I'll try answering some of the things as best I can.
The whole Apparating onto the first step of Grimmauld place...Hermione wasn't actually SURE that Yaxley could get into it but they decided not to go back as a precaution. They thought that the charm might be broken because of the trio were technically "secret keepers" and by Yaxley tagging onto Hermione "technically" the secret was revealed to him and thus to the death eaters. But the were never certain on whether or not it was infiltrated they just decided not to go back as a precaution.

The Bathilda thing was actually bothering me too. My only thought for why Hermione didn't realize it is that she was distracted by other things in the house and the various pictures and what not. OR Bathilda was too far away from Hermione and hermione never heard her. OR Voldemort taught Nagini to say that ONE word in English so as not to make hermione suspicious.

Ah Filch always a favorite subject. I think that he was permitted to stay for a few reasons. One he was very asshamed of being a squib and would try everything to learn magic. Two he belived in Harsh punishment for students and he probably liked the new rules being enforced and complied with them very well. So that being the case I think is why he was allowed to stay. Also if they would have gotten rid of him it would have looked even more suspicious seeing as Voldemort didn't want anyone to know he was in control of the ministry.
Not to mention Filch knew the castle better than anyone (other than the Maurders or whoever had the map or Dumbledore) so he would have been a valuable asset to the control of the castle...In Voldemorts eyes

I answered those to the best of my abilities hope that helped

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Formerly Eruwaedhiel


[font=fantasy]Married To Draco Malfoy 9/11/07[/font]
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Thanks, Eru. You're being quite helpful.

So, the trio didn't have to go directly into Grimmauld Place in order for Yaxley to know how to get in there? I guess if the DEs couldn't see the front step because of the charm, as it's part of the house, then actually apparating there could give it all away. Okay, yeah, that makes sense...

Hmm... I'm still not so sure about Bathilda. I guess if Ron can learn to mimick Parseltongue then it wouldn't be hard for Nagini to learn the English word "come". It's a bit far-fetched, but really, if you think about it, Nagini is very much a part of Voldemort so it could work. Or maybe, as you said, it could be as simple as Hermione not hearing it being said. *shrugs*

And good answer about the Filch question. For some reason I always thought we'd learn more about him after the stuff with the Kwikspell Course... ah well. Can't have everything, can we?

New question - There's this line that I do not understand. I'm probably being thick, but I just can't figure it out any way I say it. So, Aberforth is telling the trio about Ariana - "They [the muggles] forced their way through the hedge, and when she couldn't show them the trick, they got a bit carried away trying to stop the little freak doing it." Obviously they did something to her, but what does he mean by "trying to stop the little freak doing it"? Is he referring to Ariana? That doesn't seem right, as I don't think Aberforth would call his sister that... unless that's what the Muggle boys called her.

I think that's what that muggle boys called her as well as when I read it I imagined him saying it with anger and a bit of sarcasm only angry sarcasm. Does that make sense? He was angry with the muggle boys and I think he was just using that term to get the point across about how horrible those boys were to his sister. Hope that helps as well

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Formerly Eruwaedhiel


[font=fantasy]Married To Draco Malfoy 9/11/07[/font]
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It looks like you've settled on the Horcrux topic, more or less, and I have no further comments.

Concerning Grimmauld Place, I have two theories. I'll post the simple and most obvious one and if you are looking for a more subtle - but less well-evidenced - one I can post that later.
As far as I understand it everything was invisible, including the front door and the top step. The trio had to be really accurate in order to 'hit the mark' when they were apparating, which is why they always wore the invisibility cloak. The Death Eaters watched the house - or the place they uspected the house to be - 24/7 so when Harry lost his balance and became visible to Yaxley for a fraction of a second, the place had been uncovered because the Death Eaters now knew the exact location... I guess....
I don't remember what exactly happened and I couldn't find it in the book - it's been a while since I read it.

Concerning 'Bathilda'. You are referring to this, aye:
"'Come!' called Bathilda from the next room.
'It's OK', said Harry reassuringly, and he led the way into the sitting room."
I could say something about that it isn't mentioned directly that Hermione is reacting to the word, it is only implied... but I think it's simply a mistake on Rowling's part...

And Filch...? I don't know.. you're probably right, but Snape might have allowed him to stay because he was a staff member and the two Death Eaters who teach at the school might have accepted this because Filch was such a meanie!!


EDIT: I only now realised that the questions had already been answered, I didn't see the last page until now... You can disregard the answer to the question on Grimmauld Place since I believe Eruwaedhiel gave a way more detailed explanation of which I only got half of what was being said... And the Bathilda question is also sort of... hmm.. I'm gonna leave it because I actually did some research in the book to answer that!

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Nah, you've got some great answers Eä! *pat pat* I need all the help I can get when it comes to speculating over answers.

@ Eru: I could see him saying as a sort of quote on what the boys had said. *ponders* And yeah, he definitely said it in an angry voice. Thanks for explaining.. I think it finally makes sense to me now. For some reason I just had the hardest time wrapping my head around that sentence.

@ Eä: Your explanation for the Grimmauld Place phenomenon only makes what Eru said more solid fact in my head. Thank you. I really was quite confused on how the Fidelius Charm actually covered the house. I think I kept thinking about the OotP movie which was quite misleading...

So, you're saying that maybe because Harry didn't see Hermione react to what Bathilda said then we, as readers, didn't see it either? It makes sense. And maybe, Hermione was just as confused herself about it that she didn't mention anything.

