Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Books/Deathly Hallows/Chapter 20
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Chapter 20 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Xenophilius Lovegood
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[edit] Synopsis
The next morning, Hermione and Ron remain distant, though Ron is quite cheery when he and Harry are alone. Their recent upswing in luck has created a more optimistic mood. Each updates the other about recent events, and Ron reveals the tracer taboo on Voldemort's name. It is jinxed to track anyone speaking it, and to break protective spells surrounding that person. That is how they were found so quickly in Tottenham Court Road. While speculating about who conjured the doe Patronus, they effectively eliminate Kingsley and Dumbledore. They also discuss Dumbledore and Grindelwald's close friendship. After Harry has some slight trouble using the blackthorn wand Ron grabbed from a Snatcher, the three retire to their tent where Harry takes first watch.
Ron mentions a radio program, Potterwatch, that reports accurate news; the show requires a password, but Ron missed the last show and is unable to tune it in. Hermione, still ignoring Ron, suggests visiting Xenophilius Lovegood. She shows Harry Dumbledore's biography and Dumbledore's letter to Grindelwald that is printed in the book. The A in Albus' signature is the same symbol that Mr. Lovegood was wearing, the same as the one in The Tales of Beedle the Bard, and on the Peverell tombstone in Godric's Hollow. Harry is reluctant, however, citing their recent Godric's Hollow misadventure, but Hermione insists these connections are important. Ron sides with Hermione, saying that Xenophilius has lately been publishing pro-Harry articles in the Quibbler. Harry, though suspecting Ron is only currying Hermione's favor, agrees to go.
The next morning the Trio Disapparate to Ottery St. Catchpole village near The Burrow and, according to Ron (and truthful to the fourth novel), close to the Lovegoods. After walking under the Invisibility Cloak for a few hours and Disapparating a few miles further north, a strange-looking cylindrical house is spotted rising vertically to the sky. Convinced this must be the Lovegood house, they climb a hill and find three hand-painted signs indicating the The Quibbler editor resides there. Seen along the path are odd plants and creatures that Luna has worn and mentioned. An unkempt-looking Xenophilius Lovegood answers the door but seems unwilling to invite them in. Xeno appears anxious and his eyes frequently dart about while leading them upstairs to a room containing an old-fashioned printing press churning out Quibblers, which Xeno rapidly covers, muffling the sound somewhat. Hermione is shocked by an Erumpent Horn mounted on the wall; Xeno claims it is a Crumple-Horned Snorkack horn, despite Hermione disagreeing. When Xeno is reluctant to offer Harry any assistance, Ron and Hermione press him to help, just as he urges his readers to. When asked about Luna's whereabouts, Xeno claims she is fishing for freshwater Plimpies at the stream, and leaves to summon her. Harry notices a stone statue of a woman wearing a bizarre-looking headdress. Moments later, Xeno returns with an infusion of Gurdyroots. Noticing the Trio's interest in the statue, Xeno explains that it is modeled after Rowena Ravenclaw wearing her now-lost Diadem headdress. Luna, he says, is beyond the Bottom Bridge catching enough Plimpies to make soup for dinner. Harry asks about the symbol Xeno wore to Bill and Fleur's wedding. Xenophilius wants to know if Harry is referring to the Deathly Hallows sign.
[edit] Analysis
Xeno Lovegood's odd behavior and disheveled appearance indicates that something is probably wrong here, although just what is unknown yet. And though he has been actively supporting Harry Potter in his newspaper, and urging readers to do likewise, Xeno now seems quite reluctant to assist the Trio in any way, and only agrees to help when he is pressured. Luna's absence also seems peculiar, and Xeno's claim that she is catching fish for their supper should be considered suspicious.
Several non-human elements play a crucial role in this chapter in addition to human ones. This is the first time an identifiable Ravenclaw artifact has been mentioned. While some fans speculated that the wand in Ollivander's shop window may have been Ravenclaw's, this is the first time that any specific object has been positively connected with her. Knowing that we are looking for artifacts once belonging to the four Hogwarts Founders, attention should probably be paid to Ravenclaw having had a diadem that people have been searching for. (A diadem is a jeweled ornament in the shape of a half crown, worn by women and placed over the forehead, also called tiara.)
Also, the radio, or wireless as it is also known, is important because it demonstrates that there are ongoing secret channels to provide truthful information about Harry Potter, Voldemort, and the war. Like Xenophilius Lovegood's stories in The Quibbler, the Potterwatch wireless program helps to inform and rally the wizarding community by airing accurate news and updates. By acting as a unified voice, it creates solidarity among wizards and encourages its listeners, who have either been too fearful or uninformed, to resist the Dark Lord and his Death Eaters. These broadcasts are similar to how radio maintained communication with populations suppressed by war and, later, communism in the mid-20th century. It also shows the powerful effect the media can exert over over the masses; whether this power is used for good or evil depends on who controls it and how it is disseminated.
Most importantly, the strange symbol the Trio has repeatedly encountered is identified by Xenophilius. However, his odd behavior is suspicious, especially considering he has been such a staunch Harry Potter supporter. The Trio soon become wary, but they will learn, at last, that the symbol refers to the Deathly Hallows, and it is not a Dark mark as Viktor Krum mistakenly claimed. However, it will take Harry some time to work out just what the Hallows are, whether or not they relate directly to his mission, and whether Dumbledore intended for him to pursue them separately.
[edit] Questions
[edit] Review
- Why does the trio seek out Xenophilius Lovegood? How can he help them?
- Why does Xenophilius have a statue modeled after Rowena Ravenclaw wearing her headdress? Could this be significant to Harry's mission? If so, why?
- Where is Luna?
- Why did Viktor Krum and others believe the Deathly Hallows symbol represented Dark Magic, when apparently it did not?
- What is the sign of the Deathly Hallows?
[edit] Further Study
- How is the radio used in the fight against Voldemort? How could it be used against Harry?
- Why is Xenophilius, an ardent Harry Potter supporter, reluctant to help the Trio?
- Why would Xeno suddenly cover the printing press?
[edit] Greater Picture
The "Potterwatch" wireless program will become crucial once Ron is able to tune it in. Not only does it act as an ongoing conduit for truthful information about Harry and Voldemort, but it will help Harry to reconnect ties to old friends and align himself with others who are fighting a common cause. The latest radio reports about who has been killed or captured will also remind Harry that Voldemort's reign of terror affects not only him, but many others.
Harry seeing the model of Rowena Ravenclaw's lost Diadem is crucial because this is the first mention of any artifact connected to Ravenclaw that may have survived to the present. Later, Harry will discover that the true Ravenclaw Diadem was made into a Horcrux by Voldemort. Harry has unknowingly come into contact with the Diadem. While searching for a place to hide his Potions book inside the Room of Requirement in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, he used the Diadem as a marker to remember the book's location. However, Harry obviously was unaware that he was handling one of Voldemort's Horcruxes.
Xenophilius' odd behavior is also important, for in the next chapter we will learn that when the Trio arrived at his house, he sent an owl to the Ministry alerting them that they were there. The careful reader will note the owl in the garden as the Trio approach the house, and it flying up past the window as Harry looks out when Xeno says he is going to fetch Luna; those who recognize this later may assume, as Harry would, that the owl was being sent to fetch Luna. We will learn shortly that Xeno informs the Ministry because Luna was captured by Death Eaters while returning home from Hogwarts for Christmas, and Xeno is hoping that by informing on Harry, he can secure her release.
