CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Chamber of Secrets Chapter 15: Aragog

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 189183

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?

Alla:

LOL.  He was probably thinking something along he sees no difference whether she is in class or not lines, or maybe he was glad that there is nobody in class who always knows the answer to his questions and was hoping she would be away as long as possible. 


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

Alla:

Sure, I doubt staff believed in Hagrid's guilt.

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?

Alla:

See, I am sure I said it more than once before, I for the most part stayed away from shipping wars for two reasons: a) I cared little who will end up with who as long as they are alive and happy at the end and b) while I was not hundred percent sure Harry will end up with Ginny, I  thought that somebody completely new (or Luna from the later books) are possible, I was always always 200% sure that Ron and Hermione will be together if they will survive the end. From the moment they met, it was obvious for me, couple who bickers like that in the romantic comedy way always ends up  together in every book or movie I have read or seen before. So what I am trying to say and please, please shippers of Hermione and Harry and Ron and Harry (or whoever else), please do not take offence, I am just describing how I feel, not trying to belittle your views, but shipping wars bored me, because I have not seen the mystery and have not felt the slightest doubt.

So after my rambling to answer your question, sure Ron's concern was understandable for me and another nod in their relationship, I am not sure I remember if I noticed every small thing like this, but definitely I knew they will be together.  And see, I think Harry was missing his friend, not noticing Ginny just yet, good example how for me she left Harry/Ginny tiny bit more ambiguous.

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?

Alla:

I do not remember, but I am pretty sure that in general I thought that Ginny was a shy person, but when I am rereading it I really do think that she stick in the clues for feisty Ginny and did it well. Even more than Ron's description, I thought Ginny standing up to Malfoy was a great clue.

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?

Alla:

Well, we had seen several more or less sentinent magical items through the book, including lovely diary in this one, so sure, I think it is, but I just had a thought, Arthur tinkered with it, right? So maybe  car's protection is at least partially fuelled by his love for the boys?

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?

Alla:

I love this idea. But I think I remember actually that at that time I just found their refusal to be annoying similar to centaurs' unwillingness to help, but for one.

Thanks for the great questions Ceridwen.