Chap. 10 Summary: The Rogue Bludger

Zarleycat at aol.com Zarleycat at aol.com
Mon Aug 20 10:31:55 UTC 2001


No: HPFGUIDX 24547

Lockhart no longer brings live creatures to class.  Instead, he 
reenacts events from his books, usually asking Harry to play the part 
of the creature.  Hermione asks Lockhart if he will sign a permission 
slip allowing her to borrow Most Potente Potions from the Library.  
Lockhart is happy to oblige and tries to talk to Harry about the next 
day's Quidditch match against Slytherin.

The Trio borrow the book and hide in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom to see 
what they need to make the potion.  Several ingredients will be 
difficult to obtain, including bits of whichver Slytherins they wish 
to turn into.  Ron gets second thoughts when he realizes how much 
they will have to steal, but Hermione's annoyance makes them decide 
to go through with it.

At the Quidditch match Gryffindor captian Wood reminds the team that 
the Slytherins have better brooms and tells Harry, "Get to that 
Snitch before Malfoy or die trying."  Once the game starts, it 
becomes obvious that one of the Bludgers has been fixed so that all 
it does is attack Harry.  During a time out, Harry insists that the  
Weasley twins stop trying to protect him, and let him deal with the 
Bludger himself.

When play resumes, Harry sees the Snitch near Draco, who doesn't 
notice it because he's busy laughing at Harry's acrobatic avoidance 
of the Bludger.  Harry's arm is struck by the Bludger, but he dives 
towards the Snitch and successfully captures it.  As he hits the 
ground, Harry passes out, only to wake up and find Lockhart about to 
perform a simple charm to fix Harry's arm.  Harry wants no part of 
this, but Lockhart insists and ends up removing all the bones.

Once at the Hospital, Madame Pomfrey starts the process of regrowing 
Harry's bones by making him drink Skele-Gro.  Ron wonders how 
Hermione can stick up for Lockhart after this incident but she 
insists that "anyone can make a mistake."  Harry settles in for the 
night, but is awakened by Dobby.  In the course of their conversation 
Dobby admits that he caused the barrier at the train station to 
close, thus stranding Harry and Ron.  He was also the one who 
tampered with the Bludger.  Dobby's reason for wanting Harry safe at 
home and away from Hogwarts is that Harry is a symbol for the lowly 
and enslaved, who's lot was improved after Voldemort's fall.  And, 
now Dobby feels Harry is in danger because history is about to repeat 
itself now that the Chamber is open.  Dobby seems to know who opened 
the dooe, but he won't tell Harry.

Dumbledore and McGonagall appear in the Hospital carrying Colin 
Creevey, who has been Petrified.  Dumbledore informs them that this 
means that the Chamber of Secrets has opened.  When McGonagall asks 
who opened it, Dumbledore's response is "The question is not who, the 
question is how."

Questions:

1.  Was Lockhart telling the truth when he said he had been a Seeker 
and had been asked to try out for the National Team?

2.  Why is it taking so long to get Myrtle's bathroom repaired?

3.  Does Hermione's enthusiasm for making the Polyjuice Potion arise 
out of her concern for the threats against non-pure wizards, or are 
Harry and Ron finally wearing off on her?

4.  Why doesn't Madame Hooch, the referee at the Quidditch match, 
realize that one of the Bludgers has been tampered with?

5.  Why does Lockhart continue to imply that he is good at 
everything - healing charms, Quidditch, DADA - when most of what he 
does blows up in his face?

6.  House elves obviously have powerful magic.  Why don't they use 
that power to escape their enslavement?  Why do they only get their 
freedom if their master presents them with an article of clothing?

7.  When Dumbledore says that the Chamber is open, he says the 
question isn't who opened the room, but how.  Does this mean that 
Dumbledore already knows who opened the Chamber?


Marianne - who will do a brief summary of Trave/Transportation on 
Wednesday.





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