Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Books/Half-Blood Prince/Chapter 8
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Chapter 8 of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: Snape Victorious
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[edit] Synopsis
Nymphadora Tonks suddenly appears in the compartment and unpetrifies Harry. Before the departing train picks up too much speed, they leap off. Tonks mends Harry's broken nose and then sends a Patronus Charm to the castle, alerting everyone that Harry is safe. She is not guarding Hogwarts alone; Proudfoot, Savage, and Dawlish are also there. Harry again notices her depressed and unhappy look, and her usual vibrantly-colored hair remains faded. (Harry speculates that she was in love with Sirius and is mourning his death.)
Reaching Hogwarts, they are met by Snape, who ridicules Tonks' new Patronus. Snape deducts 70 points from Gryffindor, then escorts Harry to the Great Hall without allowing him to change into his robes. Embarrassed and ashamed, Harry does not report Malfoy's actions, and when Hermione and Ron ask where he was, he tells them to wait until later.
After the feast (which Harry misses by a few seconds), Professor Dumbledore announces two new appointments. Professor Horace Slughorn is the new Potions Master, while Professor Snape is now the Defence Against the Dark Arts instructor. Everyone is stunned by Snape's appointment, one he has coveted for so long. Harry is particularly angered, although the Slytherin table enthusiastically greets the news. With Voldemort's reappearance, Dumbledore has implemented new security measures, and he requests that students be patient and cooperative and to report any concerns they may have before he dismisses them.
Hermione leads the first-years to the Gryffindor dorms, but Ron remains behind with Harry, who relates what happened on the train and Draco's discussion. Ron believes Draco was probably just showing off for Pansy. Hagrid approaches and says they can say hello to Witherwings (Buckbeak) if they arrive early enough for Care of Magical Creatures class. When Hagrid departs, Harry and Ron wonder how he will react to his three favorite students not taking his course.
[edit] Analysis
Harry's growing obsession over Draco caused him to be careless, giving Draco an advantage—he knows Harry was eavesdropping and will likely be monitoring him. Just why Draco purposely revealed so much to Harry is puzzling, however. It would also seem that Harry, having been caught eavesdropping by Draco, would now consider the information to be false and was merely intended to manipulate and taunt Harry. Instead, Harry fully believes everything Draco said and continues to act to prove it. Although Ron and Hermione will doubt Draco's claims and try to persuade Harry to disregard it, reader's, however, know that Draco is being truthful, although exactly what his mission is, remains a mystery until the book's conclusion. Also, though the Order of the Phoenix is guarding Hogwarts, Tonks finding Harry so quickly indicates that he is particulalry being protected, probably without Harry realizing it. When Harry failed to emerge from the train with the other students, Tonks searched for him. Although she says the Order has stationed her in Hogsmeade, she has likely been assigned to guard Harry.
A wizard's Patronus cannot be consciously chosen, but instead reflects the person casting it. Therefore, Tonks' new form must signify her current emotional state. Although it is unknown what new form it has taken, or what shape it was before, it is a significant enough change for Snape to jeer at it. This is also the second time the Patronus has been seen as other than a defensive charm, the first time being in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, when Professor Dumbledore used it to summon Hagrid.
Although Dumbledore has finally appointed Snape to the Defence Against the Dark Arts teaching position he has so long coveted, why he chooses to do so now is unclear and rather mysterious. While Dumbledore has never doubted Snape's loyalty, Snape's past history and his affinity to the Dark Arts has apparently been an ongoing concern. However, both Dumbledore and Snape know there is a specific reason why no one has ever served longer than one year in that post. Ron alludes to this, saying that he believes it is jinxed. If it is, then Dumbledore and Snape must have somehow overcome this particular obstacle or neither intend for Snape to remain in that position any longer than his predecessors. Although Harry is angry that Snape was appointed, it may actually provide an as-yet-unknown benefit.
[edit] Questions
[edit] Review
- Why does Harry refuse to report Draco's actions?
- Why did Tonks find Harry so quickly?
- Why is Tonks so depressed? Is there some reason other than what Harry thinks?
[edit] Extra Study
- Why might Harry, Ron, and Hermione have decided to not take Hagrid's class this year? Why haven't they told him? What might his reaction be?
- Why would Snape ridicule Tonks' new Patronus, even though a witch or wizard cannot consciously choose its shape?
- What new form might Tonks' patronus have taken and what could have caused it to change?
- Why would Dumbledore appoint Snape as the new Defence Against the Dark Arts instructor after repeatedly denying him the position and knowing that no one has held it for more than one year?
[edit] Greater Picture
While it is never fully clear why Draco revealed so much information to Harry, and despite his arrogant boasting to his friends, it soon becomes apparent that Draco is deeply conflicted and terrified by his mission, spurred on only to protect his family. He may be hoping that Harry will expose him to Dumbledore, although it will be learned that Dumbledore already knows.
It is revealed later that Voldemort did indeed put a curse on the Defence Against the Dark Arts position. Ever since Dumbledore rejected him for the job, no teacher has remained in that position for more than one school year. Knowing this, it is curious as to why Snape continually applied for the position each year, or why Dumbledore chooses to appoint him now. As it turns out, Snape will also only hold the position for the one year.
Although Snape jeers at Tonks for her new Patronus form and understands what it represents, it will be revealed in the last book that his own Patronus is its current shape for similar reasons.