Just going to post the full quote real quick since I'm leaving for school soon:

"'Come!' called Bathilda from the next room.
Hermione jumped and clutched Harry's arm.
'It's OK', said Harry reassuringly, and he led the way into the sitting room."

I have no idea why I left that out before, sorry. It's actually the crucial part of the quote *shakes head*
I still believe it was just a simple mistake Rowling didn't pick up.

I think I agree with Eruwaedhiel on the Ariana question. It made good sense in my head when I read it but so if you are content with the answer I'll just leave it. I didn't read that part thoroughly, I just got 'mean boys being mean to Ariana + they harmed her badly' = bad result.

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oooooo I have another theory for the Bathilda thing. perhaps Hermione jumped and grabbed Harrys arm because of Bathilda's appearance. I mean since she was technically dead and had a snake inside her she would probably look horrible not to mention she was old anyways. maybe that's why Hermione jumped

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Formerly Eruwaedhiel


[font=fantasy]Married To Draco Malfoy 9/11/07[/font]
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Besides that, maybe she had heard the Parseltongue, but it didn't really click in her brain that it was Bathilda speaking since Bathilda was not in her sight.

@ Eä: Yeah, that's what I got out of that the first time, basically. Yet, something just seemed odd with that sentence, and even though I understand the context now, it still doesn't seem to flow well.

Well, let's talk about Snape killing Dumbledore!
I thought that you really had to hate to make the Killing Curse work, since it's one of the Unforgivable Curses. Snape didn't hate Dumbledore so I assume it's different...
I thought the Killing Curse had to be motivated mostly by emotions/feelings, like the Patronus Charm and not by words alone. But since Snape had made a promise to Dumbledore about killing him.. well, I guess you can say he really wanted Dumbledore to die - even though it was an act of mercy.
Would anyone have been able to use the Killing Curse?

Again... I don't know how the spells work... complicated magic isn't just about words, right? It's about a combination of the wizard's powers, his will, his skill and talent and knowledge... ohh, and sometimes the wand too, aye?

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You don't have to hate someone to kill them. I think you're confusing the Crutiatus curse and the Killing curse. The torture curse needs to be felt for it to have a lasting effect...but as harry showed it can be used without an intense hatred, however, it wasn't as powerful if he would have truly meant it...The killing curse just needs to be said I believe, I'm sure the higher the skill level and more feeling put behind it the more powerful the effect and the less the chance of it getting repelled...I hope that makes sense....You are correct in the statement of some spells are more of feelings than words but some can be performed by anyone...even the Killing Curse....the only reason The killing Curse is unforgivable is because it kills and I think that is as far as it goes.....

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Formerly Eruwaedhiel


[font=fantasy]Married To Draco Malfoy 9/11/07[/font]
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Just to add something on to that -- I do believe that you have to have some measure of emotion behind the Killing Curse. Now, now, before you all jump on me I must say that yes, Voldemort has an emotional force behind his Killing Curses as well. It may not be hatred or anger, but rather a feeling of power and control.

Snape on the other hand, I believe, had every right to hate Dumbledore. At one point in DH, after Dumbledore says that if Draco fails, he must take up the wand and pull the trigger, Snape asks "And what of my soul?". He doesn't want his soul to be split; he doesn't want to live with the knowledge that he killed his own friend and mentor, not to mention one of the greatest wizards of all time.

Also, with the murder of Dumbledore on his hands there is no way Snape can go back to the good side. He must go back to Voldemort or else lose his life and ruin Dumbledore's great plan. I have no doubt whatsoever that going back to serve the man who killed your greatest love and tore your life apart would also give Snape reason enough to hate Dumbledore.

Going back to HBP, at the scene on the battlements, Snape's face is full of "loathing". Loathing at Dumbledore? No, not directly. More like loathing at what Dumbledore was making him do.

So yeah, that was a long support to my answer that yes, emotion is behind the Killing Curse, and that what Snape did feel, in short, was hatred.

Sorry for my long absence from this thread, I've been on vacation and just busy in general, but thank you for your replies!

Yeah, I might be confusing the Cruciatus Curse and the Killing Curse but then again I mightn't. I think I imagined both having something to do with strong emotions and usually hate because of the damage they cause. And now when you both mention it I agree that the Curses would reflect the power and skill of the wizard who casts the spell.

But these passages in your post confused me, Larael.

Do you mean that Snape hated Dumbledore or simply that he hated what he had to do?

Later on I'd like to talk about spells, charms, curses.. how they work, how they are learned, how powerful and all that stuff... if y'all want to!!

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I do agree with Larael that Snape hated Dumbledore because of what he had to do; Dumbledore had helped him through the most troubled of times and these two knew the darkest of secrets no one else knew and Snape was being forced to to kill the only man who has ever trusted him; I would hate someone emotionally. I don't think it was because Snape was concerned about his soul; Snape I imagine, has killed people before back in his dark Death Eater days, and because of all that he's done to sacrifice for the memory of Lily Evans, his least concern is his soul---something that he would gladly give up if it helped the greater good.

With the Killing Curse and the Cruciatus Curse, you -do- need emotional hatred to be able to conjure it, I'm not quite sure if it does or does not also apply to the Imperius Curse.

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Lucius was definitely one of those DE who wasn't quite sure what he was in for, I actually think Lucius is capable of killing for the ideal for power, but not the useless killing like the other death eater lowlifes, so in all actuality, I'm probably thinking the opposite of you, JF---that Snape and Lucius are at a higher level than the other death eaters.

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