Summary: Epigraphs
The novel is preceded by two epigraphs. The first, a passage
from Aeschylus’s play The Libation Bearers, laments
the violent death and torment that humans are subject to, but holds
out the hope that the children of those who suffer may live to triumph.
The second epigraph comes from William Penn’s More
Fruits of Solitude and states that friendship is immortal,
able to survive the death of one of the friends.
Summary: Chapter One: The Dark Lord Ascending
Snape and the Death Eater Yaxley meet outside of Lucius
Malfoy’s house and proceed inside, taking seats at a table where
Voldemort and his followers are already assembled. A bound figure
dangles upside down above the center of the table, hanging by a
rope.
Snape tells Voldemort that Harry Potter is to be moved
from his place of safety on the next Saturday at nightfall. Yaxley
claims that he has heard contradictory intelligence, and that Harry
is to be moved later, on the thirtieth of the month. Voldemort indicates
that he knows the source of Snape’s intelligence, and he makes it
plain that he believes Snape rather than Yaxley.
Yaxley, still seeking Voldemort’s approval, reveals that
he has corrupted a member of the Ministry of Magic, a wizard named
Pius Thicknesse. Yaxley reports that several Death Eaters are also
positioned within the department of Magical Transport, making them better
able to track Harry if he tries to travel by magical means. Voldemort
announces that he plans to capture Harry while he is being transported.
A loud wailing, seemingly arising from below the floor,
interrupts the gathering. Voldemort sends Wormtail out of the room
to quiet “the prisoner” (presumably not the one above the table,
since the sound comes from below and Wormtail has to leave the room
to quiet the prisoner in question).
