[HPforGrownups] Chapter Discussion: Chamber of Secrets Chapter 12, The Polyjuice Potion

[No Limberger]

No: HPFGUIDX 189248

<snip summary>
1. Did you think the reference to the healing powers of phoenix tears would
subsequently prove important?

No.Limberger responds:
I don't recall; it's been too long since I read it.

2. Why does Harry not confide in Dumbledore?

No.Limberger responds:
Teenagers & tweens often don't trust adults for fear of being punished or
being viewed as being crazy for hearing voices.

3. Do you think that Harry believes he knows better than anyone else?

No.Limberger responds:
I'm not sure if I understand the gist of the question; but overall, I'd have
to
say no because he does rely on others for help.

4. Would Harry have got anywhere in his attempt to hoodwink Malfoy without
Hermione's help, knowledge and hard work?

No.Limberger responds:
Probably not. Hermione is very intelligent and Harry & Ron both often
rely on it.

5. What reason did you come up with as to why, after all her efforts with
the
polyjuice potion, with producing the drugged cakes and obtaining the larger
robes Harry and Ron would need when reincarnated as Crabbe and Goyle,
Hermione
apparently decided not to go with the boys?

No.Limberger responds:
I just assumed that something had gone wrong and she didn't want to be seen.

6. Why do you think Hogwarts students of any one house are apparently not
allowed
to know the password to the other houses' common rooms?

No.Limberger responds:
Each house, in my opinion, gives the students a sense of belonging. Each
house
has, for example, it's own colors and its own symbols. If the houses were
separate schools, the students from each school wouldn't know the secrets of

students at the other schools. Instead, they are under a common school, but
maintain separate identities. This, to me, more than security, is why each
house would maintain a separate password.

7. If Harry and Ron could see that the polyjuice potion was wearing off, why
could
not Malfoy see it too?

No.Limberger responds:
Malfoy may not have been paying that much attention as he wouldn't be
expecting
to see Crabbe & Goyle suddenly start to change into different people.

8. How likely did you think it was that Madam Pomfrey would not ask "too
many
questions" when a student turns up having been transformed into an animal?
Would
she not at least have approached Minerva McGonagall who was the expert in
transformation? The only other way we're told of, to transform someone, is
Polyjuice Potion. This involves restricted ingredients. Wouldn't it be Madam
Pomfrey's duty to follow this up?

No.Limberger responds:
Madam Pomfrey appears to be a very knowledgeable school nurse. She would
probably be equivalent to a nurse practitioner (NP) in the States. An NP is
allowed
to prescribe medications. Assuming she is very knowledgeable, she may not
have
felt the need to consult with McGonagall. Given that McGonagall isn't a
trained
medical expert, Pomfrey could very easily have decided to consult with other
wizarding nurses & doctors.

-- 
"Why don't you dance with me, I'm not no limberger!"


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