CoS Chapter 11--The Duelling Club

[pbnesbit at msn.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 25086

Hi everyone, 

My apologies for posting this so late.  Real Life got in the way. 
I couldn't come up with a lot of questions for these two chapters, so 
I've consolidated them.  They're in the next post. 

Chapter 11--The Duelling Club

Harry's arm bones are regrown overnight and after eating breakfast 
and being checked out one more time by Madam Pomfrey, he's cleared to 
leave. 

He goes to Gryffindor Tower, but Ron and Hermione aren't there.  He 
goes to look for them, feeling slightly hurt that they weren't 
interested in his recovery.  After some searching and a broad hint 
from Percy, Harry heads straight for Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, where 
he finds the two of them getting started on the Polyjuice Potion. 

Harry tells them about Dobby's visit and that Colin Creevy is now 
Petrified.  They pose theories about how the monster is getting 
around the school.  

Ginny's really upset at the news that Colin has been attacked.  Fred 
and George try to cheer her up by covering themselves with fur or 
boils and jumping out at her from behind things.  Percy threatens to 
owl Molly because Ginny's having nightmares. 

In the meantime, students are stacking up on talismans, amulets, and 
the like.  Neville tells everyone that he's doing so because they 
went for Filch first, and everyone knows he's almost a squib.  

The trio decide that Christmas would be the ideal time to try out the 
Potion.  There's only one problem:  it's only half-finished and 
they're going to have to steal the rest of the ingredients from 
Snape's private stock. 

Harry creates a diversion--a Filibuster firework--while Hermione 
steals the ingredients they need.  Snape is *not* amused. Hermione 
informs them that the Potion will be ready in a fortnight. 

The next week, an announcement goes up about a duelling club.  The 
trio decide to attend. 

Once there, they discover, much to their disgust, that Lockhart is 
running the club, assisted by Snape.  

After a demonstration, Snape and Lockhart break the group into 
pairs.  He purposefully breaks up the 'dream team' and Harry is 
paired with Draco, Ron with Seamus, and Hermione with Milicent 
Bulstrode.  

After they cast their first spells, Lockhart decides they need to 
learn to block unfriendly spells.  Lockhart suggests Neville and 
Justin Finch-Fletchley, but Snape volunteers Draco and Harry, then 
whispers something in Draco's ear.  Draco yells 'Serpensortia' and a 
long, black snake appears and raises itself, ready to strike.  
Lockhart tries to get rid of it, but only makes it angrier.  It goes 
for Justing, and is poised, ready to strike.  Harry reacts without 
thinking and tells the snake 'leave him' in Parseltongue.  This 
causes quite a stir and Ron and Hermione get Harry out of the room. 

The next day, Harry goes to the library in search of Justin so that 
he can explain what happened.  He overhears some Hufflepuffs talking, 
all but accusing him of setting the snake on Justin as well as the 
attacks.  Harry has a small run-in with them, then goes to look for 
Justin.  He runs into Hagrid who's looking to speak with Dumbledore.  
Something's been killing the chickens.  Harry goes to get his books, 
and trips over Justin, who, along with Nearly Headless Nick, has been 
Petrified.  McGonagall comes out of her classroom, sees Harry, and 
takes him to see Dumbledore.