Chapter Discussion: Chamber of Secrets Chapter 10, The Rogue Bludger

[jelly92784]

No: HPFGUIDX 189032

1.  Harry submits to being Lockhart's supporting player but when the trio get the signature all it takes is Hermione gushing over Lockhart's book, Gadding with Ghouls.  Was it necessary for Harry to have put himself through the play-acting?

Janelle:
I agree with what others have said- looking back, it probably wasn't necessary for Harry to play along with Lockhart as much as he did (although I'm sure it didn't hurt), but Harry didn't know that and so it was probably a good idea to keep Lockhart happy until they got what they needed from him.

2.  Moste Potente Potions is a musty book.  Are there other copies of this book around, perhaps in Snape's office, so advanced Potions students don't request this copy very often?  Some of the illustrations are gruesome.  Would this be a book an advanced student might need to use or is it a relic from much earlier times?

Janelle:
I think that this particular book probably isn't used very often and might even be well known for the dark potions it contains (this is probably why Snape mentioned it- trying to impress and intimidate the class with his advanced knowledge or something).  I think Snape probably owns his own copy of the book.
 
3.  Harry, Fred and George all recognize that the rogue Bludger is attacking Harry.  Couldn't anyone else on the field see that?  Or is it that the game matters more than any individual thing going on?

Janelle:
I do think it's slightly odd that no one else noticed.  Well, let me rephrase: I think that people probably did notice, they just didn't read as much into it as Harry and the other Gryffindors did.  Others probably just thought that it was odd, but not that the bludger had been tampered with.  I do wonder why both Weasley's left the bludger to Harry- I know that Wood told them to, but wouldn't it make sense for one of them to stick close to Harry while the other patrols the rest of the pitch?
 
4.  The Bludger doesn't attack during the time out but after the game an injured Harry notices Fred and George wrestling the Bludger into a box.  It is still fighting them.  Why did the Bludger not attack during the time out but apparently try to keep going after the game was finished?

Janelle:
This is pure speculation, but maybe the Bludger was bewitched to go after Harry until it got him, but still had to obey the basic rules of the game (including honoring time outs)?
 
5.  Could Colin Creevey have been coming to visit Harry?  How long was he petrified before Dumbledore found him, do you think?
 
Janelle: I think Colin probably was going to visit Harry.  As for how long he was petrified- possibly for awhile.  Harry had already been sleeping for awhile before he's woken up by Dobby and then sees Dumbledore bring Colin in- it was then probably sometime between bedtime and when Harry was woken up (whenever those are).  This question makes me wonder again about why Dumbledore was out and about and able to find Colin.

6.  A Basilisk's gaze can kill.  When Dumbledore opens Colin's camera, a jet of steam hisses out.  Is this consistent, do you think, with the full effects of a Basilisk's stare?  Does the Basilisk's stare fry a person's insides, leaving a petrified shell?

Janelle:
I don't think so.  When the Basilisk kills someone, they aren't petrified (Harry sees that limp arm of Myrtle's in Riddle's diary).  
 
7.  Harry thinks that McGonagall is just as puzzled as he is when Dumbledore said the more important question is how the Chamber is being opened.  Does Dumbledore know at this point that it would require the use of Parceltongue to open it?

Janelle:
I don't think he does.  If so, it would be a lot easier to take the next step of realizing that Voldemort must be possessing someone at the school and using them to open the Chamber.  I do think it's possible that he has that suspicion, but I'm not convinced of it.  I think all Dumbledore knows at this point is that, somehow, Voldemort is behind it all.

8.  My own question:  Thinking through the things that happen in this chapter- do you think Dumbledore ever suspects Harry?  (I don't mean that DD thinks Harry is purposely doing this- but that maybe Harry is the one being taken over by Voldemort- or Voldemort's soul-piece that lives instead him?)