone.ʹ Q11 - Thoughts on Sirius death here?Chapter 36 - The Only One He Ever FearedLupin dragged Harry away from the dais. Harry, still staring at the archway, was angry at Sirius now for keeping him waiting But some part of him realised, even as he fought to break free from Lupin, that Sirius had never kept him waiting before… Sirius had risked everything, always, to see Harry, to help him… if Sirius was not reappearing out of that archway when Harry was yelling for him as though his life depended on it, the only possible explanation was that he could not come back… that he really wasQ1 - How will Sirius’s death affect Harry?`Aaaaaah … did you love him, little baby Potter?ʹ  Hatred rose in Harry such as he had never known before; he flung himself out from behind the fountain and bellowed, `Crucio!ʹ  Bellatrix screamed: the spell had knocked her off her feet, but she did not writhe and shriek with pain as Neville had ‐ she was already back on her feet, breathless, no longer laughing. Harry dodged behind the golden fountain again. Her counter‐spell hit the head of the handsome wizard, which was blown off and landed twenty feet away, gouging long scratches into the wooden floor. `Never used an Unforgivable Curse before, have you, boy?ʹ she yelled. She had abandoned her baby voice now. `You need to mean them, Potter! You need to really want to cause pain ‐ to enjoy it ‐ righteous anger wonʹt hurt me for long ‐  Iʹll show you how it is done, shall I? Iʹll give you a lesson ‐ʹQ2 - Harry just used an unforgivable curse…thoughts?`Potter, Iʹm going to give you one chance!ʹ shouted Bellatrix. `Give me the prophecy ‐ roll it out towards me now ‐ and I may spare your life!ʹ  `Well, youʹre going to have to kill me, because itʹs gone!ʹ Harry roared and, as he shouted it, pain seared across his forehead; his scar was on fire again, and he felt a surge of fury that was quite unconnected with his own rage. `And he knows!ʹ said Harry, with a mad laugh to match Bellatrixʹs own. `Your dear old mate Voldemort knows itʹs gone! Heʹs not going to be happy with you, is he?ʹ  ʹWhat? What do you mean?ʹ she cried, and for the first time there was fear in her voice.`Donʹt waste your breath!ʹ yelled Harry, his eyes screwed up against the pain in his scar, now more terrible than ever. `He canʹt hear you from here!ʹ  `Canʹt I, Potter?ʹ said a high, cold voice.Q3 - How intense is this? Did you expect Voldemort to be there?`It was foolish to come here tonight, Tom,ʹ said Dumbledore calmly. `The Aurors are on their way’ `By which time I shall be gone, and you will be dead!ʹ spat Voldemort.Q4 - How good is this comeback?Dumbledore flicked his own wand: the force of the spell that emanated from it was such that Harry, though shielded by his golden guard, felt his hair stand on end as it passed and this time Voldemort was forced to conjure a shining silver shield out of thin air to deflect it. The spell, whatever it was, caused no visible damage to the shield, though a deep, gong‐like note reverberated from it ‐ an oddly chilling sound. `You do not seek to kill me, Dumbledore?ʹ called Voldemort, his scarlet eyes narrowed over the top of the shield. `Above such brutality, are you?ʹ  ʹWe both know that there are other ways of destroying a man, Tom,ʹ Dumbledore said calmly, continuing to walk towards Voldemort as though he had not a fear in the world, as though nothing had happened to interrupt his stroll up the hall. `Merely taking your life would not satisfy me, I admit’ ‘`There is nothing worse than death, Dumbledore!ʹ snarled Voldemort. `You are quite wrong,ʹ said Dumbledore, still closing in upon Voldemort and speaking as lightly as though they were discussing the matter over drinks. Harry felt scared to see him walking along, undefended, shieldless; he wanted to cry out a warning, but his headless guard kept shunting him backwards towards the wall, blocking his every attempt to get out from behind it. `Indeed, your failure to understand that there are things much worse than death has always been your greatest weakness’Q5 - Why would Dumbledore not be satisfied to take Voldy’s life?Q6 - What is this magic Dumbledore is using?He was gone from the hall, he was locked in the coils of a creature with red eyes, so tightly bound that Harry did not know where his body ended and the creatureʹs began: they were fused together, bound by pain, and there was no escape.Q7 - What is happening here?Let the pain stop, thought Harry… let him kill us… end it, Dumbledore… death is nothing compared to this… And Iʹll see Sirius again…Q8 - How much do you hate Fudge?Q9 - What is the plan of action next?Chapter 37 - The Lost ProphecyIt was unbearable, he would not think about it, he could not stand it… there was a terrible hollow inside him he did not want to feel or examine, a dark hole where Sirius had been, where Sirius had vanished; he did not want to have to be alone with that great, silent space, he could not stand it ‐ `Let me out,ʹ Harry said yet again, in a voice that was cold and almost as calm as Dumbledoreʹs. `Not until I have had my say,ʹ said Dumbledore. `Do you ‐ do you think I want to ‐ do you think I give a ‐ I DONʹT CARE WHAT YOUʹVE GOT TO SAY!ʹ Harry roared. `I donʹt want to hear anything youʹve got to say!ʹ  `You will,ʹ said Dumbledore steadily. `Because you are not nearly as angry with me as you ought to be. If you are to attack me, as I know you are close to doing, I would like to have thoroughly earned it.ʹ Q1 - Is Dumbledore to blame for everything that happened?Q2 - What are your thoughts on Harry’s response?Harry, I believe I was right to think that Voldemort would have made use of you in such a way. On those rare occasions when we had close contact, I thought I saw a shadow of him stir behind your eyes …`Kreacher lied,ʹ said Dumbledore calmly. `You are not his master, he could lie to you without even needing to punish himself. Kreacher intended you to go to the Ministry of Magic.ʹ  `He ‐ he sent me on purpose?T ʹOh yes. Kreacher, I am afraid, has been serving more than one master for months.ʹ  `How?ʹ said Harry blankly. `He hasnʹt been out of Grimmauld Place for years.ʹ  `Kreacher seized his opportunity shortly before Christmas,ʹ said Dumbledore, `when Sirius, apparently, shouted at him to ʺget outʺ. He took Sirius at his word, and interpreted this as an order to leave the house. He went to the only Black family member for whom he had any respect left … Blackʹs cousin Narcissa, sister of Bellatrix and wife of Lucius Malfoyʹ Q3 - Thoughts about your confirmed suspicions of Kreacher?`Kreacher is what he has been made by wizards, Harryʹ said Dumbledore. `Yes, he is to be pitied. His existence has been as miserable as your friend Dobbyʹs. He was forced to do Siriusʹs bidding, because Sirius was the last of the family to which he was enslaved, but he felt no true loyalty to him. And whatever Kreacherʹs faults, it must be admitted that Sirius did nothing to make Kreacherʹs lot easier —Q4 - Do you hate or pity Kreacher?`Snape made it worse, my scar always hurt worse after lessons with him - Harry remembered Ronʹs thoughts on the subject and plunged on `‐ how do you know he wasnʹt trying to soften me up for Voldemort, make it easier for him to get inside my - `I trust Severus Snape,ʹ said Dumbledore simply `But I forgot ‐  another old manʹs mistake ‐ that some wounds run too deep for the healing. I thought Professor Snape could overcome his feelings about your father ‐ I was wrong.ʹ Q5 - Do you trust Snape?ʹIt is time,ʹ he said, `for me to tell you what I should have told you five years ago, Harry. Please sit down. I am going to tell you everything. I ask only a little patience. You will have your chance to rage at me ‐ to do whatever you like ‐ when I have finished. I will not stop you.ʹ Q6 - Did you get excited after reading this line?`While you can still call home the place where your motherʹs blood dwells, there you cannot be touched or harmed by Voldemort. He shed her blood, but it lives on in you and her sister. Her blood became your refuge. You need return there only once a year, but as long as you can still call it home, whilst you are there he cannot hurt you. Your aunt knows this. I explained what I had done in the letter I left, with you, on her doorstep. She knows that allowing you houseroom may well have kept you alive for the past fifteen years.ʹ Q7 - Thoughts on Remember my Last?`The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches… born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies … and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not … and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives … the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies …ʹ Q8 - What does this all mean?`The odd thing, Harry,ʹ he said softly, `is that it may not have meant you at all. Sybillʹs prophecy could have applied to two wizard boys, both born at the end of July that year, both of whom had parents in the Order of the Phoenix, both sets of parents having narrowly escaped Voldemort three times. One, of course, was you. The other was Neville Longbottom.ʹ `There is a room in the Department of Mysteries,ʹ interrupted Dumbledore, `that is kept locked at all times. It contains a force that is at once more wonderful and more terrible than death, than human intelligence, than the forces of nature. It is also, perhaps, the most mysterious of the many subjects for study that reside there. It is the power held within that room that you possess in such quantities and which Voldemort has not at all. That power took you to save Sirius tonight. That power also saved you from possession by Voldemort, because he could not bear to reside in a body so full of the force he detests. In the end, it mattered not that you could not close your mind. It was your heart that saved you.ʹ Q9 - Is Love the only power Harry has over Voldemort?Chapter 38 - The Second War BeginsThey were in the hospital wing. Harry was sitting on the end of Ronʹs bed and they were both listening to Hermione read the front page of the Sunday Prophet. Ginny, whose ankle had been mended in a trice by Madam Pomfrey, was curled up at the foot of Hermioneʹs bed; Neville, whose nose had likewise been returned to its normal size and shape, was in a chair between the two beds; and Luna, who had dropped in to visit, clutching the latest edition of The Quibbler, was reading the magazine upside‐down and apparently not taking in a word Hermione was saying.Q1 - How do you guys deal with grief?Malfoy looked angrier than Harry had ever seen him; he felt a kind of detached satisfaction at the sight of his pale, pointed face contorted with rage. ʹYouʹre going to pay,ʹ said Malloy in a voice barely louder than a whisper. `Iʹm going to make you pay for what youʹve done to my father…ʹ  `Well, Iʹm terrified now,ʹ said Harry sarcastically. `Iʹsʹpose Lord Voldemortʹs just a warm‐up act compared to you three ‐ whatʹs the matter?ʹ he added, for Malfoy Crabbe and Goyle had all looked stricken at the sound of the name. `Heʹs a mate of your dad, isnʹt he? Not scared of him, are you? ʹYou think youʹre such a big man, Potter,ʹ said Malfoy, advancing now, Crabbe and Goyle flanking him. `You wait. Iʹll have you. You canʹt land my father in prison - `I thought i just had,ʹ said Harry.Perhaps the reason he wanted to be alone was because he had felt isolated from everybody since his talk with Dumbledore. An invisible barrier separated him from the rest of the world. He was ‐ he had always been ‐ a marked man. It was just that he had never really understood what that meant…Q2 - What do you think of Harry’s grief?Q3 - How do you think knowing that he is a marked man will effect Harry?Professor Umbridge left Hogwarts the day before the end of term. It seemed she had crept out of the hospital wing during dinnertime, evidently hoping to depart undetected, but unfortunately for her, she met Peeves on the way, who seized his last chance to do as Fred had instructed, and chased her gleefully from the premises whacking her alternately with a walking stick and a sock full of chalk. Many students ran out into the Entrance Hall to watch her running away down the path and the Heads of Houses tried only half‐heartedly to restrain them. Indeed, Professor McGonagall sank back into her chair at the staff table after a few feeble remonstrances and was clearly heard to express a regret that she could not run cheering after Umbridge herself, because Peeves had borrowed her walking stick.Harryʹs heart began to race. He remembered seeing his dead parents in the Mirror of Erised four years ago. He was going to be able to talk to Sirius again, right now, he knew it ‐  He looked around to make sure there was nobody else there; the dormitory was quite empty. He looked back at the mirror, raised it in front of his face with trembling hands and said, loudly and clearly, ʹSirius.ʹ  His breath misted the surface of the glass. He held the mirror even closer, excitement flooding through him, but the eyes blinking back at him through the fog were definitely his own. He wiped the mirror clear again and said, so that every syllable rang clearly through the room: ʹSirius Black!ʹ  Nothing happened.Q4 - How devastating is this part?Nick turned away from the window and looked mournfully at Harry. `He wonʹt come back.ʹ  `Who?ʹ  `Sirius Black,ʹ said Nick. And so strong was his belief, Harry actually turned his head to check the door, sure, for a split second, that he was going to see Sirius, pearly‐white and transparent but beaming, walking through it towards him. `He will not come back,ʹ repeated Nick. `He will have… gone on.ʹ Q5 - Do you understand how ghosts work now?Harry nodded curtly, but found that for some reason he did not mind Luna talking about Sirius. He had just remembered that she, too, could see Thestrals. `Have you…ʹ he began. `I mean, who… has anyone you known ever died?ʹ  `Yes,ʹ said Luna simply, `my mother. She was a quite extraordinary witch, you know, but she did like to experiment and one of her spells went rather badly wrong one day. I was nine.ʹ  `Iʹm sorryʹ Harry mumbled. ʹYes, it was rather horrible,ʹ said Luna conversationally. `I still feel very sad about it sometimes. But Iʹve still got Dad. And anyway, itʹs not as though Iʹll never see Mum again, is it?ʹ  `Er ‐ isnʹt it?ʹ said Harry uncertainly. She shook her head in disbelief. `Oh, come on. You heard them, just behind the veil, didnʹt you?ʹ  `You mean…ʹ  `In that room with the archway. They were just lurking out of sight, thatʹs all. You heard them.ʹ Harry was surprised to find that this information did not hurt at all. Wanting to impress Cho seemed to belong to a past that was no longer quite connected with him; so much of what he had wanted before Sinusʹ,ʹ death felt that «°av these days… the week that had elapsed since he had last seen Sirius seemed to have lasted much, much longer; it stretched across two universes, the one with Sirius in it, and the one without.Q6 - Would Harry and Cho be a good couple now? Do you think they’ll get back together?When the ticket inspector signaled to Harry, Ron and Hermione that it was safe to walk through the magical barrier between platforms nine and ten, however, he found a surprise awaiting him on the other side: a group of people standing there to greet him who he had not expected at all…Harry nodded. He somehow could not find words to tell them what it meant to him, to see them all ranged there, on his side. Instead, he smiled, raised a hand in farewell, turned around and led the way out of the station towards the sunlit street, with Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia and Dudley hurrying along in his wake.Q7 - How will Harry go from this point on?

Chapter 30 - GrawpEventually the area was roped off and Filch, gnashing his teeth furiously, was given the task of punting students across it to their classrooms. Harry was certain that teachers like McGonagall or Flitwick could have removed the swamp in an instant but, just as in the case of Fred and Georges Wildfire Whiz‐bangs, they seemed to prefer to watch Umbridge struggle.Q1 - What prank would you play on Umbridge now?None of the staff but Filch seemed to be stirring themselves to help her. Indeed, a week after Fred and Georgeʹs departure Harry witnessed Professor McGonagall walking right past Peeves, who was determinedly loosening a crystal chandelier, and could have sworn he heard her tell the poltergeist out of the corner of her mouth, ʹIt unscrews the other way.ʹQ2 - Should Harry be that serious about occlumency and going back to Snape?Q3 - Hagrid mentions he’s going to help Dumbledore when he gets sacked…what is he going to do?ʹWhat are those ropes for, then?ʹ Harry asked. He had just noticed ropes thick as saplings stretching from around the trunks of the largest nearby trees towards the place where Grawp lay curled on the ground with his back to them. ʹYou have to keep him tied up?ʹ said Hermione faintly. ʹWell… yeah…ʹ said Hagrid, looking anxious. ʹSee ‐ itʹs like I say ‐ he doesnʹ  really know ʹis own strength.ʹ Q4 - Is Hagrid right to have his brother like this?Q5 - What do you think about Centaurs?ʹOh, come off it, Harry!ʹ said Hermione angrily, stopping dead in her tracks so that the people behind had to swerve to avoid her. ʹOf course heʹs going to be chucked out and, to be perfectly honest, after what weʹve just seen, who can blame Umbridge?ʹ  There was a pause in which Harry glared at her, and her eyes filled slowly with tears. ʹYou didnʹt mean that,ʹ said Harry quietly. ʹNo… well… all right… I didnʹt,ʹ she said, wiping her eyes angrily. ʹBut why does he have to make life so difficult for himself ‐ for us?ʹ Q6 - Why is Hermione so mad here?Q7 - What do you think about Ron having a good match?Chapter 31 - O.W.L.sQ1 - Have you ever had that moment of euphoria like Ron is at the moment?Q2 - Were you guys studyers? ʹBut I daresay the Ministry of Magic will track him down soon enough.ʹ  ʹI doubt it,ʹ shouted tiny Professor Marchbanks, ʹnot if Dumbledore doesnʹt want to be found! I should know… examined him personally in Transfiguration and Charms when he did NEWTs… did things with a wand Iʹd never seen before.ʹ Q3 - Who after Dumbledore is the best witch or wizard?The first question: a) Give the incantation and b) describe the wand movement required to make objects fly. Harry had a fleeting memory of a club soaring high into the air and landing loudly on the thick skull of a troll… smiling slightly, he bent over the paper and began to write.Q4 - Is Harry going to get high marks?ʹWell, we were always going to fail that one,ʹ said Ron gloomily as they ascended the marble staircase. He had just made Harry feel rather better by telling him how he had told the examiner in detail about the ugly man with a wart on his nose in his crystal ball, only to look up and realize he had been describing his examinerʹs reflection.Q5 - Why are they sacking Hagrid so late?Q6 - What do you think of the whole sacking of Hagrid?Q7 - In your opinion, did wand legislation contribute to, or lead to better control of, goblin riots of the eighteenth century?Q8 - Harry mentions Legilimency for this exam, would that work?But there was a shape on the floor at the very end, a black shape moving on the floor like a wounded animal… Harryʹs stomach contracted with fear… with excitement… A voice issued from his own mouth, a high, cold voice empty of any human kindness… Take it for me… lift it down, now… I cannot touch it… but you can The black shape on the floor shifted a little. Harry saw a long‐fingered white hand clutching a wand rise at the end of his own arm… heard the high, cold voice say ʹCrucio!ʹ  The man on the floor let out a scream of pain, attempted to stand but fell back, writhing. Harry was laughing. He raised his wand, the curse lifted and the figure groaned and became motionless. ʹLord Voldemort is waiting Very slowly, his arms trembling, the man on the ground raised his shoulders a few inches and lifted his head. His face was bloodstained and gaunt, twisted in pain yet rigid with defiance… ʹYouʹll have to kill me,ʹ whispered Sirius. ʹUndoubtedly I shall in the end,ʹ said the cold voice. ʹBut you will fetch it for me first, Black… you think you have felt pain thus far? Think again… we have hours ahead of us and nobody to hear you scream…ʹ  But somebody screamed as Voldemort lowered his wand again; somebody yelled and fell sideways off a hot desk on to the cold stone floor; Harry awoke as he hit the ground, still yelling, his scar on fire, as the Great Hall erupted all around him.Q9 - What do you think is happening?Chapter 32 - Out of the FireʹI donʹt wonder youʹre shocked, Potter,ʹ said Madam Pomfrey, with a kind of fierce approval in her face. ʹAs if one of them could have Stunned Minerva McGonagall face‐on by daylight! Cowardice, . thatʹs what it was… despicable cowardice… if I wasnʹt worried what would happen to you students without me, Iʹd resign in protest.ʹ Q1 - What should the teachers do here?Q2 - Are Ron and Hermione wrong to be questioning Harry here? Has Harry proved himself untrustworthy?ʹOK,ʹ she said, looking frightened yet determined, ʹIʹve just got to say this ‐ʹ  ʹWhat?ʹ  ʹYou… this isnʹt a criticism, Harry! But you do… sort of… I mean ‐ donʹt you think youʹve got a bit of a ‐ a ‐ saving‐people thing!ʹ she said.Q3 - Is she right here?ʹIʹm trying to say ‐ Voldemort knows you, Harry! He took Ginny down into the Chamber of Secrets to lure you there, itʹs the kind of thing he does, he knows youʹre the ‐ the sort of person whoʹd go to Siriusʹs aid! What if heʹs just trying to get you into the Department of Myst—?ʹQ4 - Is she right here?ʹWeʹll have to use Umbridgeʹs fire and see if we can contact him,ʹ said Hermione, who looked positively terrified at the thought. ʹWeʹll draw Umbridge away again, but weʹll need lookouts, and thatʹs where we can use Ginny and Luna.ʹ  Though clearly struggling to understand what was going on, Ginny said immediately, ʹYeah, weʹll do it,ʹ and Luna said, ʹWhen you say ʺSiriusʺ, are you talking about Stubby Boardman?ʹQ5 - Is this a good plan?ʹWhereʹs Sirius, Kreacher?ʹ Harry demanded. The house‐elf gave a wheezy chuckle. ʹMaster has gone out, Harry Potter.ʹ  ʹWhereʹs he gone? Whereʹs he gone, Kreacher?ʹ  Kreacher merely cackled. ʹIʹm warning you!ʹ said Harry, fully aware that his scope for inflicting punishment upon Kreacher was almost non‐existent in this position. ʹWhat about Lupin? Mad‐Eye? Any of them, are any of them there?ʹ  ʹNobody here but Kreacher!ʹ said the elf gleefully and turning away from Harry he began to walk slowly towards the door at the end of the kitchen. ʹKreacher thinks he will have a little chat with his mistress now, yes, he hasnʹt had a chance in a long time, Kreacherʹs master has been keeping him away from her ‐ʹ  ʹWhere has Sirius gone?ʹ Harry yelled after the elf. ʹKreacher, has he gone to the Department of Mysteries?ʹ  Kreacher stopped in his tracks. Harry could just make out the back of his bald head through the forest of chair legs before him. ʹMaster does not tell poor Kreacher where he is going,ʹ said the elf quietly. ʹBut you know!ʹ shouted Harry. ʹDonʹt you? You know where he is!ʹ  There was a momentʹs silence, then the elf let out his loudest cackle yet. ʹMaster will not come back from the Department of Mysteries!ʹ he said gleefully. ʹKreacher and his mistress are alone again!ʹ Q6 - Will Sirius not come back from the Department of Mysteries?Snape gave her an ironic bow and turned to leave. Harry knew his last chance of letting the Order know what was going on was walking out of the door. ʹHeʹs got Padfoot!ʹ he shouted. ʹHeʹs got Padfoot at the place where itʹs hidden!ʹ  Snape had stopped with his hand on Umbridges door handle. ʹPadfoot?ʹ cried Professor Umbridge, looking eagerly from Harry to Snape. ʹWhat is Padfoot? Where what is hidden? What does he mean, Snape?ʹ  Snape looked round at Harry. His face was inscrutable. Harry could not tell whether he had understood or not, but he did not dare speak more plainly in front of Umbridge. ʹI have no idea,ʹ said Snape coldly.Q7 - Is Snape good or bad?Q8 - What do you think about the reveal that she was the one who sent Dementors to little whinging?Q9 - She was going to use the Cruciatus curse?!Q10 - What is Hermine leading them to?Chapter 33 - Fight and FlightʹCan we have your wand, then, if weʹre going first?ʹ Harry asked her. ʹNo, I donʹt think so, Mr Potter,ʹ said Umbridge sweetly, poking him in the back with it. The Ministry places a rather higher value on my life than yours, Iʹm afraid.ʹ Q1 - If you were leading Umbridge into the woods, where would you take her?But as he stretched out a hand towards it, a centaurʹs hoof descended upon the wand and it broke cleanly in half. ʹNow!ʹ roared a voice in Harryʹs ear and a thick hairy arm descended from thin air and dragged him upright. Hermione, too, had been pulled to her feet. Over the plunging, many‐coloured backs and heads of the centaurs, Harry saw Umbridge being borne away through the trees by Bane. Screaming non‐stop, her voice grew fainter and fainter until they could no longer hear it over the trampling of hooves surrounding them.Q2 - Is this the end of Umbridge magical journey?Q3 - Will she be back in this book?He opened his mouth even wider. ʹHagger.ʹ  Harry did not know what ʹhaggerʹ meant, or what language it was from.Q4 - Is Harry the dumbest person in this book?ʹExcuse me, but I care what happens to Sirius as much as you do!ʹ said Ginny, her jaw set so that her resemblance to Fred and George was suddenly striking. ʹYouʹre too ‐ʹ Harry began, but Ginny said fiercely, ʹIʹm three years older than you were when you fought You‐Know‐Who over the Philosopherʹs Stone, and itʹs because of me that Malfoyʹs stuck back in Umbridgeʹs office with giant flying bogies attacking him ‐ʹ  ʹYeah, but ‐ʹ  ʹWe were all in the DA together,ʹ said Neville quietly. ʹIt was all supposed to be about fighting You‐Know‐Who, wasnʹt it? And this is the first chance weʹve had to do something real ‐ or was that all just a game or something?ʹ  ʹNo — of course it wasnʹt ‐ʹ said Harry impatiently. Then we should come too,ʹ said Neville simply. ʹWe want to help.ʹ  Thatʹs right,ʹ said Luna, smiling happily. Harryʹs eyes met Ronʹs. He knew Ron was thinking exactly what he was: if he could have chosen any members of the DA, in addition to himself, Ron and Hermione, to join him in the attempt to rescue Sirius, he would not have picked Ginny, Neville or Luna.Q5 - Who is your starting three from the DA?Q6 - Have your thoughts on Thestrals changed?

