PS/SS Chapter 9 Summary and Discussion Q's

[linman6868 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 28071

This has turned out to be a really complex chapter, narratologically.  So 
this summary is really long.  Just a warning.  Lisa

PS/SS Chapter 9 Summary and Discussion Q's

THE MIDNIGHT DUEL

Harry quickly discovers that Draco Malfoy is an even worse enemy than Dudley, 
so when Harry and Ron discover that the Gryffindors' flying lessons are to 
take place with the Slytherins, Harry is morose.  He expects to screw up big 
time with Malfoy there, and more is the pity since he was so looking forward 
to the experience of flying.  Ron consoles him with equal parts common sense 
and adolescent scorn (scorn for Malfoy, that is).  A small montage follows, 
of students' various escapades on brooms (I must admit to liking Malfoy's 
story about narrowly escaping Muggles in Helicopters - it makes me think of 
Calvin and Hobbes's fantastic storylines).  Apparently Quidditch really is 
the big noise in the wizarding world.  Both Neville and Hermione, newcomers 
to the world of flying, are very nervous about it; Hermione tries to salve 
her nerves by reading Quidditch Through the Ages to the breakfast table, and 
only Neville isn't bored to tears.

The mail arrives, reminding Harry that Hedwig's deliveries are few and far 
between, while those of the Malfoy eagle owl are not.  Malfoy has been 
gloating over Harry because of this, but not getting a rise out of him, 
decides to pick on Neville instead, who has just received a Remembrall from 
his grandmother.  Malfoy, with his goons at his side, swipes it; Ron and 
Harry jump to Neville's defense, but McGonagall swiftly appears, and Malfoy 
is forced to give Neville back his magical device.

That afternoon, the Gryffindor first-years appear outside on a lovely 
afternoon for their first flying lesson.  The teacher, Madam Hooch, appears 
and instructs them on how to approach, summon, and mount their brooms.  
Harry's broom is most responsive to this procedure.  When Madam Hooch gives 
the signal to rise a few feet, Neville, who has been very nervous throughout 
the lesson, jumps the gun and shoots up into the air.  When he sees how far 
up he's gone, he loses his control and falls off, breaking his wrist when he 
hits the ground.  Madam Hooch, rather shaken herself, escorts poor Neville to 
the hospital wing, leaving the rest of the class with a dire warning not to 
touch their brooms on pain of expulsion.  

Malfoy starts laughing as soon as they're gone, and squabbles arise between 
the Gryffindors and Slytherins.  Malfoy notices that Neville has dropped his 
Remembrall, and picks it up gleefully.  Harry tries a quiet threat, but this 
only eggs Malfoy on to jump on his broom and taunt Harry with the device.  
Harry grabs his broom, despite Hermione Granger's protests, and launches 
himself up into the air.  Instantly, he discovers that he's a natural at 
flying, and for a moment he forgets Malfoy and enjoys the euphoria.  But 
quickly he sets to the task of meeting Malfoy's threat, which he does quite 
effectively.  Malfoy, to distract him, throws the Remembrall into the air and 
scoots for the ground.  Harry dives steeply, catches the ball, and pulls his 
broom straight with a foot to spare.

Unfortunately, Harry is immediately confronted with Professor McGonagall, who 
has seen it all and appears to be quite livid.  She marches Harry off, who 
follows her glumly, working out the now-apparent scenario of living as an 
expelled wizard.  She stops at a classroom and borrows Wood, who turns out to 
be not a paddle but a person called Oliver Wood.  She takes them both into an 
empty classroom and explains to Wood that she's discovered a Seeker.  Wood, 
who is the captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, is delighted.  
Bewildered, Harry watches McGonagall explain Harry's diving feat to Wood, and 
they discuss buying him a special broomstick and getting him trained.  
McGonagall tells Harry that he is following in the footsteps of his father, 
and warns him sardonically that if he doesn't train hard she'll rethink 
punishing him.

