Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Books/Order of the Phoenix/Chapter 30
From Wikibooks, the open-content textbooks collection
Chapter 30 of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: Grawp
Contents |
[edit] Synopsis
Fred and George's departure quickly grows into Hogwarts' legend over the next few days. Even those who were there are almost convinced that the twins dive-bombed Umbridge with Dungbombs as they left. To add to the legend, there are now two broom-shaped holes in Umbridge's office door. The twins also left a large swamp in the fifth-floor corridor, which the teachers seem unable to remove, although Harry suspects Professor McGonagall or Professor Flitwick could remove it if they wished. A grumbling Filch is pressed into duty punting students across the swamp in between classes. With Fred and George gone, many students are trying for the job of chief troublemaker, with the result that the corridors are overwhelmingly redolent of dungbombs and stink pellets, and it becomes fashionable to invoke a Bubble-Head Charm on oneself before leaving the classroom. Someone has also put a Niffler into Umbridge's office despite her new door, and having destroyed the office, it tried to gnaw the rings off her stubby fingers. Umbridge, Filch, and the new Inquisitorial Squad are run ragged attending to the disturbances, but even the Inquisitorial Squad fall prey to the occasional jinx that takes them to the Hospital Wing. It seems also that Fred and George sold a huge number of Skiving Snackboxes, as Umbridge has only to enter a class for the students to break out in fevers, vomiting, bloody noses, and fainting spells. And Peeves is everywhere, causing havoc. The staff, except Filch, seem unwilling to help Umbridge; Harry saw Professor McGonagall walk past Peeves who was unscrewing a crystal chandelier, and he was almost sure he heard her telling Peeves it unscrewed the other way. Finally, Montague remains confused and disoriented from his sojourn in the toilet.
Ron worries that his mother will blame him for the twins' departure. When he and Hermione wonder how they can afford to open their own joke shop in Diagon Alley, Harry finally confesses that he gave them his Triwizard winnings. Hermione asks Harry when he restarts Occlumency lessons. Harry had told Hermione and Ron about Sirius wanting him to start Occlumency again, because he still did not want to tell them about what he had seen in the Pensieve. But now Hermione is nagging him to restart lessons with Professor Snape, and Harry does not want to explain why that will not happen.
The final Quidditch match is Gryffindor vs. Ravenclaw, and Ron is nervous. The match has barely started, however, and Ron has only let in one goal when Harry and Hermione are quietly approached by Hagrid, who says he has something important to show them in the Forbidden Forest. Hagrid leads them into the forest, carrying a large crossbow. The centaurs, he explains, are still angry about Firenze working for Dumbledore, and they were attacking Firenze when Hagrid intervened. Hagrid says he expects to be sacked soon. Umbridge accused Hagrid of putting a Niffler in her office because it was a magical creature. She has been trying to fire him anyway. He says he will need their help if he is sacked. Harry promises to help. Hagrid leads them to a small glen and a sleeping Giant. Hagrid says its name is Grawp, and it is his half-brother. He brought Grawp back from the mountains with him after his failed mission with Madam Maxime to recruit the giants against Voldemort. Grawp was mistreated by the other Giants for being "small" – only sixteen feet tall. Hagrid has been attempting to civilize Grawp and teach him English, although the Giant only seems capable of pulling trees up by their roots. Hagrid admits that Grawp is still half-wild, and he has had difficulty controlling him, which explains his battered appearance when he returned to Hogwarts and why Grawp is tied up. Hagrid claims Grawp is much tamer now, and he asks if Harry, Ron, and Hermione will visit and help teach him English. Grawp wakes up, and Hagrid introduces Harry and "Hermy", though it is hard to tell how much Grawp comprehends. Harry now understands Firenze's warning to Hagrid that, "the attempt is not working."
Centaurs appear and threaten Hagrid, angry that he brought a Giant into their forest. They are also still furious that Firenze has betrayed them by entering into "human servitude." Hagrid is not intimidated, and the Centaurs agree to let him pass only because he is accompanied by innocent "foals" (Harry and Hermione). When Harry and Hermione return to the Quidditch game, they hear a new version of "Weasley is Our King", only it is not the Slytherins singing it. Gryffindor has won the match and the Quidditch Cup, apparently thanks to Ron’s suddenly superb Keeping.
[edit] Analysis
It is interesting to note that it is the absence of Fred and George which apparently causes the tremendous increase in mischief. The explanation provided by the author, that many were vying for the post of chief troublemaker, seems rather weak; however, it is possibly an accurate description of the actual events. It is unlikely that students are actually vying for this particular position, but it is likely true that those students who would be pulling pranks have been held in check by Fred and George. If one is in a school with a master practical joker like Fred or George, one tends to avoid pulling pranks because one might be seen as simply a poor imitation of the master(s). With Fred and George gone, that restraint is no longer there. The hatred of Umbridge for her repression, plus her obvious ineffectiveness dealing with the fireworks and the swamp, will tend to inspire the less-enlightened pranksters to break out the dungbombs, and the other teachers' unwillingness to assist Umbridge in her futile attempts to keep order will make the problems worse.
