Chapter Discussion Chamber of Secrets Ch. 9 The Writing on the Wall

[jelly92784]

No: HPFGUIDX 189005

1. This chapter is very funny. Why do you think JKR used so much comedy just as she's introducing the idea of the Chamber of Secrets?

Janelle:
I really don't know, maybe she's attempting to lead the reader to underestimate the evil of the Chamber.

2. What is Snape up to with his "Wrong place at the wrong time" speech?

Janelle:
I've often wondered about that myself.  Not trying to start any Snape debates here- but maybe he's trying to fulfill his promise of looking out for Harry.  He knows that Harry isn't the heir of Slytherin.

3. What would have happened if Harry had told Dumbledore about the voices?

Janelle:
This is an interesting question to think about.  At this point in the story, Dumbledore suspects that Voldemort has a horcrux, but can't even imagine that he has as many as seven, nor that Harry might be another.  Perhaps he would have caught on to Harry's horcrux-ness sooner if Harry had confided in him?
 
4. Why didn't JKR introduce Squibs in SS/PS?

Janelle:
I think that she did through Neville's reference to being "all muggle"- she just didn't have or use the term.  Why not?  Maybe she hadn't come up with it yet (sort of like when she referenced the "Ministry Hit Wizards" or whatever instead of calling them Aurors), or maybe she just didn't want to add a story element that was relevant for the current book and decided to wait for COS. 


5. How does the explanation of Salazar's reasons for excluding Muggle-born students compare to contemporary wizards' reasons? (Malfoy, Black, etc.)

Janelle:
IIRC, Slytherin was concerned, at least in part, with wizarding secrecy and he didn't want to risk muggle-borns spilling their secrets to the world.  Contemporary wizards (such as Lucius Malfoy) don't seem to be concerned about that- they're coming from a more prejudiced standpoint where the merely think that Muggleborns aren't good enough to go to school with their pureblood children.

6. Are you surprised that Harry expected students to think he was Slytherin's heir at this time?
 


7. Ginny is  pale, upset, worried
how did these descriptions influence your opinion of Ginny the first time you read CoS, and how do you view the descriptions now?

Janelle:
I think at the time it made me think of her as being very child-like.  Now, of course, we know that her symptoms were resulting from being possessed by Tom Riddle. 

8. Neither Ron nor Harry has heard of Polyjuice Potion---if you were their teacher what would your opinion of them be?

Janelle:
I wouldn't be surprised or disappointed by that, in fact, I would expect it, especially from Harry who grew up outside of the wizarding world.  True, it was mentioned in class a couple times, but the book was stashed away for older students.

9. At one time this book was going to be The Half Blood Prince. Who knows what the plot would have been, but do you see any sections in this chapter that seem to foreshadow or parallel HBP?

Janelle:
Nothing in particular jumps out at me, other than clues about Harry being connected somehow to Slytherin.
 
10. What do you think of Binns' comment, "Just because a wizard doesn't use Dark Magic doesn't mean he can't"? Is this brought up in any of the other 6 books?

Janelle:
Well- my immediate thought is of McGonagall telling Dumbledore that he's too noble to do them.  Also, I think of the unforgiveables and Harry's use of two of them in the final book.  Dark spells are spells just like any other, only with evil intent.  Any skilled wizard could technically perform the spells, they just won't (unless in dire circumstances, like Harry)

Thanks for the questions!