Hello everyone,

Here is the introduction for chapter 21. Have fun discussing.

Introduction to chapter 21

Chapter summary
Harry talks with Ron and Hermione about apparition, the mystery of
how to get Slughorn's memory and Lavender's affections for Ron.
During the discussion Harry finds a new curse in his potions
textbook. This curse is called Sectumsempra, labeled "For Enemies",
and wishes to test it. Also apparition practices in Hogsmeade and
the following tests are announced.

Kreacher and Dobby show up to report on Malfoy's doings, including
those regarding Malfoy's regular use of the Room of Requirement. The
elves state that a "variety of students" have been keeping watch for
Draco while he is in the room. Harry determines that these students
are none other than Crabbe and Goyle, their appearance transformed
by Polyjuice Potion stolen from Slughorn. They could have been
dropping the scales and toad-spawn when someone passes to tell Draco
not to come out. Harry decides to spend some time trying to get into
the Room of Requirement.

The next morning in the Daily Prophet there is news that Mundungus
Fletcher has been arrested and sent to Azkaban, someone called
Octavius Pepper has vanished and a nine-year arrested for trying to
kill his grandparents, they think he was under the Imperius Curse.
And Hermione thinks Harry should focus on getting Slughorn's memory
instead of trying to figure out how to follow Draco into the Room of
Requirement. Harry tries to enter the Room of Requirement and fails
every time.

In Potions Snape explains the difference between ghost and Inferi,
Seamus asks about Mundungus pretending to be an Inferius when
caught. Snape calls Mundungus a smelly sneak-thief and picks on
Harry again.

After Potions Ron and Harry have to flee from Lavender and enter a
bathroom where they meet Moaning Myrtle. Myrtle reveals she's been
talking with a boy who has been crying a lot.
The next weekend Ron and Hermione go to practice apparition in
Hogsmeade and Harry tries to get in the Room of Requirement again.
By the way, Slughorn seems to be doing his best to avoid Harry all
the time. Harry fails again and Harry runs into a disheveled Tonks
looking for Dumbledore. Back with Hermione and Ron he wonders if she
loved Sirius.

The extra apparition training in Hogsmeade did well for Ron and he
finally is improving.

Questions to start discussion
- Why wouldn't the Room of Requirement open up for Harry? My
impression is he really needed to know what Malfoy was doing.
- Ron disagrees with Snape on the best way to tackle a
Patronus. Is there another way except the Patronus and what form
could that countermeasure take?
- It is official in this chapter that what House Elves do is
apparition. They are able to this in Hogwarts with its wards. Can
this be interpreted as an implication of how powerful House Elf
magic is?
- There doesn't seem to be happening very much in this
chapter. What is the point of it?