Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

These notes were taken as I reread the second Harry Potter book and serve as my commentary and musings on the first Harry Potter book by J. K. Rowling. Some things are here because I personally found them interesting. Some are here because I think they might become important later. There are even a few theories sprinkled in here. Some comments are things that are perfectly obvious to anyone reading the book, while others might not be so. These are also spoilers for the first four Harry Potter books and speculation for the other three, so be warned!

Chapter Two

  • Dobby calls Voldemort He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. He says it's a clue to Harry about what's going on. But Dobby also calls Voldemort The Dark Lord. To the best of my memory, the majority of people who use this term of address are Death Eaters. Maybe Rowling was trying to hint at that through Dobby?
  • Dobby says Harry is safe at the Dursleys, but not at Hogwarts. How would he know this? Does this mean that Lucius, and therefore Voldemort, know this? Then again, perhaps Dobby is just afraid Harry will be killed by the basilisk.
  • Dumbledore's powers rival Voldemort's at the height of Voldemort's strength.
  • Mafalda Hopkirk works in the Improper Use of Magic Office at the Ministry of Magic.
  • References to the Dursleys being a safe haven for Harry are plentiful. Harry, however, dreams about this. He sees himself as starving in a cage. Probably just a normal dream about his circumstances, but one can never be too sure.

    Chapter Three

  • Flaw here. How could the Dursleys have slept through someone ripping bars off of their house? They only wake up when Hedwig screeches. I would think something being torn off of your house would be pretty loud.
  • Fred thinks that Dobby was sent to keep Harry from going back to Hogwarts. Fred thought someone was playing a joke on Harry. Lucius must be really afraid of Harry to do this. He must've feared Harry would thwart his plans. This does explain how Dobby was even able to speak to Harry.
  • Only the rich have house-elves. George hints that house-elves like places like manors and castles. At one time, they seemed to have some choice in the family that they would serve, although it appears that now a house-elf is stuck with the family s/he is born into unless set free by that family. There is also a possibility that the rich might actually buy house-elves. House-elves might also be attracted to rich families because it is those families that can best support them.
  • Arthur Weasley is Head of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts office at the Ministry of Magic. According to Ron, only Arthur and an old warlock named Perkins work in that office.
  • It seems to be illegal to enchant objects that are Muggle-made, although this is no deterrent to Arthur, who has a whole garage of them. Is Sirius Black's motorcycle in there? What else could be there?
  • The Weasleys live near a village called Ottery St. Catchpole, a Muggle town.
  • Celestina Warbeck is a popular wizarding singer.
  • Gnomes like to live in the garden. Arthur thinks they're funny.
  • Mundungus Fletcher was raided for having illegal Muggle artifacts. Tried to hex Arthur when his back was turned. If I'm not mistaken, Fletcher is one of the names Dumbledore mentioned as being one of the "old gang."
  • A wizard named Mortlake was taken in for questioning about some odd ferrets.
  • Arthur is involved in writing laws that pertain to Muggle artifacts. Because of this, he also knows all the loopholes in those laws.
  • A ghoul lives in the Weasley attic.

    Chapter Four

  • Percy and Bill both received twelve O.W.L.'s.
  • The way Draco talks about Harry makes it sound like he's jealous. He really seems to have a thing about Harry's scar. He brought it up two times when talking to his father. Lucius remarks Draco's gone on this tangent at least a dozen times over the summer.
  • Lucius refers to Voldemort as "the Dark Lord."
  • The shop Harry appeared in on Knockturn Alley is run by a Mr. Borgin (shop name: Borgin and Burkes). Side note: Knockturn sounds identical to the word Nocturne, which means darkness or night.
  • Lucius tells Draco it isn't prudent to appear to not be fond of Harry. It is interesting that Draco is not afraid to tell the world that he can't stand Harry when it seems the Death Eater line is to pretend to "be fond" of Harry. Draco at least doesn't try to be something he's not.
  • A Muggle Protection Act is in the works, most likely proposed by Arthur. Lucius is freaked enough by it to start selling items, seemingly poisons.
  • The Ministry of Magic hasn't bothered the Malfoys.
  • Draco is in a bit of trouble at home becasue Hermione beat him on every exam. Lucius hints Draco's grades might not be the highest, but it is unknown whether he says this because Draco really is not doing well or because Lucius is a perfectionist who will accept nothing less from his son. Either way, Draco's defense is that all the teachers have their favorites. This is faulty reasoning because if that were true, then Draco would have aced the Potions exam, or at least done better on it than Hermione.
  • Draco's biggest desire appears to be wanting to be famous.
  • Percy was looking at a book called Prefects Who Gained Power. I somehow have the feeling that Tom Riddle's future claim to fame is not mentioned in this book. Also hints at Percy's ambitious side.
  • Ron says that Percy wants to be Minister of Magic someday.

    Chapter Five

  • Ginny had already begun writing in the diary before they left for Hogwarts.

