Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Books/Deathly Hallows/Chapter 1
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Chapter 1 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: The Dark Lord Ascending
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[edit] Synopsis
There is silence for a moment. Then Snape and Yaxley both Apparate in at the same time, pointing their wands at each other. After recognizing each other, they head for a large mansion. Voldemort and his Death Eaters are gathered at Malfoy Manor, their new headquarters. Severus Snape informs Voldemort that the Order of the Phoenix is moving Harry Potter from the Dursley home to a secret location the following Saturday, at sunset. Snape tells Voldemort that the information comes "from the source [they] discussed." This contradicts the information that Yaxley obtained from an Auror named Dawlish, but that is determined to be unreliable. Snape tells the assembled Death Eaters that the Order suspects the Ministry has been infiltrated. Yaxley reports that he has succeeded in placing Pius Thicknesse, the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, under the Imperius curse, a huge step toward the Death Eaters' taking over the Ministry of Magic. However, Voldemort says that Thicknesse is only one man, "and Scrimgeour must be completely surrounded by our people before I act." Voldemort mentions that his wand, having the same magical core as Harry Potter's wand, could prove ineffective against Harry. He demands Lucius' wand, claiming that Malfoy will no longer need it and that he and his wife were unfaithful to the Dark Lord. Bellatrix Lestrange comments that she, unlike her sister, Narcissa, has always been faithful. Voldemort jokes about her niece, who apparently has just married Remus Lupin. Voldemort then uses Lucius' wand to kill his captive, Professor Charity Burbage, the Muggle Studies instructor at Hogwarts, for teaching the subject and for publishing an opinion suggesting that the decreasing numbers of pureblooded wizards was beneficial and that blood purity should no longer matter, giving her to Nagini as her "dinner".
[edit] Analysis
A major difference between the Order of the Phoenix and Death Eaters is brought into sharper focus here. Death Eaters constantly compete with one another to ascend in the Dark Lord's eyes. Some are affronted that Snape is invited to sit at Voldemort's right hand; the Malfoys' position at the foot of the table is obviously galling to them and shows how far and how quickly they have fallen from favor. In the Order, however, the organization's unified goal to assist Harry and defeat Voldemort are far more important than an individual's status within their group.
Throughout the series, Snape is the one character whose true motives and loyalty have never been clearly established. Is he a redeemed Death Eater secretly carrying out Dumbledore's orders, or had he merely been biding his time, gathering information, awaiting the Dark Lord's resurrection? Now Snape is deeply embedded in the Death Eaters' inner council and has become a trusted Voldemort confidante. He also acts as a conduit for information about the Order. It is unknown whether Snape's information is accurate or how he obtained it. Voldemort is likely using Legilimency in an attempt to read Snape's mind and thus judge how reliable the information is, although Snape is skilled in Occlumency, and, conceivably, could block Voldemort's intrusions. Disputes over Snape's loyalty appeared to have been resolved when Snape killed Dumbledore (at the end of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince). Most importantly, why did Dumbledore steadfastly maintain such unwavering trust in him? Also, the circumstances surrounding Dumbledore's death are ambiguous, and many readers have argued that Snape did not truly murder Dumbledore but was acting according to some prearranged plan between them. And while many questions go unanswered, it is doubtful that Voldemort completely trusts Snape. The old adage, "keep your friends close, but your enemies closer" may very well apply here, and it could have just as well applied to Dumbledore. Also, many fans believe that Dumbledore may not actually be dead, although Rowling is adamant that he is. Whatever Snape's actual course or motives may be, this will remain unknown until the book's end.
Some critics may feel that introducing the Charity Burbage character solely to kill her off may be literary laziness by the author. However, this demonstrates just how bloodthirsty Death Eaters are, which makes murdering someone reasonable. That she is a Hogwarts professor shows that the school is not as sacrosanct as it has previously seemed. And who better to kill than the Muggle Studies instructor? However, this scene might have had more impact if readers had been introduced to Professor Burbage when Hermione was taking her class during her third year.
[edit] Questions
[edit] Review
- Why has Malfoy lost favor with the Dark Lord? Having lost that favor, why would Voldemort want him returned from Azkaban?
- Even though Voldemort's wand may not work properly against Harry, it is not so hindered in acting against Professor Burbage. Why would Voldemort use Lucius' wand rather than his own to kill the Muggle Studies instructor?
[edit] Extra Study
- Who might be the 'source' that Snape and Voldemort refer to?
- Lucius Malfoy was sent to Azkaban at the end of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Yet, he has returned. There was no news of breakouts at Azkaban during Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. What does this say about the Ministry?
[edit] Greater Picture
During Voldemort's meeting with his Death Eaters, Wormtail is dismissed to attend to a prisoner, who is evidently disrupting the proceedings. While it is never confirmed who this prisoner is, it is learned later that Ollivander is being held captive in the house.
Snape's information about the Order's choice of dates to move Harry is accurate, though he does not, apparently, know the plan's full details. Later, it is learned that Snape not only knows the complete plan, but it was he who planted the additional details into Mundungus' thoughts so that he could suggest them to Mad Eye Moody. However, readers do not as yet have that information. Lacking that, this chapter seems to reinforce the belief that Snape is loyal to the Dark side.
