In Chapter 6 of Half-Blood Prince, Rowling continues the interplay between humor and the danger brooding in the background. The two main events of this chapter are the introduction of Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes, and the dealings with Draco – both in the robe shop and at Borgin and Burke’s.
I’ve written and spoken before about education in the series. An interesting moment for me in this chapter is when book-smart Hermione looks at the products created by drop-outs Fred and George and says, “You know, that really is extraordinary magic.” It’s an admission from the world’s greatest test-taker that extraordinary magic can be done by those who fail tests and drop out of school – in other words, that what “counts” as knowledge according to the government, as enshrined in its standardized tests, might not be a good measure of intelligence for all people.
And speaking of Draco in Borgin and Burke’s, we never did get to find out what Draco showed Borgin, did we? It’s interesting to watch the Malfoys in public. There’s something authentically human about them in the contrast between their public faces, which are haughty and composed, and the private glimpses we get of them – Draco with Moaning Myrtle, Narcissa with Snape, and then the whole family with Voldemort in Book 7. I think Dumbledore always knew this about them, and knew that in saving Draco’s life later in this book, he’d be rattling the Malfoys, causing their allegiance to Voldemort to falter. That move ended up being a deciding one in the battle, as Narcissa was the one tapped to call Time of Death on Harry.
A couple interesting notes from James Thomas’s excellent book, Repotting Harry Potter:
- “Twillfit and Tatties” is an interesting name of a robe shop, because, as Dr. Thomas observes, “Presumably, at that shop, a robe “twill fit” Draco and may have some fancy “tatting” on it as well (239).
- What does two-a-side Quidditch look like (243)? How would that work, exactly? (My guess is there are no seekers, beaters, or keepers; doesn’t sound much like Quidditch, does it?)
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{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
You know, we are never told what Draco showed Borgin. The assumption is that it was the Dark Mark. Which I think is a pretty good assumption; much better than the idea that Draco had been bitten by Fenrir Greyback & was showing Borgin where the bite was. Although Draco does drop Greyback’s name…
Is this not one of the few times in the books that Harry hits upon what’s really going on? Draco is up to something, something dark & dangerous & he’s probably been tapped as a Death Eater to replace his father. But we’ve been so conditioned to think Harry’s always misidentifying the main villain that we’re thrown off the trail.
Your comment on education, Travis, is again an interesting one & I share most of your thoughts on it. I was thinking about this again as I paged through graduation pictures posted in the papers lately. You know the ones where they show the student & then say what their future plans are. I was particularly struck by one girl who planned to go to a Christian university, in my church body, to get a degree in Art History. I thought, “Imagine actually spending 4 years to get a degree in Art History! And paying $12000 or more a year to do it!” Isn’t this something that could be done in a much shorter time & one wouldn’t even really need to go to university to do it.
But we have this obsession with getting this piece of paper that says we’re competent or that we’ve jumped through enough hoops. I speak as someone who double majored in History & Political Science. Talk about a worthless degree. Not that the subjects are worthless, but the degree & the time spent on it. Besides, I spent most of my time in college playing D&D & MERP & my degree is worth just as much as someone who spent all their time studying & attending classes. Personally, I learned most of my history & poli sci from reading on my own.
I also remember one M*A*S*H episode where there’s a new doctor in the camp. He’s eventually revealed to be an imposter…in the sense that he doesn’t have an approved degree! Hawkeye admits he’s a better surgeon than Frank Burns, who has a degree & certification, but refuses to allow him to continue operating because he doesn’t have the piece of paper. The guy’s been a lawyer, an engineer, a doctor et al. He’s incredibly gifted & can do it all but has just been too bored by the system to get the degree.
Granted that situation doesn’t fit everyone but really after several hundred years of the same university system & the rise of new technology can’t we find a better way of training people in some of these degree fields?
Interesting thought, revgeorge: Dumbledore spends much of book 6 pooh-poohing Harry’s suspicions of Draco, grandly stating that he’s got everything under control. Ditto on the matter of Snape – although with a bit more reason there.
Speak then, all you apologists of the great man: why is that with Draco actively – although not very competently – plotting to bring Fenrir and the Death Eaters into Hogwarts, why is it that Dumbledore will not consider Harry’s suspicions? Is it that he anticipates – and plans to make use of – the attack on Hogwarts? Does he anticipate that the Death Eaters will be repelled, without major casualties for the good guys? Does he know all this?
I understand that for the plot to develop – and for DD to take his artistic plunge off the tower – he has to be willfully blind for much of the book. What I’m asking is this: is character taking back seat to plot here, or are we really looking at a Dumbledore who is so caught up in his own greatness that he can not even contemplate that things could go against plan?
Certainly you make a good point, Red Rocker, about DD, although I still think you’re looking at him too negatively. That is, you’re only seeing the bad things about him & not anything that could be more commendable.
But yes, why does DD allow Draco’s plot to go forth? Granted there’s little chance of Draco actually killing DD, but he does come close to killing Katie Bell & Ron. DD seems to be fully aware of Draco’s intention all school year long, so why does he allow Draco to become increasingly desperate & try increasingly improbable ways of killing DD that don’t have a chance of doing so but would have a chance of hurting people in the mix?
