Chapter Discussion Chamber of Secrets Ch. 8 The Deathday Party

[nikkalmati]

No: HPFGUIDX 188968



 
> 
> 1.	Nick warns Harry to be careful with dripping the mud around, but when I was rereading the chapter I realized that I cannot find any description of Harry doing just that, could somebody point me to it? 
> 
> 
Nikkalmati

Yes, it is mentioned as he walks to the castle that they practiced in the rain and NHN warns him he is dripping on the floor.

Nikkalmati

2.	What was your first thought when you realized that Filch was taking Kwikspell course?
> 
>
Nikkalmati

I didn't like the fact that Harry could not be trusted and was reading someone else's mail.  A foreshadowing of the Pensieve incident, no doubt.  I found it interesting that there was a group that could not do magic though they were wizards.  I also felt sorry for Filch.

Nikkalmati



> 3.	 500th anniversary of Nick's death is one of the few dates (or is an only date?) that can help us place Harry Potter in time. And we debated the timeline many many times in the past. Do you feel that JKR made a wise decision to actually place it in time or would it have been better to let the reader place the action in time as they see fit and not give any definite dates in the book?
>

Nikkalmati

Yes, it is always good to have some historical markers. It is not as though she was being exctly precise.  Nick's concern about his head makes me think he was wearing a ruff, not because of fashion, but because he wanted to conceal his injury.

Nikkalmati
 
> 4.	Would you like to go to Deathday party?

Nikkalmati

Not as it is deacribed here.  I like better refreshments.

Nikkalmati


> 
> 5.	Obviously we know now that Draco was not Slytherin Heir, but what do you think was the reason for him saying that?
> 
Nikkalmati

I wonder if he knew something from his father.  Maybe his father warned him to be on the lookout and what the return of Slytherine's heir meant.  Maybe it was a bedtime story in the Malfoy household.  He seems very excited at the prospect before anything really bad happens.  I don't think he realized he was implicating himself.

Nikkalmati

> 6.	Ginny is pale at the beginning of the chapter and Percy bullies her into taking the medicine. We find out later about the diary and Tom, but at this point, we don't know. Did Percy seem out of character in "bullying" her?

Nikkalmati

Not at all. He likes to take charge, but I also think he cares about his family and it is interesting he is the one who notices.

Nikkalmati

> 
> 7.	Filch is a Squib as we know now and he is expected to clean up the messes that magical kids make all the time. Do you think it is too much to expect of him?
> 
>
Nikkalmati

I am not sure how much he has to do.  The Elves do some of the work around the castle.  NHN says Filch has been wolking all day.  He seems to have to patrol at night and be available to the teachers for odd jobs.  He keeps busy.  As a squib he doesn't have many career choices and I think he is given this job by DD as a way to provide for him.

Just want to note the destruction of the Vanishing Cabinet in this chaper.  (Black and gold).  Was JKR already planning how it would be used? 

Nikkalmati 
,