First Time Readers

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Ch 20-21

Episode Summary

“ ‘There were once three brothers who were traveling along a lonely, winding road at twilight —’ ” “Midnight, our mum always told us,” said Ron, who had stretched out, arms behind his head, to listen. Hermione shot him a look of annoyance. Join Jon, Jenn, Danny, and Kristen as they talk over chapters 20-21 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. They talk over some theories about what will happen, their impressions of the characters, and where the Deathly Hallows are.

Episode Notes

Chapter 20 - Xenophilius Lovegood

• Hermione’s sulkiness could not mar his buoyant spirits: The sudden upswing in their fortunes, the appearance of the mysterious doe, the recovery of Gryffindor’s sword, and above all, Ron’s return, made Harry so happy that it was quite difficult to maintain a straight face. 
• “Oh, yeah. Well, it’s just a bad habit we’ve slipped into,” said Harry. “But I haven’t got a problem calling him V —” “NO!” roared Ron, causing Harry to jump into the hedge and Hermione (nose buried in a book at the tent entrance) to scowl over at them. “

Q1 - What do you think of the tracking of this?

• Harry did not laugh at Ron, because he understood too well the longing behind the question. The idea that Dumbledore had managed to come back to them, that he was watching over them, would have been inexpressibly comforting. He shook his head. 

Q2 - Any chance that this Doe could have been Dumbledore?

• “But don’t you think if it was, Dumbledore would have told me about it before he died?” “Maybe . . . maybe it’s something you need to find out for yourself,” said Hermione with a faint air of clutching at straws. “Yeah,” said Ron sycophantically, “that makes sense.” “No, it doesn’t,” snapped Hermione, “but I still think we ought to talk to Mr. Lovegood. A symbol that links Dumbledore, Grindelwald, and Godric’s Hollow? Harry, I’m sure we ought to know about this!” 

Q3 - Will Hermione and Ron ever reconcile?

Q4 - Danny nailed the prediction on Luna not being there

Q5 - What would you have done in Xeno’s position?

• He turned away from the window and his gaze fell upon another peculiar object standing upon the cluttered, curved sideboard: a stone bust of a beautiful but austere-looking witch wearing a most bizarre-looking headdress. Two objects that resembled golden ear trumpets curved out from the sides. A tiny pair of glittering blue wings was stuck to a leather strap that ran over the top of her head, while one of the orange radishes had been stuck to a second strap around her forehead. “Ah, you have spotted my pet invention,” Xeno said, “Modeled, fittingly enough, upon the head of the beautiful Rowena Ravenclaw. ‘Wit beyond measure is man’s greatest treasure!’ ” 

Q6 - Danny you paused at this for a bit, why?

Chapter 21 - The Tale of the Three Brothers

• “ ‘There were once three brothers who were traveling along a lonely, winding road at twilight —’ ” “Midnight, our mum always told us,” said Ron, who had stretched out, arms behind his head, to listen. Hermione shot him a look of annoyance.
• We are talking about a cloak that really and truly renders the wearer completely invisible, and endures eternally, giving constant and impenetrable concealment, no matter what spells are cast at it. How many cloaks have you ever seen like that, Miss Granger?” Hermione opened her mouth to answer, then closed it again, looking more confused than ever. She, Harry, and Ron glanced at one another, and Harry knew that they were all thinking the same thing. It so happened that a cloak exactly like the one Xenophilius had just described was in the room with them at that very moment. 

Q1 - Do you think Harry’s cloak could be one of the Hallows?

Q2 - If it exists, where do you think the Resurrection stone is?

• “So where do you think the Elder Wand is now?” asked Ron. “Alas, who knows?” said Xenophilius, as he gazed out of the window.

Q3 - If it exists, where is the wand?

• “It’s just a morality tale, it’s obvious which gift is best, which one you’d choose —” The three of them spoke at the same time; Hermione said, “the Cloak,” Ron said, “the wand,” and Harry said, “the stone.” They looked at each other, half surprised, half amused. 

Q4 - Which is the best?

• Harry held out his left hand. Ron vanished beneath the Cloak. The printing press blocking the stairs was vibrating: Xenophilius was trying to shift it using a Hover Charm. Harry did not know what Hermione was waiting for. “Hold tight,” she whispered. “Hold tight . . . any second . . .” Xenophilius’s paper-white face appeared over the top of the sideboard. “Obliviate!” cried Hermione, pointing her wand first into his face, then at the floor beneath them. “Deprimo!” She had blasted a hole in the sitting room floor. They fell like boulders, Harry still holding onto her hand for dear life; there was a scream from below, and he glimpsed two men trying to get out of the way as vast quantities of rubble and broken furniture rained all around them from the shattered ceiling. Hermione twisted in midair and the thundering of the collapsing house rang in Harry’s ears as she dragged him once more into darkness. 

Q5 - What is Hermione doing here?