CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Chamber of Secrets Chapter 16: The Chamber of Secrets

[Geoff]

No: HPFGUIDX 189199

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CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Chapter 16: The Chamber of Secrets.

Harry and Ron are regretful that they had missed the opportunity to ask Myrtle about the Chamber but they and every other student are dismayed by the prospect of exams. Four days later, Professor McGonagall gives some slightly more welcome news in that the Mandrakes are ready for cutting. Ginny joins the boys and seems to be about to reveal something important but is jnterrupted by Percy's arrival and his assumption that she is about to tell tales about him.

Lockhart has a cavalier attitude to the security arrangements, because he believes that Hagrid was the guilty party; Ron and Harry make use of this to escape to try to reach Myrtle's bathroom. Unfortunately, they meet Professor McGonagall but manage to convince her that they are actually going to see Hermione. As a result they do have to go to the Hospital Wing which proves fortunate because they rescue a piece of paper from Hermione's petrified hand giving detailed information about Basilisks and a suggestion that one is in the pipes. Harry outlines to Ron why he thinks no one has actually been killed this time and then realises that the entrance may be in Myrtle's bathroom. They are on the way to find McGonagall when an announcement tells all students to go to their dormitories. Harry and Ron manage to hide and overhear a staff discussion revealing that Ginny has apparently been kidnapped and taken to the Chamber.

After the staff pressure Lockhart to go after the monster, Harry and Ron go to his room to update him with their news and find him preparing to flee. After they force him to admit that his books were not true and that he is a fake, he attempts to Obliviate them but they disarm him and compel him to go with them to Myrtle's bathroom at wandpoint. Harry finds a marked tap and speaking Parselmouth then reveals a secret opening down which they all slide. On reaching a cast-off Basilisk skin, Lockhart pretends to faint and manages to grab Ron's wand. However, his Obliviate spell goes wrong when the wand backfires bringing down part of the roof and separating Harry from the others. Leaving Ron to try to clear a way through, Harry goes on alone to find a door which, when he speaks to it in Parseltongue, opens.

Questions:

(1) What was your initial thought about what was troubling Ginny when she came to sit with Harry and Ron?

(2) While they are in the common room after the news of Ginny's disappearance, Ron thinks that she must have some information about the Chamber. At this point in the narrative, what would you have thought of this suggestion? What connection could you imagine between her and the Chamber?

(3) Does your view of Lockhart change after reading this chapter? If so, in what way.

(4) Did you expect Harry's first question to Myrtle? Do you think that he was being optimistic in hoping for more information than she actually supplied?

(5) Did it seem surprising that when a simple spell such as "Obliviate" backfired with such devastating results?

(6) Please feel free to additionally pose your own questions.

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Next Chapter Discussion, Chapter 17, "The Heir of Slytherin". If you would like to volunteer to lead a Chamber of Secrets chapter discussion, please drop a note to HPforGrownups-owner @yahoogroups.com (minus that extra space).