Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Chapter 5 The Dementor

The Hogwarts students ride back to school on the Hogwarts Express. The trio sit in a compartment with and shabby looking wizard who turns out to be their new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor. Harry tells his friends how Sirius Black wishes to kill him. During the journey, a dementor comes abroad the train to search for Sirius. Harry is greatly affected and their new teacher, Lupin, sends the dementor away with a spell. When they reach Hogwarts McGonagall wishes to speak with Harry and Hermione (concerning different matters).

I know it says this about the Ministry of Magic wizards:

Mr. Weasley marched Harry across the short stretch of pavement toward the first two old-fashioned dark green cars, each of which was driven by a furtive-looking wizard wearing a suit of emerald velvet.

But I still imagine something a little like this:

"Listen, I want you to give me your word --"
"-- that I'll be a good boy and stay in the castle?" said Harry gloomily.
"Not entirely," said Mr. Weasley, who looked more serious than Harry had ever seen him. "Harry, swear to me that you won't go looking for Black."

Mr. Weasley knows, he knows Harry would want revenge. :(


I don't go looking for trouble," said Harry, nettled. "Trouble usually finds me."

Yes, Harry, but you pursue the trouble. That's the problem.

The train rattled, the rain hammered, the wind roared, but still, Professor Lupin slept.

Hehe, what a bum. :]

"But didn't any of you -- fall off your seats?" said Harry awkwardly.
"No," said Ron, looking anxiously at Harry again. "Ginny was shaking like made, though...."

Harry fainted with good reason, his parents death, the abuse of the Dursleys, but I never noticed Ginny was also deeply affected. Pondering on the matter, I realized she does have a right to be so affected. She had such a traumatic experience, Voldemort possesed her only last year.

"Well, he shoudl have some chocolate, at the very least," said Madam Pomfrey, who was now trying to peer into Harry's eyes.
"I've already had some," said Harry. "Proffesor Lupin gave me some. He gave it to all of us."
"Did he, now?" said Madam Pomfrey approvingly. "So we've finally got a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher who knows his remedies?"

Yeah and he's the best DaDA teacher ever!


Hagrid wasn't a fully qualified wizard; he had been expelled from Hogwarts in his third year for a crime he had not committed. It had been Harry, Ron, and Hermione who had cleared Hagrid's name last year.

Does this mean Hagrid is allowed to use magic again? :D

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Chapter 4 The Leaky Cauldron

Harry spends a lovely three weeks finishing his homework, buying his new school supplies. Harry meets with Ron and Hermione and they go to the pet store together. Hermione buys a cat names Crookshanks while Ron buys some rat tonic for the sickly Scabbers. Later that night Harry accidentally overhears Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Harry discovers that Sirius Black desires to kill him.

It took Harry several days to get used to his strange new freedom. Never before had he been able to get up whenever he wanted or eat whatever he fancied. He could even go wherever he pleased, as long as it was in Diagon Alley, and as this long cobbled street was packed with the most fascinating wizarding shops in the world, Harry felt no desire to break his word to Fudge and stray back into the Muggle world.

WOOHOO! Freedom in awesome wizard world!

He had never wanted anything as much in his whole life -- but he had never lost a Quidditch match on his Nimibus Two Thousand, and what as the point in emptying his Gringotts vault for the Firebolt, when he had a very good broom already?

Even in the wizarding world things become outdated so fast.


"Harry! HARRY!"
They were there, both of them, sitting outside Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor -- Ron looking incredibly freckly, Hermione very brown, both waving frantically at him.

YAAY!

Percy, however, held out his hand solemnly as though he and Harry had never met and said, "Harry. How nice to see you."
"Hello, Percy," said Harry trying not to laugh.
"I hope you're well?" said Percy pompously, shaking hands. It was rather like being introduced to the mayor.
"Very well, thanks --"
"Harry!" said Fred, elbowing Percy out of the way and bowing deeply. "Simply splendid to see you, old boy --"
"Marvelous," said George, pushing Fred aside and seizing Harry's hand in turn. "Absolutely spiffing."
Percy scowled.
"That's enough, now," said Mrs. Weasley.
"Mum!" said Fred as though he'd only just spotted her and seizing her hand too. "How really corking to see you --"

 The Weasleys just make me smile so much. :)

"The Ministry's providing a couple of cars," said Mr. Weasley.
Everyone looked up at him.
"Why?" said Percy curiously.
"It's because of you, Perce," said George seriously. "And there'll be little flags on the hoods with HB on them --"
"-- for Humongous Bighead," said Fred.
Everyone except Percy and Mrs. Weasley snorted into their pudding.

