CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Chamber of Secrets Chapter 15: Aragog

[Ceridwen]

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CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Chapter 15: Aragog.

Harry doesn't understand the cryptic clue left by Dumbledore.  Hagrid's clue is easier to understand but, despite looking all over the castle, there are no spiders to be found.

In Herbology, Ernie says that Harry cannot be the Heir of Slytherin because he would never harm Hermione.  During class Harry notices spiders heading for the Forbidden Forest.  He and, reluctantly, Ron, decide to follow them.  The trouble is, the common room doesn't clear out until midnight or after.  The twins challenge them to Exploding Snap and they play until the common room is empty with Ginny watching quietly from Hermione's usual chair.

As soon as everyone is in bed, Harry and Ron get the Invisibility Cloak and leave the castle, avoiding the mass of patrolling faculty and staff.  They stop by Hagrid's hut to get Fang and enter the forest, following the parade of spiders.

The Ford Anglia shows up.  It appears to have gone wild.  In the beams of its headlights Ron sees the large spiders called Acromantulas surrounding them.  They are taken to a clearing deep in the forest where they meet Aragog.  Aragog was the Acromantula whom Hagrid raised from an egg and who was believed to have caused the death of a student.  He likes Hagrid but has never named the terror spiders fear.  He won't tell Ron and Harry either.  He does tell them that the student died in a bathroom.  He then leaves them to his children to eat.

The Anglia shows up again and helps Harry, Ron and Fang escape.  Back in the castle Harry thinks about the clues Aragog gave him.  He realizes that the dead student must be Moaning Myrtle.

1.  Two weeks after Hermione has been petrified, Harry notes that Snape makes no mention of her absence in class.  Should he have mentioned her absence this long after the attack?

2.  Madam Pomfrey cautions Harry and Ron that the attacker might come back.  Was this a vote of confidence for Hagrid?

3.  Shipping Wars Special:
a)  Harry has to hold Ron back from fighting with Draco Malfoy during Potions when Draco talks against the petrified Hermione.
b)  Ron looks at Hermione's empty desk and gains courage to overcome his arachnaphobia and follow the spiders.
c)  The narrator, who usually gives us Harry's point of view, notices that Ginny is sitting in Hermione's usual chair.
-- Did any of these instances convince you of a certain relationship or did any of these change your mind?

4.  Ginny is subdued when she occupies Hermione's chair.  Did anyone wonder about the difference between this quiet Ginny and the noisy, outgoing Ginny Ron described?  Do you remember what you thought if you did notice the discrepancy?

5.  Harry first notices the spiders during Herbology.  After midnight there are still spiders heading toward the Forbidden Forest.  Do spiders walk that slowly or are there that many spiders?

6.  The Anglia has been trundling around the forest on its own all school year.  What is its fuel?

7.  The car is described as looking like it is greeting its master when it sees Ron.  It appears when Harry and Ron are surrounded by Aragog's children.  How sentient is the car?  Did it come to protect Ron and Harry?

8.  The acromantulas know what the monster is but refuse to name it.  Is this an echo of "He Who Must Not Be Named?"  Is this link to Voldemort a clue to what the monster is?

9.  The Anglia stops at the edge of the forest but does not come out.  Is it hiding, do you think, or is it territorial?


Please add any questions you may have.

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Next Chapter Discussion, Chapter 16, "The Chamber of Secrets", on or about 1 May, 2010.

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