|
|
|
Chapter Two:
Spinner's End
Notes by Steve Vander Ark and Michele L. Worley
Synopsis and links by John Kearns
U.S. hardcover edition: pages 19 - 37
U.K. hardcover edition: pages 25 - 41
Timeframe: An evening in late June or early July,
1996
[Y16]
In which Narcissa
calls on Snape in secret against
Voldemort's orders, while
Bellatrix tries to stop her
but joins her at Snape's house
anyway. Snape prevents
Wormtail's eavesdropping and
tells Bellatrix his story,
though she still refuses to trust him;
Narcissa then reveals
that Voldemort has ordered
Draco to do something difficult,
and asks Snape to make an
Unbreakable Vow -
which he then does, saying that he will help
Draco carry out the deed, and
perform the deed himself if Draco
fails.
Interesting facts and notes about the text of this chapter:
this Muggle dunghill
Dreary as Cokeworth in
PS3 The Letters From No One,
tricked out in early industrial misery.
a street named Spinner's End
Nice touch, that; the mill's presence explains the reference to spinning in
the street's name, and End is a perfectly ordinary English street name.
"Spinner" also suggests a plotter in a spider's web of intrigue, and
"end" suggests that either the spinner is to meet his end in this
chapter or that this chapter's events will lead to the spinner's end.
Her footsteps echoed on the cobbles
Since Spinner's End is a cobbled street in a Muggle area,
it may be quite old.
The walls were completely covered in books,
most of them bound in black or brown leather
This sounds like a rather formal sort of library, not running to, say,
fiction read for pleasure. Does the wizarding world have paperback
books at all, I wonder? Judging from Harry's first impression of
Flourish and Blotts, they seem to have every other kind of book.
The place had an air of neglect, as though it was not usually inhabited.
Snape, of course, teaches at
Hogwarts from
September through June, and appears to remain in residence over the
Christmas and Easter holidays, leaving only parts of June, July, and August
free to spend significant time living at this house on Spinner's End.
The air of neglect suggests that
Snape does not keep a
house-elf and that he
doesn't ordinarily share the house with anyone (such as, for example, some
relative) who keeps it up while he's away.
His left hand was caressing his right, which looked as though it was encased
in a bright silver glove.
Why does Wormtail have this particular nervous tic? Does the silver hand
hurt him? Does he have any sensation in that hand at all?
elf-made wine
First mention of this in the books by this name that I can recall.
A bloodred wine in dusty bottles.
Fooled the Dark Lord, the greatest wizard, the most accomplished
Legilimens the world has ever seen?
Hmpf.
Considering the context in which this is being said, I personally
recommend taking it with a grain of salt as a considered evaluation of
the Dark Lord's skill in Legilimency.
I think you next wanted to know...why I stood between the Dark Lord
and the Philosopher's Stone.
Why Snape, whatever made you think
anyone wanted to know that?
Does he still, after the fiasco at the Ministry?
Interesting alternate name for the
Battle of the Department of Mysteries.
Snape has a knack for understatement.
Characters introduced in this chapter:
Characters returning in this chapter:
Characters mentioned in this chapter:
Avery
Black, Sirius
Carrows, the
Dumbledore, Albus
Granger, Hermione
(mentioned indirectly as one of "six teenagers")
Greyback, Fenrir
Karkaroff, Igor
Longbottom, Neville (mentioned indirectly as one of "six teenagers")
Lovegood, Luna (mentioned indirectly as one of "six teenagers")
Malfoy, Draco
Malfoy, Lucius
Potter, Harry
Potter, James
Quirrell, Quirinus
Riddle, Tom Marvolo (as the Dark Lord)
Vance, Emmeline
Weasley, Ginny (mentioned indirectly as one of "six teenagers")
Weasley, Ron (mentioned indirectly as one of "six teenagers")
Yaxley
(unnamed) Muggle Prime Minister
Settings and locations introduced or returning in this chapter:
Settings and locations mentioned in this chapter:
Exceptional character moments:
Spells:
Links and Resources:
Memorable lines:
"There is nothing I wouldn't do anymore!" Narcissa breathed, a note of hysteria in her voice.
"Do you really think that the Dark Lord has not asked me
each and every one of those questions? And do you really think
that, had I not been able to give satisfactory answers, I would be
sitting here talking to you?"
Strictly British:
Timelines/Calendar:
As with the previous chapter, we are given very little
information about this night. It seems to be either the night of
or a night after the evening of the previous chapter, and as with that
one, it must be early enough in the
summer that Harry has not yet left the Dursleys', yet late enough that
wizards have been killed and Draco given his orders. This means
it is likely early July, or possibly very late June. There's very
little more we can determine.
|
W H A T ' S N E W
| E S S A Y S
| F O R U M
| S T O R E
| F A Q
| H E L P
| T E X T
| S E A R C H
