GoF 30

[pauraque_bk]

GoF 30: The Pensieve

I was sure JKR had relatively recently said some things about how Pensieves work, but now I can't find it. Was it in an interview?

'I wanted to talk to you, Professor,' Harry said quickly, looking at Dumbledore, who gave him a swift, searching look. (505)


'Professor,' Harry said at last, 'do you think he's getting stronger?'

'Voldemort?' said Dumbledore, looking at Harry over the Pensieve. It was the characteristic, piercing look Dumbledore had given him on other occasions, and always made Harry feel as though Dumbledore was seeing right through him, in a way that even Moody's magical eye could not. (523)

This is Legilimency, of course. In the first instance, Dumbledore gives him the Look before leaving him alone with the Pensieve. Given the conveniently open cupboard door and D's subsequent relaxed reaction to Harry's snooping, I wonder if whatever he saw in Harry's mind made him decide it was the right moment to let him find out about the memories that were in there.

In the second case, D's sudden (and unnecessary) "Voldemort?" made me wonder if D was looking for some sign of V's influence in Harry's mind.

[Moody:] 'Let's hear [Karkaroff's] information, I say, and throw him straight back to the Dementors.'

Dumbledore made a small noise of dissent through his long, crooked nose.

'Ah, I was forgetting ... you don't like the Dementors, do you, Albus?' said Moody, with a sardonic smile.

'No,' said Dumbledore calmly, 'I'm afraid I don't. I have long felt the Ministry is wrong to ally itself with such creatures.' (511)

Dumbledore may have several reasons for believing so. The word 'wrong' suggests a moral opposition to cruel and unusual punishment. It could be that. But there are practical reasons to oppose torture, too: Information extracted from a prisoner in agony may be inaccurate. It's interesting that the names Karkaroff gives are all (as far as we know) actually Death Eaters, since you might expect someone in such a state of desperation to start throwing out any name he can think of.

Dumbledore may also be concerned that the Dementors can't be reliably controlled, as has since been proven to be so.

'Not yet!' cried Karkaroff, looking quite desperate. 'Wait, I have more! [...] Snape!' he shouted. 'Severus Snape.' (513)

Interesting that he doesn't name Snape right away, but waits until the last moment, until it's his only remaining option. Could be because he has/had a close relationship with Snape and would rather not sell him out unless he has to.

'I have given evidence already on this matter,' [Dumbledore] said calmly. 'Severus Snape was indeed a Death Eater. However, he rejoined our side before Lord Voldemort's downfall and turned spy for us, at great personal risk. He is now no more a Death Eater than I am.' (513)

I always loved that -- "no more than I am". OMG evil!Dumbledore!!1

Also, randomly, I think it's odd that V so often gets his preferred title 'Lord' affixed to his name, even by characters who have no reason to treat him with respect. (...or do they? Dun dun dunnnnn!)

(I should probably add that I don't actually think Dumbledore is secretly working with Voldemort. It just amuses me to think about.)

[Upon Ludo Bagman's name being cleared:]

One of the witches on the jury stood up.

'Yes?' barked Crouch.

'We'd just like to congratulate Mr Bagman on his splendid performance for England in the Quidditch match against Turkey last Saturday,' the witch said breathessly.

Mr Crouch looked furious. The dungeon was ringing with applause now. Bagman got to his feet and bowed, beaming. (515)

What do you guys think of this subplot? As usual in GoF, the mob is easily swayed... Does that mean Bagman is actually guilty of something? He acknowledges that he did pass information to a DE, but claims he thought Rookwood was "one of ours". Plausible? If so, what's the point JKR's trying to make here? The innocent only get justice if they're also popular (as Sirius presumably wasn't)?

'We have heard the evidence against you [Bellatrix, Crouch Jr, Rodolphus & Rabastan]. The four of you stand accused of capturing an Auror -- Frank Longbottom -- and subjecting him to the Cruciatus curse, believing him to have knowledge of the present whereabouts of your exiled master, He Who Must Not Be Named--' (516-517)

Why would they think Frank would have such information? Any reason besides him being an Auror?

[T]he woman with the heavy-lidded eyes looked up at Crouch and called, 'The Dark Lord will rise again, Crouch! Throw us into Azkaban, we will wait! He will reward us beyond any of his other supporters! We alone were faithful! We alone tried to find him!' (517)

I think Bella is being a little charitable to her co-prisoners here; she's obviously the real loyalist. Rabastan & Rodolphus are 'staring blankly' and 'looking nervous', and of course Crouch Jr is loudly throwing himself on the mercy of the court. I think Bellatrix is the only truly loyal DE, unless she, too, has some ulterior motive we don't know about yet.

Dumbledore placed his long hands on either side of the Pensieve and swirled it, rather as a gold prospector would swirl for fragments of gold ... and Harry saw his own face change smoothly into Snape's, who opened his mouth, and spoke to the ceiling, his voice echoing slightly. 'It's coming back ... Karkaroff's too ... stronger and clearer than ever...' (519)

I like the suggested connection between Harry and Snape, which surely goes deeper than Harry's scar reminding D of Snape's mark.

It isn't immediately apparent why the mark should be stronger "than ever", since Voldemort himself certainly isn't, not yet.

'No, I -- how did you know it woke me up over the summer?' said Harry, astonished.

'You are not Sirius' only correspondent,' said Dumbledore. 'I have also been in contact with him ever since he left Hogwarts last year. It was I who suggested the mountainside cave as the safest place for him to stay.' (521)

Well, I'd entirely forgotten about that. How does this affect the position that Sirius is behaving more responsibly than normal, if Dumbledore's been suggesting what he should do all this time? It's also interesting that Sirius doesn't bother to tell Harry that he's been repeating everything he says to Dumbledore.

'What made you think he'd really stopped supporting Voldemort, Professor?'

Dumbledore held Harry's gaze for a few seoncds, and then said, 'That, Harry, is a matter between Professor Snape and myself.' (524)

I don't know what I can say about this that hasn't already been said, except that since Dumbledore is now dead, the ways in which Harry can learn the Real Reason are more limited. More Pensieve scenes could be in the offing, or perhaps Snape could reveal the truth himself -- but can Harry believe it from him?


Previous GoF posts are saved in memories here.

Comments

[likethemodel.livejournal.com]

Perhaps Bellatrix knew about the horcruxes and let it slip to Regulus? Or, maybe LV hinted about the horcrux and Bella, not realizing what he was talking about, repeated it back to Regulus (who did). It makes some sense seeing as Bellatix is very fond of bragging.