small thing in COS: Possibility

[hedwigstalons]

No: HPFGUIDX 98290

snip

> Here's a thought (and it's way out in left field, so it's okay if 
> you disagree): Petrified Hermione is clutching a small piece of 
> paper telling about the Basalisk.  However, given Hermione's 
respect 
> for books, it seems so unlikely to me that she would _tear_ a page 
> out of a book - probably a LIBRARY book at that.  
> 
> Is it possible that someone left that information for her, or gave 
> it to her?  If so, it of course leads to several questions: Who 
gave 
> it to her? How did they get the information about the chamber?  And 
> why did she not say someone gave her the info or left it for her to 
> find?
> 
> Antigone q.

I too am struck upon each reading of COS how unusually out of 
character it seems to have Hermione rip a page out of book. If her 
respect for books is as great as mine, ripping a page from a book is  
INCONCEIVABLE! But, perhaps she had no paper and quill, or no time to 
copy the info. because the basilisk was in the room?

Then, as to "Who gave it to her?" (if anyone did) why not Dobby? He 
helped Harry in GOF with the gillyweed. It seems unusual to me that 
Dobby would know all the backstory of the Chamber of Secrets and not 
want to help Harry out. Even though he tried to keep Harry from going 
back to Hogwarts, once Harry was there, doesn't it seem that Dobby 
would do his part to help? 

Yet, Hermione does have the "aha!" moment, and races off to the 
library to find the information she knew would be there. This implies 
that no one gave her the information, she simply deduced it on her 
own (being the cleverest witch in the class). So, that makes it seem 
that no one gave her any information about the chamber.

Why was Penelope Clearwater in the library if the rest of the school 
was on its way to the Quidditch field?

Is Penelope part of the "something small" in COS?

HedwigsTalons