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

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 189007



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?

Alla:

My guess would be to underline the contrast between very dark subject matter and the humor and because she is good at humor ļ


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

Alla:

Well, you know my thoughts on the matter, but in case you don¡¦t,  he never passes up the opportunity to make sure Harry is punished, even if he knows that Harry should not be IMO.

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

Alla:

What would have happened if James listened and did not take Peter as secret keeper? What would have happened if Dumbledore actually decided to hear out Sirius¡¦ story before giving the evidence that  he ¡§was a secret keeper¡¨? We would have had different stories. I love imagining ¡§alternate timelines¡¨ in all key accidents of Potterverse, but that would not have been a story JKR wanted to tell I suppose.

But you know, here I am thinking that even if Harry told Dumbledore about the voices, since I am of very sinister view of him, I think he would have still made sure Harry investigated it and went to the chamber, one way or another.

4. Why didn't JKR introduce Squibs in SS/PS?

Alla:

Well, she did introduce Arabella, she just did not tell us who she was. No idea why not in that book.

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

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

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

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

Alla:

Um, I would have decided that I need to teach them that if I realized that they did not learn it with somebody before my time and if they did not learn it with me, I would have thought it would have been my falling as a teacher.



I will answer the rest of your super awesome questions later. Thank you so much Potioncat and Zara.