Chapter Discussion Chamber of Secrets Ch. 7 Mudbloods and Murmurs

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 188941


> Questions.
> 
> 1: What was your impression of Colin Creevey when he first appeared? Why do you think that JKR decided to introduce his character?
Potioncat:
Someone has already suggested "innocence" and I would have to agree. He is also a counterpoint to Lockhart in his interest in Harry.
> 
> 2: Can you explain Oliver Wood's apparent obsession with Quidditch, way even beyond keen players like Ron?
Potioncat:
Explain it? No---but I've seen variations of it. 
> 
> 3: Did you find it unfair that the Slytherin team were given permission to practise when Gryffindor have already booked the pitch?
Potioncat:
Unfair? But they really needed the time on the practice pitch more than the Gryffindors did. The Gryffindors were very familiar with their team mates and equipment.  The Slytherins had to learn to work with a new seeker and had to learn how to manage all those state of the art brooms. It wouldn't be fair to have to go out and compete without extra time to prepare!
> 
> 4: Does it surprise you that Fred wasn't sure whether Draco was a Malfoy bearing in mind that he and Harry already had track records of dislike from the previous year? 
Potioncat:
Ron had to be introduced to Romilda. No one knew McClaggen.  It doesn't make sense, but it's the way JKR writes.
> 
> 5: Do you think that Hermione was perhaps biased and unfair in suggesting that money rather than talent got Draco onto the Slytherin team. Surely he must have had some aptitude?
Potioncat:
We don't know do we? Did Draco only get on because of the brooms—I doubt it.  Maybe Lucius bought the brooms to make his son's team better.
> 
> 6: Do you think that the spell Ron tried to use would actually have had Malfoy spitting slugs or did the backfire also alter the result? Is there anything significant in the fact that the backfire produced a green light, a colour  which seems to be associated with more serious spells? Hermione certainly thought it was a difficult curse.
Potioncat:
Since it backfired, as it will with Lockhart, I think Draco would have been coughing up slugs.
> 
> 7: What do you believe prompted Gilderoy Lockhart to press for Harry's detention to be served with him?
Potioncat:
Lockhart does anything to keep himself in the limelight—I think he was trying to collect Harry like Slughorn will later.
> 
> 8: Why do you think that only Harry could hear the disembodied voice?
Potioncat:
The best answer I have is that the sound of Parseltongue in the pipes just sounded like vague noises that the kids didn't pick up.

Thanks Geoff for great questions. I'll add some more comments/questions later.