Chapter 8 Summary and Questions

[Kristin]

No: HPFGUIDX 24133

Hi again~

Here's Chapter 8's summary and questions. This is the first time I've 
done this so I hope the summaries and questions are okay. Sorry again 
for the delay, RL was a bit wonky the last two weeks. 

Cheers,
 
       Kristin


               Chapter 8: The Deathday Party

The Chapter opens with a sudden spate of colds among staff and 
students. Madam Pompfrey dispensed Pepperup Potion, which worked 
instantly but left drinker smoking around the ears for several hours. 
Percy bullies Ginny into taking some because she's been looking ill.  

It's been raining for days on end, which hasn't dampened Wood's 
enthusiasm for regular Quidditch practice. That last practice hadn't 
been a happy one when Fred and George told the rest of the team about 
how fast the Nimbus Two Thousand and Ones were. Soaked and muddy 
Harry made his way to the Gryffindor Tower. Preoccupied and dripping 
his way down the hall, Harry runs into Nearly Headless Nick, who is 
also preoccupied. Harry asks Nick what's wrong and Nick tells him 
about not being accepted to join the Headless Hunt Club.  Nick then 
asks Harry what's wrong and Harry asks him if he knows where he can 
find seven free Nimbus Two Thousand and Ones. 

Just then Mrs. Norris starts winding around Harry's ankles mewing. 
Nick warns Harry that Filch is on the warpath and he better leave. 
However the warning is too late, Filch appears and drags Harry off to 
his office to write him up. While in his office Harry notices the 
file drawers that contain details of every student Filch has ever 
punished. He also notices that Fred and George have their own drawer. 

When Filch begins to write Harry's report there's a loud bang on the 
ceiling above Filch's desk. Thinking Peeves is to blame Filch races 
out of the office leaving Harry behind. Thinking he should wait for 
Filch to return Harry remains in his office. A purple envelope 
catches his eye and he can't resist looking at what it is. Harry 
examines the KWIKSPELL contents and wonders why Filch would have such 
a thing. He hears Filch return and throws the envelope back on the 
desk.  Filch notices the envelope isn't where he left it and when 
asked about it Harry lies and said he didn't look at it. Filch then 
sends Harry away without writing him up.

Harry hurries back upstairs, not believing his luck, when he runs 
into Nick.  Nick tells Harry he talked Peeves into dropping a cabinet 
right over Filch's office to distract him. Harry tells Nick thanks 
and Nick invites Harry to his 500th Deathday Party along with Ron and 
Hermione. Harry accepts.

When Halloween rolls around Harry is beginning to regret his rash 
promise to go to Nick's party, as the rest of the school prepares for 
the feast. Hermione tells him a promise is a promise so they head 
down to the dungeons at seven o'clock. 

The dungeon is filled with hundreds of ghosts, most of whom are 
drifting around a crowded dance floor. The trio looks around the room 
noticing the different ghosts, when Hermione spots Moaning Myrtle.  
She tells the boys about Myrtle and how she haunts the girl's 
bathroom. While they're at the food table Peeves comes up, calls 
Myrtle over, and starts causing trouble. 

Nick comes up and asks if they're having a good time, to which The 
Trio lies and says yes. Just as Nick is about to give his speech the 
Headless Hunt Club shows up.  Sir Patrick and company show off and 
comment on The Trio being at the party.  Cold and hungry they decide 
to slip out of the party and head back upstairs hoping to get some 
food at the feast.

As they walk towards the Great Hall Harry hears the voice again and 
begins to follow it.  He runs upstairs and an exasperated Ron and 
Hermione follow.  He tells them he thinks it's going to kill someone. 
They run the up to the second floor and through the corridor, when 
they come to a halt. Between two windows are foot-high words: THE 
CHAMBER OF SECRETS HAS BEEN OPENED. ENEMIES OF THE HEIR BEWARE.  
Hanging underneath is Mrs. Norris, who is stiff as a board.  Harry 
asks if they should do something and Ron says they should leave. 
However it's too late the feast has ended and everyone has begun to 
pour into the corridor. 

All the noise and chatter suddenly stops as people see the hanging 
cat. Harry, Ron, and Hermione are standing alone in the middle of the 
corridor, people pressing forward to see the grisly sight. Then a 
voice shouts out "Enemies of the heir beware. You'll be next, 
Mudbloods!" Draco has pushed his way to the front looking rather 
pleased.


 1) Do you think that MWPP have their own drawer in Filch's office? 
    Also if people have their own drawers like that why haven't then 
    been expelled? 

 2) Do you think there might be any significance that Nick died on 
    October 31st, just like Harry's parents?

 3) Do you think all the ghosts at Nick's Deathday party were witches
    or wizards at one time? When you're a ghost can you be part of    
    the wizarding world even if you were once a Muggle?

 4) When you read CoS the first time did you wonder why Filch had a
    KWIKSPELL kit? Did you think he was a Muggle or just a really bad
    wizard?

 5) Did you think that Draco had something to with what happened to 
    Mrs. Norris or at least know who did?