CHAPTER DISCUSSION PS/SS 9, THE MIDNIGHT DUEL

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CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone/Philosopher's Stone
Chapter Nine, The Midnight Duel


The first years begin flying lessons with Madame Hooch. Harry is excited but not at the prospect of having to do this with the Slytherins. As they begin their lessons, Neville being the nervous one, pushed off the ground before Madame Hooch blew her whistle. He falls to the ground breaking a wrist. While he is being escorted to the hospital wing, Malfoy steals Neville's Remembrall and takes off on his broomstick with it. Harry decides to go after Malfoy on his broom, despite Hermione's protests. Malfoy throws the Remembrall away from Harry, but Harry, even though it is his first time on a broomstick, displays amazing prowess on it, and manages to fly after it and catch it in midair. Of course McGonagall sees this and races down to where the lesson is to get to Harry. Malfoy is pleased Harry is going to get in trouble but his happiness is short lived. McGonagall is very much pleased with Harry's abilities on the broomstick, and instead of punishing him, introduces him to Oliver Wood, Quidditch captain for Gryffindor. Harry is asked to be on the team, even though he is only a first year.

Back in the Great Hall, Harry confronts Malfoy saying he can not do or say anything on his own, that he always has to have Crabbe and Goyle with him. Malfoy says that is not true and can take him by himself and challenges him to a duel at midnight. Hermione tries to prevent Harry from leaving to duel Malfoy, but Harry and Ron go anyway. They make it to the trophy room, where they are suppose to meet Malfoy and Crabbe. While waiting, they hear Filch talking to Mrs. Norris. They find out Filch is actually looking for them! Malfoy had tricked them. They run into Hermione and together they try to make it back to the common room. Peeves unfortunately spies them and starts creating a ruckus. Hermione uses Alohomora and gets them into an empty room. The four of them soon discover they are actually in the forbidden corridor. They run into a three headed dog and realize that this must be why it is forbidden. They take off running and make it back the common room with out being caught. Harry realizes that he may have discovered where the package from vault 713 was.


Questions:

1. Why do you think the Gryffindors are forced to do flying lessons with the Slytherins? and why is this the only time flying lessons are even mentioned?

2. Would you like to have a Remembrall ? Why or why not? What would you like to make sure you remember?

3. Do you think Neville is naturally clumsy and somewhat scatterbrained? or do you think his grandmother had a role in that?

4. Malfoy chooses Crabbe as his second. If Crabbe and Goyle are both his friends, why do you think he picks Crabbe over Goyle?

5. Duels are written into many books and stories. More often than not, they are between a good and a bad person and they do not end on a happy note. What were your thoughts as soon as the duel was scheduled to happen? Did you think Ron, Harry, Malfoy, or even Crabbe might have died or gotten hurt?

6.  Insert own questions here.









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