Chapter 25 - The Beetle at BayQ1 - What do you think of this mass breakout at Azkaban?Q2 - Why was Bode assassinated? And who killed him?This latest Decree had been the subject of a great number of jokes among the students. Lee Jordan had pointed out to Umbridge that by the terms of the new rule she was not allowed to tell Fred and George off for playing Exploding Snap in the back of the class. ʹExploding Snapʹs got nothing to do with Defence Against the Dark Arts, Professor! Thatʹs not information relating to your subject!ʹ  When Harry next saw Lee, the back of his hand was bleeding rather badly. Harry recommended essence of Murtlap.Q3 - Do you think Umbridge should be in prison for this?ʹWell, maybe Snape isnʹt really trying to help Harry…ʹ  Harry and Hermione stared at him. Ron looked darkly and meaningfully from one to the other. ʹMaybe,ʹ he said again, in a lower voice, ʹheʹs actually trying to open Harryʹs mind a bit wider… make it easier for You‐Know—ʹ  ʹShut up, Ron,ʹ said Hermione angrily. ʹHow many times have you suspected Snape, and when have you ever been right? Dumbledore trusts him, he works for the Order, that ought to be enough.ʹ  ʹHe used to be a Death Eater,ʹ said Ron stubbornly. ʹAnd weʹve never seen proof that he really swapped sides.ʹ  ʹDumbledore trusts him,ʹ Hermione repeated. ʹAnd if we canʹt trust Dumbledore, we canʹt trust anyone.ʹ Q4 - Whose side are you taking here?Q5 - Life advice: After Pancy says, “At least Cedric was good-looking” and the conversation between Harry and Cho stops, what should Harry’s response be?Q6 - Do you think the date is going well?In the time it took for their coffees to arrive, Roger Davies and his girlfriend had started kissing over their sugar bowl. Harry wished they wouldnʹt; he felt that Davies was setting a standard with which Cho would soon expect him to compete. He felt his face growing hot and tried staring out of the window, but it was so steamed up he couldnʹt see the street outside. To postpone the moment when he would have to look at Cho, he stared up at the ceiling as though examining the paintwork and received a handful of confetti in the face from their hovering cherub.Q7 - Does Harry actually like Cho…because why wouldn’t he wanna makeout with her?Q8 - Is Cho right to be angry at Harry here?Q9 - Can guys and girls be actual friends? Q10 - What is going on with Hagrid?Q11 - Is Hermione slightly abusive to be controlling Rita like this?Q12 - Is Harry smart to be telling his story?Chapter 26 - Seen and Unforeseen’You should have told her differently,ʹ said Hermione, still with that maddeningly patient air. ʹYou should have said it was really annoying, but Iʹd made you promise to come along to the Three Broomsticks, and you really didnʹt want to go, youʹd much rather spend the whole day with her, but unfortunately you thought you really ought to meet me and would she please, please come along with you and hopefully youʹd be able to get away more quickly. And it might have been a good idea to mention how ugly you think I am, too,ʹ  Hermione added as an afterthought. ʹBut I donʹt think youʹre ugly,ʹ said Harry, bemused. Hermione laughed. ʹHarry youʹre worse than Ron… well, no, youʹre not,ʹ she sighed, as Ron himself came stumping into the Hall splattered with mud and looking grumpy.Q1 - How do you know if a person likes you or not?Q2 - Is it good that Harry’s story is published? Do we feel like Harry finally beat Umbridge?The teachers were of course forbidden from mentioning the interview by Educational Decree Number Twenty‐six, but they found ways to express their feelings about it all the same. Professor Sprout awarded Gryffindor twenty points when Harry passed her a watering can; a beaming Professor Flitwick pressed a box of squeaking sugar mice on him at the end of Charms, said, ʹShh!ʹ  and hurried away; and Professor Trelawney broke into hysterical sobs during Divination and announced to the startled class, and a very disapproving Umbridge, that Harry was not going to suffer an early death after all, but would live to a ripe old age, become Minister for Magic and have twelve children.Q3 - What’s your favorite time a teacher praised you?Q4 - What’s the deal with Avery and Rookwood? What information are they giving to Voldy?ʹI was You-Know-Who,ʹ said Harry, and he stretched out his hands in the darkness and held them up to his face, to check that they were no longer deathly white and long‐fingered.Q5 - Why is Harry now becoming Voldemort?ʹSturgis Podmore—’ said Hermione breathlessly, ʹarrested for trying to get through a door! Lucius Malfoy must have got him too! I bet he did it the day you saw him there, Harry. Sturgis had Moodyʹs Invisibility Cloak, right? So, what if he was standing guard by the door, invisible, and Malfoy heard him move ‐ or guessed someone was there ‐ or just did the Imperius Curse on the off‐chance thereʹd be a guard there? So, when Sturgis next had an opportunity ‐ probably when it was his turn on guard duty again—he tried to get into the Department to steal the weapon for Voldemort—Ron, be quiet—but he got caught and sent to Azkaban…ʺ Q6 - Is Hermione right here?Snape staggered ‐ his wand flew upwards, away from Harry ‐and suddenly Harryʹs mind was teeming with memories that were not his: a hook‐nosed man was shouting at a cowering woman, while a small dark‐haired boy cried in a corner… a greasy‐haired teenager sat alone in a dark bedroom, pointing his wand at the ceiling, shooting down flies… a girl was laughing as a scrawny boy tried to mount a bucking broomstick.Q7 - Do any of these memories mean anything?ʹCan you tell me something, sir?ʹ said Harry, firing up again. ʹWhy do you call Voldemort the Dark Lord? Iʹve only ever heard Death Eaters call him that.ʹ  Snape opened his mouth in a snarl ‐ and a woman screamed from somewhere outside the room. Snapes head jerked upwards; he was gazing at the ceiling.There, there, Sybill… calm down… blow your nose on this… itʹs not as bad as you think, now… you are not going to have to leave Hogwarts…ʺ  ʹOh really, Professor McGonagall?ʹ said Umbridge in a deadly voice, taking a few steps forward. ʹAnd your authority for that statement is… ?ʹ  That would be mine,ʹ said a deep voice. The oaken front doors had swung open. Students beside them scuttled out of the way as Dumbledore appeared in the entrance. What he had been doing out in the grounds Harry could not imagine, but there was something impressive about the sight of him framed in the doorway against an oddly misty night.Q8 - What was Dumbledore doing outside the castle at this hour?Q9 - Thoughts on Trelawney sack, Dumbledore’s attitude, and Firenze hire?Chapter 27 - The Centaur and the SneakʹNot reallyʹ said Hermione indifferently, who was reading the Daily Prophet. ʹIʹve never really liked horses.ʹ  She turned a page of the newspaper and scanned its columns. ʹHeʹs not a horse, heʹs a centaur!ʹ said Lavender, sounding shocked. ʹA gorgeous centaur…ʹ sighed Parvati.Q1 - Is it weird to be attracted to a centaur? (or the horse from Spirit?)ʹDid Hagrid breed you, like the Thestrals?ʹ asked Dean eagerly.Q2 - Did Dean just unseat Ron as the dumbest student in Hogwarts?ʹIn the past decade, the indications have been that wizardkind is living through nothing more than a brief calm between two wars. Mars, bringer of battle, shines brightly above us, suggesting that the fight must soon break out again.Q3 - Is he right here?Q4 - What is Hagrid attempting?Q5 - Did you think they were going to ever get caught?Potter was the leader, was he not, Potter organized it, Potter ‐ why are you shaking your head, girl?ʹ  ʹWell, usually when a person shakes their head,ʹ said McGonagall coldly, ʹthey mean ʺnoʺ. So unless Miss Edgecombe is using a form of sign‐language as yet unknown to humans ‐ʹ  Professor Umbridge seized Marietta, pulled her round to face her and began shaking her very hard. A split second later Dumbledore was on his feet, his wand raised; Kingsley started forwards and Umbridge leapt back from Marietta, waving her hands in the air as though they had been burned. ʹI cannot allow you to manhandle my students, Dolores,ʹ said Dumbledore and, for the first time, he looked angry.ʹYou will now be escorted back to the Ministry, where you will be formally charged, then sent to Azkaban to await trial!ʹ  ʹAh,ʹ said Dumbledore gently, ʹyes. Yes, I thought we might hit that little snag.ʹ  ʹSnag?ʹ said Fudge, his voice still vibrating with joy. ʹI see no snag, Dumbledore!ʹ  ʹWell,ʹ said Dumbledore apologetically, ʹIʹm afraid I do.ʹ  ʹOh, really?ʹ  ʹWell ‐ itʹs just that you seem to be laboring under the delusion that I am going to ‐ what is the phrase? ‐ come quietly. I am afraid I am not going to come quietly at all, Cornelius. I have absolutely no intention of being sent to Azkaban. I could break out, of course ‐ but what a waste of time, and frankly, I can think of a whole host of things I would rather be doing.ʹ Q6 - What are your thoughts on Dumbledore here?ʹI am not leaving to go into hiding. Fudge will soon wish heʹd never dislodged me from Hogwarts, I promise you.ʹ Q7 - What is Dumbledore going to do now?Professor McGonagall said nothing, but marched Harry and Marietta to the door. As it swung closed behind them, Harry heard Phineas Nigellusʹs voice. ʹYou know, Minister, I disagree with Dumbledore on many counts… but you cannot deny heʹs got style…ʹ Q8 - What do you think about everything that just happened?Chapter 28 - Snape’s Worst Memory“Umbridge tried to get back into his office last night after theyʹd searched the castle and grounds for him. Couldnʹt get past the gargoyle. The Headʹs office has sealed itself against her.ʹ Ernie smirked. ʹApparently, she had a right little tantrum.”Q1 - Do you think Dumbledore did this or is this just the magic of the castle?ʹMalfoy just docked us all about fifty points,ʹ said Harry furiously, as they watched several more stones fly upwards from the Gryffindor hour‐glass. ʹYeah, Montague tried to do us during break,ʹ said George. ʹWhat do you mean, ʺtriedʺ?ʹ said Ron quickly. ʹHe never managed to get all the words out,ʹ said Fred, ʹdue to the fact that we forced him head‐first into that Vanishing Cabinet on the first floor.ʹ Q2 - Where do you think Montague vanished to?Q3 - What do you think about the new point system?The upshot of it all was that Professor Umbridge spent her first afternoon as Headmistress running all over the school answering the summonses of the other teachers, none of whom seemed able to rid their rooms of the fireworks without her. When the final bell rang and they were heading back to Gryffindor Tower with their bags, Harry saw, with immense satisfaction, a dishevelled and soot-blackened Umbridge tottering sweaty‐faced from Professor Flitwickʹs classroom.And now he was in a dimly lit room as high and wide as a church, full of nothing but rows and rows of towering shelves, each laden with small, dusty, spun‐glass spheres… now Harrys heart was beating fast with excitement… he knew where to go… he ran forwards, but his footsteps made no noise in the enormous, deserted room… There was something in this room he wanted very, very much…Q4 - What is Harry looking at here?Sheʹs a lovely person really,ʹ said Cho. ʹShe just made a mistake ‐ʹ  Harry looked at her incredulously. ʹA lovely person who made a mistake? She sold us all out, including you!ʹ  ʹWell… we all got away, didnʹt we?ʹ said Cho pleadingly. ʹYou know, her mum works for the Ministry, itʹs really difficult for her ‐ʹ  ʹRonʹs dad works for the Ministry too!ʹ Harry said furiously. ʹAnd in case you hadnʹt noticed, he hasnʹt got sneak written across his face ‐ʹ  That was a really horrible trick of Hermione Grangerʹs,ʹ said Cho fiercely. ʹShe should have told us sheʹd jinxed that list ‐ʹ  ʹI think it was a brilliant idea,ʹ said Harry coldly. Cho flushed and her eyes grew brighter. ʹOh yes, I forgot ‐ of course, if it was darling Hermioneʹs idea ‐ʹ  ʹDonʹt start crying again,ʹ said Harry warningly. ʹI wasnʹt going to!ʹ she shouted. ʹYeah… well… good,ʹ he said. Iʹve got enough to cope with at the moment.ʹ  ʹGo and cope with it then!ʹ Cho said furiously, turning on her heel and stalking off.Q5 - Who is right in this debate?Q6 - Should Harry have looked into Snape’s memories?ʹLeave him ALONE!ʹ  James and Sirius looked round. Jamesʹs free hand immediately jumped to his hair. It was one of the girls from the lake edge. She had thick, dark red hair that fell to her shoulders, and startlingly green almond-shaped eyes—Harryʹs eyes. Harryʹs mother.Q7 - Jenn and Danny, what do you think about the color and shape of the eyes?Q8 - What do you think of the young marauders and of Lily and Snape?ʹYou think youʹre funny,ʹ she said coldly. ʹBut youʹre just an arrogant, bullying toerag, Potter. Leave him alone.ʹ  ʹI will if you go out with me, Evans,ʹ said James quickly. ʹGo on… go out with me and Iʹll never lay a wand on old Snivelly again.ʹ Q9 - Were James and Lily married because of this bet?Q10 - Is James Potter a jerk?Chapter 29 - Careers AdviceQ1 - What is going on with Harry at the start of this chapter? (Is he only depressed because of the memory he saw?)Q2 - Is Harry an idiot to be breaking into Umbridge’s office to talk with Sirius?Q3 - What would the trio be good at for their jobs?Q4 - What would you want to do in the wizarding world?Professor Umbridge gave her most pronounced cough yet. ʹMay I offer you a cough drop, Dolores?ʹ Professor McGonagall asked curtly, without looking at Professor Umbridge.ʹI should have made my meaning plainer,ʹ said Professor McGonagall, turning at last to look Umbridge directly in the eyes. ʹHe has achieved high marks in all Defence Against the Dark Arts tests set by a competent teacher.ʹ  Professor Umbridgeʹs smile vanished as suddenly as a light bulb blowing.ʹPotter,ʹ she said in ringing tones, ʹI will assist you to become an Auror if it is the last thing I do! If I have to coach you nightly, I will make sure you achieve the required results!ʹQ5 - Thoughts on the showdown with McG and Umbridge?ʹHe kept messing up his hair,ʹ said Harry in a pained voice. Sirius and Lupin laughed. ʹIʹd forgotten he used to do that,ʹ said Sirius affectionately. ʹWas he playing with the Snitch?ʹ said Lupin eagerly. ʹYeah,ʹ said Harry, watching uncomprehendingly as Sirius and Lupin beamed reminiscently. ʹWell… I thought he was a bit of an idiot.ʹ Q6 - How do you look at your past self?Q7 - Are Sirius and Lupin right to laugh it off like this?ʹSTOP THEM!ʹ shrieked Umbridge, but it was too late. As the Inquisitorial Squad closed in, Fred and George kicked off from the floor, shooting fifteen feet into the air, the iron peg swinging dangerously below. Fred looked across the hall at the poltergeist bobbing on his level above the crowd. ʹGive her hell from us, Peeves.ʹ  And Peeves, who Harry had never seen take an order from a student before, swept his belled hat from his head and sprang to a salute as Fred and George wheeled about to tumultuous applause from the students below and sped out of the open front doors into the glorious sunset.Q8 - What do you think about this?

Chapter 21 - The Eye of the SnakeʹOi!ʹ bellowed Ron, finally losing patience and sticking his head out of the window, ʹI am a prefect and if one more snowball hits this window—OUCH!ʹ  He withdrew his head sharply, his face covered in snow. ʹItʹs Fred and George,ʹ he said bitterly, slamming the window behind him. ʹGits…ʹ ʹDonʹ worry, it wonʹ hurt yen,ʹ said Hagrid patiently. ʹRighʹ, now, who can tell me why some oʹ yeh can see ʹem anʹ some canʹt?ʹ  Hermione raised her hand. ʹGo on then,ʹ said Hagrid, beaming at her. The only people who can see Thestrals,ʹ she said, ʹare people who have seen death.ʹ  Thaʹs exactly right,ʹ said Hagrid solemnly, ʹten points ter Gryffindor. Now, Thestrals— ʹHem, hem.ʹ Professor Umbridge had arrived.Q1 - What do you think of ThestralsQ2 - Is Umbridge still okay after this?ʹYou can see the Thestrals, Longbottom, can you?ʹ she said. Neville nodded. ʹWho did you see die?ʹ she asked, her tone indifferent. ʹMy… my grandad,ʹ said Neville.Q3 - Harry is going to the Burrow for Christmas…what’s the most memorable Christmas you’ve had?ʹWell,ʹ said Angelina dully, pulling off her cloak and throwing it into a corner, ʹweʹve finally replaced you.ʹ  ʹReplaced me?ʹ said Harry blankly. ʹYou and Fred and George,ʹ she said impatiently. ʹWeʹve got another Seeker!ʹ  ʹWho?ʹ said Harry quickly. ʹGinny Weasley,ʹ said Katie.Q4 - You think Ginny will be good at Quidditch?Q5 - When Cho was hanging back during the DA meeting, did you know everything that was going to happen, like Hermione did, or were you oblivious like Ron.ʹWell?ʹ Ron said finally, looking up at Harry. ʹHow was it?ʹ  Harry considered for a moment. ʹWet,ʹ he said truthfully. Ron made a noise that might have indicated jubilation or disgust, it was hard to tell. ʹBecause she was crying,ʹ Harry continued heavily. ʹOh,ʹ said Ron, his smile fading slightly. ʹAre you that bad at kissing?ʹʹWell, obviously, sheʹs feeling very sad, because of Cedric dying. Then I expect sheʹs feeling confused because she liked Cedric and now she likes Harry, and she canʹt work out who she likes best. Then sheʹll be feeling guilty, thinking itʹs an insult to Cedricʹs memory to be kissing Harry at all, and sheʹll be worrying about what everyone else might say about her if she starts going out with Harry. And she probably canʹt work out what her feelings towards Harry are, anyway, because he was the one who was with Cedric when Cedric died, so thatʹs all very mixed up and painful. Oh, and sheʹs afraid sheʹs going to be thrown off the Ravenclaw Quidditch team because sheʹs been flying so badly.ʹ  A slightly stunned silence greeted the end of this speech, then Ron said, ʹOne person canʹt feel all that at once, theyʹd explode.ʹ  ʹJust because youʹve got the emotional range of a teaspoon doesnʹt mean we all have,ʹ said Hermione nastily picking up her quill again.Q6 - Is Hermione the best?He had to tell Ron, it was very important that he tell him… taking great gulps of air, Harry pushed himself up in bed, willing himself not to throw up again, the pain half‐blinding him. ʹYour dad,ʹ he panted, his chest heaving. ʹYour dadʹs… been attacked…ʹ  ʹWhat?ʹ said Ron uncomprehendingly. ʹYour dad! Heʹs been bitten, itʹs serious, there was blood everywhere…ʺ Q7 - Was this dream real?ʹNo!ʹ said Harry angrily; would none of them understand? ʹI was having a dream at first about something completely different, something stupid… and then this interrupted it. It was real, I didnʹt imagine it. Mr Weasley was asleep on the floor and he was attacked by a gigantic snake, there was a load of blood, he collapsed, someoneʹs got to find out where he is…ʹ  Professor McGonagall was gazing at him through her lopsided spectacles as though horrified at what she was seeing. ʹIʹm not lying and Iʹm not mad!ʹ Harry told her, his voice rising to a shout. ʹI tell you, I saw it happen!ʹ  ʹI believe you, Potter,ʹ said Professor McGonagall curtly. ʹPut on your dressing gown—weʹre going to see the Headmaster.ʹQ8 - Was Harry the snake or was he watching the whole thing happen?Chapter 22 - St Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and InjuriesProfessor McGonagall rapped three times with the griffin knocker and the voices ceased abruptly as though someone had switched them all off. The door opened of its own accord and Professor McGonagall led Harry and Ron inside.Q1 - What are those voices? And what are they talking about?ʹHow did you see this?ʹ Dumbledore asked quietly, still not looking at Harry. ʹWell… I donʹt know,ʹ said Harry, rather angrily ‐ what did it matter? ʹInside my head, I suppose—” ʹYou misunderstand me,ʹ said Dumbledore, still in the same calm tone. ʹI mean… can you remember —er— where you were positioned as you watched this attack happen? Were you perhaps standing beside the victim, or else looking down on the scene from above?ʹ  This was such a curious question that Harry gaped at Dumbledore; it was almost as though he knew…Q2 - What does Dumbledore know?Q3 - Dumbledore tells Fawkes that they will need a warning…what is he talking about?The instrument tinkled into life at once with rhythmic clinking noises. Tiny puffs of pale green smoke issued from the minuscule silver tube at the top. Dumbledore watched the smoke closely, his brow furrowed. After a few seconds, the tiny puffs became a steady stream of smoke that thickened and coiled in the air… a serpentʹs head grew out of the end of it, opening its mouth wide. Harry wondered whether the instrument was confirming his story: he looked eagerly at Dumbledore for a sign that he was right, but Dumbledore did not look up. ʹNaturally, naturally,ʹ murmured Dumbledore apparently to himself, still observing the stream of smoke without the slightest sign of surprise. ʹBut in essence divided?ʹ  Harry could make neither head nor tail of this question. The smoke serpent, however, split itself instantly into two snakes, both coiling and undulating in the dark air. With a look of grim satisfaction, Dumbledore gave the instrument another gentle tap with his wand: the clinking noise slowed and died and the smoke serpents grew faint, became a formless haze and vanished.Q4 - What does Dumbledore mean, in essence divided? What is happening here?ʹYour father has been injured in the course of his work for the Order of the Phoenix,ʹ said Dumbledore, before Harry could speak. ʹHe has been taken to St Mungoʹs Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. I am sending you back to Siriusʹs house, which is much more convenient for the hospital than The Burrow. You will meet your mother there.ʹ  ʹHowʹre we going?ʹ asked Fred, looking shaken. Floo powder?ʹ  ʹNo,ʹ said Dumbledore, Floo powder is not safe at the moment, the Network is being watched. You will be taking a Portkey.ʹ He indicated the old kettle lying innocently on his desk. ʹWe are just waiting for Phineas Nigellus to report back… I want to be sure that the coast is clear before sending you—” There was a flash of flame in the very middle of the office, leaving behind a single golden feather that floated gently to the floor. ʹIt is Fawkesʹs warning,ʹ said Dumbledore, catching the feather as it fell. ʹProfessor Umbridge must know youʹre out of your beds… Minerva, go and head her off—tell her any story.”ʹQ5 - Does it scare you that Dumbledore is being this intense?It happened in a fraction of a second: in the infinitesimal pause before Dumbledore said ʹthreeʹ, Harry looked up at him—they were very close together—and Dumbledoreʹs clear blue gaze moved from the Portkey to Harryʹs face. At once, Harryʹs scar burned white-hot, as though the old wound had burst open again ‐ and unbidden, unwanted, but terrifyingly strong, there rose within Harry a hatred so powerful he felt, for that instant, he would like nothing better than to strike—to bite—to sink his fangs into the man before him — ʹ… three.ʹ Q6 - What is going on here?Q7 - Do you side with Sirius or the Weasleys wanting to go see their dad?If Harry had ever sat through a longer night than this one, he could not remember it. Sirius suggested once, without any real conviction, that they all go to bed, but the Weasleysʹ looks of disgust were answer enough. They mostly sat in silence around the table, watching the candle wick sinking lower and lower into liquid wax, occasionally raising a bottle to their lips, speaking only to check the time, to wonder aloud what was happening, and to reassure each other that if there was bad news, they would know straightaway, for Mrs Weasley must long since have arrived at St Mungoʹs.Q8 - Maybe this is too personal but have you ever had a moment of waiting for bad news like this?Fred fell back into his chair with his hands over his face. George and Ginny got up, walked swiftly over to their mother and hugged her. Ron gave a very shaky laugh and downed the rest of his Butterbeer in one. ʹBreakfast!ʹ said Sirius loudly and joyfully, jumping to his feet. ʹWhereʹs that accursed house‐elf? Kreacher! KREACHER!ʹ  But Kreacher did not answer the summons. ʹOh, forget it, then,ʹ muttered Sirius, counting the people in front of him. ʹSo, itʹs breakfast for— letʹs see— seven… bacon and eggs, I think, and some tea, and toast—”ʹBut thatʹs not all,ʹ said Harry, in a voice only a little above a whisper. ʹSirius, I… I think Iʹm going mad. Back in Dumbledoreʹs office, just before we took the Portkey… for a couple of seconds there I thought I was a snake, I felt like one ‐  my scar really hurt when I was looking at Dumbledore ‐ Sirius, I wanted to attack him!ʹ  He could only see a sliver of Siriuss face; the rest was in darkness. ʹIt must have been the aftermath of the vision, thatʹs all,ʹ said Sirius. ʹYou were still thinking of the dream or whatever it was and—”  ʹIt wasnʹt that,ʹ said Harry, shaking his head, ʹit was like something rose up inside me, like thereʹs a snake inside me.ʹ Q9 - What do you think is happening here?ARTEFACT ACCIDENTS… Ground floor Cauldron explosion, wand backfiring, broom crashes, etc. CREATURE‐INDUCED INJURIES… First floor Bites, stings, burns, embedded spines, etc. MAGICAL BUGS… Second floor Contagious maladies, e.g. dragon pox, vanishing sickness, scrojungulus, etc. POTION AND PLANT POISONING… Third floor Rashes, regurgitation, uncontrollable 2, etc. SPELL DAMAGE… Fourth floor Unliftable jinxes, hexes, incorrectly applied charms, etc. VISITORSʹ TEAROOM / HOSPITAL SHOP… Fifth floorQ10 - What floor would you want to work on?Q11 - What was Mr Weasley guarding?ʹCourse heʹs worried,ʹ growled Moody. ʹThe boyʹs seeing things from inside You- Know-Who’s snake. Obviously, Potter doesnʹt realize what that means, but if You-Know-Who’s possessing him —ʹQ12 - What does this mean?Chapter 23 - Christmas on the Closed WardQ1 - What is Voldemort after? Is Harry really the weapon?ʹYou know,ʹ said Phineas Nigellus, even more loudly than Harry ʹthis is precisely why I loathed being a teacher! Young people are so infernally convinced that they are absolutely right about everything. Has it not occurred to you, my poor puffed‐up popinjay, that there might be an excellent reason why the Headmaster of Hogwarts is not confiding every tiny detail of his plans to you? Have you never paused, while feeling hard‐done‐by, to note that following Dumbledore's orders has never yet led you into harm? No. No, like all young people, you are quite sure that you alone feel and think, you alone recognise danger, you alone are the only one clever enough to realize what the Dark Lord may be planning—”Q2 - Is Dumbledore right to keep his secrets?The feeling of being unclean intensified. He half-wished he had not obeyed Dumbledore… if this was how life was going to be for him in Grimmauld Place from now on, maybe he would be better off in Privet Drive after all.Q3 - Is it crazy to you that Harry would rather be back with the Dursleys now?Q4 - It’s great that Hermione comes, but is she being a bad kid to her parents?ʹWell, that was a bit stupid of you,ʹ said Ginny angrily, ʹseeing as you donʹt know anyone but me whoʹs been possessed by You‐Know‐Who, and I can tell you how it feels.ʹ  Harry remained quite still as the impact of these words hit him. Then he wheeled round. ʹI forgot,ʹ he said. ʹLucky you,ʹ said Ginny coolly.Q5 - What’s the best gift you’ve ever given?Thanks for the book, Harryʹ she said happily. ʹIʹve been wanting that New Theory on Numerology for ages! And that perfumeʹs really unusual, Ron.ʹ Q6 - Thoughts on Ron giving Hermione perfume?Q7 - One of the healers thought Ron had Spattergroit…do you think he does?Q8 - What do you think about them seeing Lockhart again?ʹWhat?ʹ said Ron, looking amazed. (Harry wanted to stamp on Ronʹs foot, but that sort of thing is much harder to bring off unnoticed when youʹre wearing jeans rather than robes.) ʹIs that your dad down the end, Neville?ʹ  ʹWhatʹs this?ʹ said Mrs Longbottom sharply. ʹHavenʹt you told your friends about your parents, Neville?ʹ  Neville took a deep breath, looked up at the ceiling and shook his head. Harry could not remember ever feeling sorrier for anyone, but he could not think of any way of helping Neville out of the situation. ʹWell, itʹs nothing to be ashamed of!ʹ said Mrs Longbottom angrily. ʹYou should be proud, Neville, proud. They didnʹt give their health and their sanity so their only son would be ashamed of them, you know!ʹ ʹIʹm not ashamed,ʹ said Neville, very faintly, still looking anywhere but at Harry and the others. Ron was now standing on tiptoe to look over at the inhabitants of the two beds.Q9 - What do you think of the group meeting Neville here?Nevilleʹs mother had come edging down the ward in her nightdress. She no longer had the plump, happy‐looking face Harry had seen in Moodyʹs old photograph of the original Order of the Phoenix. Her face was thin and worn now, her eyes seemed overlarge and her hair, which had turned white, was wispy and dead‐looking. She did not seem to want to speak, or perhaps she was not able to, but she made timid motions towards Neville, holding something in her outstretched hand. ʹAgain?ʹ said Mrs Longbottom, sounding slightly weary. ʹVery well, Alice dear, very well ‐ Neville, take it, whatever it is.ʹ  But Neville had already stretched out his hand, into which his mother dropped an empty Droobleʹs Best Blowing Gum wrapper. ʹVery nice, dear,ʹ said Nevilleʹs grandmother in a falsely cheery voice, patting his mother on the shoulder. But Neville said quietly, Thanks, Mum.ʹ  His mother tottered away, back up the ward, humming to herself. Neville looked around at the others, his expression defiant, as though daring them to laugh, but Harry did not think heʹd ever found anything less funny in his life. ʹWell, weʹd better get back,ʹ sighed Mrs Longbottom, drawing on long green gloves. ʹVery nice to have met you all. Neville, put that wrapper in the bin, she must have given you enough of them to paper your bedroom by now.ʹ  But as they left, Harry was sure he saw Neville slip the sweet wrapper into his pocket.Q10 - What do you think of Neville after this?Chapter 24 - OcclumencyQ1 - What is Kreacher up to?“Occlumency, Potter. The magical defense of the mind against external penetration. An obscure branch of magic, but a highly useful one.”Q2 - Thoughts on Occlumency?Q3 - What’s in the package that Sirius gave Harry?Q4 - What’s the best story you have of asking someone on a date?“Only muggles talk of ‘mind reading.’ The mind is not a book, to be opened at will and examined at leisure, Thoughts are not etched on the inside of skulls, to be perused by any invader. The mind is a complex and many-layered thing, Potter — or at least most minds are.” He smirked. “It is true, however, that those who have mastered Legilimency are able, under certain conditions, to delve into the minds of their victims and to interpret their findings correctly. The Dark Lord, for instance, almost always knows when somebody is lying to him. Only those skilled at Occlumency are able to shut down those feelings and memories that contradict the lie, and so can utter falsehoods in his presence without detection.”Q5 - Would you want to be good at Occlumency or Legilimency?“Then you will find yourself easy prey for the Dark Lord!" said Snape savagely. "Fools who wear their hearts proudly on their sleeves, who cannot control their emotions, who wallow in sad memories and allow themselves to be provoked so easily - weak people, in other words - they stand no chance against his powers! He will penetrate your mind with absurd ease, Potter!”Q6 - Would you be good at controlling your emotions like this?Q7 - What’s in the department of mysteries?Q8 - Why is Snape hiding his memories?Q9 - Why is Voldemort so happy at the end of this chapter?

Chapter 17 - Educational Decree Number Twenty-FourQ1 - What is the nicest thing anyone has ever told you?ʹNo, they canʹt have done, because I put a jinx on that piece of parchment we all signed,ʹ said Hermione grimly. ʹBelieve me, if anyoneʹs run off and told Umbridge, weʹll know exactly who they are and they will really regret it.ʹ Q2 - Was Hermione right to do this?ʹLooks like somethingʹs attacked her. Canʹt think what would have done it, though. Thestrals will sometimes go for birds, of course, but Hagridʹs got the Hogwarts Thestrals well-trained not to touch owls.ʹ Q3 - What do you think Thestrals are?Q4 - What happened to Hedwig?“My father says itʹs a matter of time before the Ministry has him carted off to St Mungoʹs… apparently theyʹve got a special ward for people whose brains have been addled by magic.ʹ  Malfoy made a grotesque face, his mouth sagging open and his eyes rolling. Crabbe and Goyle gave their usual grunts of laughter; Pansy Parkinson shrieked with glee. Something collided hard with Harryʹs shoulder, knocking him sideways. A split second later he realized that Neville had just charged past him, heading straight for Malfoy.Q5 - Do you think Neville would have won this fight?Q6 - Danny, what's the significance of Snape being a teacher for 14 years!?Q7 - What is Molly Weasley on duty for?A hand had appeared amongst the flames, groping as though to catch hold of something; a stubby, short-fingered hand covered in ugly old-fashioned rings. The three of them ran for it. At the door of the boysʹ dormitory Harry looked back. Umbridgeʹs hand was still making snatching movements amongst the flames, as though she knew exactly where Sirius’s hair had been moments before and was determined to seize it.Chapter 18 - Dumbledore’s ArmyQ1 - Harry’s scar hurts during quidditch and he guesses Voldermort is angry…what is he angry about?Q2 - Any further thoughts about what the weapon might be?ʹDobby knows the perfect place, sir!ʹ he said happily. ʹDobby heard tell of it from the other house‐elves when he came to Hogwarts, sir. It is known by us as the Come and Go Room, sir, or else as the Room of Requirement!ʹ  ʹWhy?ʹ said Harry curiously. ʹBecause it is a room that a person can only enter,ʹ said Dobby seriously, ʹwhen they have real need of it. Sometimes it is there, and sometimes it is not, but when it appears, it is always equipped for the seekerʹs needs. Dobby has used it, sir,ʹ  said the elf, dropping his voice and looking guilty, ʹwhen Winky has been very drunk; he has hidden her in the Room of Requirement and he has found antidotes to Butterbeer there, and a nice elf‐sized bed to settle her on while she sleeps it off, sir… and Dobby knows Mr Filch has found extra cleaning materials there when he has run short, sir, and ʹAnd if you really needed a bathroom,ʹ said Harry, suddenly remembering something Dumbledore had said at the Yule Ball the previous Christmas, ʹwould it fill itself with chamber pots?ʹ  ʹDobby expects so, sir,ʹ said Dobby, nodding earnestly. ʹIt is a most amazing room, sir.ʹ Q3 - What do you think about the Room of Requirement?Q4 - What would you have the room change into for you?Q5 - How did Dumbledore tell Harry about the room at the Yule Ball?Q6 - Do you agree that Harry should be the leader of the group? Who else would be a good leader?Harry moved off into the middle of the room. Something very odd was happening to Zacharias Smith. Every time he opened his mouth to disarm Anthony Goldstein, his own wand would fly out of his hand, yet Anthony did not seem to be making a sound. Harry did not have to look far to solve the mystery: Fred and George were several feet from Smith and taking it in turns to point their wands at his back.Q7 - How was the first meeting of the DA?Q8 - What would you call the group?Chapter 19 - The Lion and the SerpentʹWell, the Sorting Hat did seriously consider putting me in Ravenclaw during my Sorting,ʹ said Hermione brightly, ʹbut it decided on Gryffindor in the end. So, does that mean weʹre using the Galleons?ʹ Q1 - Should Hermione be in Ravenclaw?ʹGood luck, Ron,ʹ said Hermione, standing on tiptoe and kissing him on the cheek. ʹAnd you, Harry—” Ron seemed to come to himself slightly as they walked back across the Great Hall. He touched the spot on his face where Hermione had kissed him, looking puzzled, as though he was not quite sure what had just happened. He seemed too distracted to notice much around him, but Harry cast a curious glance at the crown‐shaped badges as they passed the Slytherin table, and this time he made out the words etched on to them: Weasley is our King.Q2 - What’s the best bit of trash talk you’ve ever heard? (Weasley is our King)Q3 - Was Hermione’s kiss tactic a good one?ʹAnd itʹs Johnson—Johnson with the Quaffle, what a player that girl is, Iʹve been saying it for years but she still wonʹt go out with me—” ʹJORDAN!ʹ yelled Professor McGonagall. ʹ‐ just a fun fact, Professor, adds a bit of interest.Q4 - What’s the most exciting sporting event you’ve ever seen?Harry was not aware of releasing George, all he knew was that a second later both of them were sprinting towards Malfoy. He had completely forgotten that all the teachers were watching: all he wanted to do was cause Malfoy as much pain as possible; with no time to draw out his wand, he merely drew back the fist clutching the Snitch and sank it as hard as he could into Malfoys stomach.Q5 - Was Harry and George right to do this?ʹBut instead of leaving it to Madam Hooch to sort out, you two decided to give an exhibition of Muggle duelling, did you?ʹ bellowed Professor McGonagall. ʹHave you any idea what youʹve—?ʹ  ʹHem, hem.ʹQ6 - What were your thoughts when you initially read this?Q7 - Is Umbridge the worst?Chapter 20 - Hagrid’s TaleQ1 - How do you like Hagrid being back?Q2 - What do you think about Hagrid’s story?Q3 - Do you think the giants will be on Voldemort’s side?ʹI—Iʹve been away for me health,ʹ he said. ʹFor your health,ʹ repeated Professor Umbridge. Her eyes traveled over Hagridʹs discolored and swollen face; dragon blood dripped gently and silently on to his waistcoat. ʹI see.ʹ  ʹYeah,ʹ said Hagrid, ʹbit oʹ oʹ fresh air, yeh know—ʹYes, as gamekeeper fresh air must be so difficult to come by,ʹ said Umbridge sweetly. The small patch of Hagridʹs face that was not black or purple, flushed.Q4 - How do you think the Hagrid Umbridge dynamic will work out?Q5 - Will Hagrid get sacked?

