CHAPTER DISCUSSION Chamber of Secrets Ch. 5. The Whomping Willow

[nikkalmati]

No: HPFGUIDX 188825



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> 1.  Not only Ron knows that underage wizards can use magic in case of emergency, he quotes the chapter of the law to that effect. Was Molly's home schooling that effective or does Ron really like to study more than we were lead to believe?
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Nikkalmati

I don't think his knowledge is the sesult of study.  I think it is just one of the things purebloods learn in the cradle or at mother's knee.  Note he is not very exact in his citing of the law and he applies it incorrectly.  This is not the kind of emergency that would justify underage use of magic and the use of a charmed Muggle object to boot.  I wonder why Arthur did not get in trouble?

Nikkalmati

 
> 2.  Is Arthur just placating Molly when he agrees not to make car invisible or is he truly afraid of her?

I don't think he is afraid of her, and, of course, Molly is right as we find out the invisibility button doesn't work.  I think Arthur puts his foot down when he wants to and the children all know it.

Nikkalmati
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> 3. What was your first impression of Whomping Willow? Did you expect for it to make another appearance in the series?

Nikkalmati

I thought it was cool.  I was expecting it to be back because Snape twice referred to it as a "valuable" tree.  I still don't know why it was valuable, however.

Nikkalmati

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> 5. "This was not the first time Snape had given Harry the impression of being able to read minds". We know now that this impression was absolutely correct. If Snape used Legilimency and knew that they indeed could not get through 9 3/4 by regular means, why does he say what he says?

Nikkalmati

Well, as has been pointed out, Snape had the Prophet in his hand describing the incident. (BTW how could it get into the paper so fast?)
I don't think Legilimency is so easy to use as some people do.  I don't even know if it can be used without the knowledge of the other person.  Most wizards would need to say the spell, although Snape could perhaps do it silently.  I still think the victim would know.

Nikkalmati
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> 6. What do you think was that "large, slimy something suspended in green liquid on a shelf behind Snape's desk?

Nikkalmati

Asparagus?

Nikkalmati
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> 7. Please feel free to add your own questions here.

Just want to note that Ginny very nearly forgot and left her "diary" at home.  Was this Riddle's book already?
Nikkalmati
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> 
> thank you, Great summary, Alla.