    Chapter Seven

  • Lucius bought the Slytherin team new brooms. This appears to have been done so Draco could be on their Quidditch team.
  • Hermione touches a nerve with Draco when she says he bought his way in and implied he couldn't get in on talent.
  • Hagrid rarely criticizes teachers.
  • Hagrid also says Lockhart is the only person who applied for the Defense Against the Dark Arts job. This implies that Snape, the man who everyone says has been wanting this job for years, did not apply for the position.
  • Hogwarts has been losing Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers for awhile now. Sounds like Quirrell isn't the first teacher they've lost in this position.

    Chapter Eight

  • Filch always seems to be able to find Mrs. Norris when she's spotted a troublemaker. To me, this would imply some sort of a mental link between the two. Yet Filch is a Squib. Perhaps his magical talents lie in a different area than the more commonly known fields?
  • Great quote from Ron: "Why would anyone want to celebrate the day they died?" (p. 130 hardcover) Makes me think of all those that celebrate the day Elvis died.
  • Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets takes place in 1992. This can be deduced from Nearly Headless Nick's celebrating his 500th Death Day party, and it was said he died in 1492. Using this timeline, we can place Harry's birth year at 1980.

    Chapter Nine

  • As I mentioned earlier, Filch and Mrs. Norris seem to be connected in some way. But if so, the link must be selective at what it transmits, because Filch seemed to have no idea that she was in danger. It is unknown whether he had any idea she could be found in the area or not, since he seemed surprised to find her there. Although the surprise could be attributed to her condition.
  • Lockhart's pictures are, like Lockhart, vain. In the picture with Harry and Lockhart, Harry is trying to get away from Lockhart and not be on camera. I have heard that some cultures believe that having their picture taken can steal a little piece of their souls. I wonder if wizard pictures really do capture a little piece of the subject(s)'s souls/feelings at the instant of taking?
  • Snape might trust Filch, but that doesn't mean he likes him. He was trying not to smile at Filch's misfortune. If he does like Filch, then he sure doesn't like Mrs. Norris.
  • Snape wants to take advantage of this situation to get Harry off of the Quidditch team. He must be afraid that Draco is no match for Harry.
  • Time to comment on something from the book and the movie. In both, Dumbledore says to Snape, "Innocent until proven guilty, Severus." (hardcover p. 144) In the book, Snape looks furious at this comment, but in the movie the two shared a look I found interesting. Dumbledore looked pointedly at Snape, and Snape had a weird look, almost like he'd been reminded of something he'd been trying to forget but now had been properly chastised.
  • Lockhart volunteers to make the potion to cure Mrs. Norris. Snape reminds them that he is the Potions master. To me, yet another thing disproving that Snape really wants to be the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. This sounded like a man who is proud of being the Potions master and is not willing to relinquish this position to another. Although it could also be taken as his clinging to that position since he didn't get the other one, bitterness at not being considered good enough for the DADA job or something.
  • As I stated before, Filch is a Squib. Worth mentioning again because it kind of makes him an outcast in the wizarding world. Yet another outcast that Dumbledore has taken in and given a place.
  • Ron says he'd've gotten the train home if the Sorting Hat tried to put him in Slytherin. Making me wonder how often the train runs between Hogwarts and London, and it if stops at other places besides those two places?
  • Fred turned Ron's teddy bear into a spider when Ron was five.
  • Myrtle can affect matter (splash water).
  • Hermione learned about the Polyjuice Potion from Snape. He mentioned it briefly in passing in one of his classroom lectures.
  • Moste Potente Potions is in the Restricted Section. Interesting that Snape is talking about a potion that can only be found in the Restricted Section to a bunch of second years.

    Chapter Ten

  • Homorphus Charm can be used to turn a werewolf back into a man. I'm betting we'll see this one used in upcoming books. But what are the details surrounding this charm? Is it a one-time thing, or are the effects permanent? How dangerous is this charm for the werewolf upon which it is cast?
  • I was confused at this part. Why would Gryffindor have to forfeit the match if there is an indication of foul play that has the potential to hurt or kill one of the players? One would think there would be an investigation into this claim and the match would be replayed at a later date instead of automatically saying the team that asked for an investigation also forfeits the match.
  • Dobby tampered with the Bludger, ostensibly to make Harry have to leave Hogwarts. Coincidentally, it just happened to be in the match against Slytherin.
  • Dobby claims he hurts himself because he's going against the family. Yet a lot of these things are being done at the family's behest. Is he really doing it because he knows that what the family is telling him to do is wrong?
  • House elves and other unfortunates were treated like vermin when Voldemort was at the height of his powers.

    Chapter Eleven

  • Harry asked Percy if he knew where Ron and Hermione were. Percy seemed to know they were in the bathroom and not especially care, which is a complete 180 from last time.
  • Flitwick is rumored to have been a Dueling champion when he was younger.
  • Dumbledore allowed Lockhart to start the Dueling Club. This, amongst other things, makes me wonder why Dumbledore kept hiring incompetent DADA teachers.
  • Snape tells Draco what spell to cast at Harry. When Harry reveals himself as a Parselmouth, Snape looks at Harry in a shrewd and calculating way. Was Snape expecting this development to occur?
  • Salazar Slytherin was also known as Serpent-tongue because of his Parselmouth ability.