Chapter 13 - Detention with DoloresQ1 - Why do you think Dumbledore hired Dolores Jane Umbridge?Q2 - They are writing an essay on moonstones…do you think this will play into the future somehow?ʹBowtruckles,ʹ said Hermione. Theyʹre tree guardians, usually live in wand-trees. ʹFive points for Gryffindor,ʹ said Professor Grubbly-Plank. ʹQ3 - How rigged is the point system?Q4 - What direction do you hope the books go in? What has interested you the most at this point?The door of the nearest greenhouse opened and some fourth years spilled out of it, including Ginny. ʹHi,ʹ she said brightly as she passed. A few seconds later, Luna Lovegood emerged, trailing behind the rest of the class, a smudge of earth on her nose, and her hair tied in a knot on the top of her head. When she saw Harry, her prominent eyes seemed to bulge excitedly and she made a beeline straight for him. Many of his classmates turned curiously to watch. Luna took a great breath and then said, without so much as a preliminary hello, ʹI believe He Who Must Not Be Named is back and I believe you fought him and escaped from him.ʹQ5 - Harry’s story is becoming a conspiracy theory…do you believe any conspiracy theories?Q6 - What do you think of Umbridge and her detention with Harry?Q7 - If you had a detention with a student, what would you have them do?ʹAt least itʹs only lines,ʹ said Hermione consolingly, as Harry sank back on to his bench and looked down at his steak and kidney pie, which he no longer fancied very much. ʹItʹs not as if itʹs a dreadful punishment, really…ʺ  Harry opened his mouth, closed it again and nodded. He was not really sure why he was not telling Ron and Hermione exactly what was happening in Umbridgeʹs room: he only knew that he did not want to see their looks of horror; that would make the whole thing seem worse and therefore more difficult to face. He also felt dimly that this was between himself and Umbridge, a private battle of wills, and he was not going to give her the satisfaction of hearing that he had complained about it.Q8 - Would you stand true like Harry, or fake that she made her point?She moved towards him, stretching out her short ringed fingers for his arm. And then, as she took hold of him to examine the words now cut into his skin, pain seared, not across the back of his hand, but across the scar on his forehead. At the same time, he had a most peculiar sensation somewhere around his midriff.Q9 - Why did his scar hurt here?Chapter 14 - Percy and PadfootQ1 - How do Hogwarts students do their laundry?Q2 - How many house elves do you think Hermione has freed?Harryʹs insides reinflated so rapidly he felt as though he might actually float a few inches off the dropping-strewn floor. Who cared about a stupid flying horse; Cho thought he had been really brave. For a moment, he considered accidentally- on-purpose showing her his cut hand as he helped her tie her parcel on to her owl… but the very instant this thrilling thought occurred, the Owlery door opened again.Q3 - What’s the most you’ve tried to show off to someone you had a crush on?Q4 - What is the deal with Sturgis Podmore?Q5 - Who do you think will win the Quidditch cup this year?From something the Minister let slip when telling me you are now a prefect, I gather that you are still seeing a lot of Harry Potter. I must tell you, Ron, that nothing could put you in danger of losing your badge more than continued fraternization with that boy. Yes, I am sure you are surprised to hear this no doubt you will say that Potter has always been Dumbledoreʹs favorite — but I feel bound to tell you that Dumbledore may not be in charge at Hogwarts much longer and the people who count have a very different and probably more accurate view of Potterʹs behavior. I shall say no more here, but if you look at the Daily Prophet.Q6 - What does Percy mean here?Q7 - Do you think Dumbldore will be sacked by the end of this?And I do hope, Ron, that you will not allow family ties to blind you to the misguided nature of our parentsʹ beliefs and actions, either. I sincerely hope that, in time, they will realize how mistaken they were and I shall, of course, be ready to accept a full apology when that day comes.ʹHermione, you are honestly the most wonderful person Iʹve ever met,ʹ said Ron weakly, ʹand if Iʹm ever rude to you againʹ‐ Iʹll know youʹre back to normal,ʹ said Hermione. ʹHarry, yours is OK except for this bit at the end, I think you must have misheard Professor Sinistra, Europaʹs covered in ice, not mice Harry?ʹQ8 - Harry thought a moon was covered in mice…ʹYes, but the world isnʹt split into good people and Death Eaters,ʹ said Sirius with a wry smile. ʹI know sheʹs a nasty piece of work, though — you should hear Remus talk about her.ʹ ʹFudge thinks Dumbledore will stop at nothing to seize power. Heʹs getting more paranoid about Dumbledore by the day. Itʹs a matter of time before he has Dumbledore arrested on some trumped up charge.ʹ There was a pause in which Sirius looked out of the fire at Harry, a crease between his sunken eyes. ʹYouʹre less like your father than I thought,ʹ he said finally, a definite coolness in his voice. The risk wouldʹve been what made it fun for James.ʹ Q9 - What do you think of what Sirius said?Chapter 15 - The Hogwarts High InquisitorQ1 - What do you think of Umbridge’s appointment as High Inquisitor?Q2 - What do you think of the article in the Prophet?O - OutstandingE - Exceed ExpectationsA - AcceptableP - PoorD - Dreadful T - TrollQ3 - What do you think about the OWL grading system?Q4 - Do you feel bad for Trelawney here?Q5 - Do you think any teacher will get fired?ʹYes?ʹ said Professor McGonagall, turning round, her eyebrows so close together they seemed to form one long, severe line. ʹI was just wondering, Professor, whether you received my note telling you of the date and time of your inspec—ʹ  ʹObviously I received it, or I would have asked you what you are doing in my classroom,ʹ said Professor McGonagall, turning her back firmly on Professor Umbridge. Many of the students exchanged looks of glee. ʹAs I was saying: today, we shall be practicing the altogether more difficult Vanishment of mice. Now, the Vanishing Spell.ʹSheʹs an awful woman,ʹ said Hermione in a small voice. ʹAwful. You know, 1 was just saying to Ron when you came in… weʹve got to do something about her.ʹ  ʹI suggested poison,ʹ said Ron grimly.Hermione heaved a very deep sigh. ʹIsnʹt it obvious?ʹ she said. ʹIʹm talking about you, Harry.ʹ Q6 - Do you think Harry would be a good teacher?ʹYou donʹt know what itʹs like! You neither of you youʹve never had to face him, have you? You think itʹs just memorizing a bunch of spells and throwing them at him, like youʹre in class or something? The whole time youʹre sure you know thereʹs nothing between you and dying except your own your own brain or guts or whatever like you can think straight when you know youʹre about a nanosecond from being murdered, or tortured, or watching your friends die theyʹve never taught us that in their classes, what itʹs like to deal with things like that and you two sit there acting like Iʹm a clever little boy to be standing here, alive, like Diggory was stupid, like he messed up — you just donʹt get it, that could just as easily have been me, it would have been if Voldemort hadnʹt needed me. ʹReparo,ʹ Harry muttered, pointing his wand at the broken pieces of china. They flew back together, good as new, but there was no returning the Murtlap essence to the bowl. He was suddenly so tired he was tempted to sink back into his armchair and sleep there, but instead he forced himself to his feet and followed Ron upstairs. His restless night was punctuated once more by dreams of long corridors and locked doors and he awoke next day with his scar prickling again.Q7 - Unpack line above.Chapter 16 - In the Hog’s HeadQ1 - What was the deal with Filch and the dungbombs and Hermione thinking through that story?A battered wooden sign hung from a rusty bracket over the door, with a picture on it of a wild boarʹs severed head, leaking blood on to the white cloth around it. The sign creaked in the wind as they approached. All three of them hesitated outside the door…The Hogʹs Head bar comprised one small, dingy and very dirty room that smelled strongly of something that might have been goats.Q2 - If you owned a Wizard Brewery, what would you call it?The barman sidled towards them out of a back room. He was a grumpy-looking old man with a great deal of long grey hair and beard. He was tall and thin and looked vaguely familiar to Harry.Q3 - Have we met this barman before?ʹWhereʹs the proof You-Know-Whoʹs back?ʹ said the blond Hufflepuff player in a rather aggressive voice. ʹWell, Dumbledore believes it,” Hermione began. ʹYou mean, Dumbledore believes him,ʹ said the blond boy, nodding at Harry. ʹWho are you?ʹ said Ron, rather rudely. ʹZacharias Smith,ʹ said the boy, ʹand I think weʹve got the right to know exactly what makes him say You-Know-Whoʹs back.ʹ  Q4 - Is this an unreasonable request from Smith?ʹAre you trying to weasel out of showing us any of this stuff?ʹ said Zacharias Smith. ʹHereʹs an idea,ʹ said Ron loudly, before Harry could speak, ʹwhy donʹt you shut your mouth?ʹ Q5 - Who is the better friend to Harry?ʹWhat are Heliopaths?ʹ asked Neville, looking blank. Theyʹre spirits of fire,ʹ said Luna, her protuberant eyes widening so that she looked madder than ever, ʹgreat tall flaming creatures that gallop across the ground burning everything in front of—”They donʹt exist, Neville,ʹ said Hermione tartly. ʹOh, yes, they do!ʹ said Luna angrily. ʹIʹm sorry, but whereʹs the proof of that?ʹ snapped Hermione. There are plenty of eye-witness accounts. Just because youʹre so narrow‐minded you need to have everything shoved under your nose before you.”Q6 - Do Heliopaths exist?ʹWell,ʹ said Hermione, smiling slightly, ʹshe just couldnʹt keep her eyes off you, could she?ʹ  Harry had never before appreciated just how beautiful the village of Hogsmeade was.Q7 - What do you think about all these people wanting to joining this group?Q8 - What is a moment you were on cloud 9 from a crush?

Chapter 9 - The Woes of Mrs WeasleyʹWell, well, well… Patronus Potter,ʹ said Lucius Malfoy coolly.Q1 - What's the best nickname you ever got?Harry turned his moneybag upsidedown and emptied not just ten Galleons, but the whole contents into the pool.Q2 - How do you think Mr Weasley feels at this moment.Q3 - Do you think Sirius has a right to be upset?ʹWe were just wondering who set the Slinkhard book,ʹ said Fred conversationally. ʹBecause it means Dumbledoreʹs found a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher,ʹ said George.Q4 - Who do you think is going to be their Defense against the Dark Arts teacher?ʹWhatʹs up with you, Ron?ʹ asked Fred. Ron did not answer. Harry looked round. Ron was standing very still with his mouth slightly open, gaping at his letter from Hogwarts. ʹWhatʹs the matter?ʹ said Fred impatiently, moving around Ron to look over his shoulder at the parchment. Fredʹs mouth fell open, too. ʹPrefect?ʹ he said, staring incredulously at the letter. ʹPrefect?'Q5 - Should Ron have been made a Prefect?Ron held up his badge. Mrs Weasley let out a shriek just like Hermioneʹs. ʹI donʹt believe it! I donʹt believe it! Oh, Ron, how wonderful! A prefect! Thatʹs everyone in the family!ʹ ʹWhat are Fred and I, nextdoor neighbors?ʹ said George.Q6 - Ron wants a broom as a reward…do you think he’d be any good at quidditch?Q7 - Why is Harry so bummed he didn’t get Prefect?Harry noticed that Ron kept moving his prefects badge around, first placing it on his bedside table, then putting it into his jeans pocket, then taking it out and lying it on his folded robes, as though to see the effect of the red on the black. Only when Fred and George dropped in and offered to attach it to his forehead with a Permanent Sticking Charm did he wrap it tenderly in his maroon socks and lock it in his trunk.Q8 - Have you ever not been chosen for something and been really bummed out?ʹOh, Alastor, I am glad youʹre here,ʹ said Mrs Weasley brightly, as Mad-Eye shrugged off his traveling cloak. ʹWeʹve been wanting to ask you for ages ‐ could you have a look in the writing desk in the drawing room and tell us whatʹs inside it? We havenʹt wanted to open it just in case itʹs something really nasty.ʹ ʹNo problem, Molly…ʹ Moodyʹs electric‐blue eye swiveled upwards and stared fixedly through the ceiling of the kitchen. ʹDrawing room…ʹ he growled, as the pupil contracted. ʹDesk in the corner? Yeah, I see it… yeah, itʹs a Boggart… want me to go up and get rid of it, Molly?ʹ Q9 - What do you think Moody sees?Q10 - Should Harry have been made a prefect?Q11 - Moody gives him a picture of the original order…who would you want a TV series about?ʹIʹm justʹ s ʹs  so worried,ʹ she said, tears spilling out of her eyes again. ʹHalf the f‐ f ‐ familyʹs in the Order, itʹll b ‐ b ‐ be a miracle if we all come through this…and P ‐ P ‐ Percys not talking to us… what if something d‐d ‐ dreadful happens and weʹve never in ‐ in ‐ made it up with him? And whatʹs going to happen if Arthur and I get killed, whoʹs g ‐ g ‐ going to look after Ron and Ginny?ʹQ12 - Who do you think will die in the end of this book?Chapter 10 - Luna LovegoodQ1 - Was Sirius irresponsible for going with the group to the train station?The girl beside the window looked up. She had straggly, waist length, dirty blonde hair, very pale eyebrows and protuberant eyes that gave her a permanently surprised look. Harry knew at once why Neville had chosen to pass this compartment by. The girl gave off an aura of distinct dottiness. Perhaps it was the fact that she had stuck her wand behind her left ear for safekeeping, or that she had chosen to wear a necklace of Butterbeer corks, or that she was reading a magazine upside down. Her eyes ranged over Neville and came to rest on Harry. She nodded.Q2 - What are your first impressions of Luna?Harry knew that Nevilleʹs favorite subject was Herbology but for the life of him he could not see what he would want with this stunted little plant.Q3 - Is Harry lame for not liking plants?Rather pink in the face, she closed the door and departed. Harry slumped back in his seat and groaned. He would have liked Cho to discover him sitting with a group of very cool people laughing their heads off at a joke he had just told; he would not have chosen to be sitting with Neville and Loony Lovegood, clutching a toad and dripping in Stinksap.Q4 - Who do you think all of the characters will marry?Q5 - Out of all of the articles in the Quibbler, which are you flipping to first? (How Far Will Fudge Go To Gain Gringotts, Corruption in the Quidditch League: How the Tornados are Taking Control, Secrets of the Ancient Runes Revealed, Sirius Black, Villain or Victim)Q6 - Do you think Fudge has ever had a goblin cooked in a pie?ʹAnything good in there?ʹ asked Ron as Harry closed the magazine. ʹOf course not,ʹ said Hermione scathingly, before Harry could answer. The Quibblerʹs rubbish, everyone knows that.ʹ ʹExcuse me,ʹ said Luna; her voice had suddenly lost its dreamy quality. ʹMy fatherʹs the editor.ʹ Q7 - Ever been embarrassed like this?Q8 - Where’s Hagrid?Harry felt utterly bewildered. The horse was there in front of him, gleaming solidly in the dim light issuing from the station windows behind them, vapour rising from its nostrils in the chilly night air. Yet, unless Ron was faking—and it was a very feeble joke if he was—Ron could not see it at all.Q9 - What are these creatures and why can only Harry and Luna see them?Chapter 11 - The Sorting Hat’s New SongQ1 - Do we agree with Luna that Hagrid is a bad teacher?Thus the houses and their foundersRetained friendships firm and true.So Hogwarts worked in harmonyFor several happy years,But then discord crept among usFeeding on our faults and fears.The houses that, like pillars four,Had once held up our school,Now turned upon each other and, Divided, sought to rule. Q2 - Do you think it was just a parting of ways because of ideas that the founders disliked each other?And now the Sorting Hat is hereAnd you all know the score:I sort you into housesBecause that is what Iʹm for,But this year Iʹll go further,Listen closely to my song:Though condemned I am to split youStill I worry that itʹs wrong,Though / must fulfil my dutyAnd must quarter everv yearStill I wonder whether SortingMay not bring the end I fear.Oh, know the perils, read the signs,The warning history shows,For our Hogwarts is in dangerFrom external, deadly foesAnd we must unite inside herOr weʹll crumble from withinI have told you, I have warned you…Let the Sorting now beginQ3 - What do you think of the song?Q4 - How can the hat know the school is in danger if it’s a hat?Q5 - What’s a moment in your life where food had never tasted so good?ʹWe have had two changes in staffing this year. We are very pleased to welcome back Professor Grubbly‐Plank, who will be taking Care of Magical Creatures lessons; we are also delighted to introduce Professor Umbridge, our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher.ʹQ6 - What did you think of Umbridge’s speech?ʹOut of order, am I?ʹ shouted Seamus, who in contrast with Ron was going pale. ʹYou believe all the rubbish heʹs come out with about You‐Know‐Who, do you, you reckon heʹs telling the truth?ʹ ʹYeah, I do!ʹ said Ron angrily.Q7 - What do you think of Seamus not coming back and Harry’s response?Chapter 12 - Professor UmbridgeQ1 - Have you ever been a test subject?ʹBeen having a nice little chat with her about whether or not Iʹm a lying, attention seeking prat, have you?ʹ Harry said loudly. ʹNo,ʹ said Hermione calmly. ʹI told her to keep her big fat mouth shut about you, actually. And it would be quite nice if you stopped jumping down our throats, Harry, because in case you havenʹt noticed, Ron and I are on your side.ʹ There was a short pause. ʹSorry,ʹ said Harry in a low voice.Q2 - Is Hermione the best?"Anyway, it's a nightmare of a year, the fifth," said George. "If you care about exam results anyway. Fred and I managed to keep our peckers up somehow."Q3 - What career do you think Hermione will take?ʹHow would it be,ʹ she asked them coldly, as they left the classroom for break (Binns drifting away through the blackboard), ʹif I refused to lend you my notes this year?ʹ ʹWeʹd fail our OWL,ʹ said Ron. ʹIf you want that on your conscience, Hermione…ʹ Is that a Tornados badge?ʹ Ron demanded suddenly, pointing to the front of Choʹs robes, where a sky blue badge emblazoned with a double gold Tʹ was pinned. ʹYou donʹt support them, do you?ʹ ʹYeah, I do,ʹ said Cho. ʹHave you always supported them, or just since they started winning the league?ʹ said Ron, in what Harry considered an unnecessarily accusatory tone of voice.Q4 - Is Ron a moron?Q5 - Do you think Harry and Cho will get together?Q6 - Which class would you want to attend during Harry’s first day?Q7 - What’s your first impression of Umbridge?Q8 - Was Harry smart to talk back to Umbridge?Q9 - What do you think the detention will be?ʹWell?ʹ said Professor McGonagall, rounding on him. ʹIs this true?ʹ ʹIs what true?ʹ Harry asked, rather more aggressively than he had intended. ʹProfessor?ʹ he added, in an attempt to sound more polite. ʹIs it true that you shouted at Professor Umbridge?ʹ ʹYes,ʹ said Harry. ʹYou called her a liar?ʹ ʹYes.ʹ ʹYou told her He Who Must Not Be Named is back?ʹ ʹYes.ʹ Professor McGonagall sat down behind her desk, watching Harry closely. Then she said, ʹHave a biscuit, Potter.ʹ Q10 - Thoughts on McGonagall and her warning?

Chapter 5 - The Order of the PhoenixIn the flash of light caused by Mrs Weasleyʹs charm Harry caught a glimpse of what looked like the plan of a Building. Mrs Weasley had seen him looking. She snatched the plan off the table and stuffed it into Billʹs already overladen arms.Q1 - What are they looking at?Q2 - What is the most annoying thing that people kept a secret from you?There was something about the slightly flattened tone of voice in which Sirius uttered Dumbledoreʹs name that told Harry that Sirius, too, was not very happy with the Headmaster. Harry felt a sudden upsurge of affection for his godfather.Q3 - Whats the deal with Dumbledore?Q4 - Who would you want to be sitting next to at this meal?ʹHeʹs not your son,ʹ said Sirius quietly. ʹHeʹs as good as,ʹ said Mrs Weasley fiercely. ʹWho else has he got?ʹ Q5 - Team Molly, or Team Sirius?Q6 - What do you think of Voldemort and the Order of the Phoenix and their plans?The Order is comprised only of overage wizards,ʹ he said. ʹWizards who have left school,ʹ he added, as Fred and George opened their mouths. There are dangers involved of which you can have no idea, any of you… I think Mollyʹs right, Sirius. Weʹve said enough.ʹ Chapter 6 - The Noble and Most Ancient House of BlackQ1 - There's a portrait in Harry's room that's mentioned a lot, do you think it has any significance?Q2 - What is this weapon that Sirius mentioned?ʹRight‐o,ʹ Fred said brightly, spraying the Doxy quickly in the face so that it fainted, but the moment Mrs Weasleyʹs back was turned he pocketed it with a wink. ʹWe want to experiment with Doxy venom for our Skiving Snackboxes,ʹ George told Harry under his breath.Q3 - Thoughts on Fred and George experimenting on magical creatures?Q4 - Do you think Mundungus is really just trying to make money, or does he have some other intent?ʹLeave?ʹ Sirius smiled bitterly and ran his fingers through his long, unkempt hair. ʹBecause I hated the whole lot of them: my parents, with their pure‐blood mania, convinced that to be a Black made you practically royal… my idiot brother, soft enough to believe them… thatʹs him.ʹ  Sirius jabbed a finger at the very bottom of the tree, at the name ʹRegulus Blackʹ. A date of death (some fifteen years previously) followed the date of birth. ʹHe was younger than me,ʹ said Sirius, ʹand a much better son, as I was constantly reminded.ʹ ʹBut he died,ʹ said Harry. ʹYeah,ʹ said Sirius. ʹStupid idiot… he joined the Death Eaters.ʹ ʹYouʹre kidding!ʹ ʹCome on, Harry, havenʹt you seen enough of this house to tell what kind of wizards my family were?ʹ said Sirius testily. Q5 - What do you think of Sirius brother being a Death Eater?Q6 - Are you all related to anyone famous?They found an unpleasant‐looking silver instrument, something like a many legged pair of tweezers, which scuttled up Harrys arm like a spider when he picked it up, and attempted to puncture his skin. Sirius seized it and smashed it with a heavy book entitled Natureʹs Nobility: A Wizarding Genealogy. There was a musical box that emitted a faintly sinister, tinkling tune when wound, and they all found themselves becoming curiously weak and sleepy, until Ginny had the sense to slam the lid shut; a heavy locket that none of them could open; a number of ancient seals; and, in a dusty box, an Order of Merlin, First Class, that had been awarded to Siriusʹs grandfather for ʹservices to the MinistryʹQ7 - What do you think of all these weird little nicknacks?Chapter 7 - The Ministry of MagicHarry awoke at half past five the next morning as abruptly and completely as if somebody had yelled in his ear. For a few moments he lay immobile as the prospect of the disciplinary hearing filled every tiny particle of his brain, then, unable to bear it, he leapt out of bed and put on his glasses.Q1 - Have you ever woke up in dread of something like this?Q2 - Ever been to court?Q3 - What do you think of the look and location of the Ministry of Magic?"Mr Weasley" said Harry, as they passed a window through which sunlight was streaming, "aren't we still underground?" "Yes, we are," said Mr Weasley. "Those are enchanted windows. Magical Maintenance decide what weather we'll get every day. We had two months of hurricanes last time they were angling for a pay rise ... Just round here, Harry." Q4 - What kind of weather would you have?Q5 - Do you find it odd that magical beings have small offices?Q6 - What do you think of JK's world building here?Chapter 8 - The HearingQ1 - What do you think of this trial so far?ʹInterrogators: Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister for Magic; Amelia Susan Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement; Dolores Jane Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister. Court Scribe, Percy Ignatius Weasley ʹWitness for the defence, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, said a quiet voice from behind Harry, who turned his head so fast he cricked his neck.Q2 - How many times have you cricked your neck? Q3 - What do you think of Dumbledore's many middle names?ʹAh,ʹ said Fudge, who looked thoroughly disconcerted. ʹDumbledore. Yes. You ‐ —er—got our— er—message that the time and—er—place of the hearing had been changed, then?ʹ ʹI must have missed it,ʹ said Dumbledore cheerfully. ʹHowever, due to a lucky mistake I arrived at the Ministry three hours early, so no harm done.ʹThe witch with the monocle cut across him in a booming voice. ʹYou produced a fully‐fledged Patronus?ʹ ʹYes,ʹ said Harry, ʹbecause—' ʹA corporeal Patronus?ʹ ʹA—what?ʹ said Harry. ʹYour Patronus had a clearly defined form? I mean to say, it was more than vapour or smoke?ʹ ʹYes,ʹ said Harry, feeling both impatient and slightly desperate, ʹitʹs a stag, itʹs always a stag.ʹ ʹAlways?ʹ boomed Madam Bones. ʹYou have produced a Patronus before now?ʹ ʹYes,ʹ said Harry, ʹIʹve been doing it for over a year.ʹ ʹAnd you are fifteen years old?ʹ ʹYes, and—' ʹYou learned this at school?ʹ ʹYes, Professor Lupin taught me in my third year, because of the—' ʹImpressive,ʹ said Madam Bones, staring down at him, ʹa true Patronus at his age…very impressive indeed. Q4 - What do you think of the people present during this hearing? Bones, Umbridge, Fudge, Dumbledore, Percy?I reminded you on the night of the second of August. In your admirable haste to ensure that the law is upheld, you appear, inadvertently I am sure, to have overlooked a few laws yourself.ʹ ʹLaws can be changed,ʹ said Fudge savagely.Q5 - What do you think of the trial?Q6 - Why doesn't Dumbledore look at him?

Chapter 1 - Dudley DementedThe hottest day of the summer so far was drawing to a close and a drowsy silence lay over the large, square houses of Privet Drive . . . The only person left outside was a teenage boy who was lying flat on his back in a flowerbed outside number four.Q1 - What do you think of Mrs Figg?Every day this summer had been the same: the tension, the expectation, the temporary relief, and then mounting tension again … and always, growing more insistent all the time, the question of why nothing had happened yet.Q2 - Why hasn't anything happened yet?He had moved about two inches when several things happened in very quick succession. A loud, echoing crack broke the sleepy silence like a gunshot; a cat streaked out from under a parked car and flew out of sight; a shriek, a bellowed oath and the sound of breaking china came from the Dursleys' living room, and as though this was the signal Harry had been waiting for he jumped to his feet, at the same time pulling from the waistband of his jeans a thin wooden wand as if he were unsheathing a sword – but before he could draw himself up to full height, the top of his head collided with the Dursleys' open window. The resultant crash made Aunt Petunia scream even louder.Q3 - What is everything that's happening here?Q4 - What do you think of Harry here? What about Ron and Hermione?Q5 - What are Ron and Hermione busy doing?In the meantime, he had nothing to look forward to but another restless, disturbed night, because even when he escaped the nightmares about Cedric he had unsettling dreams about long dark corridors, all finishing in dead ends and locked doors, which he supposed had something to do with the trapped feeling he had when he was awake.Q6 - What is Harry dreaming about here?Harry watched the dark figures crossing the grass and wondered who they had been beating up tonight. Look round, Harry found himself thinking as he watched them. Come on … look round … I'm sitting here all alone … come and have a go …Q7 - Why is Harry thinking this? And what's with his goading of Dudley?Q8 - How did the Dementors get to Harry?Q9 - Why wasn't Harry able to cast the Patronus?Chapter 2 - A Peck of OwlsQ1 - Did you expect Mrs Figg was involved in the wizarding world?Q2 - What are your thoughts on Mundungus Fletcher?'I'll take you to the door,' said Mrs Figg, as they turned into Privet Drive. 'Just in case there are more of them around… oh my word, what a catastrophe… and you had to fight them off yourself… and Dumbledore said we were to keep you from doing magic at all costs… well, it's no good crying over spilt potion, I suppose… but the cat's among the pixies now.' Q3 - Why does Dumbledore want to keep Harry from doing magic at all costs?Q4 - What's a time in your life when your stomach just dropped out of your body?'How many times do I have to tell you?' said Harry, temper and voice both rising. 'It wasn't me! It was a couple of Dementors!' 'A couple of - what's this codswallop?' 'De - men - tors,' said Harry slowly and clearly. 'Two of them.' 'And what the ruddy hell are Dementors?' 'They guard the wizard prison, Azkaban,' said Aunt Petunia. Two seconds of ringing silence followed these words before Aunt Petunia clapped her hand over her mouth as though she had let slip a disgusting swear word. Uncle Vernon was goggling at her. Harrys brain reeled. Mrs Figg was one thing - but Aunt Petunia'? Q5 - How does Petunia know this?Q6 - Why were there Dementors in Little Whinging?Q7 - Does Harry have a right to be this angry?'Back?' whispered Aunt Petunia. She was looking at Harry as she had never looked at him before. And all of a sudden, for the very first time in his life, Harry fully appreciated that Aunt Petunia was his mother's sister. He could not have said why this hit him so very powerfully at this moment. All he knew was that he was not the only person in the room who had an inkling of what Lord Voldemort being back might mean. Aunt Petunia had never in her life looked at him like that before. Her large, pale eyes (so unlike her sister's) were not narrowed in dislike or anger, they were wide and fearful. The furious pretence that Aunt Petunia had maintained all Harry's life - that there was no magic and no world other than the world she inhabited with Uncle Vernon - seemed to have fallen away. 'Yes,' Harry said, talking directly to Aunt Petunia now. 'He came back a month ago. I saw him.' Q8 - What do you think of Aunt Petunia this chapter?Q9 - What do the words “Remember my last, Petunia” mean? Who sent it?Chapter 3 - The Advance GuardQ1 - Is Harry justified to be this angry?So it went on for three whole days. Harry was alternately filled with restless energy that made him unable to settle to anything, during which time he paced his bedroom, furious at the whole lot of them for leaving him to stew in this mess; and with a lethargy so complete that he could lie on his bed for an hour at a time, staring dazedly into space, aching with dread at the thought of the Ministry hearing. Q2 - Do you have more or less sympathy for the Dursleys?Q3 - What do you think of Tonks?Q4 - Do you think Moody is serious about dying trying to fly Harry to safety?Q5 - Why is Harry in such dire danger?Harry looked down at the piece of paper. The narrow handwriting was vaguely familiar. It said: The Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix may be found at number twelve, Grimmauld Place, LondonQ6 - So what is the Order of the Phoenix?Chapter 4 - Number Twelve, Grimmauld PlaceThe othersʹ hushed voices were giving Harry an odd feeling of foreboding; it was as though they had just entered the house of a dying person.Q1 - What do you think of this house?The warm glow that had flared inside him at the sight of his two best friends was extinguished as something icy flooded the pit of his stomach. All of a sudden —  after yearning to see them for a solid month — he felt he would rather Ron and Hermione left him alone. Q2 - Is Harry and extravert or an introvert?Q3 - Should Ron and Hermione have informed Harry anyway?ʹSome of them are working on recruiting more people to the Order said Hermione. ʹAnd some of them are standing guard over something,ʹ said Ron. Theyʹre always talking about guard duty.ʹ ʹCouldnʹt have been me, could it?ʹ said Harry sarcastically. ʹOh, yeah,ʹ said Ron, with a look of dawning comprehension.Q4 - Is Harry what they were guarding?ʹYou donʹt want to bottle up your anger like that, Harry, let it all out,ʹ said Fred, also beaming. There might be a couple of people fifty miles away who didnʹt hear you.ʹ Q5 - Is joking the best way to stop anger?Q6 - What do you think of Percy abandoning the family?ʹWell, theyʹre writing about you as though youʹre this deluded, attention seeking person who thinks heʹs a great tragic hero or something,ʹ said Hermione, very fast, as though it would be less unpleasant for Harry to hear these facts quickly. ʹThey keep slipping in snide comments about you. If some far fetched story appears, they say something like, ʺA tale worthy of Harry Potterʺ, and if anyone has a funny accident or anything itʹs, ʺLetʹs hope he hasnʹt got a scar on his forehead or weʹll be asked to worship him nextʺ ‐ʹ  Q7 - What do you think about the Ministry doing this?Q8 - Have you ever been in the paper?

