[HPforGrownups] Re: CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Chamber of Secrets Chapter 15: Aragog

[lui]

No: HPFGUIDX 189182

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?

luirhys: Being a teacher, Harry expects that Snape would have at least acknowledged the fact that one of his students got attacked. Of course, we all know that it's asking too much. Anyway, it doesn't seem to be big a deal as Harry already knows how the potions master feels toward him, his friends and probably all gryffindors.

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

luirhys: I don't think this was directed at Hagrid's innocence. but that she knows dark wizard/magic is involved and may take more that one person.

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.
luirhys: I didn't read much into this as I felt that Ron was just naturally hot-headed.

b) Ron looks at Hermione's empty desk and gains courage to overcome his
arachnaphobia and follow the spiders.
luirhys: As before, I didn't link this at once to romantic feelings on his part, just that she was one of his best friends and wanted her to be back soon.

c) The narrator, who usually gives us Harry's point of view, notices that Ginny
is sitting in Hermione's usual chair.
luirhys: It might be also that it's not Ginny's presence that he notices here but Hermione's absence.

-- Did any of these instances convince you of a certain relationship or did any
of these change your mind?
luirhys: I think this was too early a stage for me to really think on romantic links between the characters.

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?
luirhys: Actually, I just thought that she might just still be shy around Harry. 

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?
luirhys: possibly both. But I doubt it was the same spiders that they saw during class.

6. The Anglia has been trundling around the forest on its own all school year. 
What is its fuel?
luirhys: Being bewitched as it is, I think it has taken a life of its own. Not to mentioned that it probably feeded off the magic from the grounds. 

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?
luirhys: I was thinking of a dog actually. I did actually think it had an idea what was happening.

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?
luirhys: The first I thought of was Voldermort but since it was a creature, I assumed it must also be something connected to him.

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?

 luirhys: It must have its own boundaries and it might have felt safer in the forbidden forest. Kind of how centaurs, and unicorns stay inside. Venturing out of the forest would mean crossing into human territory.



"All it takes to fly is to hurl yourself at the ground... and miss."



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