But it’s perhaps possible, & most likely so, that DD thinks he has everything under control so that he doesn’t really see the unforeseen events. It’s an interesting question, because as Travis points out, DD’s mercy toward Draco is more than likely directly tied to the events of DH, where his mercy toward Draco helps move the hearts of the Malfoy’s, particularly Narcissa.
And in the end, aren’t all characters merely plot devices? Although JKR seems to have a bit of problem in regard to what Lewis & Tolkien found out, that sometimes characters take on a life of their own & lead you in places you never intended going. She, however, seems to keep her characters firmly under control & makes them go where she’s planned them to go, even if that oftentimes seems forced because the character’s grown while the author’s plot hasn’t. If that makes sense?
Dumbledore says on the Tower that he’s known all year that Draco has been trying to kill him and that he did not say anything to Draco because he was afraid Voldemort would kill Draco if Voldemort thought Dumbledore about Draco’s assignment. Dumbledore brushes Harry off to try to quell Harry’s interest in it (though why ask him to carry his cloak with him at all times in that case?). This backfires because Harry keeps trying to spy on Draco but no longer confides in him so that Dumbledore does not know that it’s the room of requirement where Draco’s been working. Dumbledore assigns Snape to keep tabs on Draco and to try to find out what he’s planning because he fears the very attempts that lead to Katie Bell’s and Ron’s near deaths. Snape is not very successful in this because, as Snape tried to warn Dumbledore, Draco no longer trusts him.
Travis, your comment about education reminds me of Umbridge telling Hermione in OOTP that the purpose of education is to pass the test!
George and Fred’s counterculturalism if you will is also reflected in their choice of magenta robes, which “clash magnificently” with their red hair.
Speaking of the incompetence of the ministry and people who learn things only to pass tests and not to really learn and remember them, I think it’s hilarious and pathetic that so few Ministry employees can perform a shield charm that the Ministry orders 500 shield hats for its support staff!
An interesting note about the scene in Madame Malkin’s: Draco examines himself in the mirror before seeing Harry, Ron, and Hermione reflected over his shoulder. This foreshadows the bathroom scene where he’s standing before a mirror and sees Harry reflected over his shoulder. Ironically, in Madame Malkin’s, he makes obnoxious comments and calls Hermione a mudblood. In the bathroom he is crying and confiding in Moaning Myrtle, the ghost of a mudblood.
I would think two-a-side Quidditch would be one chaser, one keeper per side; no bludgers and no snitches that might escape. Hermione hates flying on broomsticks so much I’m surprised she’s willing to play. I bet she’s a keeper rather than a chaser. And it’s “siblings” (Harry and Hermione) vs. siblings (Ron and Ginny).
Frankly, I’m surprised they got Hermione to play 2 a side Quidditch at all! She’s clearly not talented at any of it, flying on a broomstick or playing the game. Ginny would clean her clock every time. Although I admit it’s probably far fetched, perhaps it was Ron playing chaser to Hermione’s keeper & Harry playing chaser to Ginny’s keeper. Having people play positions they’re not used to playing would even the odds a bit. Plus, there’s a bit of an double entendre with the idea of Harry trying to score against Ginny & Ron trying to score against Hermione that fits with the romance themes in HBP.
I appreciate your comments on education, Travis and everybody (I teach 2nd grade, and I’ve never met a standardized test I liked). What’s sweet about that interaction between Hermione and Fred is how appreciative Fred is. Doesn’t she compliment the twins somewhere else? There seems to be some mutual respect there.
I would also like to vote in favor of it being the Dark Mark that Draco shows Borgin. I think this is an example of Harry was close to the mark with his suspicions in this book. And I agree with Lily Luna that DD was blowing off Harry while knowing full well what was going on with Draco, but it’s Ron and Hermione that are really determined not to believe Harry.
I’m also really interested in how the Malfoy family works. It must have been GoF where Draco mentioned that his dad always liked Durmstrang (he would, with Karkaroff there) but his mother wouldn’t have him go so far away. The first book mentioned treats that Draco got from home.
I wonder, too, if DD knew that there was love in this family. After DD found out about Narcissa’s visit to Snape, I wouldn’t be surprised if DD was counting on it.
revgeorge, too funny!
I’m fairly certain it’s the dark mark he shows Borgin.
Edible dark marks – they’ll make anyone sick!
The funny line in GOF in response to Malfoy saying that his Mother wouldn’t let him go so far away is Ron saying to Hermione and Harry something like “Pity his mother likes him. It would have been so easy to push him off an ice floe!” Ah, the irony.
I keep wanting to make something of Fred and George’s assistant’s name being Verity = Truth, but I’m not quite sure what. They speak truth? Truth works for them? Neither is a very satisfying or cogent answer.
