8

Divination Eight: A Summer Wedding

… he felt his heart lift at the thought that there was still one last golden day of peace left to enjoy with Ron and Hermione. (HBP30)

Into the Pensieve: Towards the end of summer, Hermione leaves to spend a few weeks with her family, while the Weasleys return to Ottery St. Catchpole to prepare for the nuptials of Bill & Fleur. The Burrow is crowded with people, including Fleur’s family. Hermione returns for the wedding, accompanied by her parents. Ginny and Gabrielle are bridesmaids: Lupin is best man. Andromeda and Ted Tonks attend with their daughter. Even Percy is present, though noticeably subdued. It seems that Dumbledore’s death has shocked some sense back into him. As well as Fleur’s old school mates, there are plenty of Bill’s goblin friends in attendance, a reassuring sign of their allegiance to the Order. Viktor Krum is there to watch fellow champion Fleur get married. Also present is Minerva McGonagall, who is accompanied (to general surprise) by her tartan-wearing, whisky-drinking husband. More surprising still is George Weasley, who has brought the Muggle girl from the paper shop as his date to the wedding. The twins as usual are on hilarious good form. At the reception afterwards, Professor McGonagall informs Harry that Hogwarts will re-open in September with extra security and that he and Hermione have been chosen as Head Boy and Girl. When Harry explains that he is not intending to go back, she reluctantly accepts his decision, although both McGonagall and Harry urge Ron and Hermione to complete their education. The new Headmistress has recruited old star pupil, Bill Weasley, to teach DADA, while the talented Viktor Krum will fill her former position as Transfiguration teacher, now that his international Quidditch career is over. McGonagall has appointed Hagrid as Head of Gryffindor, with Charlie Weasley as the new Hogwarts gamekeeper. Flitwick will be Deputy Head and Slughorn is Head of Slytherin. Harry is most pleased to see Hagrid, in whom he confides his need to visit Godric’s Hollow. When he learns it was Dumbledore’s wish, Hagrid volunteers to take Harry there himself, although he is unable to Apparate. They will need to use Sirius’s old motorbike, which was confiscated years ago by the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office, only to end up in Arthur Weasley’s shed, where it provided the inspiration for the flying Ford Anglia.

Omens & Portents: Canonical Clues & Questions

1. Concerning romance & the twins…

• [Harry] felt his heart lift at the thought that there was still one last golden day of peace left to enjoy with Ron and Hermione.’ (HBP30) Surely JKR will permit this wedding to pass off peacefully? However, the implication that it will be ‘one last … day of peace’ does not bode well for the Weasley family …“Muggle magic tricks!” said Fred happily, pointing them out. “For freaks like Dad, you know, who love Muggle stuff. It’s not a big earner, but we do fairly steady business, they’re great novelties.” (HBP6) I see George falling in love with the pretty Muggle girl from the paper shop, perhaps even bringing her as his date to the wedding (!)

• [If] you want people to help you, Ron,” added George, throwing the paper aeroplane at him, “I wouldn’t chuck knives at them. Just a little hint. We’re off to the village, there’s a very pretty girl working in the paper shop who thinks my card tricks are something marvellous … almost like real magic….” (HBP16) So, she’s local, she’s very pretty, she’s impressed by his ‘magic’, she laughs at his jokes and she works in a shop – what more could George want? Seriously, it isn’t as if he was ever romantically linked with another student at Hogwarts, George is a late developer – and (as well as enabling him to show off!) a Muggle marriage could provide escapism from the tragedies of the wizarding world. Besides, what better way of demonstrating his contempt for Voldemort’s values? The Weasleys are notorious blood traitors. And imagine Arthur’s excitement: a Muggle daughter-in-law! He might even find out how aeroplanes stay up. ‘Mr. Weasley was delightedly examining a pack of Muggle marked playing cards.’ (HBP6)

• Also, I wonder if one reason the twins didn’t get romantically involved at school (beyond Fred asking Angelina to the Yule Ball) was the need to maintain their ultra-cool image 100% of the time, which must have been pretty exhausting. Whereas George could relax with a Muggle-girlfriend who thinks everything he does is amazing anyway – she’d have to be pretty gutsy to stick with him and I imagine he’d appreciate that. We know that JKR dislikes having characters in stasis and falling in love would provide the perfect opportunity to develop George’s mature, sensitive side, while still retaining the humour. (Despite the twins functioning as a double act throughout their lives, JKR has made it possible to distinguish George as the kinder of the pair – there’s an article paying tribute to him here: http://www.hp-lexicon.org/essays/essay-george.html).

2. Concerning Hogwarts…

• ‘We must consult the governors,’ said Professor Flitwick … ‘’We must follow the established procedures. A decision should not be made hastily.’ (HBP29) I believe that McGonagall’s endorsement of Flitwick’s holding position makes it more likely that the school will reopen as the governors will surely decide that education is vital to the defeat of Voldemort. As JKR intends to complete the series in Book 7, this also implies that Ron and Hermione (at least) will have the opportunity to complete their education. There can be no return to Hogwarts beyond the time frame of the books.

• ‘Bill was – there was no other word for it – cool.’ (GOF5) Bill Weasley has been waiting in the wings for years. As Ginny’s adored eldest brother – and the Weasley heir – how will he contribute to the resolution of Book 7? Might Bill’s specialist skills – he used to work in Egypt ‘as a curse breaker for Gringotts Wizarding Bank’ (POA1) – be of use at Hogwarts?

• ‘Mr Viktor Krum used an incomplete form of Transfiguration, which was nonetheless effective, and was second to return with his hostage. We award him forty points.’ (GOF26) Having emphasised the difficulty of human Transfiguration, JKR is keen to stress Krum’s expertise in this area. What might this presage for the future?

Legilimency… what is JKR thinking?

‘Let’s go again … on the count of three … one – two – three – Legilimens!’ (OOtP24)

• Although McGonagall is a worthy second in command, she is not Dumbledore’s equal. [JKR, Mugglenet/TLC interview, 2005 – Madam Scoop’s Index]
• Under her “gruff” exterior, Prof. McGonagall is an old softie, really. [JKR, Scholastic chat #2, 2000]
• Hogwarts teachers do not stay at Hogwarts over the holidays. Only Filch stays. [JKR, South West News Service interview, 2000 – Madam Scoop’s Index]
• A few of the Hogwarts professors have spouses, but the information is restricted – we’ll find out why! [JKR, BBC Red Nose Day chat, 2001 – Madam Scoop’s Index]
• We will see Viktor Krum again. [JKR, World Book Day, 2004] Bad luck, Ron!
• There will be a new DADA teacher in Book 7. [JKR, ITV, 2005 – Madam Scoop’s Index]
• Lupin will not be able to overcome prejudice against werewolves and return as a DADA teacher. [JKR, website – Madam Scoop’s Index]

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