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Bathilda's Secret

- Chapter 17

"He's coming! Hermione, he's coming!"
-- Harry Potter

DH17: Bathilda’s Secret

Leaving the Godric’s Hollow cemetery, Harry and Hermione see the Potters’ old house, then encounter someone who appears to be Bathilda Bagshot, but she does not speak until she gets Harry alone. Too late, Harry discovers that they’ve been led into a trap, and that Bathilda’s corpse is being used as a disguise for Nagini. He and Hermione manage to escape, at the cost of Harry’s wand being broken accidentally by Hermione.

Calendar and Dates

Begins immediately after the previous chapter and extends into the next day, which is Christmas Day.

Interesting facts and notes

"Come!" called Bathilda from the next room.
Hermione jumped and clutched Harry's arm.

This must have been in Parseltongue, but Hermione doesn't seem to have noticed anything particularly peculiar about the language.

and he saw at once that half a dozen were missing from the largest and most ornate frames

That's low. Rita took care to take the photographs that were most important to Bathilda. It's interesting that she would keep photographs of Grindelwald in a prominent position in her sitting room, given the depth of his subsequent disgrace.

Exceptional character moments

Voldemort reliving the events of October 31, 1981.

Memorable lines

"Nice costume, mister!"

This house, invisible to Muggles, has been left in its ruined state as a monument to the Potters and as a reminder of the violence that tore apart their family.

"Good luck, Harry, wherever you are." "If you read this, Harry, we're all behind you!" "Long live Harry Potter."

Words and phrases

Commentary

Related images:

Nagini coiled around Harry in Bathilda Bagshot's house.   Voldemort attacks Harry.

Pensieve (Comments)

Tags: blood broken dangerous dark death discoveries family fear green loss love pain prejudice protection security transportation trap trapped trees wand wood

Editors: and

The Harry Potter Canon