COS Hallowe'en feast

[bboy_mn]

No: HPFGUIDX 43599

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "grey_wolf_c" <greywolf1 at j...> wrote:
> David wrote:
> > I have been re-reading COS to Ben (younger son) and am wondering
> > about the first petrification (Mrs Norris) which takes place 
> > during the Hallowe'en feast. As I understand the working of the 
> > diary, Ginny would have to have been present to release and 
> > control the basilisk, and therefore not at the feast.  Wouldn't 
> > her absence have been noted?
> > 
> > David
> 
Grey Wolf Replied:
> I don't thik she would necesarily be missed. After all, in that 
> same Halloween party, the triad (HRH) went to the deathday party, 
> and people didn't miss them that much. Besides, Ginny didn't have 
> to be away for that long: it has been especulated that there must 
> be another way into the chamber, since not everyone has a tame 
> phoenix to get the out through Mirtle's bathroom. Ginny only had 
> to leave for like ten minutes, reach the Chamber, give specific 
> orders to the basilisk, and get back.
> 
> Hope that helps,
> 
> Grey Wolf

bboy_mn added:
Also, it was very late in the feast, when the TRIO found the cat it
was a couple of minutes before the feast ended, so I'm sure quite a
few students had finished eating by then and we not in the great hall. 

Most of the meals, in general, seem to last long enough that people
are coming and going all the time.

Now here is a more interesting question-

When the feast ended, why did all the students go down that particular
hall?

The Slytherins for example go DOWN to the dungeons from the main
entryway, as do, I think, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff. So why did they
the all down at the hallway on the second floor, and they seemed to
come from two directions?

I noticed this when I firest read it, but it wasn't enough to distract
me from the story. 

Any thoughts? 

bboy_mn