Lily Luna, the Weasley twins’ assistant’s name strikes me every time. She appears a couple of pages before Harry and Ron and Hermione take off after Draco, so I’ve wondered if “Verity” was an extremely subtle pointer to Harry’s hitting on the facts for once. But that’s quite a stretch. I’m not sure what it means.
I love Mrs. Weasley’s “If I see you do that again I’ll jinx your fingers together”. I used to be in youth ministry. Ah, for such powers …
Revgeorge, I agree pretty strongly with your take on higher education. As much as it is necessary for certain trades, I get the feeling that we worship it; it bothers me that big expensive degrees are required for certain fields when home study and experience and some talent can get a person farther with less debt and sometimes less arrogance. I don’t really regret my own decision to indefinitely postpone attending college.
Rats … I forgot to hit Preview. Sorry about the bad bolding, everybody.
Hmm, been awhile since I’ve had a comment disappear on me. Oh well.
Thinking some more about Verity . . . I kept thinking of Lux et Veritas (Light and Truth), the Yale motto but also from Psalm 43. Here is the Psalm in full (from my Jerusalem Bible):
Defend me, take up my cause
against people who have no pity;
from the treacherous and cunning man
rescue me, God.
It is you, God, who are my shelter:
why do you abandon me?
Why must I walk
so mournfully, oppressed by the enemy?
Send out your light and your truth,
let these be my guide,
to lead me to your holy mountain
and to the place where you live.
Then I shall go to the altar of God,
to the God of my joy,
I shall rejoice, I shall praise you on the harp,
Yahweh, my God.
Why so downcast, my soul,
why do you sigh within me?
Put your hope in God: I shall praise him yet,
my savior, my God.
Wow, aside from the explicit references to God (which we don’t see in the series), this seems to foreshadow the rest of the series. There is also irony as the Weasleys mention Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder a few lines before calling for Verity and the powder is used to evil effect at the end of HBP. I will leave it to those better versed in theology than I to provide further insight.
Anyone? . . .Anyone?
Again, this is somewhere I’d want to call in Danielle Tumminio. She’s done a lot more thinking on how HP can be used to teach and understand theology. I’d say something similar to the last biblical parallel – definitely some similarities, and since we know JKR seems to have at least some knowledge of Scripture, it’s very safe to say that it is part of the “compost heap” of influence that informed her work. I wouldn’t want to guess any further than that, though.
I’ve always found that name, “Verity,” striking as well, but can’t really find a particular in-text reason or hidden meaning for it.
I’m guessing that the only tie in with Verity is the in-congruency of someone whose name means ‘truth’ working for the quintessential jokers, pranksters, & deceivers (in a good way).
I’ve been following the read-through summaries and comments with great interest, but this is the first time I’ve ventured into the discussion. I just wanted to mention that the “Send out your light and your truth, let these be my guide” lines from the psalm made me think of the Deluminator and the copy of Beedle the Bard’s tales in DH.
I’m so glad that we get this glance of Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes in full swing. It’s such a fun, vibrant scene, though it’s harder to laugh now at Molly’s “They’ll be murdered in their beds” line, especially since it was their unwillingness to cower in the face of Voldemort that led to Fred’s death (though of course the same could be said of everyone who died in the Battle of Hogwarts). I really like Hermione’s compliment too; she also was impressed with their headless hats in OotP, and on the other side of it Fred and George, while having little use for tests themselves, refrained from beginning their campaign of chaos until the students had sufficient time to study.
They’ve picked a pretty good time to go into business. A lot of the stuff in their shop is pretty silly – and I love the Pygmy Puffs, which remind me so much of Tribbles from Star Trek – which is a nice distraction for students from all of the unpleasant things happening in the world at large. Meanwhile, a lot of their “tricks” are actually valuable tools. Molly has more than one reason to be proud of their success!
Also love that Dumbledore once again trusts Hagrid with the job of guarding Harry (though I guess he didn’t do such a great job of it ultimately; maybe he should’ve asked Moody to come along!). And the image of Hermione playing Quidditch in any form strikes me as pretty funny…
Dumbledore asks Harry to keep his invisibility cloak with him at all times this year. He also has Hagrid come instead of aurors. Makes me think he wanted Harry to have the flexibility to follow someone if he wanted to. Maybe Dumbledore hoped Harry could provide additional info on what Draco was up to but didn’t count on Harry figuring out Draco had the Dark Mark.
Since I’ve recently been accused of doing all I do for the purpose of shameless book promotion (*cough*revgeorge*cough
), I might as well note, Lily Luna, that our own Dave Jones has an essay in the book that’s coming out soon, and it’s got some great work on the purpose of invisibility throughout the series, especially as it pertains to Harry’s development (which is a huge part of HBP, of course).
Lily Luna – I have never picked up that Moaning Myrtle was a mudblood ghost? Fill me in please!
COS 223 Draco says 50 years ago the Chamber was opened and a mudblood died. COS 299 we learn it was Moaning Myrtle who died. And COS 312, in the Chamber Riddle talks about how since he learned about Harry Potter, killing mudbloods doesn’t interest him anymore; his new target is Harry.
Outstanding – thanks!