Chapter 32 - Flesh, Blood, and BoneSquinting tensely through the darkness, they watched the figure drawing nearer, walking steadily toward them between the graves. Harry couldn't make out a face, but from the way it was walking and holding its arms, he could tell that it was carrying something. Whoever it was, he was short, and wearing a hooded cloak pulled up over his head to obscure his face. And - several paces nearer, the gap between them closing all the time - Harry saw that the thing in the person's arms looked like a baby...or was it merely a bundle of robes?From far away, above his head, he heard a high, cold voice say, "Kill the spare." A swishing noise and a second voice, which screeched the words to the night: "Avada Kedavra!" A blast of green light blazed through Harry's eyelids, and he heard something heavy fall to the ground beside him; the pain in his scar reached such a pitch that he retched, and then it diminished; terrified of what he was about to see, he opened his stinging eyes. Cedric was lying spread-eagled on the ground beside him. He was dead.Q1 - What is your favorite Cedric moment?Q2 - Did you expect Cedric was going to die.Q3 - When Wormtail is doing this potion, have you ever seen magic like this?But then, through the mist in front of him, he saw, with an icy surge of terror, the dark outline of a man, tall and skeletally thin, rising slowly from inside the cauldron. "Robe me," said the high, cold voice from behind the steam, and Wormtail, sobbing and moaning, still cradling his mutilated arm, scrambled to pick up the black robes from the ground, got to his feet, reached up, and pulled them one-handed over his master's head. The thin man stepped out of the cauldron, staring at Harry...and Harry stared back into the face that had haunted his nightmares for three years. Whiter than a skull, with wide, livid scarlet eyes and a nose that was flat as a snake with slits for nostrils... Lord Voldemort had risen again.Q4 - Did you think Voldemort was going to come back this early on?Chapter 33 - The Death EatersWormtail's robes were shining with blood now; he had wrapped the stump of his arm in them. "My Lord..." he choked, "my Lord...you promised...you did promise..." "Hold out your arm," said Voldemort lazily. "Oh Master...thank you, Master..." He extended the bleeding stump, but Voldemort laughed again. "The other arm, Wormtail." "Master, please...please..." Voldemort bent down and pulled out Wormtail's left arm; he forced the sleeve of Wormtail's robes up past his elbow, and Harry saw something upon the skin there, something like a vivid red tattoo - a skull with a snake protruding from its mouth - the image that had appeared in the sky at the Quidditch World Cup: the Dark Mark. Voldemort examined it carefully, ignoring Wormtail's uncontrollable weeping.Q1 - Jenn, how did you know about the tattoo?"You stand, Harry Potter, upon the remains of my late father," he hissed softly. "A Muggle and a fool...very like your dear mother. But they both had their uses, did they not? Your mother died to defend you as a child...and I killed my father, and see how useful he has proved himself, in death...."Q2 - Why does Voldemort call Lily a Muggle?Q3 - At this point, what is your initial impression of Voldemort?"And then I ask myself, but how could they have believed I would not rise again? They, who knew the steps I took, long ago, to guard myself against mortal death? They, who had seen proofs of the immensity of my power in the times when I was mightier than any wizard living?Q4 - Is this why Voldemort didn't die? What is he really talking about here?“You ask for forgiveness? I do not forgive. I do not forget. Thirteen long years...I want thirteen years' repayment before I forgive you. Wormtail here has paid some of his debt already, have you not, Wormtail?"Q5 - Wormtail gets a hand…have you ever seen this kind of magic?Q6 - Lucious was the originator of the Quidditch World Cup fiasco…did you expect him to be a Death Eater?The Dementors will join us…they are our natural allies…we will recall the banished giants…I shall have my devoted servant returned to me, and an army of creatures whom all fear.Q7 - What other creatures is he talking about?"And here we have six missing Death Eaters...three dead in my service. One, too cowardly to return...he will pay. One, who I believe has left me forever...he will be killed, of course...and one, who remains my most faithful servant, and who has already reentered my service."Q8 - Who is he referring to?"He is at Hogwarts, that faithful servant, and it was through his efforts that our young friend arrived here tonight....Q9 - Who is this?!"I miscalculated, my friends, I admit it. My curse was deflected by the woman's foolish sacrifice, and it rebounded upon myself. Aaah...pain beyond pain, my friends; nothing could have prepared me for it. I was ripped from my body, I was less than spirit, less than the meanest ghost...but still, I was alive. What I was, even I do not know...I, who have gone further than anybody along the path that leads to immortality. You know my goal - to conquer death. And now, I was tested, and it appeared that one or more of my experiments had worked...for I had not been killed, though the curse should have done it. Nevertheless, I was as powerless as the weakest creature alive, and without the means to help myself...for I had no body, and every spell that might have helped me required the use of a wand.... "I remember only forcing myself, sleeplessly, endlessly, second by second, to exist....I settled in a faraway place, in a forest, and I waited....Surely, one of my faithful Death Eaters would try and find me...one of them would come and perform the magic I could not, to restore me to a body..., but I waited in vain...."Q10 - What questions is this answering and leaving?Wormtail would have had me use any wizard, would you not, Wormtail? Any wizard who had hated me...as so many of them still do. But I knew the one I must use, if I was to rise again, more powerful than I had been when I had fallen. I wanted Harry Potters blood. I wanted the blood of the one who had stripped me of power thirteen years ago...for the lingering protection his mother once gave him would then reside in my veins too....Q11 - Does Voldy have the protection of Lily now?Dumbledore invoked an ancient magic, to ensure the boy's protection as long as he is in his relations' care. Not even I can touch him there.Q12 - What is he talking about here? Did Dumbly actually prepare?Chapter 34 - Priori Incantatem"We bow to each other. Harry," said Voldemort, bending a little, but keeping his snakelike face upturned to Harry. "Come, the niceties must be observed....Dumbledore would like you to show manners....Bow to death, Harry...."Q1 - What do you think of Voldemort and Harry’s character here?"We are not playing hide-and-seek, Harry," said Voldemort's soft, cold voice, drawing nearer, as the Death Eaters laughed. "You cannot hide from me. Does this mean you are tired of our duel? Does this mean that you would prefer me to finish it now, Harry? Come out, Harry...come out and play, then...it will be quick...it might even be painless...I would not know...I have never died...." Harry crouched behind the headstone and knew the end had come. There was no hope...no help to be had. And as he heard Voldemort draw nearer still, he knew one thing only, and it was beyond fear or reason: He was not going to die crouching here like a child playing hide-and-seek; he was not going to die kneeling at Voldemort's feet...he was going to die upright like his father, and he was going to die trying to defend himself, even if no defense was possible....Q2 - What is happening to Harry and Voldemort as they duel?He concentrated every last particle of his mind upon forcing the bead back toward Voldemort, his ears full of phoenix song, his eyes furious, fixed...and slowly, very slowly, the beads quivered to a halt, and then, just as slowly, they began to move the other way...and it was Voldemort's wand that was vibrating extra-hard now...Voldemort who looked astonished, and almost fearful....Q3 - Is this how Ghosts are made?And now another head was emerging from the tip of Voldemort's wand...and Harry knew when he saw it who it would be...he knew, as though he had expected it from the moment when Cedric had appeared from the wand...knew, because the woman appearing was the one he'd thought of more than any other tonight....Q4 - Did you expect his mother and father to show up?Q5 - Did you expect Harry to escape?Q6 - What happened in this chapter?Chapter 35 - VeritaserumHarry let go of the cup, but he clutched Cedric to him even more tightly. He raised his free hand and seized Dumbledore's wrist, while Dumbledore's face swam in and out of focus. "He's back," Harry whispered. "He's back. Voldemort."Q1 - Why did Fudge want to tell Amos his son died before he got to his son? Meta Question…"Karkaroff's gone? He ran away? But then - he didn't put my name in the goblet?" "No," said Moody slowly. "No, he didn't. It was I who did that." Harry heard, but didn't believe. "No, you didn't," he said. "You didn't do that...you can't have done..."Q2 - What were you thinking when he was saying all this?Decent people are so easy to manipulate, Potter. I was sure Cedric would want to repay you for telling him about the dragons, and so he did.Q3 - Do you still suspect Krum?At that moment, Harry fully understood for the first time why people said Dumbledore was the only wizard Voldemort had ever feared. The look upon Dumbledore's face as he stared down at the unconscious form of Mad-Eye Moody was more terrible than Harry could have ever imagined. There was no benign smile upon Dumbledore's face, no twinkle in the eyes behind the spectacles. There was cold fury in every line of the ancient face; a sense of power radiated from Dumbledore as though he were giving off burning heat.Q4 - Is this cool, or terrifying?Q5 - If Crouch had to take it every hour, did he become crouch when he slept?Q6 - What do you think of Crouch Jr’s whole story?Q7 - Are there any unanswered questions?Chapter 36 - The Parting of the Ways"If I thought I could help you," Dumbledore said gently, "by putting you into an enchanted sleep and allowing you to postpone the moment when you would have to think about what has happened tonight, I would do it. But I know better. Numbing the pain for a while will make it worse when you finally feel it. You have shown bravery beyond anything I could have expected of you. I ask you to demonstrate your courage one more time. I ask you to tell us what happened."Q1 - Is Sirius right, to want to let Harry sleep, or Dumbledore?"He said my blood would make him stronger than if he'd used someone else's," Harry told Dumbledore. "He said the protection my - my mother left in me - he'd have it too. And he was right - he could touch me without hurting himself, he touched my face." For a fleeting instant, Harry thought he saw a gleam of something like triumph in Dumbledore's eyes. But next second. Harry was sure he had imagined it, for when Dumbledore had returned to his seat behind the desk, he looked as old and weary as Harry had ever seen him.Q2 - What is this gleam of triumph?"No spell can reawaken the dead," said Dumbledore heavily. "All that would have happened is a kind of reverse echo. A shadow of the living Cedric would have emerged from the wand...am I correct, Harry?"Q3 - Do you understand what happened here?Q4 - Is Fudge a coward?"You are blinded," said Dumbledore, his voice rising now, the aura of power around him palpable, his eyes blazing once more, "by the love of the office you hold, Cornelius! You place too much importance, and you always have done, on the so-called purity of blood! You fail to recognize that it matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be! Your dementor has just destroyed the last remaining member of a pure-blood family as old as any - and see what that man chose to make of his life! I tell you now- take the steps I have suggested, and you will be remembered, in office or out, as one of the bravest and greatest Ministers of Magic we have ever known. Fail to act - and history will remember you as the man who stepped aside and allowed Voldemort a second chance to destroy the world we have tried to rebuild!"Q5 - Why doesn’t Fudge believe this?Q6 - What do you think of Dumbledore here?Time is short, and unless the few of us who know the truth do not stand united, there is no hope for any us."Severus," said Dumbledore, turning to Snape, "you know what I must ask you to do. If you are ready...if you are prepared..." "I am," said Snape. He looked slightly paler than usual, and his cold, black eyes glittered strangely. "Then good luck," said Dumbledore, and he watched, with a trace of apprehension on his face, as Snape swept wordlessly after Sirius.Q7 - What is happening here?Q8 - How do you think Harry is going to deal with his survivors' guilt?There was a loud slamming noise, and Mrs. Weasley and Harry broke apart. Hermione was standing by the window. She was holding something tight in her hand.Q9 - What is she holding?Q10 - Does all this make sense?Chapter 37 - The BeginningThey did not blame him for what had happened; on the contrary, both thanked him for returning Cedric's body to them. Mr. Diggory sobbed through most of the interview. Mrs. Diggory's grief seemed to be beyond tears.Q1 - What are your thoughts on the Diggory’s?"She went to ask him if you could come straight to us this summer," he said. "But he wants you to go back to the Dursleys, at least at first."Q2 - Why does Dumbledore want Harry to go back?"No good sittin' worryin' abou' it," he said. "What's comin' will come, an we'll meet it when it does. Dumbledore told me wha' you did. Harry."Harry caught a glimpse of Cho through the crowd. There were tears pouring silently down her face. He looked down at the table as they all sat down again.Q3 - What kind of crier are you guys?"Remember Cedric. Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right and what is easy, remember what happened to a boy who was good, and kind, and brave, because he strayed across the path of Lord Voldemort. Remember Cedric Diggory."Q4 - Do you think people will believe Dumbledore, or not?Q5 - What do you think about Hermione keep Rita in a jar with a few twigs?Q6 - What questions do you still have?

Chapter 28 - The Madness of Mr Crouch"Master is - hic - trusting Winky with - hic - the most important - hic - the most secret..."Q1 - What is this secret?Q2 - What do you think of Nifflers?"Oh..." he said, the memory coming back to him at last. "I dunno...I never noticed it had gone. I was more worried about my wand, wasn't I?" They climbed the steps into the entrance hall and went into the Great Hall for lunch. "Must be nice," Ron said abruptly, when they had sat down and started serving themselves roast beef and Yorkshire puddings. "To have so much money you don't notice if a pocketful of Galleons goes missing."Hermione hung back in their next Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson to ask Professor Moody something. The rest of the class was very eager to leave; Moody had given them such a rigorous test of hex-deflection that many of them were nursing small injuries.Q3 - Is this Moody or Crouch?Q4 - If Rita isn’t using an invisibility cloak and she can’t use bugging equipment, how is she learning all this stuff?Suddenly a man staggered out from behind a tall oak. For a moment, Harry didn't recognize him...then he realized it was Mr. Crouch.Q5 - What is Crouch doing out there and in that state?Q6 - How does this line up with your theory, Jenn?Crouch's eyes were rolling in his head. Harry looked around at Krum, who had followed him into the trees, and was looking down at Crouch in alarm. "Vot is wrong with him?" "No idea," Harry muttered. "Listen, you'd better go and get someone -" "Dumbledore!" gasped Mr. Crouch. He reached out and seized a handful of Harry's robes, dragging him closer, though his eyes were staring over Harry's head. "I need...see...Dumbledore...." "Okay," said Harry, "if you get up, Mr. Crouch, we can go up to the-" "I've done...stupid...thing..." Mr. Crouch breathed. He looked utterly mad. His eyes were rolling and bulging, and a trickle of spittle was sliding down his chin. Every word he spoke seemed to cost him a terrible effort. "Must...tell...Dumbledore..." "Get up, Mr. Crouch," said Harry loudly and clearly. "Get up, I'll take you to Dumbledore!" Mr., Crouch's eyes rolled forward onto Harry. "Who...you?" he whispered. "I'm a student at the school," said Harry, looking around at Krum for some help, but Krum was hanging back, looking extremely nervous. "You're not...his?" whispered Crouch, his mouth sagging. "No," said Harry, without the faintest idea what Crouch was talking about. "Dumbledore's?" "That's right," said Harry. Crouch was pulling him closer; Harry tried to loosen Crouch's grip on his robes, but it was too powerful. "Warn...Dumbledore..." "I'll get Dumbledore if you let go of me," said Harry. "Just let go, Mr. Crouch, and I'll get him...." "Thank you, Weatherby, and when you have done that, I would like a cup of tea. My wife and son will be arriving shortly, we are attending a concert tonight with Mr. and Mrs. Fudge." Crouch was now talking fluently to a tree again, and seemed completely unaware that Harry was there, which surprised Harry so much he didn't notice that Crouch had released him. "Yes, my son has recently gained twelve O.W.L.s, most satisfactory, yes, thank you, yes, very proud indeed. Now, if you could bring me that memo from the Andorran Minister of Magic, I think I will have time to draft a response...."Q7 - What is this conversation about?He raised his wand into the air and pointed it in the direction of Hagrid's cabin. Harry saw something silvery dart out of it and streak away through the trees like a ghostly bird. Q8 - What kind of magic is this?Chapter 29 - The Dream“You can’t disapparate in the Hogwarts grounds, haven’t I told you enough times?” said Hermione.Q1 - Who attacked Krum?"Maybe he didn't want you to get there!" said Ron quickly. "Maybe - hang on - how fast d'you reckon he could've gotten down to the forest? D'you reckon he could've beaten you and Dumbledore there?" "Not unless he can turn himself into a bat or something," said Harry.Q2 - Is Snape a vampire?Q3 - What do you think Snape would turn into if he were an animagus, and what do you think his Patronus would be? Or any characters for that matter…Somebody was climbing the steps up to the Owlery. Harry could hear two voices arguing, coming closer and closer. "- that's blackmail, that is, we could get into a lot of trouble for that-" "- we've tried being polite; it's time to play dirty, like him. He wouldn't like the Ministry of Magic knowing what he did -" "I'm telling you, if you put that in writing, it's blackmail!” "Yeah, and you won't be complaining if we get a nice fat payoff, will you?" The Owlery door banged open. Fred and George came over the threshold, then froze at the sight of Harry, Ron, and Hermione.Q4 - What are Fred and George doing?Q5 - Is Harry’s dream real?Q6 - Who was killed in Harry’s dream?"Or else - well..." Fudge sounded embarrassed. "Well, I'll reserve judgment until after I've seen the place where he was found, but you say it was just past the Beauxbatons carriage? Dumbledore, you know what that woman is?" "I consider her to be a very able headmistress - and an excellent dancer," said Dumbledore quietly.Chapter 30 - The PensieveA shallow stone basin lay there, with odd carvings around the edge: runes and symbols that Harry did not recognize. The silvery light was coming from the basin's contents, which were like nothing Harry had ever seen before. He could not tell whether the substance was liquid or gas. It was a bright, whitish silver, and it was moving ceaselessly; the surface of it became ruffled like water beneath wind, and then, like clouds, separated and swirled smoothly. It looked like light made liquid - or like wind made solid - Harry couldn't make up his mind.Q1 - Before Dumbeldore explained this, what did you think this basin was?"Crouch is going to let him out," Moody breathed quietly to Dumbledore. "He's done a deal with him. Took me six months to track him down, and Crouch is going to let him go if he's got enough new names. Let's hear his information, I say, and throw him straight back to the dementors." Dumbledore made a small noise of dissent through his long, crooked nose. "Ah, I was forgetting...you don't like the dementors, do you, Albus?" said Moody with a sardonic smile. "No," said Dumbledore calmly, "I'm afraid I don't. I have long felt the Ministry is wrong to ally itself with such creatures."Q2 - Is Dumbledore right to not want to ally themselves with dementors?"Not yet!" cried Karkaroff, looking quite desperate. "Wait, I have more!" Harry could see him sweating in the torchlight, his white skin contrasting strongly with the black of his hair and beard. "Snape!" he shouted. "Severus Snape!" "Snape has been cleared by this council," said Crouch disdainfully. "He has been vouched for by Albus Dumbledore." "No!" shouted Karkaroff, straining at the chains that bound him to the chair. "I assure you! Severus Snape is a Death Eater!" Dumbledore had gotten to his feet. "I have given evidence already on this matter," he said calmly. "Severus Snape was indeed a Death Eater. However, he rejoined our side before Lord Voldemort's downfall and turned spy for us, at great personal risk. He is now no more a Death Eater than I am."Q3 - Do you think Snape is still a Death Eater?Q4 - What kind of person do you think Karkaroff is?Q5 - Do you think Bagman is more seriously a Death Eater than portrayed in this memory?The dementors placed each of the four people in the four chairs with chained arms that now stood on the dungeon floor. There was a thickset man who stared blankly up at Crouch; a thinner and more nervous-looking man, whose eyes were darting around the crowd; a woman with thick, shining dark hair and heavily hooded eyes, who was sitting in the chained chair as though it were a throne; and a boy in his late teens, who looked nothing short of petrified. He was shivering, his straw-colored hair all over his face, his freckled skin milk-white. The wispy little witch beside Crouch began to rock backward and forward in her seat, whimpering into her handkerchief."We have heard the evidence against you. The four of you stand accused of capturing an Auror - Frank Longbottom - and subjecting him to the Cruciatus Curse, believing him to have knowledge of the present whereabouts of your exiled master, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named -" "Father, I didn't!" shrieked the boy in chains below. "I didn't, I swear it. Father, don't send me back to the dementors -" "You are further accused," bellowed Mr. Crouch, "of using the Cruciatus Curse on Frank Longbottom's wife, when he would not give you information. You planned to restore He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named to power, and to resume the lives of violence you presumably led while he was strong. I now ask the jury -"Q6 - What do you think of Crouch and his son?Q7 - Are any of the other people recognizable to you?Q8 - What do you think about the person they were cursing?The dementors were gliding back into the room. The boys' three companions rose quietly from their seats; the woman with the heavy-lidded eyes looked up at Crouch and called, "The Dark Lord will rise again, Crouch! Throw us into Azkaban; we will wait! He will rise again and will come for us, he will reward us beyond any of his other supporters! We alone were faithful! We alone tried to find him!" ​​But the boy was trying to fight off the dementors, even though Harry could see their cold, draining power starting to affect him. The crowd was jeering, some of them on their feet, as the woman swept out of the dungeon, and the boy continued to struggle. "I'm your son!" he screamed up at Crouch. "I'm your son!" "You are no son of mine!" bellowed Mr. Crouch, his eyes bulging suddenly. "I have no son!""What is it?" Harry asked shakily. "This? It is called a Pensieve," said Dumbledore. "I sometimes find, and I am sure you know the feeling, that I simply have too many thoughts and memories crammed into my mind." "Er," said Harry, who couldn't truthfully say that he had ever felt anything of the sort. "At these times," said Dumbledore, indicating the stone basin, "I use the Pensieve. One simply siphons the excess thoughts from one's mind, pours them into the basin, and examines them at one's leisure. It becomes easier to spot patterns and links, you understand, when they are in this form."Q9 - Do you like the idea of the Pensieve?"Yes," said Harry. "Professor - I was in Divination just now, and - er - I fell asleep." He hesitated here, wondering if a reprimand was coming, but Dumbledore merely said, "Quite understandable. Continue.""D'you - d'you know why my scar's hurting me?" Dumbledore looked very intently at Harry for a moment, and then said, "I have a theory, no more than that....It is my belief that your scar hurts both when Lord Voldemort is near you, and when he is feeling a particularly strong surge of hatred." "But...why?" "Because you and he are connected by the curse that failed," said Dumbledore. "That is no ordinary scar."Q10 - Do you understand why his scar hurts?"You know - you know the trial you found me in? The one with Crouch's son? Well....were they talking about Neville's parents?" Dumbledore gave Harry a very sharp look. " Has Neville never told you why he has been brought up by his grandmother?" he said. Harry shook his head, wondering, as he did so, how he could have failed to ask Neville this, in almost four years of knowing him. "Yes, they were talking about Neville's parents," said Dumbledore. "His father, Frank, was an Auror just like Professor Moody. He and his wife were tortured for information about Voldemort's whereabouts after he lost his powers, as you heard." "So they're dead?" said Harry quietly. "No," said Dumbledore, his voice full of a bitterness Harry had never heard there before. "They are insane. They are both in St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. I believe Neville visits them, with his grandmother, during the holidays. They do not recognize him." Harry sat there, horror-struck. He had never known...never, in four years, bothered to find out…Q11 - What are your thoughts on this?Harry looked into Dumbledore's light blue eyes, and the thing he really wanted to know spilled out of his mouth before he could stop it. "What made you think he'd really stopped supporting Voldemort, Professor?" Dumbledore held Harry's gaze for a few seconds, and then said, "That, Harry, is a matter between Professor Snape and myself."Q12 - What do you think this is, and is Dumbeldore right?Chapter 31 - The Third TaskHarry and Hermione went to see. Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle were standing in the shadow of a tree below. Crabbe and Goyle seemed to be keeping a lookout; both were smirking. Malfoy was holding his hand up to his mouth and speaking into it. "He looks like he's using a walkie-talkie," said Harry curiously.Q1 - What are these three doing?"Yes," said Hermione breathlessly. She ran her fingers through her hair again, and then held her hand up to her mouth, as though speaking into an invisible walkie-talkie. Harry and Ron stared at each other. "I've had an idea," Hermione said, gazing into space. "I think I know...because then no one would be able to see...even Moody...and she'd have been able to get onto the window ledge...but she's not allowed...she's definitely not allowed...I think we've got her! Just give me two seconds in the library - just to make sure!" With that, Hermione seized her school bag and dashed out of the Great Hall.Q2 - How does Rita Skeeter know these things?Harry finished his breakfast in the emptying Great Hall. He saw Fleur Delacour get up from the Ravenclaw table and join Cedric as he crossed to the side chamber and entered. Krum slouched off to join them shortly afterward. Harry stayed where he was. He really didn't want to go into the chamber. He had no family - no family who would turn up to see him risk his life, anyway. But just as he was getting up, thinking that he might as well go up to the library and do a spot more hex research, the door of the side chamber opened, and Cedric stuck his head out.Q3 - Who did you think was going to show up for Harry?Q4 - Do you really believe Mr and Mrs Weasley were going for a nighttime stroll at four in the morning?He had been hurrying along the new path for a few minutes, when he heard something in the path running parallel to his own that made him stop dead. "What are you doing?" yelled Cedric's voice. "What the hell d'you think you're doing?” And then Harry heard Krum's voice. "Crucio!"Q5 - Is this the first bit of bad language in the books?Q6 - Why was Krum torturing Cedric?Q7 - Did you take time to guess what the Riddle was? Did you get it right?"I was the only one who was thick enough to take that song seriously!" said Harry bitterly. "Just take the cup!” "No," said Cedric. He stepped over the spider's tangled legs to join Harry, who stared at him. Cedric was serious. He was walking away from the sort of glory Hufflepuff House hadn't had in centuries.Q8 - What do you think of Cedric?Q9 - Which of the tasks would have tripped you up?

