[HPforGrownups] Re: Hagrid/the Chamber/the Monster

[Sherry Garfio]

No: HPFGUIDX 50067

I wrote:
> I think they all assumed that it was Aragog instead of the Slytherin monster
-
> all except Dumbledore, of course, and maybe McGonagall.  I get this 
impression
> from McGonagall's explanation of the "legend", in which she says  that the
> legend is assumed to be false, but she doesn't ever say that *she*  thinks
it's
> false.  She says that the castle has been searched many times and  nothing
has
> been found, which is a nice way of telling ickle children not to  worry, the
> world is fine and dandy, when the adults know darn well that isn't  true.

And Michelle corrected me:
> Sorry but McGonagall only explains the Chamber of Secrets to the 
> students in the Movie IIRC It was Professor Binns that told/ 
> explained the legend to the class in the actual book and IIRC he 
> seemed to think the idea of there being a Chamber as quite rubbish as 
> the castle had been searched by many Headmasters/ mistresses and 
> hadn't been found and if there was one he thought that it would have 
> already been fund.

Gah!  Damn movie tainting!  You are quite right.  I really need to buy a set of
books for the office...

Professor Binns obviously believes that there is no Chamber, so he also
probably accepts the Ministry's finding and that it was Aragog *instead* of the
Chamber monster that attacked the students 50 years ago.  I still say
McGonagall knows the truth, though, for in the hospital wing when they are
bringing Colin in, the following exchange takes place (this time with book in
hand ;-):

Ch. 10, "The Rogue Bludger", p. 135-6 UK PB:
************************************
'What does this *mean*, Albus?' Professor McGonagall asked urgently.

'It means,' said Dumbledore, 'that the Chamber of Secrets is indeed open
again.'

Madam Pomfrey clapped a hand to her mouth.  Professor McGonagall stared at
Dumbledore.  

'But Albus... surely... *who*?'

'The question is not *who*,' said Dumbledore, his eyes on Colin.  'The question
is, *how*...'

And from what Harry could see of Professor McGonagall's shadowy face, she
didn't understand this any better than he did.
************************************

Notice that McGonagall doesn't say anything like, "Surely you don't believe
that rubbish, Albus?" or, "The Chamber of Secrets?  But I was *sure* it was
only a legend..."  She simply jumps to the question of *who* has opened it,
implying that she already accepts the Chamber's existence as fact.  Nor does
she question Dumbledore's implication that the Chamber has been opened before,
so I don't think she accepted the Ministry's finding 50 years ago.  Madam
Pomfrey doesn't seem to think this is news either, so I would add her to the
list of believers.

Now that you've called me out on the movie-tainting and forced me to go back
and look this stuff up, another thing strikes me about this conversation. 
Dumbledore seems to already know who has opened the Chamber ('the question is
not *who*'), and the only question in his mind is how Voldemort is doing it
this time.  This also brings up the question of what Lucius knows and what he
pretends to know.

Ch. 18, "Dobby's Reward", p. 246 UK PB:
************************************
'So - have you stopped the attacks yet?' [Lucius] sneered.  'Have you caught
the culprit?'

'We have,' said Dumbledore, with a smile.

'*Well*?' said Mr Malfoy sharply.  'Who is it?'

'The same person as last time, Lucius,' said Dumbledore.  'But this time, Lord
Voldemort was acting through somebody else.  By means of this diary.'

<SNIP>

'I see...' said Mr Malfoy slowly to Dumbledore.
************************************

Dumbledore leaves no room for doubt about who he is refering to when he says
'The same person as last time'.  And yet Lucius simply replies, 'I see...'. 
The official story last time was that it was Hagrid's pet, yet the only thing
causing Lucius any consternation during this exchange is the diary and how it
will implicate him, and possibly the fact that his plan has failed.  Lucius
seems to know the truth, and he probably wasn't even born yet when it happened,
which means he found out some other way, probably from Voldemort himself, or
from the diary.  My, but he *is* a slippery character, isn't he?

Sherry


=====
"The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we ALL believe that we are above-average drivers."

      -Dave Barry, "Things That It Took Me 50 Years to Learn"

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