Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Books/Deathly Hallows/Chapter 16
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Chapter 16 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Godric's Hollow
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[edit] Synopsis
Harry awakens the next morning half-expecting Ron to be in his bunk, but it is empty. Harry and Hermione delay packing, knowing Ron will be unable to find them once they leave. Unable to wait any longer, they Disapparate to a wind-swept hillside. Hermione breaks down in sobs, while Harry puts up the protective spells around their campsite. For the next few days, Harry watches for Ron's dot on his Marauder's Map, certain he has returned to Hogwarts, but it never appears. At night, Harry and Hermione spend hours discussing where Dumbledore could have hidden Gryffindor's Sword. Harry is uncertain if he is angrier at Ron for leaving, or at Dumbledore for failing to give him more information. Ron's words haunt him: "We thought you knew what you were doing . . . We thought Dumbledore had told you what to do . . . We thought you had a real plan!" Ron was right; Dumbledore left him with virtually nothing, and the remaining Horcruxes are still just as unattainable.
At night, Hermione brings out Phineas Nigellus' portrait. Despite his threat never to visit it again but curious for information, he agrees to show up blindfolded every few days. Phineas only reveals sporadic information about Hogwarts, although Harry and Hermione learn about a low-level student mutiny. Snape has reinstated Umbridge's decree prohibiting three or more students from gathering or any unofficial student societies, although Harry deduces that Ginny, Luna, and Neville have probably restarted Dumbledore's Army. Harry briefly yearns for Hogwarts' comforts, only to remember he is "Undesirable Number One."
The weather grows colder, and the two constantly move to new locations throughout the country. Christmas trees begin appearing in sitting room windows. One night, Hermione shows Harry a strange hand-drawn symbol in The Tales of Beedle the Bard. She is unable to decipher it, but has determined it is something other than an eye icon or an ancient rune in the syllabary. Harry recognizes it as the same triangular symbol on Xenophilius' robe at the wedding. Krum claimed it was Grindelwald's mark. Hermione is puzzled that a Dark mark would be drawn in a children's book. Harry, curious about his own past, wants to go to Godric's Hollow; surprisingly, Hermione agrees, believing Dumbledore may have hidden the sword in Godric Gryffindor's birthplace. When Harry expresses suprise, Hermione pulls out A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot and reads a passage about Godric Gryffindor. Harry remembers Ginny's Aunt Muriel telling him at the wedding that Bathilda Bagshot still lived in Godric's Hollow. Both silently notice that Harry deliberately avoided referring to Muriel as Ron's aunt. A thought suddenly occurs to Hermione—maybe Dumbledore entrusted the sword to Bathilda.
Harry and Hermione immediately make plans to go to Godric's Hollow. Hermione first wants to practice Disapparating together under the Invisibility Cloak, plus a few other spells, but Harry only thinks about seeing his birthplace. It is another week before they depart for Godric's Hollow. Hermione has obtained some Muggle hairs for the Polyjuice Potion, and they transform themselves into a middle-aged married couple, then Disapparate under the Invisibility Cloak to Godric's Hollow. Hermione worries about leaving tracks in the snow, but since they are disguised, Harry suggests removing the Cloak and just walking. Spotting a cemetery behind a nearby church, they head for it. A war memorial in the town square suddenly transforms into a statue of a man and a woman holding a baby. Astonished, Harry recognizes the two figures as his parents and realizes the baby is him. Inside the graveyard, they unexpectedly discover Kendra and Ariana Dumbledore's graves; Harry again wonders why Dumbledore never shared their common roots. On the grave marker is the inscription: "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also," although Harry is uncertain what it means. While searching for the Potters' gravesites, Hermione spots something. Carved on an old tombstone is the same symbol as in the book and on Xenophilius' robes, although the stone's letters are badly weathered; Harry can only make out the first name, Ignotus.
They continue hunting until Hermione calls out, "Harry, they're here . . . right here." Their white marble headstone is only two rows behind Kendra and Ariana. Below their names is the inscription: The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death
Confused, Harry thinks this sounds like a Death Eater concept, but Hermione says it means to defeat death by existing beyond it. Harry finds little comfort in its meaning, knowing his parents' moldering remains lie beneath the frozen ground and cries a bit. Hermione takes his hand. Harry feels bad that he forgot to bring something for his parents, but Hermione, unasked, conjures a Christmas wreath with roses that Harry lays on the graves. As Harry puts his arm around Hermione's shoulders, she places hers around his waist, and they quietly turn to leave the cemetery.