Peeves' increased activity is mentioned, and possibly is worthy of discussion as well. This is the first time that Peeves has been noted as being more active, despite Professor Dumbledore's earlier absences. We are led to believe that Peeves can be controlled only by Dumbledore and the Bloody Baron, though the author, in an interview, has suggested that Dumbledore does not actually control Peeves. From his actions in this chapter, we may begin to suspect that Peeves' activities could be seen as an indicator of the overall level of satisfaction in the school; he is less active when the population is happy.
We suddenly have an explanation for a number of things that we have been wondering about, and many things that have happened but have not caused significant concern. With the revelation of Grawp's existence, we suddenly see why Hagrid was so late in returning from his mission, why he is always injured, why he seems to be spending more time than usual in the Forbidden Forest, and why he is suddenly thinking more about family than he has been previously. Other commentators have mentioned that one of Rowling's great strengths is in handling the set-up and the pay-off, leading you up to the fact, then revealing it at a particularly satisfying time. This is a classic example; we've heard of Hagrid's expedition to the Giants, and seen the aftermath of that visit, and now suddenly the explanation for that aftermath is revealed. This is only one of a number of cases, some spanning several books, where we see the build-up to an event followed by the wholly satisfactory revelation.
Of all the characters in the Harry Potter series, probably none are as lonely and isolated as Hagrid. Not even Harry's unhappy family life, Sirius Black's difficult childhood, or Remus Lupin's social ostracism compares to Hagrid's utter alienation. Many wizards either are indifferent, fear him, or, like Umbridge, consider him sub-human. Even though most Hogwarts students and staff like him and accept him as an equal, he has never shared a close relationship with anyone there other than Harry, who knows what it is like to lack a family. Harry has been his closest friend and acts as a surrogate relative. Now Hagrid has an opportunity to have a real family by having brought back his half-brother, although it remains doubtful whether Grawp can ever be completely civilized. However, Hagrid faces losing this opportunity if Umbridge succeeds in dismissing him, and Hagrid turns to the Trio for help, although it is uncertain if there is much they can actually do.
We see here also that Ron is able to perform quite well once he has his confidence; it seems that once he managed to find his stride, he managed to defend the goal posts quite well. We don't yet know what has happened; presumably we will find out next chapter, but here we see that Ron is carrying the Quidditch Cup and being carried on Gryffindor's shoulders, so we can safely bet that it is his performance that has saved the game for Gryffindor.
[edit] Questions
[edit] Review
- What does Hagrid want to show Harry and Hermione? Why does he show it to them now?
- What does Hagrid ask the Trio to do? Is this putting them in danger?
- Why do the Centaurs threaten Hagrid? Why do they let him pass?
- Why has the demeaning Slytherin song changed its meaning, and who is singing it now?
[edit] Further Study
- Why did Hagrid bring Grawp back with him? What does he hope to accomplish, and is it possible?
- Why do the Centaurs consider what Firenze did a betrayal? Is it?
[edit] Greater Picture
In this chapter we learn of the current temper of the Centaurs. Already aloof, they have been angered by Firenze's defection, and Hagrid's interfering in his punishment for that defection. Hermione will later use this against Umbridge; trapped, she will invent a weapon that Umbridge has to possess. She will place that weapon in the Forbidden Forest, and in search of it will lead Umbridge into the realm of the Centaurs. There, Umbridge's hatred of "half-breeds" will result in the Centaurs dealing with her.
Hermione, hearing in this chapter that the Centaurs do not war against "foals", will think herself and Harry safe as they bring Umbridge to the Centaurs, but will not reckon with the Centaur's intellect. They will see that Hermione had tricked them into entering a purely Human conflict, and will be on the verge of sending Hermione and Harry to the same fate as Umbridge. Grawp's presence in the Forest will be the only thing that will save them; having broken free of his chains, he is roaming the forest looking for Hagrid, and will stumble across the clearing where Harry, Hermione, and the Centaurs are, breaking the deadlock and allowing Harry and Hermione to escape.
It is in the next chapter that we learn the details of Ron's almost-miraculous improvement in Keeping. While this does provide a much-needed boost to Ron's confidence, it will prove to be insufficient in the long run. In the next book, Harry will feel that Ron is so lacking in confidence as Keeper that he will have to artificially boost his confidence.
