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CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Chapter 3: The Burrow

The chapter begins with Harry still locked and barred in his room, having
just woken up after a dream. Outside his window he sees Ron, Fred and
George in a car, the car hovering outside his second-story room. They tell
him they've come to break him out. The twins help Harry get his things out
of the locked cupboard using muggle lock picking techniques, and they
prepare to leave. Just as Harry is climbing out of his window, he realizes
he's almost forgotten Hedwig. Hedwig screeches loudly, waking the Dursleys,
and Vernon comes rushing to the room. He tries to prevent Harry's escape,
but at last, Harry is settled in the car with the Weasley boys, as well as
Hedwig and all his things. In the car, they discuss Dobby's visit and
warnings. Harry also learns that Mr. Weasley works in the Misuse of Muggle
Artifacts office at the Ministry of Magic, and that Mr. Weasley is the one
who charmed the car. They reach the Burrow to find that contrary to their
hope, Mrs. Weasley has discovered they are gone. She greets them furiously,
alternating between shouting at her children and calmly welcoming and
mothering Harry. She continues ranting, as she feeds them all breakfast,
and when Ron mentions that the Dursleys had been starving Harry, she softens
and piles more food onto his plate. After breakfast, Mrs. Weasley tells the
boys to de-gnome the garden, and here we have our first mention of Lockhart
and his books, with the boys teasing Mrs. Weasley about liking his books.
The boys de-gnome the garden, making a game of it. Later, Mr. Weasley
returns home. This is Harry's first meeting with Mr. Weasley. When hearing
the details of how Harry came to the Burrow in the flying car, Arthur is at
first delighted, eager for details, then switching to try to tell the boys
how wrong it was to have flown the car. The chapter ends with Harry's
introduction to Ron's room, and Harry tells Ron that his home is the "best
house I've ever been in".

Discussion Questions

1. How did the beginning of this chapter, combined with the end of the
previous chapter, affect your impressions of the Dursleys and their
treatment of Harry?

2. Why do you think Vernon tried to prevent Harry's escape? If he feels
Harry is such a burden and freak, why not let him go?

3. What did you think of the Weasley rescue and the flying car?

4. Fred and George know how to pick locks by Muggle means. Did you think
anything of the fact that they could do this, or did you think it could
possibly come up later?

5. What did you think of the Weasley home and the family dynamic?

6. What did you think of Molly's alternating behavior, yelling at her sons,
then being sweet and loving to Harry?

7. What did you think of the de-gnoming process: funny, cruel, gross, anything
beyond just a humorous scene?

8. We learn about Mr. Weasley's job and his obsession with all things Muggle
in this chapter. What were your feelings about his fondness for muggle
things, and the fact that he enchanted a car via a loophole in Wizarding
law?

9. From this chapter on, the burrow becomes one of Harry's favorite places,
and the Weasleys become his favorite family. What do you think draws Harry
so much to this quirky home and family?

10. Do you have any other thoughts or questions on this chapter?

----------------------------------------------------------NOTE: For
more information on HPfGU's chapter discussions, please see " POST DH Chapter
Discussions" at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownupsdatabase?method=reportRows&tbl=33

Next Chapter Discussion, Chapter 4, At Flourish and Blotts, on January 24, 2010.

If you would like to volunteer to lead a Chamber of Secrets chapter discussion,
please drop a note to HPforGrownups-owner @yahoogroups.com (minus that extra
space).

Sherry