[edit] Analysis
Although Harry wanted to "go it alone" on this mission, he now sorely misses Ron's presence and realizes how much he relied on his help and friendship. This may be a crucial turning point for Harry in learning to trust others and accept help. Ron's painful absence is also a sharp contrast to Hermione's steadfast loyalty, and it is doubtful that Harry could have gotten as far as he has without her assistance, although, in the past, he and Ron have tended to dismiss her contributions and abilities except when they needed specific information about something. Her careful planning and foresight has allowed the Trio to move relatively efficiently and comfortably throughout the country during their Horcrux search. Her diligent research methods and cool, logical mind will continue to be a useful resource to the mission. However, living by her wits and surviving day-to-day in a life-threatening situation has also greatly improved her practical skills and abilities, forcing her to also rely on intuition, speculation, and immediate action rather than just books for definitive answers. Her quick, sharp reflexes have repeatedly saved the Trio from disaster, as when she Disapparated them away from Bill and Fleur's wedding and Grimmauld Place, and likely will do so again in future chapters.
It is interesting to note that the Potters' statue is (appropriately) disguised as a war memorial. Not only did James and Lily fight against Voldemort in life, but they continue their battle in death through their son, Harry.
Seeing Kendra and Ariana's tombstone disturbs Harry. This reminder that Dumbledore had a history he withheld from Harry, or that Harry never asked about, reignites Harry's anger and confusion over Dumbledore's cryptic plan. The inscription on Kendra and Ariana's gravestone, "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also," further frustrates Harry, who fails to understand how deeply Dumbledore loved his mother and sister. Harry again wonders why Dumbledore never revealed their common roots, although the Dumbledores only lived in Godric's Hollow a short time and had moved there to keep Ariana's condition hidden. Also, this reminder of Ariana's existence causes Harry to think about Rita Skeeter's book, and to wonder how much truth backs her stories.
[edit] Questions
[edit] Review
- Why do Harry and Hermione avoid mentioning Ron's name?
[edit] Further Study
- Why has Harry never been taken to visit Godric's Hollow and his parents' home and graves, despite it being a monument to their memories?
- Who might Ignotus be? The sign on his tombstone seems to be the same one Xeno Lovegood wore at the wedding, that Grindelwald used, and that appears in Dumbledore's copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard. Why would this sign be on Ignotus' tombstone?
- Why does Phineas Nigellus Black give Harry and Hermione updates about Hogwarts? Can this information be trusted?
- What might the inscription, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also,” mean? Who likely chose those words for Ariana and Kendra's grave stone and why?
- Harry searches for Ron on the Marauders' Map but is unable to find him at Hogwarts. Where might Ron be and what would he be doing?
- Harry has no idea where to search for Gryffindor's Sword, although there is something that could possibly help him retrieve it. What is this, and why doesn't it occur to Harry? How difficult would it be to obtain this item?
[edit] Greater Picture
Although Harry has abandoned his dream to be reunited with his dead parents, when he learns about the Deathly Hallows (and the Resurrection Stone), this possibility will be revived.
Harry and Hermione have no idea where to search for Gryffindor's sword, and they are taking a huge gamble and using precious time in hope that Dumbledore hid it in Godric's Hollow. However, there could be another way to retrieve the Sword. Readers likely will remember that in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry pulled Gryffindor's Sword from the Sorting Hat when he fought the Basilisk. While this could be one possible way to obtain the sword, neither Harry or Hermione considers this. However, there is certainly no guarantee that the Sorting Hat can or would provide the Sword on demand, or if it is at all possible to obtain the Hat that is safely secured in the Hogwarts Headmaster's office. Even if Harry's allies inside Hogwarts attempted to retrieve it, given the Castle's tight security, it could be a difficult undertaking for any student, even resourceful Dumbledore's Army members, to breach the Headmaster's office, particularly now that Snape is in residence there. And given Ginny, Luna, and Neville's previous unsuccessful attempt to steal the Sword of Gryffindor, their punishment could potentially be far more severe for a second offence. However, as the Sorting Hat may generally be considered an innocuous magical object, it is possible that it could be removed from the Headmaster's Office more easily than the Sword. And considering how effortlessly Hermione was able to Summon the restricted books from Dumbledore's study, the Sorting Hat might likewise be retrieved. However, Snape is likely well aware of the Sorting Hat's abilities.
Harry will eventually obtain Gryffindor's Sword, not with the Sorting Hat, but with help from an unidentified ally. However, the Sorting Hat will again prove important later in the story when it provides Gryffindor's Sword to Neville Longbottom, who Harry asks to destroy one of Voldemort's remaining Horcruxes in the event that he, Ron, or Hermione are unable to.