    Chapter Twelve

  • Dumbledore's desk is an enormous clawfoot. A dragon claw?
  • Fawkes has red and gold plumage.
  • Draco chose to stay for the holidays. He laughed at Harry for doing so last year. Why did he stay this year, then?
  • Hermione planned to change into Millicent Bulstrode. Bulstrode went home for Christmas. One would think she would have opted not to change in light of this information.
  • Percy and Penelope have spent their time together in the dungeons.
  • Arthur was fined over the flying car. Lucius tried to make it so Arthur would have to resign and so it would hurt Arthur's chances of getting the Muggle Protection Act passed.
  • Lucius says Dumbledore is the worst thing to happen to Hogwarts. Draco says it's because of Dumbledore's love of Muggleborns.
  • Draco on the subject of Slytherin's heir, " I wish I knew who it is. I could help them." (hardcover P. 223) Who is them? The heir is only one person.
  • Draco hopes Hermione is the heir's next victim.
  • Lucius won't tell Draco much because it would look bad if Draco knew too much. He just told Draco to keep a low profile.
  • Lucius was also mad because his place had been raided.

    Chapter Thirteen

  • Ron regarding T. M. Riddle and why he received a Special Service award, "Maybe he murdered Myrtle; that would've done everyone a favor." (hardcover p. 232)
  • Harry kept flipping through the pages of the empty diary like he was reading it.
  • Harry felt drawn to T. M. Riddle, like to an old childhood friend.
  • Riddle won the Medal of Magical Merit and an award for Special Services to the School. He was also a Head Boy.
  • Lockhart says Flitwick is very knowledgeable on Entrancing Charms.
  • Riddle was in his fifth year when the Chamber was opened.
  • Riddle "caught" Hagrid on June 13, 1942.
  • Fifty years from 1992 is 1942. In 1942, Dumbledore taught at Hogwarts and had auburn hair and beard. The headmaster is Armando Dippett. Dumbledore would go on to defeat Grindelwald three years later.

    Chapter Fourteen

  • Cornelius Fudge wears a pinstriped suit, a scarlet tie, a black cloak, purple boots, and a lime-green bowler. Is there some sort of symbolism to this? Other witches and wizards throughout the series seem to be particular to one of these given colors. Do they represent different Orders of Magic, of which Fudge, being Minister, would have to represent all and yet favor none?

    Chapter Fifteen

  • A logistics question here: If the professors all chaperone the students of their last class to their next class, then who is waiting for the students at their next class? Granted, a couple of the professors might be at their rooms because they had a prep period before, but that's not going to help much.

    Chapter Sixteen

  • At the news that a student has been taken into the Chamber of Secrets, even Snape seemed to show some fear. He gripped the back of a chair tightly.
  • All the professors can't stand Lockhart. Snape initiates the speech to get rid of him so the rest can attend to business.
  • Snape also inadvertently saved Harry and Ron from Lockhart by teaching them Expelliarmus at the Dueling Club.

    Chapter Seventeen

  • Riddle learned Ginny's deepest, darkest secrets and fears. Since Riddle is a memory of a young Voldemort, does the present Voldemort know all of this, or does this knowledge only belong to the Riddle of the diary? She told him all about Harry, too.
  • Hagrid got into trouble every other week at school and snuck off a lot to the Forbidden Forest.
  • Dumbledore taught Transfiguration and never liked Riddle all that much. He watched Riddle closely after Hagrid was expelled.
  • Riddle thinks Harry has no extraordinary magical talent.
  • Riddle used the name Voldemort amongst a select few at Hogwarts.
  • The phoenix has a very weird, powerful song.
  • Riddle thought for a bit that there was something special about Harry because of all their likenesses: half bloods, orphans, Muggle raised, Parselmouths, and a physical resemblance. Does not seem to think the love Harry's mother had for him has anything to do with anything.
  • Basilisks appear to have no power over phoenixes.
  • A sword came through the Sorting Hat. Can it serve as a portal to somewhere? Does someone or something live inside it?

    Chapter Eighteen

  • Riddle disappeared after graduation, hung out with dark witches and wizards, and had many magical transformations. Hardly anyone recognized Voldemort as Riddle because of this.
  • Ron and Harry now have Special Awards to the School.
  • Dumbledore hired Lockhart knowing about his propensity with Memory Charms. Did he know Lockhart was a fraud, too? If so, that brings up once again the question about why he hired Lockhart in the first place?
  • Dumbledore seems interested when Harry comments about his and Riddle's similarities.
  • Dumbledore claims Voldemort passed on certain powers to Harry when he cursed him.
  • The Weasleys might be poor, but they are still considered a prominent pure-blood family.
  • Lucius concocted this whole scheme to attack the Weasley family status and to hurt Arthur's Muggle Protection Act.
  • Lucius quote, "You'll meet the same sticky end as your parents one of these days, Harry Potter. They were meddlesome fools, too." (hardcover p, 338)
  • Lucius was booted from the school governor position.

    Copyright April 14, 2003 by Kelly M. Grosskreutz.

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