Chapter 23 - The Yule BallHarry and Ron both whipped around, but Hermione said loudly, waving to somebody over Malfoy’s shoulder, “Hello, Professor Moody!” Malfoy went pale and jumped backwards, looking wildly around for Moody, but he was still up at the staff table finishing his stew. “Twitchy little ferret, aren’t you, Malfoy?” Hermione said scathingly.Q1 - What do you think of Hermione shrinking her teeth?“Dobby knew sir must be a great wizard, for he is Harry Potter’s greatest friend, but Dobby did not know that he was also generous of spirit, as noble, as selfless—”Q2 - Is Ron these things?The left sock was bright red, and he had a pattern of broomsticks upon it; the right sock was green with a pattern of snitches. “They’re…they’re really…well, thanks, Dobby,” said Harry, and he pulled them on, causing Dobby’s eyes to leak with happiness again.Krum was accompanied by a pretty girl in blue robes Harry didn’t know…His eyes fell instead on the girl next to Krum. His jaw dropped. It was Hermione.Q3 - What do you think about Krum and Hermione?!“Are we not right to be proud that we alone know our school’s secrets, and right to protect them?” “Oh I would never dream of assuming I know all Howart’s secrets, Igor,” said Dumbledore amicably. “Only this morning, for instance, I took a wrong turn on the way to the bathroom and found myself in a beautifully proportioned room I have never seen before, containing a really rather magnificent collection of chamberpots. When I went back to investigate more closely, I discovered that the room had vanished.Q4 - How do you like Dumbledore after all this?Hermione was now teaching Krum to say her name properly; he kept calling her Hermy-Own. “Her — my — own — knee.”"How's it going?" Harry asked Ron, sitting down and opening a bottle of butterbeer. Ron didn't answer. He was glaring at Hermione and Krum, who were dancing nearby. Padma was sitting with her arms and legs crossed, one foot jiggling in time to the music. Every now and then she threw a disgruntled look at Ron, who was completely ignoring her. Parvati sat down on Harry's other side, crossed her arms and legs too, and within minutes was asked to dance by a boy from Beauxbatons.Q5 - Trelawney’s Prediction!Q6 - What is Ron so angry about?“...Don’t see what there is to fuss about, Igor.” “Severus, you cannot pretend this isn’t happening!” Karkaroff’s voice sounded anxious and hushed, as though keen not to be overheard. “It’s been getting clearer and clearer for months. I am becoming seriously concerned. I can’t deny it.” “Then flee,” said Snape’s voice curtly. “Flee, I will make your excuses. I, however, am remaining at Hogwarts.”Q7 - What is Karkaroff worried about? Q8 - What is Snape’s background?Q9 - Did you think that Hagrid was a half-giant?Q10 - What is Cedric talking about?Ron and Hermione were having a blazing row. Standing ten feet apart, they were bellowing at each other, each scarlet in the face. “Well, if you don’t like it, you now know what the solution is, don’t you?” yelled Hermione; her hair was coming down out of its elegant bun now, and her face was screwed up in anger. “Oh yeah?” Ron yelled back. “What’s that?” “Next time there’s a ball, ask me before someone else does, and not as a last resort!” Ron mouthed soundlessly like a goldfish out of water as Hermione turned on her heel and stormed up the girls staircase to bed.Chapter 24 - Rita Skeeter’s ScoopQ1 - Is Harry stupid or smart for not just taking Cedric’s advice?Q2 - Why do you think Dumbledore secured a job for Hagrid when he was expelled?Q3 - Why are the Goblins looking for Barty CrouchQ4 - Where do you think Barty Crouch is?“How about giving me an interview about the Hagrid you know, Harry? The man behind the muscles? Your unlikely friendship and the reasons behind it. Would you call him a father substitute?”Q5 - Is Hagrid the closest thing to a father that Harry has had?Hermione went slightly pink, but Dumbledore smiled at her, and continued, “Hermione, Harry, and Ron still seem to want to know you, judging by the way they were attempting to break down the door.” “Of course we still want to know you!” Harry said, staring at Hagrid.“My own brother, Aberforth, was prosecuted for practicing inappropriate charms on a goat.”Q6 - What was Aberforth Dumbledore doing?Chapter 25 - The Egg and the EyeQ1 - What is the nicest bathroom you’ve ever been in?“What d’you do, sneak up here in the evenings to watch the Prefects take baths?“Sometimes,” said Myrtle, rather slyly, “but I’ve never come out to speak to anyone before.”Q2 - How creepy is Myrtle?Peeves was not the only thing that was moving. A single dot was flitting around a room in the bottom left-hand corner — Snape's office. But the dot wasn't labeled "Severus Snape"...it was Bartemius Crouch.Q3 - What was Barty Crouch doing in Snapes office?Q4 - Before Moody came into the picture, how did you think Harry would escape this?“Reckon they were after potion ingredients, eh?” said Moody, “Not hiding anything else in your office, are you?”Q5 - Do you think Snape is hiding something in his office?Snape suddenly did something very strange. He seized his left forearm convulsively with his right hand, as though something on it had hurt him.Q6 - What is this description?“Oh if there’s one thing I hate,” he muttered, more to himself than Harry, his magical eye was fixed on the bottom left hand corner of the map, “It’s a Death Eater who walked free…”Q7 - Who is at the bottom left-hand corner of the map? Q8 - Do you think Moody will catch this person now he has the map?Moody winked at him…Q9 - Was Moody just blinking?Q10 - Do you think Harry would be a good Auror? Isn’t Moody great for encouraging that in Harry?Chapter 26 - The Second TaskOwing to the potential for nasty accidents when objects kept flying across the room. Professor Flitwick had given each student a stack of cushions on which to practice, the theory being that these wouldn't hurt anyone if they went off target. It was a good theory, but it wasn't working very well. Neville's aim was so poor that he kept accidentally sending much heavier things flying across the room - Professor Flitwick, for instance.Q1 - Is Neville secretively really good at magic?“Moody said Dumbledore only lets Snape stay here because he’s giving him a second chance or something…”"I just want to know what Snape did with his first chance, if he's on his second one," said Harry grimly.Q2 - What did Snape do that he needs a second chance?Q3 - What is Snape’s deal?Q4 - Grubbly-Plank or Hagrid?“I should’ve learned to be an Animagus like Sirius.”Q5 - What would you be if you could be an animagus?Q6 - How amazing is Dobby for helping Harry? The unsung hero of this book so far.Q7 - How is the crowd watching the second task?Harry looked around. There was no sign of any of the other champions. What were they playing at? Why didn't they hurry up? He turned back to Hermione, raised the jagged rock, and began to hack at her bindings too.Q8 - Is Harry an idiot for doing this?Q9 - Would you rather face a dragon or face an hour in icy water looking for your loved one?Dumbledore and Ludo Bagman stood beaming at Harry and Ron from the bank as they swam nearer, but Percy, who looked very white and somehow much younger than usual, came splashing out to meet them…Percy seized Ron and was dragging him back to the bank ("Gerroff, Percy, I'm all right!")Q10 - Does this change your thoughts on Percy?Q11 - Hermione is angry that Fleur kissed Ron on the cheek…does Hermione love Ron?Q12 - Danny, Do you like Fleur more after this chapter?Chapter 27 - Padfoot ReturnsOne of the best things about the aftermath of the second task was that everybody was very keen to hear details of what had happened down in the lake, which meant that Ron was getting to share Harry's limelight for once. Harry noticed that Ron's version of events changed subtly with every retelling. At first, he gave what seemed to be the truth; it tallied with Hermione's story, anyway - Dumbledore had put all the hostages into a bewitched sleep in Professor McGonagall's office, first assuring them that they would be quite safe, and would awake when they were back above the water. One week later, however, Ron was telling a thrilling tale of kidnap in which he struggled single-handedly against fifty heavily armed merpeople who had to beat him into submission before tying him up.Q1 - They make something called a wit-sharpening potion, would you take this all the time, and would it be healthy to take a potion daily?Q2 - How does Rita Skeeter keep finding this stuff out? Does she have an invisibility cloak?“I don't care how many times your picture appears in the papers. To me. Potter, you are nothing but a nasty little boy who considers rules to be beneath him."Q3 - What is Snape’s issue?"It is Veritaserum - a Truth Potion so powerful that three drops would have you spilling your innermost secrets for this entire class to hear," said Snape viciously. "Now, the use of this potion is controlled by very strict Ministry guidelines. But unless you watch your step, you might just find that my hand slips" - he shook the crystal bottle slightly - "right over your evening pumpkin juice. And then. Potter...then we'll find out whether you've been in my office or not."Q4 - What do you think of Veritaserum?"What's so urgent?" he heard Snape hiss at Karkaroff. "This," said Karkaroff, and Harry, peering around the edge of his cauldron, saw Karkaroff pull up the left-hand sleeve of his robe and show Snape something on his inner forearm. "Well?" said Karkaroff, still making every effort not to move his lips. "Do you see? It's never been this clear, never since -" "Put it away!" snarled Snape, his black eyes sweeping the classroom.Q5 - What is happening here?"Thanks," said Sirius, opening it, grabbing a drumstick, sitting down on the cave floor, and tearing off a large chunk with his teeth. "I've been living off rats mostly. Can't steal too much food from Hogsmeade; I'd draw attention to myself."Q6 - Do you think Sirius is trying to eat Peter Pettigrew?Q7 - What is the deal with Crouch?Sirius shook his head and said, "She's got the measure of Crouch better than you have, Ron. If you want to know what a mans like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals."Q8 - What do you think of everything Sirius is saying about Crouch?"Well, times like that bring out the best in some people and the worst in others. Crouch's principles might've been good in the beginning - I wouldn't know. He rose quickly through the Ministry, and he started ordering very harsh measures against Voldemort's supporters. The Aurors were given new powers - powers to kill rather than capture, for instance. And I wasn't the only one who was handed straight to the dementors without trial. Crouch fought violence with violence, and authorized the use of the Unforgivable Curses against suspects. I would say he became as ruthless and cruel as many on the Dark Side. He had his supporters, mind you - plenty of people thought he was going about things the right way, and there were a lot of witches and wizards clamoring for him to take over as Minister of Magic. When Voldemort disappeared, it looked like only a matter of time until Crouch got the top job. But then something rather unfortunate happened...." Sirius smiled grimly. "Crouch's own son was caught with a group of Death Eaters who'd managed to talk their way out of Azkaban. Apparently they were trying to find Voldemort and return him to power."Q9 - What do you think about Barty Crouch’s son dying?He wasn't the only one," said Sirius bitterly. "Most go mad in there, and plenty stop eating in the end. They lose the will to live. You could always tell when a death was coming, because the dementors could sense it, they got excited. That boy looked pretty sickly when he arrived. Crouch being an important Ministry member, he and his wife were allowed a deathbed visit. That was the last time I saw Barty Crouch, half carrying his wife past my cell. She died herself, apparently, shortly afterward. Grief. Wasted away just like the boy. Crouch never came for his son's body. The dementors buried him outside the fortress; I watched them do it.""Rosier and Wilkes - they were both killed by Aurors the year before Voldemort fell. The Lestranges - they're a married couple - they're in Azkaban. Avery - from what I've heard he wormed his way out of trouble by saying he'd been acting under the Imperius Curse - he's still at large. But as far as I know, Snape was never even accused of being a Death Eater - not that that means much. Plenty of them were never caught. And Snape's certainly clever and cunning enough to keep himself out of trouble."Q10 - What are your thoughts about everything Sirius mentioned?

Chapter 16 - The Goblet of Fire“Oh I haven’t got a single quill on me—” “Do you think he’d sign y hat in lipstick?” “Really,” Hermione said loftily, as they passed the girls, not squabbling over the lipstick. “I’m getting his autograph if I can,” said Ron, “you haven’t got a quill, have you, Harry?”Q1 - Who is the most famous person you have ever met?“What’s that?” said Ron, pointing at a large dish of some sort of shellfish stew that stood beside a large steak-and-kidney pudding. “Bouillabaisse,” said Hermione. “Bless you,” siad Ron.”’Q2 - Which students do you like more so far? Also, give me a power ranking of the houses of Hogwarts now?“Excuse me, are you wanting ze bouillabaisse?" It was the girl from Beauxbatons who had laughed during Dumbledore's speech. She had finally removed her muffler. A long sheet of silvery-blonde hair fell almost to her waist. She had large, deep blue eyes, and very white, even teeth. Ron went purple. He stared up at her, opened his mouth to reply, but nothing came out except a faint gurgling noise. "Yeah, have it," said Harry, pushing the dish toward the girl. "You 'ave finished wiz it?" "Yeah," Ron said breathlessly. "Yeah, it was excellent." The girl picked up the dish and carried it carefully off to the Ravenclaw table. Ron was still goggling at the girl as though he had never seen one before. Harry started to laugh. The sound seemed to jog Ron back to his senses. "She's a veela!" he said hoarsely to Harry.Q3 - How had your opinions of Ron, Hermione, and Harry changed over the last few books?“Placing your name in the Goblet constitutes a binding magical contract.”Q4 - What kinds of magical binding contracts do you think exist?Q5 - Is it insane that they have to bind to a contract and they don’t know what they have to face yet?Q6 - What is the difference between Harry’s fame and Krums?The entrance hall rang with laughter. Even Fred and George joined in, once they had gotten to their feet and taken a good look at each other's beards. "I did warn you," said a deep, amused voice, and everyone turned to see Professor Dumbledore coming out of the Great Hall. He surveyed Fred and George, his eyes twinkling. "I suggest you both go up to Madam Pomfrey. She is already tending to Miss Fawcett, of Ravenclaw, and Mr. Summers, of Hufflepuff, both of whom decided to age themselves up a little too. Though I must say, neither of their beards is anything like as fine as yours."Q7 - How great is Dumbledore?They couldn’t hear what Hagrid was saying, but he was talking to Madame Maxime with a rapt, misty-eyed expression Harry had only ever seen him wear once before — when he had been looking at the baby dragon, Norbert.”“The Hogwarts champion,” he called, “is Cedric Diggory.” “No! “ said Ron loudly, but nobody heard him except Harry; the uproar from the next table was too great. Every single Hufflepuff had jumped to his or her feet, screaming and stamping, as Cedric made his way past them, grinning broadly, and headed off toward the chamber behind the teachers' table. Indeed, the applause for Cedric went on so long that it was some time before Dumbledore could make himself heard again.Q8 - How do you feel about Cedric being the Hogwarts Champion?Automatically, it seemed, Dumbledore reached out a long hand and seized the parchment. He held it out and stared at the name written upon it. There was a long pause, during which Dumbledore stared at the slip in his hands, and everyone in the room stared at Dumbledore. And then Dumbledore cleared his throat and read out—”Harry Potter.”Q9 - Thoughts about Harry in the tournament?Chapter 17 - The Four ChampionsQ1 - Harry has to be embarrassed here…what is the most embarrassed you’ve ever been?“Did you put your name into the Goblet of Fire, Harry?” Dumbeldore asked calmly.Q2 - How do you think Harry’s name got in the Goblet of fire?“Maybe someone’s hoping Potter is going to die for it,” said Moody, with the merest trace of a growl.Q3 - Would you want to enter into the Triwizard Tournament?Q4 - Who do you think is going to win out of the four champions?“Listen,” said Harry, “I didn’t put my name in that Goblet. Someone else mustv’e done it.”Q5 - Why doesn’t Ron believe Harry?Q6 - Is Moody’s eye massively inappropriate at a school full of children?Chapter 18 - The Weighing of the Wands“Hello,” she said, holding up a stack of toast, which she was carrying in a napkin. “ brought you this…want to go for a walk?”Q1 - How amazing is Hermione?Hagrid’s beetle black eyes looked anxious under his wild eyebrows. “No idea who put yeh in fer it, Harry?” “You believe I didn’t do it, then?” Said Harry, concealing with difficulty the rush of gratitude he felt at Hagrid’s words.Harry didn’t answer. Yes, everything did see to happen to him…that was more or less what Hermione had said as they had walked around the lake, and that was the reason, according to her, that Ron was no longer talking to him.He thought he could have coped with the rest of the schools behavior if he could just have Ron back as a friend.Q2 - Harry mentions that he wanted to use the cruciatus curse on Snape…do you think he’s serious?“Testing…my name is Rita Skeeter, Daily Prophet reporter.” … “Attractive blond Rita Skeeter, forty three, whose savage quill had punctured many inflated reputations —”Q3 - How do you like Rita Skeeter after this interview?Q4 - Fleur’s wand contains another magical object, do you think Veela hair would make a good wand core?Q5 - Do you think Gregorovitch wands are as good as Olivanders?Q6 - Why do you think Olivander spends more time examining Harry’s wand?Q7 - Do you think Sirius is coming back to the castle?Chapter 19 - The Hungarian HorntailQ1 - So Rita Skeeter is putting words in Harry’s mouth, which is wrong, but is what she’s saying making Harry more likeable?“I didn’t start this,” Harry said stubbornly. “It’s his problem.” “You miss him!” Hermione said impatiently. “And I know he misses you—”Let’s give an ode to friends that we miss!Q2 - Harry cloak seems pretty special…do you think anyone else has invisibility cloaks at the school?Q3 - The school got nesting mother dragons that the champions need to get past…is this tournament really that safe?Q4 - Would you be happy or more stressed that you saw the dragons before the task?Q5 - What is the scariest thing you’ve ever done?Q6 - How would you get past a dragon?Q7 - What do you think of the info that Sirius gave about Karkaroff?“We know he’s a good actor,” said Sirius, “because he convinced the Ministry of Magic to set him free, didn’t he?”Q8 - Who do you think that intruder who tried to stop Moody was?“Right — these dragons,” said Sirius speaking very quickly now. “There’s a way, Harry…You can do it alone. There is a way, and a simple spell’s all you need. Just —” But Harry held up a hand to silence him, his heart suddenly pounding as though it would burst. He could hear footsteps coming down the spiral staircase behind him.Q9 - Would you have let Sirius finish his sentence, or done what Harry did?Chapter 20 - The First TaskSomehow the knowledge that he would rather be here and facing a dragon than back in Privet Drive with Dudley was good to know; it made him feel slightly calmer.Q1 - How would you feel if you just got a new handbag and Harry Potter comes and splits it down the middle?Harry wouldn’t have let his worst enemy face those monsters unprepared — well, perhaps Malfoy or Snape…Q2 - What is the character qualities of Harry that you like and dislike?Q3 - How do you like Moody’s dark detectors?Q4 - What do you think of the cheating going on at the Tournament?Q5 - What do you think of Bagman trying to help Harry with this task?“Harry,” he said, very seriously, “whoever put your name in that Goblet — I — I reckon they’re trying to do you in!” It was as though the last few weeks had never happened — as though Harry was meeting Ron for the first time, right after he’d been made champion…Ron grinned nervously at him and Harry grinned back. Hermione burst into tears. “There’s nothing to cry about!” Harry told her, bewildered. “You two are so stupid!”Q6 - Thoughts on Cedred sacrificing a labrador?Chapter 21 - The House-Elf Liberation FrontQ1 - Do you think Karkaroff is the one who put Harry’s name in?It was hollow and completely empty — but the moment Harry opened it, the most horrible noise, a loud and screechy wail, filled the room. The nearest thing to it Harry had ever heard was the ghost orchestra at Nearly Headless Nick’s Deathday Party, who had all been playing the musical saw.Q2 - What do you think is the clue in the egg?Q3 - Where do you think Hagrid got these Blast-Ended Screwts?“I arose, I settled myself before it, and I gazed into its crystalline depths…and what do you think I saw gazing back at me?” “An ugly old bat in outsized specs?” Ron muttered under his breath. Harry fought hard to keep his face straight. “Death my dears.” Pavarti and Lavendar both put their hands over their mouths, looking horrified. “Yes,” said Professor Trelawney, nodding impressively, “It comes, ever close, it circles overheard like a vulture, ever lower…ever lower over the castle….”Q4 - Thoughts about this prediction?He had one brief glimpse of an enormous, high-ceilinged room, large as the Great Hall above it, with mounds of glittering brass pots and pans heaped around the stone walls, and a great brick fireplace at the other end, when something small hurtled toward him from the middle of the room, squealing, “Harry Potter, sir! Harry Potter!” Next second all the wind had been knocked out of him as the squealing elf hit him hard in the midriff, hugging him so tightly he thought his ribs would break. “D-Dobby?” Harry gasped. “It is Dobby, sir, it is!” squealed the voice from somewhere around his navel. “Dobby has been hoping and hoping to see Harry Potter, sir, and Harry Potter has come to see him, sir!”Q5 - What are your thoughts on Dobby being back in the story?“And Professor Dumbledore says he will pay Dobby, sir, if Dobby wants paying! And so Dobby is a free elf, sir, and Dobby gets a Galleon a week and one day off a month!” “That’s not very much!” Hermione shouted indignantly from the floor, over Winky’s continued screaming and fist-beating. “Professor Dumbledore offered Dobby ten Galleons a week, and weekends off,” said Dobby, suddenly giving a little shiver, as though the prospect of so much leisure and riches were frightening, “but Dobby beat him down, miss. … Dobby likes freedom, miss, but he isn’t wanting too much, miss, he likes work better.”Q6 - Does this change your thoughts on Dumbledore or on house elves (SPEW)?“Dobby likes Professor Dumbledore very much, sir, and is proud to keep his secrets for him.”Q7 - What does Dobby mean here?Q8 - Thoughts on Winky and her dislike of Bagman?Chapter 22 - The Unexpected Task“It is traditional,” said Professor McGonagall firmly. “You are a Hogwarts champion, and you will do what is expected of you as a representative of the school. So make sure you get yourself a partner, Potter.”Q1 - What are your thoughts on McGonagall?Q2 - Do you ever remember getting rejected for asking someone out?“Ron, can we borrow Pigwidgeon?” George asked. “No, he’s off delivering a letter,” said Ron. “Why?” “Because George wants to invite him to the ball,” said Fred sarcastically. “Because we want to send a letter, you stupid great prat,” said George. “Who d’you two keep writing to, eh?” said Ron. “Nose out, Ron, or I’ll burn that for you too,” said Fred, waving his wand threateningly. “So … you lot got dates for the ball yet?” “Nope,” said Ron. “Well, you’d better hurry up, mate, or all the good ones will be gone,” said Fred. “Who’re you going with, then?” said Ron. “Angelina,” said Fred promptly, without a trace of embarrassment. “What?” said Ron, taken aback. “You’ve already asked her?” “Good point,” said Fred. He turned his head and called across the common room. “Oi! Angelina!” Angelina, who had been chatting with Alicia Spinnet near the fire, looked over at him. “What?” she called back. “Want to come to the ball with me?” Angelina gave Fred an appraising sort of look. “All right, then,” she said, and she turned back to Alicia and carried on chatting with a bit of a grin on her face. “There you go,” said Fred to Harry and Ron, “piece of cake.”Q3 - Who are Fred and George writing to?Q4 - Who is your favorite character outside of the trio?But every time he glimpsed Cho that day — during break, and then lunchtime, and once on the way to History of Magic — she was surrounded by friends. Didn’t she ever go anywhere alone? Could he perhaps ambush her as she was going into a bathroom? But no — she even seemed to go there with an escort of four or five girls. Yet if he didn’t do it soon, she was bound to have been asked by somebody else.Q5 - We’ve come into contact with a Bezoar before…do you know what it is and what it does?Giggling should be made illegal, Harry thought furiously, as all the girls around Cho started doing it. She didn’t, though. She said, “Okay,” and followed him out of earshot of her classmates.Q6 - How do you like Cho so far?Entering the common room, Harry looked around, and to his surprise he saw Ron sitting ashen-faced in a distant corner. Ginny was sitting with him, talking to him in what seemed to be a low, soothing voice. “What’s up, Ron?” said Harry, joining them.Q7 - At this point in the story, who did you think Hermione was going with?Q8 - How do you like Ginny?Q9 - What do you think of Parvati and Harry?

Chapter 11 - Aboard the Hogwarts ExpressQ1 - How do you like the name Mad-Eye?Mrs Weasley took a piece of buttered toast from a stack on the kitchen table, put it into the fire tongs and transferred it into Mr Diggory’s mouth.Q2 - have you guys ever had a mountain pie?“Your father thinks very highly of Mad-Eye Moody,” said Mrs Weasley sternly. “Yeah, well Dad collects plugs, doesn’t he?” said Fred quietly, as Mrs Weasley left the room. “Birds of a feather.”Q3 - Which is your favorite Weasley?Q4 - What is your favorite part of the books?Q5 - You don’t know a ton about Durmstrang and Beauxbatons, but which would you rather go to?“But Hogwarts is hidden,” said Hermione, in surprise, “Everyone who’s read Hogwarts: A History, anyway.” “Just you, then,” said Ron. “If a Muggle looks at it, all they see is a moldering old ruin with a sign over the entrance saying DANGER, DO NOT ENTER, UNSAFE.”Q6 - Is this sign keeping you out?Q7 - What do you think of the summoning charm?Q8 - Would you wear Ron’s robes?Chapter 12 - The Triwizard TournamentQ1 - Do you like Peeves?Q2 - What’s the best prank you ever pulled?“Now slip me snug around your ears, I've never yet been wrong, I’ll have a look inside your mind and tell you where you belong!”Q3 - Thoughts on Dennis Creevey?“There are house-elves here?” she said….”Certainly,” said Nearly Headless Nick, looking surprised at her reaction. “The largest number in any dwelling in Britain, I believe. Over a hundred.”Q4 - What are your thoughts on Hogwarts having house elves?A man stood in the doorway, leaning upon a long staff, shrouded in a black traveling cloak. Every head in the Great Hall swiveled toward the stranger, suddenly brightly illuminated by a fork of lightning that flashed across the ceiling. He lowered his hood, shook out a long mane of grizzled, dark gray hair, then began to walk up toward the teachers' table. A dull clunk echoed through the Hall on his every other step. He reached the end of the top table, turned right, and limped heavily toward Dumbledore. Another flash of lightning crossed the ceiling. Hermione gasped. The lightning had thrown the man's face into sharp relief, and it was a face unlike any Harry had ever seen. It looked as though it had been carved out of weathered wood by someone who had only the vaguest idea of what human faces are supposed to look like, and was none too skilled with a chisel. Every inch of skin seemed to be scarred. The mouth looked like a diagonal gash, and a large chunk of the nose was missing. But it was the man's eyes that made him frightening. One of them was small, dark, and beady. The other was large, round as a coin, and a vivid, electric blue. The blue eye was moving ceaselessly, without blinking, and was rolling up, down, and from side to side, quite independently of the normal eye - and then it rolled right over, pointing into the back of the man's head, so that all they could see was whiteness.Q5 - Is this her best description of someone that she’s given so far?“It is my pleasure to inform you that the Triwizard tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts this year.” “You’re joking!” said Fred Weasley loudly. The tension that had filled the hall every since Moody’s arrival suddenly broke. Nearly everyone laughed, and Dumbledore chuckled appreciatively. “I am not joking, Mr Weasley.” he said, “though, now that you mention is, I did hear an excellent one over the summer about a troll, a hag, and a leprechaun who all go into a bar —” Professor McGonagall cleared her throat loudly.Q6 - What are your thoughts on the Triwizard Tournament and what do you think they’ll have to do in it?Q7 - Neville falls through a trap step…why does Hogwarts have these?Chapter 13 - Mad-Eye MoodyQ1 - Would you want to squeeze the pus out of a bubotuber?Q2 - Which lesson would you rather go to—care of magical creatures or herbology?You are preoccupied, my dear. My Inner Eye sees past your brave face to the troubled soul within. And I regret to say that your worries are not baseless. I see difficult times ahead for you, alas… most difficult… I fear the thing you dread will indeed come to pass… and perhaps sooner than you think.”Q3 - What do you think Trelawney is talking about here?“I was saying, my dear, that you were clearly born under the baleful influence of Saturn,” said Professor Trelawney, a faint note of resentment in her voice at the fact that he had obviously not been hanging on her words. “Born under — what, sorry?” said Harry. “Saturn, dear, the planet Saturn!” said Professor Trelawney, sounding definitely irritated that he wasn’t riveted by this news. “I was saying that Saturn was surely in a position of power in the heavens at the moment of your birth… Your dark hair… your mean stature… tragic losses so young in life… I think I am right in saying, my dear, that you were born in midwinter?” “No,” said Harry, “I was born in July.”Q4 - Trelawney is wrong.“Oh, professor, look! I think I’ve got an unaspected planet! Oooh, which one’s that, Professor?” “It’s Uranus, my dear,” said Professor Trelawney peering down at the chart. “Can I have a look at Uranus, too, Lavender?” said Ron.Q5 - Do you still like Rita Skeeter? Do you think her portrayal of Moody is accurate? (A handshake from attempted murder)“Professor Moody!” said a shicked voice. Professor McGonagall was coing down the marble staircase with her arms full of books. “Hello, Professor McGonagall,” said Moody calmly bounding the ferret still higher. “What — what are you doing?” said Professor McGonagall, her eyes following the bouncing ferrets progress through the air. “Teaching,” said Moody. “Teach — Moody, is that a student?” shrieked Professor McGonagall, the books spilling out of her arms.Q6 - What do you think of Moody?Chapter 14 - The Unforgivable Curses“So…do any of you know which curses are most heavily punished by wizarding law?”Q1 - Should Moody be teaching them these things?Q2 - Thoughts on the imperious curse?“Some job for the Ministry, trying to sort out who was being forced to act, and who was acting of their own free will?”Q3 - How do you think the ministry did this?Hermione’s hand flew into the air again and so, to Harry’s slight surprise, did Neville’s…Neville looked surprised at his own daring. “Yes?” said Moody, his magical eye rolling over to fix on Neville. “There’s one — the Cruciatus Curse,” said Neville, in a small but very distinct voice. Moody was looking very intently at Neville, this time with both eyes. “Your name’s Longbottom?” he said, his magical eye swooping down to check the register again. Q4 - Thoughts on the Cruciatus Curse?“Not nice,” he said calmly. “Not pleasant. And there’s no counter-curse. There’s no blocking it. Only one known person has ever survived it, and he’s sitting right in front of me.”Q5 - What are your thoughts on the killing curse?Q6 - What do you think this means to Harry to know?Q7 - Do you side with the students in thinking this was a good lesson, or with Harry and Hermione?“You’ve got to know. It seems harsh, maybe, but you’ve got to know. No point pretending.Q8 - What do you think about Neville?“No—that sounds like we’re accusing him. Got to be careful…”Q9 - What are Fred and George up to?Q10 - What do you think of Harry and Ron’s predictions, and what would you predict about yourself?“You’re treasurer, Ron. I got you a collecting tin upstairs — and Harry, you’re secretary, so you might want to write down everything I’m saying now, as a record of our first meeting.”Q11 - Why is Harry such a bad pet owner?Q12 - Do you think Sirius coming back is a good thing?The dormitory was completely silent, and, had he been less preoccupied, Harry would have realized that the absence of Neville’s usual snores meant that he was not the only one lying awake.Q13 - Why is Neville awake?Chapter 15 - Beaubatons and DurmstrangQ1 - Do you think Dumbledore really wants Moody to teach these things, or is he just using the name of Dumbledore as an excuse to teach what he wants?Q2 - Why do you think Harry was able to resist the Imperius curse when everyone else in the class couldn’t?“Well, the Heads of the participating schools are always on the panel,” said Hermione, and everyone looked around at her, rather surprised, “because all three of them were injured during the Tournament of 1792, when a cockatrice the champions were supposed to be catching went on the rampage.”Q3 - What do you think a cockatrice is?“Will you inform zis ‘agrid zat ze ‘orses drink only single malt whisky?”Q4 - How drunk are these horses?Q5 - Which school entrance do you like better?Karkaroff beckoned forward on of his students. As the boy passed, Harry caught a glimpse of a prominent, curved nose and thick black eyebrows. He didn’t need the punch on the arm Ron gave him, or the hiss in the ear, to recognize that profile. “Harry—it’s Krum!”Q6 - What do you think of Victor Krum being a student at Durmstrang?

