[HPforGrownups] CHAPTER SUMMARIES/DISCUSSION - CH. 13-15, CoS

[Susan Hall]

No: HPFGUIDX 25458


Questions:
Ch.13
>1) Why do so many people come by the hospital wing to see Hermione?
Actual concern for her or morbid curiosity about a potential
>Petrification victim?

I imagine Moaning Myrtle has been dropping dark hints about the fur to
everyone who might listen and they have bets on as to whether it's true.

>2) On the "Ron-turning-traitor" front: When Harry attempts to pick up
>the diary, Ron's first thought is not curiosity about what sort of
>book someone would choose to throw at Myrtle, but fear for Harry's
>safety.  Discuss.

Further evidence that Arthur Weasley had really given his kids awful
warnings about "don't talk to strange magical artifacts" and wasn't just
making it up at the end.


>3) Does anyone think Flitwick really knows anything about Entrancing
Enchantments, apart from a purely academic standpoint?  I'm just
>curious - I have a hard time reconciling my mental image of Flitwick
>to a "sly old dog."

Wasn't he also a duelling ace?  Perhaps he had a secret double life as the
Scarlet Pimpernel.  Our only evidence that he wasn't is that he is short,
has a squeaky voice, and drinks very girly drinks in public.  All an obvious
cover up.  He probably spent the years of Voldermort 1 smuggling endangered
Mudbloods to safety, and passionately kissing the marble staircase where his
beloved but estranged wife's tiny feet had trod.

>4) Hermione is a Very Smart Witch.  Why on earth, then, does she like
>*Lockhart*?

I have a first in Law from the University of Oxford and *I* can't fathom out
why I had crushes on the people I had crushes on at that sort of age.
Better leave it at "hormones and brain cells don't mix".

>5) Harry says "There wasn't the faintest trace of writing on any of
them, not even... 'dentist, half-past three.'"  A logistical
>question: How does one visit the dentist while at Hogwarts?  Is Madam
>Pomfrey trained in dental charms?

Yes - she sorts out Hermoine's teeth in GoF, which is rather advanced
cosmetic dentistry.  Those with objections to this approach (eg Hermoine's
parents) can schedule regular check ups in school holidays, and, presumably
for emergency work Madam Pomfrey can put the magical equivalent of a
temporary filling in until it can be properly seen too.

>6) Ginny, it seems, did give Harry the Valentine.  Did she do so
because she liked him, or did she do it under the influence of
>Riddle, for some reason no one can fathom because we aren't quite
>that evil?

The quality of the verse certainly suggests it was Riddle inspired.  Perhaps
he just had a thing about green eyes.  maybe he was trying an experimental
eviloverlord technique ["When I become an evil overlord I shall see whether
embarassing my enemies to death has any prospect of success before moving on
to more obvious attacks on them"]

>7) Harry never thinks of Riddle as "Tom," but always "Riddle," even
before he (Harry) realizes who he (Riddle) really is.  Is JKR setting
>the reader up for Riddle's real identity by not having Harry think of
him in more familiar terms?  (In the diary, Riddle calls Harry "Harry
Potter," and either "Harry" or "Harry Potter" during their
>confrontation at the end of the chapter.)

The boys quite often use surnames for other boys whom they are, for some
reason, slightly unsure of.  I think its a deliberate archaism to bring out
the traditional school story ambiance.

>8) Harry never gets to see how Hagrid is captured and Aragog
>escapes.  Guesses?

Hagrid probably sets up a diversion by letting off a  big noticeable
enchantment involving lots of sparks and clouds of smoke, deliberately
holding it until Aragog gets clear, then goes quietly.  Heroic, but not all
that bright.


Ch. 14
>9) Fudge - secretly evil or just a moron?

Can't he be both?  Seriously, I can't think of anything more evil than
sending someone off to a place like Azkaban simply so the newspapers see
you're doing something.  It's also moronic, since as he doesn't appear to
believe Hagrid *did* do it, so he must realise he's left the real Heir of
Slytherin around to carry on its reign of terror.

>10) Lucius does a really terrible job of covering up his real
feelings regarding blood purity.  Why?  Perhaps he's more in contact
>with Voldie than we're aware of?  Is he counting on Riddle's ability
to control Ginny permanently?  Does he assume it's safe, with
Dumbledore temporarily out of commission?  How can he underestimate
>Dumbledore that much?

Lucius knows the way to Fudge's heart is via blood purity - why bother to
conceal it?  I'm surprised, however, he didn't manage to keep his control
over the Board of Governors - that is a slip up.

>11) This marks the second time Dumbledore has known Harry was there
even though Harry was wearing an Invisibility Cloak.  How?  Perhaps
>there's more to Dumbledore's half-moon glasses than meets the eye?
This also opens up a possible glasses connection - we know Harry's
>glasses/eyes are important - what about Dumbledore's?

Hagrid spots it too.  I think both of them guess it from Fang's reaction.

>12) Why do people think the Heir of *Slytherin* is someone from
another House?  First Harry, then Hagrid.  Am I the only one who
>thinks this makes no sense?

Might the assumption be that the Heir is wearing false colours?

Ch. 15
>13) Out of respect for Hagrid, Aragog claims he never harmed a soul.
Yet he "cannot deny them [his children] fresh meat," and would
>willingly feed Hagrid's friends, who sought the spiders out to help
>Hagrid, to his children.  How does he justify this?

Being a giant man eating spider means never having to say you're sorry.

>14) There are several instances of possible foreshadowing in these
chapters:
>*The comparison of Percy to Riddle
*Hagrid's penchant for Big Scary Things once again places the Trio in
>danger.  As Ron says, "He always thinks monsters aren't as bad as
they're made out, and look where it's got him!"  This doesn't just
apply to beasts - could Hagrid's trusting nature put him or Harry in
danger?  After all, isn't one of Harry's biggest fans supposed to die?
>*Ron's abilities as a Seer: his fear the book could be dangerous
turns out to be true, in a way.  He jokes that maybe Riddle murdered
Myrtle - this turns out to be true.  Discuss all.  (Ack!  I sound
>like a teacher.  Apologies.)


I don't think we should confuse basic common sense with foresight.  Only the
comment about Myrtle comes under the latter heading.  Ron's comment about
Hagrid and BST and about the book are based in the first place on what he's
observed himself and secondly on what his father has taught him from his
father's own personal experience.  Hagrid has a real likelihood of getting
himself killed, but I don't think he's all that trusting except when it
comes to BSTs - he seems to have Fudge and Lockhart pretty much pegged, for
example.
I actually think Percy is more like Fudge than Riddle, but you never know.


>15) Pointless Silly Question: Which would you prefer: having to speak
in limericks for the rest of your life, or never being able to stop
>reading?

For me the ultimate curse
Would be forcible utterance in verse
 I read all the time
Cos I  find it sublime
And magic could not make me worse

Susan