Ron is amazed when Harry explains to him at dinner that he's just been named 
Gryffindor's new Seeker.  Harry explains that Wood's told him he's the 
youngest House player in a century, and that he's supposed to be the Lions' 
secret weapon.  Fred and George come over to congratulate Harry on getting on 
the team with them, but no sooner are they gone than Malfoy and his minions 
appear to taunt Harry.  Harry coolly remarks that Malfoy seems to depend on 
his muscle-bound friends for courage.  This opens it up for Malfoy to issue a 
challenge to a one-on-one duel.  Ron jumps to second Harry, and arrangements 
are made to meet at midnight.  After Malfoy goes, Ron explains the mechanics 
of wizard dueling to Harry, though he seems to be fuzzy on what sorts of 
spells to cast.  Hermione buts in at this point to tell them not to break any 
rules by leaving the common room after hours.  Ron and Harry brush her off.

At 11:30, Harry and Ron are caught by Hermione as they are leaving the 
portrait hole.  Hermione follows them out protesting, but soon realizes that 
the Fat Lady has disappeared, and she too is now out of bounds.  She insists 
on coming along on Harry's and Ron's escapade; Harry is forced to shut up Ron 
and Hermione arguing in order to discover Neville, who's forgotten the 
password and has been wandering the halls disconsolately.  The four of them 
set off, Ron threatening Hermione and Neville with the "Curse of the Bogies," 
if they end up betraying him and Harry, and they come to the trophy room, 
only to discover that Filch and Mrs. Norris are lurking there, searching for 
truant students.  [I must point out to Caius here that Filch's first words 
here are "Sniff around, my sweet, they might be lurking in a corner", not 
"They're in here somewhere, probably hiding," which is on the next page of 
the American edition.  Still, most people who took CMC's little quiz figured 
it out anyway.]  The foursome retreat and knock over a suit of armor - then 
flee down several corridors, Hermione telling them that Malfoy probably 
tipped Filch off.  They run into Peeves, who makes loud trouble and calls for 
Filch, and to escape they bundle themselves through a door which Hermione 
magically unlocks.  Harry is listening for the crisis to pass, but Neville 
eventually gets his attention and he realizes what the rest of them know:  
that they're in the forbidden corridor, and the "horrible death," in the form 
of a three-headed monster dog, is right before them.  Panicking, they flee 
the room and run all the way back to the portrait hole, where the Fat Lady 
scolds them and lets them in.  Hermione informs them scathingly that the dog 
was OBVIOUSLY guarding something, as it was standing on a trapdoor.  She then 
says, "I hope you're pleased with yourselves.  We could all have been killed 
- or worse, expelled.  Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to bed."  Ron finds 
this ludicrous, but Harry begins to put two and two together, and now it 
appears that Harry's discovered the whereabouts of Hagrid's secret package.

DUMP-DUMP-DUMMMMMM. . . Once again, tune in next time, same Hogwarts time, 
same Hogwarts channel. . . 

Discussion Questions:

1. This chapter seems to set Neville and Hermione up as either foils to each 
other or as opposite thermometers for various sitations.  In fact, this 
occurs in other books as well.  Can anyone suggest a significance to this 
narrative pairing between Neville and Hermione?  (Shipping anwers are 
possible but by no means exclusive here.)

2. The narrator explains that Harry considers Draco Malfoy to be a worse 
enemy than Dudley.  Why?  Malfoy's threats to Harry are hardly more 
sophisticated than Dudley's; the only difference appears to be that Malfoy's 
enmity is based on his philosophy rather than mere sibling piggishness.  
Harry appears to have developed a shell against sneers, so why should 
Malfoy's bother him more than Dudley's?

3. I've learned from this list that "bogies" is British for American 
"boogers."  So, if Ron threatens Hermione and Neville with the Curse of the 
Bogies, is he threatening them with bogey-men (which was what I'd first 
thought) or with boogers?  What would a Curse of the Boogers be like, I 
wonder?  I wonder if Harry will ever choose it instead of Furnunculus in 
future duels?

4. Can anyone suggest a plausible reason why flying lessons are never 
mentioned again?  Perhaps it is because Harry becomes exempt from them, 
unlike the rest of the class?  After all, we see Hermione flying in the room 
of the Bird-Keys at the end of the book.



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