Chapter 6 - The PortkeyINTRO - Character impressions in your mind.Harry felt as though he had barely lain down to sleep in Ron’s room when he was being shaken awake by Mrs Weasley.Q1 - Is this the worst feeling ever? Non-snow days? What is the worst feeling as a kid?Q2 - You need a license to Apparate? Do you think anything else should require a license in the magical world?Q3 - What’s the earliest you’ve ever woken up?[Portkeys are] objects that are used to transport wizards from one spot to another at a prearranged time.Q4 - Would you rather travel by broom, apparition, or portkey?Q5 - Amos Diggory works for the department of the regulation and control of magical creatures…did he vote yes to killing buckbeak?“I’m sure Harry’d say the same, wouldn’t you, eh? One falls off his broom, one stays on, you don’t need to be a genius to tell which one’s the better flier.”Q6 - How do you like Amos and Cedric?Q7 - Thoughts on the wizarding world spreading trash around the planet in the form of portkeys?Chapter 7 - Bagman and CrouchQ1 - If you had to hide a quidditch world cup game, how would you do it?“Been having a lot of trouble with him. Needs a Memory Charm ten times a day to keep him happy. And Ludo Bagman’s not helping. Trotting around talking about Bludgers and Quaffles at the top of his voice, not a worry about anti-Muggle security.”Q2 - How should they deal with Mr Roberts…should some Muggles just be able to know about Wizards?“Always the same.” said Mr Weasley, smiling, “we can’t resist showing off when we get together.”Q3 - How do you like the magic of expanding something like the tent into being massive inside?It was only just dawning on Harry how many witches and wizards there must be in the world; he had never really thought much about those in other countries.Q4 - How large do you figure the wizarding world is? Q5 - There’s a description of all sorts of other witches and wizards here, if you could travel to see magic from any other country in the world, where would you go visit?“I’m not putting them on [referring to the trousers],” said Old Archie in indignation. “I like a healthy breeze around my privates, thanks.”Harry laughed but didn’t voice the amazement he felt at hearing about other Wizarding schools. He supposed, now that he saw representatives of so many nationalities in the campsite, that he had been stupid never to realize that Hogwarts couldn’t be the only one.“That’s Bode and Croaker…they’re unspeakables.” “They’re what?” “From the department of mysteries, top secret, no idea what they get up to.”Q6 - What do you think they do in the Department of Mysteries?Q7 - How do you like Bagman and Crouch? Which do you like more?“Ali Bashir’s on the warpath. He wants a word with you about your embargo on flying carpets.” Mr Weasley heaved a deep sigh. “I sent him an owl about that just last week. If I’ve told him once I’ve told him a hundred times: carpets are defined as a Muggle Artifact by the Registry of Proscribed Charmable Objects, but will he listen?”Q8 - Broom or Carpet?A sense of excitement rose like a palpable cloud over the campsite as the afternoon wore on. By dusk, the still summer air itself seemed to be quivering with anticipation, and as darkness spread like a curtain over the thousands of waiting wizards, the last vestiges of pretense disappeared: the Ministry seemed to have bowed to the inevitable and stopped fighting the signs of blatant magic now breaking out everywhere.Q9 - Harry gets Ron omnioculars…is he cheap for saying he won’t get anything for him for Christmas?And then a deep, booming gong sounded somewhere beyond the woods, and, at once, green and red lanterns blazed into life in the trees, lighting a path to the pitch.Chapter 8 - The Quidditch World Cup“Ah, sir,” said Winky, shaking her head, “ah, sir, meaning no disrespect, sir, but I is not sure you did Dobby a favor, sir, when you is setting him free.”Q1 - What do you think of House Elves? Should they be set free?Q2 - Do you think it’s cruel to have a house elf sit at the booth who is afraid of heights just to save a seat?She would have been nice looking if she hadn’t been wearing a look that suggested there was a nasty smell under her nose.Q3 - What are your thoughts on the Veela and the Leprechauns? Q4 - What would the American mascot be?Q5 - What do you think of Victor Krum?Q6 - Would you want to go to this game?Q7 - Was Krum an idiot for ending the game when they were down too much?Chapter 9 - The Dark Mark“Get up! Ron — Harry — come on now, get up, this is urgent!” Harry sat up quickly and the top of his head hit canvas. “S’matter?” he said. Dimly. He could tell that something was wrong. The noises in the campsite had changed. The singing had stopped. He could hear screams, and the sound of people running.Q1 - Have you ever been in a riot or a situation this scary?Q2 - What do you think of these masked people’s actions?The colored lanterns that had lit the path to the stadium had been extinguished. Dark figures were blundering through the trees; children were crying; anxious shouts and panicked voices were reverberating around them in the cold night air. Harry felt himself being pushed hither and thither by people whose faces he could not see. Then he heard Ron yell with pain.Q3 - Do you think Lucious might be out there among the masked people?Q4 - How many magical schools do you think there are?A rustling noise nearby made all three of them jump. Winky the house-elf was fighting her way out of a clump of bushes nearby. She was moving in a most peculiar fashion, apparently with great difficulty; it was as though someone invisible were trying to hold her back.Q5 - Do you think Harry is right, that Winky is just disobeying, or do you think she was cursed?Q6 - Do you think Stan Shunpike would ever become minister of magic? And would he do better than Fudge?Q7 - What do you think Bagman was doing deep in the woods? Do you trust him?For a split second, Harry thought it was another leprechaun formation. Then he realized that it was a colossal skull, comprised of what looked like emerald stars, with a serpent protruding from its mouth like a tongue. As they watched, it rose higher and higher, blazing in a haze of greenish smoke, etched against the black sky like a new constellation. Suddenly, the wood all around them erupted with screams. Harry didn't understand why, but the only possible cause was the sudden appearance of the skull, which had now risen high enough to illuminate the entire wood like some grisly neon sign. He scanned the darkness for the person who had conjured the skull, but he couldn't see anyone.Q8 - What do you think of the Dark Mark?Q9 - Do you think Crouch is good at his job or is he mad?"Here, look. " Mr. Diggory held up a wand and showed it to Mr. Weasley. "Had it in her hand. So that's clause three of the Code of Wand Use broken, for a start. No non-human creature is permitted to carry or use a wand."Q10 - Are wizards right to restrict wand usage to just humans?Q11 - What are your thoughts on Amos Diggory’s interrogation style?Q12 - What do you think of the Prior Incantato spell?Q13 - What do you think of Mr Crouch and Winky’s relationship?"Of course it's not Him," said Mr. Weasley impatiently. "We don't know who it was; it looks like they Disapparated. Now excuse me, please, I want to get to bed.”"I don't get it," said Ron, frowning. "I mean. . . it's still only a shape in the sky. . . " "Ron, You-Know-Who and his followers sent the Dark Mark into the air whenever they killed," said Mr. Weasley. "The terror it inspired. . . you have no idea, you're too young. Just picture coming home and finding the Dark Mark hovering over your house, and knowing what you're about to find inside. . . . " Mr. Weasley winced. "Everyone's worst fear. . . the very worst. . . " There was silence for a moment. Then Bill, removing the sheet from his arm to check on his cut, said, "Well, it didn't help us tonight, whoever conjured it. It scared the Death Eaters away the moment they saw it. They all Disapparated before we'd got near enough to unmask any of them. We caught the Robertses before they hit the ground, though. They're having their memories modified right now. " "Death Eaters?" said Harry. "What are Death Eaters?" "It's what You-Know-Who's supporters called themselves," said Bill. "I think we saw what's left of them tonight - the ones who managed to keep themselves out of Azkaban, anyway. "Q14 - Who do you think actually conjured the Dark Mark?Q15 - What do you think of the Death Eaters?

Chapter 1 - The Riddle HouseThe villagers of Little Hangleton still called it “the Riddle House,” even though it had been many years since the Riddle family had lived there.Fifty years before, at daybreak on a fine summer’s morning, when the Riddle House had still been well kept and impressive, and a maid had entered the drawing room to find all three Riddles dead.Q1 - What do you think happened to the three Riddles?“Frank!” cried several people. “Never!” … By the following morning, hardly anyone in Little Hangleton doubted that Frank Bryce had killed the Riddles.Q2 - Are you guys into true crime podcasts?Q3 - Have you ever been to a spooky or haunted place?Q4 - What are Wormtail and Voldemort talking about?“I will allow you to perform an essential task for me, one that many of my followers would give their right hand to perform.”Q5 - What do you think this task is?“But I am not a man, Muggle,” said the cold voice, barely audible now over the crackling of the flames. “I am much, much more than a man.”Q6 - What does Voldemort mean that he is much more than a man?Q7 - Who is Voldemort's most faithful servant?Q8 - What happened in this chapter and how did you like this opening chapter compared with the other books?Chapter 2 - The ScarNo, the thing that was bothering Harry was that the last time his scar had hurt him, it had been because Voldemort had been close by… but Voldemort couldn’t be here, now…the idea of Voldemort lurking in Privet Drive was absurd, impossible…Q1 - Why do you think Harry’s scar hurts whenever things like that happen?Q2 - Do you think Voldemort knows where Harry lives, and would he ever attack the house?As far as he knew, he was the only living person to have survived a curse like Voldemort’s.Q3 - Do you think there is anyone else alive or even dead who has survived a curse like Voldemorts?Q4 - If you had to choose a bird to deliver mail to you, which bird are you picking?Chapter 3 - The InvitationThe school nurse had seen what Aunt Petunia's eyes – so sharp when it came to spotting fingerprints on her gleaming walls, and in observing the comings and goings of the neighbors – simply refused to see: that, far from needing extra nourishment, Dudley had reached roughly the size and weight of a young killer whale.Q1 - What are your thoughts on Dudley? Q2 - So far in this series, if there is a character who is irredeemable, who would it be?Q3 - Is it animal abuse to keep sending Errol to deliver your mail?Q4 - What do you normally eat for breakfast?“Look at this,” he growled. He held up the envelope in which Mrs Weasley’s letter had come, and Harry had to fight down a laugh. Every bit of the letter was covered in stamps except for a square inch on the front, into which Mrs Weasley had squeezed the Dursleys’ address in minute writing.Q5 - Who do you think is going to win the Quidditch World Cup?A slight spasm crossed Uncle Vernon's large purple face. The mustache bristled. Harry thought he knew what was going on behind the mustache: a furious battle as two of Uncle Vernon's most fundamental instincts came into conflict. Allowing Harry to go would make Harry happy, something Uncle Vernon had struggled against for thirteen years. On the other hand, allowing Harry to disappear to the Weasleys' for the rest of the summer would get rid of him two weeks earlier than anyone could have hoped, and Uncle Vernon hated having Harry in the house. To give himself thinking time, it seemed, he looked down at Mrs. Weasley's letter again.“If they say yes, send Pig back with your answer pronto, and we’ll come get you at five o’clock on Sunday. If they say no, send Pig back pronto and we’ll come get you at five o’clock on Sunday anyway.”Q6 - Harry eats his birthday cake…how long can he hide birthday cake under his floorboards before it starts to get moldy and inedible?He was going to the Quidditch World Cup. It was hard, just not, to feel worried about anything — even Lord Voldemort.Q7 - Should Harry be more worried about Lord Voldemort and his scar?Chapter 4 - Back to the BurrowQ1 - Thoughts on the Dursley’s nerve and annoyance in the beginning of this chapter?Q2 - Are the Weasleys wrong for being so late?Q3 - Is the Floo Network a normal practice…to show up in someone's living room just unannounced?The electric fireplace shot across the room as the boarded-up fireplace burst outwards, expelling Mr Weasley, Fred, George, and Ron in a cloud of loose chippings.Q4 - What are your feelings on all of this happening?Indeed, from the tone of his voice when he next spoke, Harry was quite sure that Mr Weasley thought Dudley was quite as mad as the Dursleys thought he was, except that Mr Weasley felt sympathy rather than fear.Q5 - What do you think of the idea of having sympathy on people who are different from you? What should you do?Q6 - What is the rudest anyone has ever acted toward you?Q7 - Petunia in particular seems very terrified of magic, why do you think that she is?Chapter 5 - Weasleys’ Wizard WheezesQ1 - Would you rather work with dragons or work at gringotts?“It isn’t funny!” Mr Weasley shouted. “That sort of behavior seriously undermines wizard-muggle relations! I spend half my life campaigning against the mistreatment of Muggles, and my own sons —”Q2 - What is the Wizard perception of Muggles?Q3 - What do you think the of Fred and George’s inventions? Q4 - What else do you think they’d make, or that you would make, if you were making a joke shop for wizards?“A report for the Department of International Magical Cooperation,” said Percy smugly. “We're trying to standardize cauldron thickness. Some of these foreign imports are just a shade too thin — leakages have been increasing at a rate of almost three percent a year —”Q5 - What do you think of Percy and his new job?“Just don’t get him onto the subject of his boss. According to Mr Crouch…as I was saying to Mr Crouch…Mr Crouch is of the opinion…Mr Crouch was telling me…They’ll be announcing their engagement any day now.”NOTE: Harry did not send any thank you letters or mail to his friends.Q6 - What are your thoughts on Mr and Mrs Weasley?PREDICTION: Scotland slaughtered by Luxembourg.Q7 - Is there a specific time you remember having a really good meal with people you loved?“I shudder to think what the state of my in-tray would be if I was away from work for five days.” “Yeah, someone might slip dragon dung in it again, eh, Perce?” said Fred. “That was a sample of fertilizer from Norway!” said Percy, going very red in the face. “It was nothing personal.” “It was,” Fred Whispered to Harry, as they got up from the table. “We sent it.”

Chapter 19 - The Servant of Lord Voldemort“YOU'RE PATHETIC!” Harry yelled. “JUST BECAUSE THEY MADE A FOOL OF YOU AT SCHOOL YOU WON'T EVEN LISTEN _” “SILENCE! I WILL NOT BE SPOKEN TO LIKE THAT!' Snape shrieked, looking madder than ever. "Like father, like son, Potter! I have just saved your neck, you should be thanking me on bended knee! You would have been well served if he'd killed you! You'd have died like your father, too arrogant to believe you might be mistaken in Black. Now get out of the way or I will make you.”Q1 - What do you think of both Harry and Snape’s statements?Q2 - Were they right to attack a teacher?"Harry I as good as killed them; he croaked. I persuaded Lily and James to change to Peter at the last moment, persuaded them to use him as Secret Keeper instead of me ... I'm to blame, I know it ... the night they died, I'd arranged to check on Peter, make sure he was still safe, but when I arrived at his hiding place, he'd gone. Yet there was no sign of a struggle. It didn't feel right. I was scared. I set out for your parents' house straight away. And when I saw their house, destroyed, and their bodies - I realized what Peter must have done. What I'd done. His voice broke. He turned away.”Q3 - What do you think of this whole story so far?Q4 - Do you get the secret keeper thing still?Harry remembered what Mr Weasley had told Mrs Weasley. “The guards say he's been talking in his sleep …. always the same words... "He's at Hogwarts.” “It was as if someone had lit a fire in my head, and the Dementors couldn't destroy it…it wasn't a happy feeling…it was an obsession…but it gave me strength, it cleared my mind. So, one night when they opened my door to bring food, I slipped past them as a dog…it's so much harder for them to sense animal emotions that they were confused…I was thin, very thin…thin enough to slip through the bars…I swam as a dog back to the mainland I journeyed north and slipped into the Hogwarts grounds as a dog…I've been living in the Forest ever since…except when I come to watch the Quidditch, of course…you fly as well as your father did, Harry…He looked at Harry who did not look away. Believe me croaked black believe me. I never betrayed James and lily. I would have died before I betrayed them. And at long last, Harry believed him. Throat too tight to speak, he nodded. Q5 - Is Ron nuts for letting Scabbers sleep in his bed?Q6 - Why would Harry change his murderous tone after learning of all this, is he right to show mercy to Pettigrew?Q7 - What are your thoughts on Pettigrew, Lupin, James, and Sirius now?Chapter 20 - The Dementor’s Kiss“But I’m also — I don’t know if anyone’s ever told you — I’m your godfather.” “Yeah, I knew that,” said Harry. “Well…your parents appointed me your guardian,” said Sirius stiffly. “If anything happened to them…” Harry waited. Did Sirius mean what he thought he meant? “I’ll understand, of course, if you want to stay with your aunt and uncle,” said Sirius. “But…well…think about it. Once my name’s cleared…if you wanted a…a different home…”Q1 - Is it at all crazy that Harry now is okay with living with Sirius?Q2 - Do you think it's feasible that someone like Lupin forgot to take his potion?Q3 - What did you think Harry’s patronus was on finishing this chapter?Q4 - Who did you think cast the patronus on your first read?Chapter 21 - Hermione’s Secret“You surely don’t believe a word of Black’s story?” Snape whispered, his eyes fixed on Dumbledore’s face. “I wish to speak to Harry and Hermione alone,” Dumbledore repeated.Q1 - What do you think about the dynamic between Snape and Dumbledore in this book?“But you believe us.” “Yes I do,” said Dumbledore quietly. “But I have no power to make other men see the truth.”Q2 - What do you think of the time turner?Q3 - Have you ever felt like you ran into a past or future version of yourself?Q4 - What would you do if you had one day with the time turner?REDDIT - alphaWLFgang1 - For me it’s like someone asking that question if I’d rather have all the time in the world, or all the money in the world. My answer to that question is all the time in the world. With all the time in the world, if I wanted to be rich and have all the money in the world, I could do that. So for me, having a time-turner, I feel like I would be able to either own multiple companies or have multiple jobs while still spending time with family. Obviously it’d be tricky living that way and making sure I don’t go crazy, but that’s what I’d try to do at the most. Just being able to be more than one place at a time and be even more productive would open countless opportunities.“Macnair, if Buckbeak has indeed been stolen, do you really think the thief will have led him away on foot?” said Dumbledore, still sounding amused. “Search the skies, if you will…Hagrid, I could do with a cup of tea. Or a large brandy.”Q5 - Do you think Dumbledore was just playing here, or did he assume Harry would fly Buckbeak away?“Yeah, I saw him,” said Harry slowly. “But…maybe I imagined it…I wasn’t thinking straight…I passed out right afterwards…” “Who did you think it was?” “I think—” Harry swallowed, knowing how strange this was going to sound. “I think it was my dad.”Q6 - Hermione’s response is that Harry’s dad is dead, is she the single worst comfort giver on the face of the planet?Q7 - Did you think this might have been James at this point?“We’ll see each other again,” he said. “You truly are — truly your father’s son, Harry…”Q8 - Should their goodbye have been a little longer?Chapter 22 - Owl Post AgainDumbledore looked up, and a wide smile appeared under the long silver mustache. “Well?” he said quietly. “We did it!” said Harry breathlessly. “Sirius has gone, on Buckbeak…” “Well done.”“Well, there you have it, Severus,” said Dumbledore calmly. “Unless you are suggesting that Harry and Hermione are able to be in two places at once, I’m afraid I don’t see any point in troubling them further.”Q1 - Do you think Snape is good?“Perhaps we should think about dragons at the school entrance…”Q2 - Do you think Fudge is serious?“Yes, your father was always a stag when he transformed,” he said. “You guessed right…that’s why we called him prongs.”“Didn’t make any difference?” said Dumbledore quietly. “It made all the difference in the world, Harry. You helped uncover the truth. You saved an innocent man from a terrible fate.”Q3 - Do you think Dumbledore or Harry is more right here? Did Harry actually do anything of worth?“Do you know, Harry, I think she might have been,” he said thoughtfully. “Who’d have thought it? That brings her total of real predictions up to two. I should offer her a pay rise…”Q4 - After Dumbledore even thinks she’s only had two real predictions, do you think Trelawney is a fraud or actually good?“Pettigrew owes his life to you. You have sent Voldemort a deputy who is in your debt. When one wizard saves another wizard’s life, it creates a certain bond between them…and I’m much mistaken if Voldemort wants his servant in the dept of Harry Potter.” “I don’t want a bond with Pettigrew!” said Harry. “He betrayed my parents!” “This is magic at its deepest, its most impenetrable, Harry. But trust me…the time may come when you will be very glad you saved Pettigrews life.”Q5 - What do you think Dumbledore is talking about here?“You think the dead we have loved ever truly leave us? You think that we don’t remember them more clearly than ever in times of great trouble? Your father is alive in you, Harry, and shows himself most plainly when you have need of him. How else could you produce that particular Patronus? Prongs rode again last night…So you did see your father last night, Harry…You found him inside yourself.”Q6 - Do you think Dumbledore is right here? “I’ll fix it up with Mum and Dad, then I’ll call you. I know how to use the fellytone now—” “A telephone, Ron,” said Hermione. “Honestly, you should take Muggle studies next year…”Q7 - Should witches and wizards be required to take muggle studies?Q8 - The quidditch world cup is happening next summer, what countries would you guess are quidditch powerhouses?Q9 - How’d you like this book?

Chapter 14 - Snape’s GrudgeQ1 - What should the procedure be after Sirius Black has been caught sneaking into Hogwarts again?Q2 - Why hadn’t Sirius killed Ron and then gone to Harry?“But I gotta tell yeh, I thought you two’d value yer friend more’n broomsticks or rats. Tha’s all.”Ron had to hold onto the fence to keep himself standing, he was laughing so hard.Q3 - What is the hardest you have ever laughed?“So, everyone from the Minister of Magic downwards has been trying to keep famous Harry Potter safe from Sirius Black. But famous Harry Potter is a law unto himself. Let the ordinary people worry about his safety! Famous Harry Potter goes where he wants to, with no thought for the consequences.”Q4 - Does Snape have a point about Harry here?“I told you to shut up about my dad!” Harry yelled. “I know the truth, all right? He saved your life! Dumbledore told me! You wouldn’t even be here if it weren't for my dad!” Snapes sallow skin had gone the colour of sour milk. “And did the Headmaster tell you the circumstances in which your father saved my life?” he whispered. “Or did he consider the details too unpleasant for precious Potter’s delicate ears?”Q5 - What do you think of Snape and James Potter?Q6 - Who do you think made the Marauders Map?Your parents gave their lives to keep you alive, Harry. A poor way to repay them — by gambling their sacrifice for a bag of magic tricks.”Chapter 15 - The Quidditch Final“There’ll be an appeal, though, there always is. Only I can’t see any hope…nothing will have changed.” “Yeah it will,” said Ron fiercely. “You won’t have to do all the work alone this time, Hermione. I’ll help.” Hermione flung her arms around Ron’s neck and broke down completely. Ron, looking quite terrified, patted her very awkwardly on the top of the head. Finally, Hermione drew away.Q1 - Do you think Ron and Hermione or Harry and Hermione are a better couple?Harry and Ron both made furious moves toward Malfoy, but Hermione got there first — SMACK! She had slapped Malfoy around the face with all the strength she could muster.Q2 - How do we like aggressive Hermione?“Fine!” she repeated swinging the bag over her shoulder and almost knocking Ron off his chair, “I give up! I’m leaving!” And to the whole class’s amazement, Hermione strode over to the trapdoor, kicked it open, and climbed down the ladder out of sight.PREDICTION - ONE WILL LEAVE THE NUMBER FOREVER!Q3 - What do you think is the deal with crookshanks and the grim?The Gryffindor crowd were screaming themselves hoarse — Gryffindor were sixty points in the lead, and if Harry caught the snitch now, the cup was theirs.Q4 - How bad of a seeker is Malfoy?Q5 - Do you guys like quidditch now?Chapter 16 - Professor Trelawney’s PredictionEven Fred and George Weasley had been spotted working.Q1 - What do you think differentiates between a charm and a spell?Their second from last exam, on Thursday morning, was Defense Against the Dark Arts. Professor Lupin had compiled the most unusual exam any of them had ever taken; a sort of obstacle course outside in the sun, where they had to wade across a deep padding pool containing a Grindylow, cross a series of potholes full of Red Caps, squish their way across a patch of marsh, ignoring the misleading directions from a Hinkypunk, then climb into an old trunk and battle with a new Boggart.Q2 - Which of professor Lupins final exam obstacles would trip you up?“Hermione!” said Lupin, startled. “What's the matter?” “P-P-Professor McGonagall!” Hermione gasped, pointing into the trunk. “Sh-she said I'd failed everything!”Q3 - If you had to make up a prediction, what would you say?Her eyes started to roll. Harry stood there in a panic. She looked as though she was about to have some sort of seizure. He hesitated, thinking of running to the hospital wing - and then Professor Trelawney spoke again, in the same harsh voice, quite unlike her own: “The Dark Lord lies alone and friendless, abandoned by his followers. His servant has been chained these twelve years. Tonight, before midnight, the servant will break free and set out to rejoin his master. The Dark Lord will rise again with his servant's aid, greater and more terrible than ever before. Tonight ... before midnight .. the servant will set out ... to rejoin … his master.”Q4 - What are your thoughts about this prediction?Q5 - Is Trelawney a true seer?Hermione didn’t wait for the rest of his sentence; she strode across the room, pushed the fat lady’s portrait open and vanished from sight.Q6 - Has Hermione changed at all from this book to the previous two?“Ron, I - I don’t believe it - it’s Scabbers!”There was a jumble of indistinct male voices, a silence and then, without warning, the unmistakable swish and thud of an ax.Chapter 17 - Cat, Rat, and DogBut before they could cover themselves again, before they could even catch their breath, they heard the soft pounding of gigantic paws. Something was bounding towards them out of the dark -an enormous, pale-eyed, jet-black dog. Harry reached for his wand, but too late the dog had made an enormous leap and its front paws hit him on the chest. He keeled over backwards in a whirl of hair; he felt its hot breath, saw inch-long teeth.Q1 - What is the worst injury you’ve had?Q2 -  If your best friend was in the most haunted place in the world, would you go rescue them?Harry and Hermione dashed across to him. 'Ron- are you OK?' Where's the dog?' "Not a dog; Ron moaned. His teeth were gritted with pain. 'Harry, it's a trap -' What 'He's the dog…. he's an Animagus. Ron was staring over Harry's shoulder. Harry wheeled around. With a snap, the man in the shadows closed the door behind them. A mass of filthy, matted hair hung to his elbows. If eyes hadn't been shining out of the deep, dark sockets, he might have been a corpse. The waxy skin was stretched so tightly over the bones of his face, it looked like a skull. His yellow teeth were bared in a grin. It was Sirius black.Q3 - Did you suspect the dog was Sirius black?“If you want to kill Harry, you'll have to kill us, too!” he said fiercely, though the effort of standing up had drained him of still more color, and he swayed slightly as he spoke.Q3 - How has Ron’s character progressed over these books?Harry raised the wand. Now was the moment to do it. Now was the moment to avenge his mother and father. He was going to kill Black. He had to kill Black. This was his chance..Q4 - Is Harry’s anger justified here? Q5 - Why is Black being so unclear here?Then lupin spoke, in an odd voice, a voice that shook with some suppressed emotion. “Where is he, Sirius?” Harry looked quickly at Lupin. He didn't understand what Lupin meant. Who was Lupin talking about? He turned to look at Black again. Black's face was quite expressionless. For a few seconds, he didn't move at all. Then, very slowly, he raised his empty hand, and pointed straight at Ron. Mystified, Harry glanced around at Ron, who looked bewildered. “But then .. Lupin muttered, staring at Black so intently it seemed he was trying to read his mind. Why hasn't he shown himself before now? Unless - Lupin's eyes suddenly widened, as though he was seeing something beyond Black, something none of the rest could see, unless he was the one ... unless you switched. without telling me?” Very slowly, his sunken gaze never leaving Lupin's face. Black nodded.Q6 - Do you understand what they are talking about here?Her voice wavering out of control, and all the time you've been his friend!' You're wrong,' said Lupin. I haven't been Sirius's friend for twelve years, but I am now ... let me explain. 'NO!' Hermione screamed, Harry, don't trust him, he's been helping Black get into the castle, he wants you dead too - he's a werewolf!” What's my rat got to do with anything?' "That's not a rat.' croaked Sirius Black suddenly. 'What d'you mean of course he's a rat - No, he's not;' said Lupin quietly. 'He's a wizard.' An Animagus, said Black, 'by the name of Peter Pettigrew.Chapter 18 - Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs“They’ve — got — a — right — to — know — everything.” Lupin panted, still trying to restrain Black. “Ron’s kept him as a pet! There are parts of it even I don’t understand! And Harry — you owe Harry the truth, Sirius!” Black stopped struggling, though his hollowed eyes were still fixed on Scabbers, who was clamped tightly under Ron’s bitten, scratched and bleeding hands. “All right, then,” said Black, without taking his eyes off the rat. “Tell them whatever you like. But make it quick, Remus. I want to commit the murder I was imprisoned for…”Q1 - Who is right here? Lupin for waiting, or Black for wanting to kill Peter first?Q2 - Why didn’t Scabbers try to escape earlier on?“Because ... because people would know if Peter Pettigrew had been an Animagus. We did Animagi in class with Professor McGonagall. And I looked them up when I did my homework - the Ministry keeps tabs on witches and wizards who can become animals; there's a register showing what animal they become, and their markings and things…and I went and looked Professor Mcgonagall up on the register, and there have only been seven Animagi this century, and pettigrews name wasn’t on the list.”Q3 - I ask again, what would you be if you could be an Animagus?“It seemed impossible that I would be able to come to Hogwarts. Other parents weren't likely to want their children exposed to me. But then Dumbledore became Headmaster and he was sympathetic.”REDDIT - alphaWLFgang1 - So if we were looking at it from that perspective then I’d be a Nebelung Cat (according to Wizarding World) But, I mean if I had to choose I’d want to be something that could fly. So like an Eagle or maybe a Hippogriff would be sick too if that’s even possible? I’d want to fly or swim! So maybe a shark? I’d want to be an animal that can either fly/swim under water. I’d want to fly so I can travel faster places and swim because I love the water.Q4 - Was Dumbledore right to let Lupin come to school?Q5 - Why does Hogwarts have such a rag-tag bunch of teachers?“Now, my three friends could hardly fail to notice that I disappeared once a month. I made up all sorts of stories. I told them my mother was ill, and that I had to go home to see her…I was terrified they would desert me the moment they found out what I was. But of course, they, like you, Hermione, worked out the truth and they didn’t desert me at all. Instead they did something for me that would make my transformations the best times of my life. They became animagi.” Q6 - Do you know and understand how truly difficult it is to become an Animagus?Q7 - What was the craziest/most dangerous thing you’ve done in your life?Q8 - Have you ever put someone else’s life in danger?“Sirius thought it would be — er — amusing, to tell Snape all he had to do was prod the knot on the tree-trunk with a long stick, and he’d be able to get in after me. Well, of course, Snape tried it — if he’d got as far as this house, he’d have met a fully grown werewolf — but your father, who’d heard what Sirius had done, went after Snape and pulled him back, at great risk to his life.”Q9 - Do you have any sympathy for Snape?

