HBP20: Lord Voldemort's Request – Harry Potter Lexicon

"The time is long gone when I could frighten you with a burning wardrobe and force you to make repayment for your crimes. But I wish I could, Tom.... I wish I could...."
-- Albus Dumbledore

Ginny Weasley fights with Dean Thomas and Ron breaks up with Lavender Brown. Luna Lovegood delivers a message to Harry of a lesson with Albus Dumbledore, and Harry arrives at the lesson to find Professor Trelawney being asked to leave. Dumbledore makes Harry feel guilty for not procuring Professor Slughorn’s memory, but they view two new memories: in the first, Tom Riddle visits Hepzibah Smith and sees Slytherin’s locket days before her death; in the second, Riddle asks Dumbledore for the D.A.D.A. post at Hogwarts, which Dumbledore admits began the curse on the position.

Calendar and Dates

The entire chapter takes place on the Monday following the previous chapter. Since that chapter ended on Saturday, 8 March, this one must be on Monday, 10 March.

Interesting facts and notes

Dumbledore had not raised his voice, he did not even sound angry, but Harry would have preferred him to yell; this cold disappointment was worse than anything. I think we've all been there and done that.

"....a very old, very rich witch by the name of Hepzibah Smith."

One or two people (including me (MLW), but not just me) have begun wondering if Zacharias Smith might not be a relation of hers - particularly given his haughty father, who we'll meet in passing at the end of the year.

"You see, we have never been able to keep a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher for longer than a year since I refused the post to Voldemort."

Quirrell taught Muggle Studies before taking a leave of absence and then coming back to teach DADA.

Exceptional character moments

Voldemort kill for gain for the first time. Voldemort also declares his wish to become Defense Against the Dark Arts professor for the second time. When he is refused, he puts a curse on the position so that no teacher will retain it for longer than one year.

Memorable lines

"Divination is turning out to be much more trouble than I could have foreseen, never having studied the subject myself."

"Lovely, madam," squeaked Hokey.
Harry could only assume that it was down in Hokey's contract that she must lie through her teeth when asked this question, because Hepzibah Smith looked a long way from lovely in his opinion.

"I know what you are known as," said Dumbledore, smiling pleasantly. "But to me, I'm afraid, you will always be Tom Riddle. It is one of the irritating things about old teachers. I am afraid that they never quite forget their charges' youthful beginnings."