Chapter 9 - Grim DefeatQ1 - Should the students be sent home after Sirius Black got in the castle?“Have you any theories as to how he got in, Professor?” asked Snape. Harry raised his head very slightly off his arm to free his other ear. “Many, Severus, each of them as unlikely as the next.”Q2 - How do you think Sirius got in the castle?Harry knew she was deeply interested in the Gryffindor team’s prospects.Q3 - Is it alarming that McGonnagal chooses Madam Hooch to oversee the practices?“You are easily satisfied. Lupin is hardy over-taxing you — I would expect first-years to be able to deal with Red Caps and Grindylows. Today we shall discuss — werewolves.”Q4 - If you had to fight a werewolf, how do you think you’d defeat it?“This is the second time you have spoken out of turn, miss Granger,” said Snape coolly. “Five more points from Gryffindor for being an insufferable know-it-all.”Q5 - Why is Snape so mean?“Not Harry, not Harry, please not Harry!” “Stand aside, you silly girl…stand aside, now…” “Not Harry, please no, take me, kill me instead—”Q6 - What is this that Harry heard during the dementor attack?Q7 - Do you think Harry will be a bad seeker now he doesn’t have a good broom?Chapter 10 - The Marauder’s MapMadam Pomfrey insisted on keeping Harry in the hospital wing for the rest of the weekend. He didn’t argue or complain, but he wouldn’t let her throw away the shattered remains of his Nimbus Two Thousand. He knew he was being stupid, knew that the Nimbus was beyond repair, but Harry couldn’t help it; he felt as though he’d lost one of his best friends.Q1 - Is Harry being extreme by saying he’d lost one of his friends?Ron finally cracked, flinging a large, slippery crocodile heart at Malfoy, which hit him in the face and caused Snape to take fifty points from Gryffindor.Q2 - 50!?“The dementors affect you worse than the others because there are horrors in your past that the others don’t have.”...”Dementors are among the foulest creatures that walk this earth. They infest the darkest, filthiest places, they glory in decay and despair, they drain peace, hope and happiness out of the air around them. Even muggles feel their presence, though they can’t see them. Get too near a Dementor and every good feeling, every happy memory, will be sucked out of you. If it can, the Dementor will feed on you long enough to reduce you to something like itself — soulless and evil. You’ll be left with nothing but the worst experiences of your life. And the worst that has happened to you, Harry, is enough to make anyone fall off their broom. You have nothing to feel ashamed of.”Q3 - What are your thoughts on Dementors and the Azkaban Prison?“This little beauty’s taught us more than all the teachers in the school.”Q4 - Where do you think the map came from?Q5 - Is Harry irresponsible for going to Hogsmeade?Q6 - What is apparition?“Never saw one without the other, did you? The number of times I had them in here — ooh, they used to make me laugh. Quite the double act, Sirius Black and James Potter!”Q7 - Does James and Sirius being best friends make Sirius that much worse for going to the dark side?“An immensely complex spell,” he said squeakily, “involving the magical concealment of a secret inside a single, living soul. The information is hidden inside the chosen person, or Secret-Keeper, and is henceforth impossible to find – unless, of course, the Secret-Keeper chooses to divulge it.”Q8 - What do you think about Sirius being Harry’s godfather?Q9 - What do you think of the Fidelius Charm?“You know most of the prisoners in there sit muttering to themselves in the dark, there’s no sense in them…but I was shocked at how normal Black seemed. He spoke quite rationally to me. It was unnerving. You’d have thought he was merely bored…Yes, I was astounded at how little effect the Dementors seemed to be having on him.”Q10 - What do you think about Peter Pettigrew?Q11 - How do you feel after hearing this story?Chapter 11 - The FireboltHe stopped on a picture of his parents’ wedding day. There was his father waving up at him, beaming, the untidy black hair Harry had inherited standing up in all directions. There was his mother, alight with happiness, arm in arm with his dad. And there…that must be him. Their best man…Harry had never given him a thought before.A hatred such as he had never known before was coursing through Harry like poison. Q1 - How do you feel after letting it stew, that Harry is the godson of Sirius Black?Harry looked at them. They didn’t seem to understand at all. “D'you know what I see and hear every time a dementor gets too near me?' Ron and Hermione shook their heads, looking apprehensive. 'I can hear my mum screaming and pleading with Voldemort. And if you'd heard your mum screaming like that, just about to be killed, you wouldn't forget it in a hurry. And if you found out someone who was supposed to be a friend of hers betrayed her and sent Voldemort after her —”Q2 - What would you say to Harry in this moment?“Hey, Harry —” Ron gave a great whoop of laughter, “Malfoy! Wait till he sees you on this! He’ll be sick as a pig! This is an international-standard broom, this is!”Q3 - Do you think Sneakoscopes can gauge animal mischief?Q4 - Why are Ron and Hermione staying for Christmas holidays?“Certainly I knew, Minerva,” she said quietly. “But one does not parade the fact that one is All-Knowing. I frequently act as though I am not possessed of the Inner Eye, so as not to make others nervous.” “That explains a great deal,” said Professor McGonagall tartly.Q5 - Who sent Harry the firebolt?Chapter 12 - The PatronusHarry knew Hermione had meant well, but that didn’t stop him being angry with her.PREDICTION #11 - Short lifelines for Harry’s palm.Q1 - Why is Lupin always sick?“The Patronus is a kind of positive force, a projection of the very thing that the Dementor feeds upon — hope, happiness, the desire to survive — but it cannot feel despair, as real humans can, so the Dementors can’t hurt it.”Q2 - Which memory would you pick to cast your patronus?“I heard my dad,” Harry mumbled. “That’s the first time I’ve heard him — he tried to take on Voldemort himself, to give my mum time to run for it…”“Professor Lupin?” he said. “If you knew my dad, you must’ve known Sirius Black as well.” Lupin turned very quickly. “What gives you that idea?” he said sharply. “Nothing — I mean, I just knew they were friends at Hogwarts, too…” Lupins face relaxed. “Yes, I knew him,” he said shortly. “Or I thought I did.”Q3 - Do you think Lupin and Sirius Black are working together in any way?“They clamp their jaws upon the mouth of the victim and — suck out his soul.” Harry accidentally spat out a bit of butterbeer. “What — they kill —?” “Oh, no,” said Lupin. “Much worse than that. You can exist without your soul, you know, as long as your brain and heart are still working. But you’ll have no sense of self any more, no memory, no … anything. There is no chance of recovery. You’ll just — exist. As an empty shell. And your soul is gone for ever…lost.”Q4 - What are your thoughts on the Dementor’s kiss?Harry sat stunned for a moment at the idea of someone having their soul sucked out through their mouth. But then he thought of Black. “He deserves it,” he said suddenly. “You think so?” said Lupin lightly. “Do you really think anyone deserves that?”Q5 - Do you think anyone deserves the Dementor’s kiss?DRINK FOR SCABBERS!Q6 - Do you think Hermione was right to tattle about the broom?Chapter 13 - Gryffindor Versus Ravenclaw“He bit Goyle for us once!” Ron said miserably. “Remember, Harry?” “Yeah, that’s true,” said Harry. “His finest hour,” said Fred.Q1 - Would you like to play Quidditch?Q2 - How incompetent is Madam Hooch?She smiled at Harry as the teams faced each other behind their captains, and he felt a slight jolt in the region of his stomach that he didn’t think had anything to do with nerves.Q3 - How would you coach quidditch to make sure your team won? Are there any kind of moneyball situations with Quidditch?Q4 - Who’s side do you take in the friendship battle: Ron or Hermione?Q5 - Do you think Harry’s dream meant anything?“Professor, I woke up and Sirius Black was standing over me, holding a knife!” Professor McGonagall stared at him. “Don’t be ridiculous, Weasley.”Q6 - How is Sirius Black getting in the castle so easily?

Chapter 5 - The DementorThey headed down to breakfast, where Mr Weasley was reading the front page of the Daily Prophet with a furrowed brow and Mrs Weasley was telling Hermione and Ginny about a Love Potion she made as a young girl. All three of them were rather giggly.Q1-  Do you think Mrs Weasley gave the love potion to Mr Weasley?“Harry, I knew you were, well, made of stronger stuff than Fudge seems to think, and I’m obviously pleased that you’re not scared, but —”“Harry, swear to me you won’t go looking for Black.”... “Why would I go looking for someone who wants to kill me?” said Harry blankly.Q2 - Why does Mr Weasley give Harry this advice to not go looking for Black?Q3 - Would you ever want to visit the Honeydukes and the Shrieking Shack?Q4 - Why would a building be more haunted than other buildings?And then, from far away, he heard screaming, terrible, terrified, pleading screams. He wanted to help whoever it was, he tried to move his arm, but couldn’t…a thick white fog was swirling around him, inside him.Q5 - What are your thoughts on Dementors?Q6 - What do you think Hermione and McGonagall talked about?“It is not the nature of a Dementor to understand pleading or excuses.”Q7 - Do you think Hagrid will be a good teacher?Harry climbed the spiral stairs with no thought in his head except how glad he was to be back. They reached their familiar, circular dormitory with its five four-poster beds and Harry, looking around, felt he was home at last.Chapter 6 - Talons and Tea Leaves“Dad had to go out to Azkaban one time, remember, Fred? And he said it was the worst place he’d ever been. He came back all weak and shaking…They suck the happiness out of a place, Dementors. Most of the prisoners go mad in there.”Q1 - What do you think of Dementors sucking the happiness out of a place?“How’re you supposed to be in three classes at once?” “Don’t be silly,” said Hermione shortly. “Of course I won’t be in three classes at once.”Q2 - Do you think Hermione could handle the workload of three classes at once?Q3 - Would you want to take a Divination class?PREDICTION #1 - Nevilles Grandma is Ill.PREDICTION #2 - Parvati must beware a red-haired man.PREDICTION #3 - February will bring the flu…she will lose her voice.PREDICTION #4 - By Easter one of them will leave forever.PREDICTION #5 - Lavender’s dread will happen Friday the sixteenth of October.PREDICTION #6 - Neville breaking the pink cup. HAPPENEDQ4 - What are your thoughts on Trelawney?When Harry and Ron had had their teacups filled, they went back to their table and tried to drink the scalding tea quickly.Q5 - Can you drink scalding hot tea/coffee?“Right, you’ve got a wonky sort of cross.” he said, consulting Unfogging the Future. “That means you’re going to have ‘trials and suffering’ — sorry about that — but there’s a thing that could be the sun. Hang on, that means ‘great happiness’ .. so you’re going to suffer but be very happy…”PREDICTION #7 - Harry has a deadly enemy.PREDICTION #8 - The club…an attack.PREDICTION #9 - The skull…danger in his path.PREDICTION #10 - The grim…an omen of death.“You’ll forgive me for saying so, my dear, but I perceive very little aura around you. Very little receptivity to the resonances of the future.”PREDICTION #11 - Neville will be late to the next class.He hardly heard what Professor McGonagall was telling them about Animagi (wizards who could transform at will into animals), and wasn’t even watching when she transformed herself in front of their eyes into a tabby cat with spectacle markings around her eyes…”Really what’s gotten into you all today? … Not that it matters, but that’s the first time my transformation’s not gotten applause from a class.”“There is no need to tell me any more, Miss Granger. Tell me, which of you will be dying this year?”“I shall not conceal from you that I have very little patience with it [Divination]. True Seers are very rare, and Professor Trelawney…”Q6 - Thoughts on McGonagall's thoughts on Trelawney?Q7 - What do you think about Animagi?Q8 - If you were part of the Magical World, would you be more like Ron or Hermione with superstitions and grims?Q9 - Should Hagrid have left a note with the students for how they should open their books?Q10 - Would you want to ride a broomstick or a Hippogriff?“No one?” said Hagrid with a pleading look. “I’ll do it,” said Harry.Q11 - Is Hagrid a good teacher?Q12 - Is Sirius Black that serious that Hagrid is upset at the trio for visiting him in the dark?Chapter 7 - The Boggart in the WardrobeQ1 - Have you ever milked an injury?Q2 - Would you be good at potions?“Have you heard? Daily Prophet this morning — they reckon Sirius Black’s been sighted…Not too far from here.”Q3 - Do you think the Ministry of Magic should have someone in the 911 Dispatch office? Or do you think they can bug certain words…like Sirius Black?“Of course, if it was me,” he said quietly, “I’d have done something before now. I wouldn’t be staying in school like a good boy, I’d be out there looking for him.” “What are you talking about, Malfoy?” said Ron roughly. “Don’t you know, Potter?”Q4 - What doesn’t Harry know that Malfoy knows about Sirius Black?Q5 - What is wrong with Snape to be testing on Neville’s toad?Q6 - How do you think Hermione is taking all these classes?“Good afternoon,” he said, “Would you please put all your books back in your bags. Today’s will be a practical lesson. You will only need your wands.”…”when their old teacher brought pixies…” LONG LIVE LOCKHART!“I was hoping that Neville would assist me with the first stage of the operation,” he said, “and I am sure he will perform it admirably.”Q7 - What are your first thoughts on Lupin?Q8 - What would the Boggart take shape if you confronted it? (aka, what frightens you?)“It’s always best to have company when you’re dealing with a Boggart.”“I would like all of you to take a moment now to think of the thing that scares you most, and imagine how you might force it to look comical?”Q9 - How would you change your biggest fear into something humorous?Q10 - What is Lupin afraid of?“What would it have been for you?” said Ron, sniggering. “A piece of homework that only got nine out of ten?”Chapter 8 - Flight of the Fat LadyQ1 - How do you think the Fat Lady feels that she is just known as the Fat Lady?“Well, look at it logically,” said Hermione turning to the rest of the group. “I mean, Binky didn’t even die today, did he, Lavender just got the news today —” Lavender wailed loudy, “—and she can’t have been dreading it, because it’s come as a real shock—” “Don’t mind Hermione, Lavender,” said Ron loudly, “she doesn’t think other people’s pets matter very much.”Q2 - Is Hermione a good pet owner?Q3 - If you started a magical shop in Hogsmeade, what would it be?He thought for a moment of telling Lupin about the dog he’d seen in Magnolia Crescent, but decided not to. He didn’t want Lupin to think he was a coward.Q4 - What is this potion that Snape gives Lupin?Q5 - How is fearing fear most wise?“He got very angry when she wouldn’t let him in, you see.” Peeves flipped over, and grinned at Dumbledore from between his own legs. “Nasty tempers he’s got, that Sirius Black.”Q6 - How good is the end of this chapter?!

Chapter 1 - Owl PostHarry Potter was a highly unusual boy in many ways. For one thing, he hated the summer holidays more than any other time of year. For another, he really wanted to do his homework, but was forced to do it in secret, in the dead of night. And he also happened to be a wizard.Q1 - Wendelin the Weird is so named because she liked to be burned, if you had a title to your name, what do you think it would be?Q2 - Why haven’t wizards adopted ballpoint pens yet?For years, Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon had hoped that if they kept Harry as downtrodden as possible, they would be able to squash the magic out of him. To their fury, they had been unsuccessful.Harry sat down on his bed, grabbed Errol’s package, ripped off the brown paper and discovered a present wrapped in gold, and his first ever birthday card.Q3 - Do you think the grand prize was fixed so that the Weasleys could win after what happened to them last year?Q4 - Would you want a pocket Sneakoscope?Q5 - Did you guys get really into the go-back-to-school countdown and sales and stuff?At that moment, Harry Potter felt just like everyone else: glad, for the first time in his life, that it was his birthday.Chapter 2 - Aunt Marge’s Big MistakeQ1 - Have you ever, in your town, heard about a prisoner escaping or some serious crime happening?Q2 - Have you ever called someone Aunt or Uncle who isn’t really your relative?Q3 - Do you think Harry’s strategy of threatening his Uncle to forgot the school name in order to get his permission form signed is the right way to go about it?Aunt Marge loved criticizing him, so the untidier he looked, the happier she would be.Harry was bursting to say that he’d rather live in an orphanage than with the Dursleys, but the thought of the Hogsmeade form stopped him.Q4 - Would you rather live in an orphanage or with the Dursleys?Q5 - Why do you think Vernon made Harry sit there with Marge at the dinner table?“It all comes down to blood, as I was saying the other day. Bad blood will out. Now, I’m saying nothing against your family, Petunia” — she patted Aunt Petunia’s bony hand with her shovel-like one, “but your sister was a bad egg. They turn up in the best families. Then she ran off with a wastrel and here’s the result right in front of us.”POD NOTE: Danny mentioned Harry was sure to run away soon if he didn’t end up going to Hogwarts.Chapter 3 - The Knight BusQ1 - What do you think Harry saw that was “very big, with wide, gleaming eyes…like a dog, but massive?”“That man!” Harry said, forgetting his troubles for a moment. “He was on the Muggle news!” Stanley turned to the front page and chuckled. “Sirius Black,” he said, nodding, “Course ‘e was on the Muggle news, Neville. Where you been?”Q2 - Where have we seen Sirius Black before in this book?Q3 - Why do you think Sirius Black murdered 13 people with one curse?“Laughed,” said Stan, “Jus’ stood there an’ laughed. An’ when reinforcements from the Ministry of Magic got there, ‘e went wiv ‘em quiet as anyfink. Still laughing ‘is ‘ead off. Cos ‘e’s mad, inee, Ern? Inee mad?”Q4 - How do you think a wizard or witch could escape from a magical prison?Q5 - Why did Fudge come to see Harry?Chapter 4 - The Leaky CauldronQ1 - Why do you think Florean Fortescue is giving Harry free sundaes every half-hour?Q2 - Which of Harry’s two new classes (Care of Magical Creatures or Divination) sounds more interesting?Q3 - Would you want a pet rat or a cat?Q4 - Who is your favorite of the Weasleys?“...makes no sense not to tell him” Mr Weasley was saying heatedly. “Harry’s got a right to know. I’ve tried to tell Fudge, but he insists on treating Harry like a child. He’s thirteen years old and—” “Arthur, the truth would terrify him!”Q5 - Why do you think Sirius Black wants to murder Harry?

Chapter Fifteen - AragogQ1 - Who do you think would be the best person thus far to replace Dumbledore as headmaster?“Let me at him,” Ron growled, as Harry and Dean hung onto his arms. “I don’t care, I don’t need my wand, I’m going to kill him with my bare hands—”Q2 - Is it irresponsible for Harry to leave the cloak at Hagrids because he doesn’t think he’ll need it.Q3 - What animal do you hate or that creeps you out more than any other?“And you … you didn’t come from the Chamber of Secrets?” said Harry, who could feel cold sweat on his forehead.“The thing that lives in the castle,” said Aragog, “is an ancient creature we spiders fear above all others. Well do I remember how I pleaded with Hagrid to let me go, when I sensed the beast moving about the school.”Even as he reached for his wand, Harry knew it was no good, there were too many of them, but as he tried to stand, ready to die fighting, a loud, long note sounded, and a blaze of light flamed through the hollow.Q4 - At this point, who do you think had opened the Chamber?Chapter Sixteen - The Chamber of SecretsHarry looked down at the pair of white rabbits he was supposed to be turning into slippers.Q1 - What was Percy doing? Just kidding…Q2 - Do we condone tearing out pages from old library books?“The heir of slytherin,” said professor McGonagal, who was very white, “left another message. Right underneath the first one. Her skeleton will lie in the Chamber forever.” Professor Flitwick burst into tears. “Who is it?” said Madam Hooch, who had sunk, weak-kneed into a chair. “Which student?” “Ginny Weasley,” said Professor McGonagall. Harry felt Ron slide silently down onto the wardrobe floor beside him.Q3 - Should they wait for another night to send the students home or should they send the students home immediately?Q4 - Did you know Lockhart was a fraud from the beginning?Q5 - Why did Dumbledore hire him?“No idea,” said Myrtle in hushed tones. “I just remember seeing a pair of great big yellow eyes. My whole body sort of seized up, and then I was floating away…” She looked dreamily back at Harry. “And then I came back again. I was determined to haunt Olive Hornby, you see. Oh she was sorry she’d ever laughed at my glasses.”Chapter Seventeen - The Heir of SlytherinA tall, black-haried boy was leaning against the nearest pillar, watching. He was strangely blurred around the edges, as though Harry was looking at him through a misted window. But there was no mistaking him. “Tom — Tom Riddle?”Q1 - Did you suspect Tom Riddle?“Haven’t I already told you,” said Riddle quietly, “that killing mudbloods doesn’t matter to me any more? For many months now, my new target has been — you.”Q2 - What is your impression of Tom Riddle?“No one knows why you lost your powers when you attacked me,” said Harry abruptly. “I don’t know myself. But I know why you couldn’t kill me. Because my mother died to save me. My common Muggle-born mother.”Q3 - How do you think Voldermort lost his powers?Q4 - How do you think Tom concealed himself in the diary? How does that magic work?Chapter Eighteen - Dobby’s RewardQ1 - What do you think of the Tom Riddle backstory?“Never trust anything that can think for itself if you can’t see its brain.”Q2 - 200 points a piece for Gryffindor?!Q3 - What do you think about Voldermort giving some of his powers over to Harry? “It is our choices that make us what we are, far more than our abilities.”Q4 - How much of a tool is Lucious Malfoy?Q5 - Do you think it’s irresponsible for Dumbledore to let Harry have the diary back?Q6 - What do we think of Dobby?Collective yays when Dobby is a free house elf.Q7 - Is Elf magic as powerful as wizard magic?“Harry Potter is greater by far than Dobby ever knew.”

Chapter Eleven - The Dueling Club“So Dobby stopped us getting on the train and broke your arm…” He shook his head. “You know what, Harry? If he doesn’t stop trying to save your life he’s going to kill you.”Q1 - At this stage of their schooling, which Wizard or Witch would you want to duel and which would you not want to duel?“Scared?” muttered Malfoy, so that Lockhart couldn’t hear him. “You wish,” said Harry out of the corner of his mouth.Q2 - If you could talk to any animal, which one would you choose?Q3 - Do you think Harry is Slytherin’s descendant?“No one knows how he survived that attack by You-Know-Who. I mean to say, he was only a baby when it happened. He should have been blasted into Smithereens. Only a really powerful Dark wizard could have survived a curse like that.” He dropped his voice until it was barely more than a whisper, and said, “That’s probably why You-Know-Who wanted to kill him in the first place. Didn’t want another Dark Lord competing with him.”Q4 - Do you think Ernie is right here?Q5 - What do you think a blood-sucking Bugbear is?Q6 - Why are the students getting petrified rather than killed?Chapter Twelve - The Polyjuice Potion“Fawkes is a Phoenix, Harry. Phoenixes burst into flame when it is time for them to die and are reborn from the ashes. Watch him…”Q1 - Would you want to have a Phoenix as a pet?Q2 - Should Harry have confided in Dumbledore?No one, not even someone dreading taking Polyjuice Potion later, could fail to enjoy Christmas dinner at Hogwarts.Q3 - Which character would you want to impersonate for an hour after taking some polyjuice?Q4 - What do you think Draco’s parents are doing that is keeping Draco at Hogwarts for the holidays?Mr Weasley was unavailable for comment, although his wife told reporters to clear off or she’d set the family ghoul on them.“And Father won’t tell me anything about the last time the Chamber was opened, either. Of course, it was fifty years ago, so it was before his time, but he knows all about it, and he says that it was all kept quiet and it’ll look suspicious if I know too much about it.”Q5 - Theories on who opened it the first time?Chapter 13 - The Very Secret Diary“Let’s all throw books at Myrtle, because she can’t feel it! Ten points if you can get it through her stomach! Fifty points if it goes through her head!”Q1 - Is Myrtle quoting from the official counting book for the point system of Hogwarts?Q2 - Do you think ghosts can die?“Because Filch made me polish his shield about fifty times in detention,” said Ron resentfully. “That was the one I burped slugs all over. If you’d wiped slime off a name for an hour, you’d remember it too.”Q3 - What do you think T.M. Riddle’s special services to the school award was for?“He sounds like Percy,” said Ron, wrinkling his nose in disgust. “Prefect, Head Boy — probably top of every class.” “You say that like it’s a bad thing,” said Hermione, in a slightly hurt voice.Snape was looking as though the first person to ask him for a Love Potion would be force-fed poison.Q4 - You ever get a valentine?“It was Hagrid, Ron. Hagrid opened the Chamber of Secrets fifty years ago.”Q5 - How do you think Hagrid opened the Chamber?Chapter 14 - Cornelius FudgeAnd if, as a boy, Hagrid had heard that a monster was hidden somewhere in the castle, Harry was sure he’d have gone to any lengths for a glimpse of it.Q1 - Do you think Hagrid’s love for misunderstood creatures is endearing or foolish?In the end, he chose the same new subjects as Ron, feeling that if he was rubbish at them, at least he’d have someone friendly to help him.“Yet again, Cornelius, I tell you that taking Hagrid away will not help in the slightest,” said Dumbledore. His bluey eyes were full of a fire that Harry had never seen before.Q2 - What are your first thoughts of Fudge?“Take him away, an’ the Muggle-borns won’ stand a chance! There’ll be killings next!”“However,” said Dumbledore, speaking very slowly and clearly, so that none of them could miss a word, “you will find that I will only truly have left the school when none here are loyal to me. You will also find that help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it.”Q3 - What do you think Dumbledore means?

Chapter Six - Gilderoy Lockhart“You’d better open it, Ron,“ said Neville, in a timid whisper. “It’ll be worse if you don’t. My gran sent me one once, and I ignored it and —” he gulped, “it was horrible.”Q1 - What do you think Gran’s howler was about? And do you like the idea of howlers?At least the Howler had done one thing: Hermione seemed to think they had now been punished enough and was being perfectly friendly again.Q2 - Thoughts on Lockhart?I mean, a few people have heard of you, haven’t they? All that business with He Who Must Not Be Named!” He glanced at the lightning scar on Harry’s forehead. “I know, I know, it’s not quite as good as winning Witch Weekly’s Most Charming Smile Award five times in a row, as I have — but it’s a start, Harry, it’s a start.”Q3 - In their first Herbology lesson, Hermione won twenty points in twenty seconds by answering two question correctly, yet Ron and Harry won a collective 5 points for defeating a fully grown mountain troll?“My name was down for Eton, you know, I can’t tell you how glad I am I came here instead. Of course mother was slightly disappointed, but since I made her read Lockhart’s books I think she’s begun to see how useful it’ll be to have a fully trained wizard in the family…”Q4 - What do you think happens to the animals the students transfigure into objects?Q5 - Thoughts on Colin Creevey?Q6 - Do you think Harry should sell signed pictures and give the money to the Wealey family?I clearly state in chapter twelve that my ideal birthday gift would be harmony between all magic and non-magic peoples — though I wouldn’t say no to a large bottle of Ogden’s Old Firewhisky.”Q7 - Do you think Lockhart is a good wizard?Chapter 7 - Mudbloods and MurmursQ1 - Do we like captain Oliver Wood, or is he a bit much?Q2 - How much of Quidditch do you think is skill vs. the equipment you buy?“At least no one on the Gryffindor team had to buy their way in,” said Hermione sharply. “They got in on pure talent.” The smug look on Malfoy’s face flickered. “No one asked your opinion, you filthy little Mudblood,” he spat.Q3 - Should it be legal for a father to buy an entire team racing brooms?“If one word of it was true, I’ll eat my kettle.”Q4 - Do you think anything Lockhart says is true?Q5 - Why do you think Dumbledore hired Lockhart?Mudbloods is a really foul name for someone who was Muggle-born — you know, non-magic parents. There are some wizards — like Malfoy’s family — who think they’re better than everyone else because they’re what people call pure-blood.”Q6 - Do you have any theories on how Hagrid got expelled?Q7 - At the end of the chapter what do you think the voice was/came from?Q8 - What is the best/worst reason you ever got detention?Chapter 8 - The Deathday PartyGinny Weasley, who had been looking peaky, was bullied into taking some by Percy.“You’d think that getting hit forty-five times in the neck with a blunt axe would qualify you to join the headless hunt.”Q1 - What do you think Nick did to warrant getting hit 45 times with an axe in the neck?Q2 - Do you think there should be some regulation against turning your wife into a Yak with kwikspell?“That vanishing cabinet was extremely valuable!” he was saying gleefully to Mrs Norris. “We’ll have Peeves out this time, my sweet.”Q3 - What do you think a vanishing cabinet is? Q4 - Have you ever felt like you walked through a ghost?Q5 - Would you rather go to a deathday party or a halloween feast?And then Harry heard it. “...rip…tear…kill…” It was the same voice, the same cold, murderous voice he had heard in Lockhart’s office.Q6 - What do you think this voice is?Q7 - What do you think “Enemies of the Heir, Beware” means?Chapter 9 - The Writing on the Wall“You,” he screeched, “You! You’ve murdered my cat! You’ve killed her! I’ll kill you! I’ll —” Q1 - Is murdering someone for murdering you pet an appropriate response?“If I might speak, Headmaster,” said Snape from the shadows, and Harry’s sense of foreboding increased; he was sure nothing Snape was going to say was going to do him any good. “Potter and his friends may have simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time,” he said.Q2 - Why did Snape defend the trio?“We weren’t hungry,” said Ron loudly, as his stomach gave a huge rumble.Q3 - Why doesn’t Harry just tell the truth of what he heard?“I personally feel he should be taken off Gryffindor Quidditch team until he is ready to be honest.” “Really, Severus,” said Professor McGonagall sharply. Q4 - Is Ron showing bias when he is offended at mudblood, but sniggers at Squib?Q5 - The clock chimed midnight after the meeting with Dumbledore…was the feast going till 11:30?When Flich wasn’t guarding the scene of the crime, he was skulking red-eyed through the corridors, lunging out at unsuspecting students and trying to put them in detention for things like ‘breathing loudly’ and ‘looking happy.’”Q6 - Do you think the chamber exists? Where do you think it is? And what do you think the monster is?Q7 - How cruel are Fred and George for turning baby Ron’s Teddy bear into a spider?Q8 - Thoughts on Moaning Myrtle?Q9 - How does Myrtle, who is a ghost, splash water all over the bathroom?Ghosts can pass through solid objects without causing damage to themselves or the material, but create disturbances in water, fire and air. The temperature drops in the immediate vicinity of a ghost, an effect intensified if many congregate in the same place. Their appearance can also turn flames blue. Should part or all of a ghost pass through a living creature, the latter will experience a freezing sensation as though they have been plunged into ice-cold water.Q10 - Who would you transform into if you had a little bit of polyjuice potion?“Oh, come on, no teachers going to fall for that,” said Ron. “They’d have to be really thick…”Chapter Ten - The Rogue Bludger“Homework: compose a poem about my defeat of the Wagga Wagga werewolf! Signed copies of Magical Me to the author of the best one!”Q1 - Lockharts signature is loopy, do you think a person's signature tells a lot about them?“I’m drinking nothing with Crabbe’s toenails in it…”“I never thought I’d see the day when you’d be persuading us to break rules,” said Ron, “All right, we’ll do it. But not toenails, OK?”“It’ll be down to you, Harry, to show them that a Seeker has to have something more than a rich father. Get to that Snitch before Malfoy or die trying, Harry, because we’ve got to win today, we’ve got to.” “So no pressure, Harry,” said Fred, winking at him.Q2 - How incompetent is Madam Hooch? (maybe a leading question…)Q3 - Should this Quidditch match have been called off?Q4 - Have you ever broken a bone?“This, sir?” said dobby, plucking at the pillowcase. “Tis a mark of the house-elf’s enslavement, sir. Dobby can only be freed if his masters present him with clothes, sir. The family is careful not to pass Dobby even a sock, sir. For then he would be free to leave their house for ever.”“If he knew what he means to us, to the lowly, the enslaved, us dregs of the magical world! Dobby remembers how it was when He Who Must Not Be Named was at the height of his power, sir! We house-elves were treated like vermin, sir…Of course Dobby is still treated like that, sir. But Mostly life has improved for my kind since you triumphed over He Who Must Not Be Named. Harry Potter survived, and the Dark Lord’s power was broken, and it was a new dawn, sir, and Harry Potter shone like a beacon of hope for those of us who thought the dark days would never end, sir.”Q5 - What is Dobby’s deal?“If Albus hadn’t been on the way downstairs for hot chocolate, who knows what might have…”Q6 - You think Dumbledore was really getting hot chocolate?“The question is not who,” said Dumbledore, his eyes on Colin. “The question is, how…”Q7 - What does he mean?

Chapter 1 - The Worst Birthday“I want more bacon” “There’s more in the frying pan, sweetums,” said Aunt Petunia, turning misty eyes on her massive son.Q1 - Has your opinion of the Dursley’s changed at all?Harry stared from his purple-faced uncle to his pale aunt, who was trying to heave Dudley to his feet.Q2 - Why do you think Vernon is purple and Petunia is pale?Q3 - Why do you think Harry wants the Dursley’s to recognize his birthday?Q4 - Are you a birthday person or not?Aunt Petunia knew he hadn’t really done magic, but he still had to duck as she aimed a heavy blow at his head with the soapy frying pan.Chapter 2 - Dobby’s WarningQ1 - First thoughts on Dobby?“Dobby has heard of your greatness, sir, but of your goodness, Dobby never knew.”Q2 - Where do you think Dobby came from?Q3 - Do you think a wizards word is more binding than a muggles? Why didn’t Harry just say you have my word and lie to Dobby?See why I’ve got to go back to Hogwarts? It’s the only place I’ve got — well, I think I’ve got friends.Q4 - When was the last time you wrote and mailed a hand-written letter to someone?Harry, whose insides were aching with hunger, jumped off his bed and seized it. The soup was stone cold, but he drank half of it in one gulp. Then he crossed the room to Hedwig's cage and tipped the soggy vegetables at the bottom of the bowl into her empty food tray. She ruffled her feathers and gave him a look of deep disgust.Q5 - What is Harry thinking and feeling at this moment?Q6 - Which family does Dobby serve? Why can't he just leave the family? Q7 - Why does Dobby want to warn Harry? And why Harry specifically?Chapter 3 - The BurrowQ1 - How do we like the Weasley’s rescuing Harry?A lot of wizards think it’s a waste of time, knowing this sort of Muggle trick, but we feel they’re skills worth learning, even if they are a bit slow.”Q2 - From the little you know of the characters, what do you think their professions will be?Q3 - Do you think Harry forgetting Hedwig makes him a bad pet owner?Q4 - If you could bewitch any object in your house, what would you do and why?Mrs Weasley was marching across the yard, scattering chickens, and for a short, plump, kind-faced woman, it was remarkable how much she looked like a saber tooth tiger.Q5 - Does de-gnoming a garden sound fun?Q6 - Do you think you’ve ever been the victim of a shrinking door key?“Bless them, they’ll go to any lengths to ignore magic, even if it’s staring them in the face.”“Your sons flew that car to Harry’s house and back last night!” shouted Mrs Weasley. “What have you got to say about that, eh?” “Did you really?” said Mr Weasley eagerly. “Did it go alright? I-I mean,” he faltered, as sparks flew from Mrs Weasley’s eyes, “That was very wrong. Boys — very wrong indeed.”Q7 - How do you like Mr and Mrs Weasley?Q8 - How do you like the Burrow?Chapter 4 - At Flourish and BlottsLife at the burrow was as different as possible from life in Privet Drive.What Harry found most unusual about life at Ron’s. However, wasn’t the talking mirror or the clanking ghoul: it was the fact that everybody there seemed to like him.Q1 - What book sounds most interesting from the second-year reading list:The Standard Book of SpellsBreak with a BansheeGadding with GhoulsHolidays with HagsTravels with TrollsVoyages with VampiresWanderings with WerewolvesYear with the YetiQ2 - Why doesn’t Harry at least try to give the Weasley’s a bit of money?Q3 - Would you ever want to go shopping in Borgin and Burkes?Q4 - First impressions of Mr Malfoy?Q5 - Did you catch the diagonally and nocturnally?Q6 - Why do you think Wizards don’t use ball point pens?“We have a very different idea of what disgraces the name of wizard, Malfoy,” he said.Chapter Five - The Whomping WillowThe end of the summer holidays came too quickly for Harry’s liking. He was looking forward to getting back to Hogwarts, but his month at The Burrow had been the happiest of his life.Q1 - What do you think are the contents of Ginny’s diary?Q2 - How dumb are Ron and Harry for not just waiting?Q3 - Why would they plant a tree at Hogwarts that could kill a student? No safer place than Hogwarts…“Or he might have been sacked!” said Ron enthusiastically, “I mean everyone hates him—” “Or maybe,” said a very cold voice right behind them, “he’s waiting to hear why you two didn’t arrive on the school train.”Q4 - Given the option, would you want to fly to Hogwarts in the car, or would you rather take the train? What other way would you want to get to the castle?“So,” he said softly, “the train isn’t good enough for the famous Harry Potter and his faithful sidekick Weasley. Wanted to arrive with a bang, did we, boys?”Professor McGonagall gave him a piercing look, but he was sure she had almost smiled.SummaryBest MomentFavorite ChapterBest CharacterWhat is your favorite location so far in the Wizarding world?

Chapter 14 - Norbert The Norwegian Ridgeback“But there aren’t wild dragons in Britain?” said Harry. “Of course there are,” said Ron. “Common Welsh Green and Hebridean Blacks. THe Ministry of Magic has a job hushing them up, I can tell you. Our lot have to keep putting spells on Muggles who’ve spotted them, to make them forget.”Q1 - Now that you’d know but do you think the Ministry of Magic has ever put a memory spell on you?Q2 - On your first read, did you think Snape was the one who was going after the stone?Q3 - How much brandy and chicken blood do you think Hagrid went through to feed Norbert?“Wonder what it’s like to have a peaceful life?” Ron sighed.Harry suddenly turned to Ron. “Charlie,” he said. “You’re losing it, too,” said Ron. “I’m Ron, remember?”Chapter 15 - The Forbidden ForestIt was the first time Hermione has ever failed to answer a teacher’s question. She was staring at her slippers, as still as a statue.Q1 - Do you really think McGonagall has never heard of four students out of bed before?Q2 - At this point in the book were you convinced Snape was the main assailant to Quirrel? Would you have bet 12 sorcerer’s stones?Q3 - Is a punishment of going in the forbidden forest too extreme for any students?“I want fang,” said Malfoy quickly, looking at Fang’s long teeth. “All right, but I warn yeh, he’s a coward,” said Hagrid.Q4 - Is it weird that Hagrid goes by Hagrid and not Ruebeus?“Always the innocent are the first victims,” he said, “So it has been for ages past, so it is now.”Yet again, Ronan took a while to answer. At last, he said, “The Forest hides many secrets.”Q5 - How much do you think Centaurs know? “The planets have been read wrongly before now, even by centaurs. I hope this is one of those times.”Chapter 16 - Through the TrapdoorQ1 - Do you think you could make a pineapple tapdance across the classroom?“I think it’s a warning…it means danger’s coming.”“Neville will play quidditch for England before Hagrid lets Dumbledore down.”Q2 - What do you think Dumbledore does on a day to day basis?“You can’t!” said Hermione. “After what McGonagall and Snape have said? You’ll be expelled!” “SO WHAT?” Harry shouted. “Don’t you understand? If Snape gets hold of the Stone, Voldemort’s coming back! “I’ll use the Invisibility Cloak,” said Harry. “It’s just lucky I got it back.” “But will it cover all three of us?” said Ron.“I won’t let you do it,” he said, hurrying to stand in front of the portrait hole. “I’ll — I’ll fight you.” He took a step forward and Neville dropped Trevor the toad, who leapt out of sight. “Go on then, try and hit me!” said Neville, raising his fists, “I’m ready!”Q3 - What are your thoughts on Neville?“HAVE YOU GONE MAD?” Ron bellowed. “ARE YOU A WITCH OR NOT?”Q4 - What do you think was the level of difficulty for that chess game?“But Harry — What if You-Know-Who’s with him?” “Well — I was lucky once, wasn’t I?” said Harry, pointing at his scar. “I might get lucky again.” Hermione’s lip trembled and she suddenly dashed at Harry and threw her arms around him. “Hermione!” “Harry — you’re a great wizard, you know.” “I’m not as good as you,” said Harry, very embarrassed, as she let go of him. “Harry took a deep breath and picked up the smallest bottle. He turned to face the black flames. “Here I come,” he said and he drained the little bottle in one gulp.Q5 - Which was your favorite test?Q6 - If you could add a test to the group, what would you do?Chapter 17 - The Man With Two FacesQ1 - When you first read this, did you expect that it was going to be Quirrell?“He was at Hogwarts with your father, didn’t you know? They loathed each other. But he never wanted you dead”“There is no good and evil, there is only power, and those too weak to seek it.”Q2 - What do you think Voldemort is at this moment?“How touching…” it hissed. “I always value bravery…Yes, boy, your parents were brave…I linked your father first and he put up a courageous fight…but your mother needn’t have died…she was trying to protect you…Now give me the stone, unless you want her to have died in vain.”And other voices, maybe in Harry’s own head, crying, “Harry! Harry!”“What happened down in the dungeons between you and Professor Quirrel is a complete secret, so, naturally, the whole school knows.”Q3 - How much elixir do you really think the Flamels have stored?Q4 - Thoughts on Dumbledore?“To one as young as you, I’m sure it seems incredible, but to Nicholas and Perenelle, it really is like going to bed after a very, very long day. After all, to the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.”Q5 - What do you think Dumbledore means when he says the above quote?“The truth,” Dumbledore sighed. “It is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should therefore be treated with great caution.”“Your mother died to save you. If there is one thing Voldemort cannot understand, it is love. He didn’t realize that love as powerful as your mother’s for you leaves it’s own mark. Not a scar, no visible sign…to have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is gone, will give us some protection for ever. It is in your very skin.”Q6 - Do you think Dumbledore meant for Harry to go after Voldemort?“Sent owls off ter all ter parents old school friends, askin fer photos…knew yeh didn’t have any…d’yeh like it?” Harry couldn’t speak, but Hagrid understood.Q7 - How rigged is the point system?“It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends. I therefore award ten points to Mr Neville Longbottom.”

Chapter 10 - Hallowe’enQ1 - Is it shady that McG has bought a Nimbus Two Thousand — the current best broomstick in the world — for Harry?“Potter’s been sent a broomstick, Professor,” said Malfoy quickly. “Yes, yes, that’s right,” said Professor Flitwick, beaming at Harry. “Professor McGonagall told me all about the special circumstances, Potter. And what Model is it?” “A Nimbus Two Thousand, sir,” said Harry, fighting not to laugh at the look of horror on Malfoy’s face. “And it’s really thanks to Malfoy here that I’ve got it,” he added.Q2 - Is the Snitch worth too many points?Ron looked still more awkward at this [news Hermione was crying and wanted to be left alone], but a moment later they had entered the Great Hall, where the Hallowe’en decorations put Hermione out of their minds.Q3 - What position would you want to play in Quidditch?Q4 - Theories on how on earth someone could smuggle a troll into the castle?Q5 - Why didn’t Hermione tell the truth?Q6 - Is five points a little too skimpy for two first years taking on a mountain troll and winning?Q7 - The point system at Hogwarts seems absolutely arbitrary, do you think there is a rule book for the point system?But from that moment on, Hermione Granger became their friend. There are some things you can’t share without ending up liking each other, and knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll is one of them.IlvermornyMarble statues of Isolt and James flank the front doors of Ilvermorny Castle. The doors open onto a circular room topped by a glass cupola. A wooden balcony runs around the room one floor above. Otherwise the space is empty except for four enormous wooden carvings representing the houses: the Horned Serpent, the panther Wampus, the Thunderbird and the Pukwudgie.While the rest of the school watches from the circular balcony overhead, new students file into the round entrance hall. They stand around the walls and, one by one, are called to stand on the symbol of the Gordian Knot set into the middle of the stone floor. In silence the school then waits for the enchanted carvings to react. If the Horned Serpent wants the student, the crystal set into its forehead will light up. If the Wampus wants the student, it roars. The Thunderbird signifies its approval by beating its wings, and the Pukwudgie will raise its arrow into the air.Should more than one carving signify its wish to include the student in its house, the choice rests with the student. Very rarely – perhaps once a decade – a student is offered a place in all four houses. Seraphina Picquery, President of MACUSA 1920 - 1928, was the only witch of her generation so honored, and she chose Horned Serpent.It is sometimes said of the Ilvermorny houses that they represent the whole witch or wizard: the mind is represented by Horned Serpent; the body, Wampus; the heart, Pukwudgie and the soul, Thunderbird. Others say that Horned Serpent favours scholars, Wampus, warriors, Pukwudgie, healers and Thunderbird, adventurers.Chapter 11 - QuidditchQ1 - How much would you pay to watch the Quidditch World Cup match in 1473 that had all seven-hundred ways to commit a foul committed?Harry thought Flint looked as if he had some troll blood in him. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the fluttering banner high above, flashing Potter for President over the crowd. His heart skipped. He felt braver.Q2 - How do we feel about Lee Jordan shooting his shot with Angelina during his commentary for the match?Q3 - The Weasleys are poor, how does one of the twins have a gold wristwatch?Q4 - Should they have magical protection for the players during a quidditch match?Q5 - What do you think about Quidditch?Q6 - What do you think about Snape jinxing Harry?Chapter 12 - The Mirror Of ErisedSo Malfoy, jealous and angry, had gone back to taunting Harry about having no proper family.Q1 - The wizarding world needs google? This book is kinda at the dawn of the internet, so Hogwarts probably isn’t set with a computer lab, and most tech doesn’t work around Hogwarts, but how much time would they save with a google search?“And you could ask your parents if they know who Flamel is,” said Ron. “It’d be safe to ask them.” “Very safe, as they’re both dentists,” said Hermione.“Will you look at this? I’ve got presents!” “What did you expect, turnips?”Q2 - How much would you pay for a Weasley jumper?Something fluid and silvery gray went slithering to the floor, where it lay in gleaming folds. Ron gasped. “I’ve heard of those,” he said in a hushed voice, dropping the box of Every-Flavor Beans he’s got from Hermione. “If that’s what I think it is — they’re really rare, and really valuable.” “What is it?” Harry picked the shining, silvery cloth off the floor. It was strange to the touch like water woven into material. “It’s an invisibility cloak,” said Ron, a look of awe on his face.Q3 - Who did you think the cloak was from on the first read?Q4 - Is a hundred fat, roast turkeys excessive for the amount of kids likely staying at Hogwarts for Christmas?Q5 - Is it irresponsible to give an eleven year-old an invisibility cloak and just say “use it well?Q6 - Did you catch the riddle of the inscription on the mirror: Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi?He looked in the mirror again. A woman standing right behind his reflection was smiling at him and waving. He reached out a hand and felt the air behind him. If she was really there, he’d touch her, their reflections were so close together, but he only felt air — and she and the others existed only in the mirror.Harry was so close to the mirror now that his nose was nearly touching that of his reflection. “Mum?” he whispered. “Dad?”Harry was looking at his family, for the first time in his life. The potters smiled and waved at Harry and he stared hungrily back at them, his hands pressed flat against the glass as though he was hoping to fall right through it and reach them. He had a powerful kind of ache inside him, half joy, half terrible sadness. How long he stood there, he didn’t know. The reflections did not fade and he looked and looked until a distant noise brought him back to his senses. He couldn’t stay here, he had to find his way back to bed. He tore his eyes away from his mothers face, whispered, “I’ll come back,” and hurried from the room.Q7 - This is way too personal, and I’m not going to ask this, but what would you see in the mirror?“So — back again, Harry?” Harry felt as though his insides had turned to ice. He looked behind him. Sitting on one of the desks by the wall was none other than Albus Dumbledore. Harry must have walked straight past him, so desperate to get to the mirror he hadn’t notices him. “I — I didn’t see you, sir.” “Strange how short-sighted being invisible can make you,” said Dumbledore, and Harry was relieved to see that he was smiling.If you ever do run across it, you will now be prepared. It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live, remember that.Q8 - What do you think Dumbledore saw in the mirror?Chapter 13 - Nicholas FlamelChess was the only thing Hermione ever lost at, something Harry and Ron thought was very good for her.“There’s no need to tell me I’m not brave enough to be in Gryffindor, Malfoy’s already done that,” Neville choked. Harry felt in the pocket of his robes and pulled out a Chocolate Frog, the very last one from the box Hermione had given him for Christmas. He gave it to Neville, who looked as though he might cry. “You’re worth twelve of Malfoy,” Harry said. Q1 - What are your thoughts on Neville?Q2 - Is there a serious issue that the trio could not find the only known maker of the sorcerer's stone — something that makes the elixir of life which makes the drinker immortal — in anything they read until they got to the chocolate frog? Is this bad searching, or bad recorded history?Q3 - What position would you want to play in Quidditch?

Chapter 6 - The Journey From Platform Nine and Three-QuartersFF: Not who Hedwig is named after, but Saint Hedwig of Andechs (1174–1243), Duchess of Silesia, is the patron saint of orphans.Q1 - Is Hagrid an idiot for not showing Harry how to get on the platform?He passed a round-faced boy who was saying, “Gran, I’ve lost my toad again.”“Blimey,” said the other twin. “Aren’t you —?” “He is,” said the first twin. “Aren’t you?” he added to Harry.” “What?” said Harry. “Harry Potter,” chorused the twins. “Oh, him,” said Harry. “I mean, yes, I am.”They leant out of the window for her to kiss them goodbye and their younger sister began to cry. “Don’t, Ginny, we’ll send you loads of owls.” “We’ll send you a Hogwarts toilet seat.” “George.” “Only joking, mum.”Q2 - What is your first impression of the Weasley family?Houses flashed past the window. Harry felt a great leap of excitement. He didn’t know what he was going to — but it had to be better than what he was leaving behind.“Are all your family wizards?” asked Harry, who found Ron just as interesting as Ron found him. “Er — yes, I think so,” said Ron. “I think mums got a second cousin who’s an accountant, but we never talk about him.”Q3 - What is your first impression of Ron?Q4 - What sweet sounds the best?Bertie Botts Every Flavor BeanDroobles Best Chewing GumChocolate FrogsPumpkin PastiesCauldron CakesLiquorice Wands“Go on, have a pasty,” said Harry, who had never had anything to share before or, indeed, anyone to share it with. It was a nice feeling, sitting there with Ron, eating their way through all Harry’s pasties and cakes (the sandwiches lay forgotten).Q5 - Is 500 chocolate frog cards an alarming amount of chocolate frogs to eat?When they shook their heads, he wailed, “I’ve lost him! He keeps getting away from me!” “He’ll turn up,” said Harry.Q6 - First impressions of Hermione Granger?“You’ll soon find out some wizarding families are better than others, Potter. You don’t want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there.” He held out his hand to shake Harry’s, but Harry didn’t take it. “I think I can tell who the wrong sort are for myself, thanks,” he said coolly.Q7 - What do you think of Scabbers the rat’s bravery in biting Goyle’s knuckle?Chapter 7 - The Sorting Hat“Welcome to Hogwarts,” said professor MGonagall“There’s nothing hidden in your head the sorting hat can’t see.”Q1 - If you had to create a way for students to be sorted into their houses without using the sorting hat, what would you do?Q2 - So what house are you?Q3 - Why do you think it took so long to sort Seamus Finnigan and Neville Longbottom?“You could be great, you know, it’s all here in your head, and slytherin will help you on the way to greatness, no doubt about that — no? Well, if you’re sure — better be Gryffindor!”Q4 - Why do you think Harry nearly got sorted into Slytherin?“Before we begin out banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!”“Is he — a bit mad?” he asked Percy uncertainly. “Mad?” said Percy airily. “He’s a genius! Best wizard in the world! But he is a bit, yes. Potatoes, Harry?”Q5 - Do you know what mint humbugs are?Q6 - Where do you think these ghosts come from?It happened suddenly. The hook-nosed teacher looked past Quirrell’s turban straight into Harry’s eyes — and a sharp, hot pain shot across the car on Harry’s forehead.Everybody finished the song at different times. At last, only the Weasley twins were left singing along to a very slow funeral march. Dumbledore conducted their last few lines with his wand, and when they had finished, he was one of those who clapped loudest. “Ah, music,” he said, wiping his eyes. “A magic beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime. Off you trot.”Q7 - Do you know what a poltergeist is?Chapter 8 - The Potions MasterQ1 - If you had a scar, where would you want it and what would you want it of?Q2 - Do you think Harry is going to get married? If so, do you think he’d marry any of the people who were introduced in the book so far?At the start-of-term Banquet, Harry had got the idea that Professor Snape disliked him. By the end of the first Potions lesson, he knew he’d been wrong. Snape didn’t dislike Harry — he hated him.Q3 - Do you think there’s any reason why Snape would hate Harry or is just one of those let-me-pick-a-student-to-be-mean-to-on-the-first-day kind of thing?Q4 - Is Fang a boar or a dog?Q5 - First impression of McGonagall and Snape?Chapter 9 - The Midnight DuelHarry had never believed he would meet a boy he hated more than Dudley, but that was before he met Draco Malfoy.Q1 - Would you like to have a remembrall?Q2 - So far in the Hogwarts experience, what event/class would you be most excited for and why?WHAM! — a thus and a nasty crack and Neville lay, face down, on the grass in a heap. His broomstick was still rising higher and higher and started to drift lazily toward the Forbidden Forest and out of sight.Q3 - Was it Nevilles issue for falling off his broom or was it his broomstick?Harry saw, as though in slow motion, the ball rise up in the air and then start to fall. He leant forward and pointed his broom handle down — next second he was gathering speed in a steep dive, racing the ball — wind whistled in his ears, mingles with the screams of people watching — he stretched out his hand — a foot from the ground he caught it, just in time to pull his broom straight, and he toppled gently on to the grass with the Remembrall clutched safely in his hand.Q4 - What did you initially think was going to happen to Harry after McGonagall caught him flying?“Wood?” Thought Harry, bewildered; was Wood a cane she was going to use on him?Q5 - Is it a bit too early to make Harry Seeker after one nice catch of a Remembrall?Q6 - Would you like to learn how to fly on a broom?“And what if I wave my wand and nothing happens?” “Throw it away and punch him on the nose,” Ron suggested.Q7 - What are your thoughts on Draco Malfoy?“What do they think they’re doing, keeping a thing like that locked up in a school?” Ron said finally.Q8 - Is Hogwarts really safe…like really?Q9 - Does Steak and Kidney pie actually sound good?

Chapter 1 - The Boy Who LivedHe hurried to his car and set off home, hoping he was imagining things, which he had never hoped before, because he didn’t approve of imagination.“You can’t blame them,” said Dumbledore gently, “We’ve had precious little to celebrate for eleven years.”Q1 - What are your general impressions of McGonagall, Dumbledore, Hagrid, and the Dursleys?Q2 - Why can McGonagall transform into a cat? And if you could transform into an animal which would you choose?Q3 - Why do you think Voldemort could not kill Harry?Q4 - Do you think Dumbledore was right to separate Harry from the magical world?“You think it – wise – to trust Hagrid with something as important as this?” “I would Trust Hagrid with my life,” said Dumbledore.“Yes, yes, it’s all very sad, but get a grip on yourself, Hagrid, or we’ll be found,” Professor McGonagall whispered, patting Hagrid gingerly on the arm…“Good luck, Harry,” he murmured.Q5 - What year do you think all this happened?Q6 - Is Dumbledore irresponsible for leaving Harry on the doorstep with just a letter?Q7 - Why do you think it took so long for Dumbly and Hagrid to get to Privet Drive?Chapter 2 - The Vanishing GlassNearly ten years had passed since the Dursleys had woken up to find their nephew on the front step, but Privet Drive had hardly changed at all. The sun rose on the same tidy front gardens and lit up the brass number four on the Dursleys’ front door; it crept into their living-room, which was almost exactly the same as it had been on the night when Mr Dursley had seen that fateful news report about the owls. Only the photographs on the mantelpiece really showed how much time had passed. Ten years ago, there had been lots of pictures of what looked like a large pink beach ball wearing different-coloured bobble hats – but Dudley Dursley was no longer a baby, and now the photographs showed a large, blond boy riding his first bicycle, on a roundabout at the fair, playing a computer game with his father, being hugged and kissed by his mother. The room held no sign at all that another boy lived in the house, too. Yet Harry Potter was still there, asleep at the moment, but not for long. His Aunt Petunia was awake and it was her shrill voice which made the first noise of the day. ‘Up! Get up! Now!’Q1 - Who is the nastiest to Harry?‘Well, get a move on, I want you to look after the bacon. And don’t you dare let it burn, I want everything perfect on Duddy’s birthday.’ Harry groaned. Q2 - When you were a kid what was your favorite breakfast?He liked to complain about things: people at work, Harry, the council, Harry, the bank, and Harry were just a few of his favorite subjects. This morning, it was motorbikes.Q3 - Out of all the magical things Harry can do in chapter 2, which do you think was the coolest?Hair GrowthShrinking SweaterAppearing on the roofTalking with a snakeMaking the glass disappearQ4 - What are your first thoughts about Harry?Q5 - What was the best birthday gift you ever got?Q6 - Do you think it’s normal for a wizard to be able to talk to snakes?He’d lived with the Dursleys almost ten years, ten miserable years, as long as he could remember, ever since he’d been a baby and his parents had died in that car crash. He couldn’t remember being in the car when his parents had died. Sometimes, when he strained his memory during long hours in his cupboard, he came up with a strange vision: a blinding flash of green light and a burning pain on his forehead. This, he supposed, was the crash, though he couldn’t imagine where all the green light came from. He couldn’t remember his parents at all. His aunt and uncle never spoke about them, and of course he was forbidden to ask questions. There were no photographs of them in the house. Q7 - What is this flash of green light and pain on his forehead?Chapter 3 - The Letters From No OneQ1 - Do you think the knobbly sticks are a useful teaching/character building tool?“What’s this?” he asked Aunt Petunia. Her lips tightened as they always did if he dared to ask a question. “Your new school uniform,” she said. Harry looked at the bowl again. “Oh,” he said. “I didn’t realize it had to be so wet.”Three things lay on the doormat: a postcard from Uncle Vernon’s sister Marge, who was holidaying on the Isle of Wight, a brown envelope that looked like a bill and – a letter for Harry? Turning the envelope over, his hand trembling, Harry saw a purple wax seal bearing a coat of arms; a lion, an eagle, a badger and a snake surrounding a large letter ‘H’. Q2 - Why do the Dursleys not want him to get this letter?Q3 - Do you think you can “stamp out” being a wizard? What do you think happens to people who suppress their magic?He hoped the roof wasn’t going to fall in, although he might be warmer if it did. Four minutes to go. Maybe the house in Privet Drive would be so full of letters when they got back that he’d be able to steal one somehow.Q4 - Do you wonder if these letters are duplicated by magic or if Hogwarts is handwriting all these letters to Harry?Q5 - How would you have gotten the letter if you were Harry?Monday. This reminded Harry of something. If it was Monday – and you could usually count on Dudley to know the days of the week, because of television – then tomorrow, Tuesday, was Harry’s eleventh birthday. Of course, his birthdays were never exactly fun – last year, the Dursleys had given him a coat-hanger and a pair of Uncle Vernon’s old socks. Still, you weren’t eleven every day. Q6 - What’s your most memorable birthday?One minute to go and he’d be eleven. Thirty seconds ... twenty ... ten – nine – maybe he’d wake Dudley up, just to annoy him – three – two – one – BOOM. The whole shack shivered and Harry sat bolt upright, staring at the door. Someone was outside, knocking to come in. Q7 - What’s going to happen next?Chapter 4 - The Keeper of KeysBOOM. They knocked again. Dudley Jerked awake. “Where’s the cannon?” he said stupidly.Q1 - What was Dudley dreaming about?“Las’ time I saw you, you was only a baby,” said the giant. “Yeh look a lot like yer dad, but yeh’ve got yer mum’s eyes.”“Harry – yer a wizard.”Q2 - If you are starving in a hut and a massive giant breaks in and starts cooking up a meal, what would you hope that he made?Q3 - What are your first impressions of Hagrid? What’s up with his assault of Dudley?Q4 - The logistics and maybe ethics of Hagrid throwing an owl out of the door in the middle of a raging storm is interesting. Let’s discuss.She stopped to draw a deep breath and then went ranting on. It seemed she had been wanting to say all this for years.Q5 - Is it alarming or endearing that Hagrid can’t spell Voldemort?Q6 - Why do you think Voldemort tried to kill Harry and killed Lily and James?Q7 - Do you have any theories about what stumped Voldy about Harry?Q8 - Hagrid says that us Muggles would want all our problems solved with magic. Do you think this is true? And what is the first problem you are fixing with magic?Chapter 5 - Diagon AlleyQ1- Should the wizarding world have more than one bank? That seems like a bad monopoly.“Gringotts is the safest place in the world for anything yeh want ter keep safe – ‘cept maybe Hogwarts.”Q2 - Hagrid and Harry took the boat off the island. How long were the Dursleys stranded there before they got off?Q3 - Which book sounds the most interesting from Harry’s book list?Standard Book of SpellsA History of MagicMagical TheoryBeginners Guide to TransfigurationOne Thousand Magical Herbs and FungiMagical Drafts and PotionsFantastic Beasts and Where to Find ThemThe Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-ProtectionEven though everything Hagrid had told him so far was unbelievable, Harry couldn’t help trusting him.Q4 - What is the weirdest thing you think Hagrid keeps in his pocket?“If anyone but a Gringotts goblin tried that, they’d be sucked through the door and trapped in there,” said Griphook. “How often do you check to see if anyone’s inside?” Harry asked. “About once every ten years,” said Griphook, with a rather nasty grin.Q5 - Does Draco have the wrong wand? His mother picked it up for him…“But I know I’ll be in Slytherin, all our family have been – imagine being in Hufflepuff, I think I’d leave, wouldn't you?”“Where are your parents?” “They’re dead,” said Harry shortly.“Ah yes,” said the man. “Yes, yes. I thought I’d be seeing you soon. Harry Potter.”“It’s really the wand that chooses the wizard, of course.”Q6 - If you could choose your wand, which wand core would you want and why?“I remember every want I’ve ever sold, Mr Potter. Every single wand. It so happens that the phoenix whose tail feather is in your wand, gave another feather – just one other. It is very curious indeed that you should be destined for this wand when its brother, why its brother gave you that scar.”Q7 - How do we like Hagrid?

Lizzy and Jon are diving into Harry Potter! It's Lizzys second time reading, although she's forgotten so much that it might as well be her first time reading, and it very brilliant with how she sees Harry Potter. Coming from someone who reads it every year, Jon has had his mind changed more about certain things in the short time Lizzy has taken to read this series, than by anyone else who has read these books. She argues her points very convincingly and it's a fun season! So join Jon and Lizzy for some ethical questions on dementors, some doubts about whether Dumbledore truly is good, and some good debates about things that have never come up before in Jon's Harry Potter readings.

Join Jon, Jenn, Danny, and Kristen as they talk over the movie of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1. They talk over some theories about what will happen, their impressions of the characters, and what they thought of the sixth movie.