THAT MEANS MR. WEASLEY LAUGHED TOO! :D

WEASLEYS JUST MAKE ME SO HAPPY. One point for all of them again!

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Chapter 3 The Knight Bus

Having left Privet Drive, Harry isn't sure what to do. Feeling as though he's being watched he spots a large dog watching him. Suddenly, the Knight Bus appears on which Harry takes a wild ride to the Leaky Cauldron. The Minister of Magic is there he explains to Harry matters have been taken care of and that he will be expelled. Harry is to spend three weeks at the Leaky Cauldron before going to Hogwarts.

Harry was several streets away before he collapsed onto a low wall in Magnolia Crescent, panting from the effort of dragging his trunk. He sat quite still, anger still surging through him, listening to the frantic thumping of his heart.
But after ten minutes alone in the dark street, a new emotion overtook him: panic. Whichever way he looked at it, he had never been in a worse fix.

JK wrote that so exact to what it's like.

Fudge has been criticized by some members of the INternational Federation of Warlocks for informing the Muggle Prime Minister of the crisis.

I find myself surprised that I'm agreeing with Fudge but he had good reasons to warn the Muggle Prime Minister. Sirius had already showed he wasn't afraid of killing innocent Muggles. (But not really.)

He, Harry, had broken wizard law just like Sirius Black. Was inflating Aunt Marge enough to land him in Azkaban?

Harry, Harry, Harry. You didn't mean to blow her up. It was magic caused by emotion not action.

"Oh, my dear boy, we're not going to punish you for a little thing like that!" cried Fudge, waving his crumpet impatiently. "It was an accident! We don't send people to Azkaban just for blowing up their aunts!"
But this didn't tally at all with Harry's past dealings with the Ministry of Magic.
"Last year, I got an official warning just because a house-elf smashed a pudding in my uncle's house!" he told Fudge frowning.
"The Ministry of Magic said I'd be expelled from Hogwarts if there was anymore magic there!"
Unless Harry's eyes were decieving him, Fudge was suddenly looking awkward.
"Circumstances change, Harry....We have to take into account...in the present climate...Surely you don't want to be expelled?"
"Of course I don't." said Harry.
"Well then what;s all the fuss about?" laughed Fudge.

This doesn't make sense to me. Okay, yes, last year Harry was warned for magic. But that magic Dobby did purposefully. Blowing up Aunt Marge was not planned. The way Fudge acts make it seem Harry should be punished for the magic he did. But if he's going to be punished for emotion based magic why then wasn't he punished for all those times he used magic on accident through emotion in Sorcerer's Stone (before he went to Hogwarts, growing his hair pack, shrinking sweater, being on the roof, etc)? It doesn't add up.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Chapter 2 Aunt Marge's Big Mistake

Vernon's sister, Marge, is to visit for the week. If Harry behaves well, Vernon will sign his permission form to visit Hogsmeade. Harry has a difficult time keeping his temper in check. One night at dinner Harry snaps in anger causing Aunt Marge to expand like a balloon. Harry grabs his things and leaves Privet Drive of his own accord.

Uncle Vernon was pulling on his car coat. "I'm not taking you, " he snarled as he turned to see Harry watching him. "Like I wanted to come, " said Harry coldly. "I want to ask you something."

Oh boy, Harry's starting to sound like a teenager. ;)


"It's damn good of Vernon and Petunia to keep you. Wouldn't have done it myself. You'd have gone straight to an orphanage if you'd been dumped on my doorstep."
Harry was bursting to say he'd rather live in an orphanage than with the Dursleys...

Imagine how different the books would be if Harry went to an orphanage. It would be interesting and make his life even more similar to Tom's.


Her great red face started to expand, her tiny eyes bulged, and her mouth stretched too tightly for speech -- next second, several buttons had just burst from her tweed jacket and pinged off the walls -- she was inflating like a monstrous balloon, her stomach bursting free of her tweed waistband, each or her fingers blowing up like a salami --

Harry! Control your temper, please. :(

And in the next moment, he was out in the dark, quiet street, heaving his heavy trunk behind him, Hedwig's age under his arm.

:(

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Chapter 1 Owl Post

We find Harry back at Privet Drive, slightly miserable. He has to do his school in secret and hans't heard from his friends in weeks. On his birthday, though, he receives presents for the first time ever from Ron, Hermione and Hagrid.

 

He replaced the top of the ink bottle; pulled an old pillowcase from under his bed; put the flashlight, A History of Magic, his essay, quill, and ink inside it; got out of bed; and hid the lot under a loose floorboard under his bed.

Ah, the loose floorboard trick, you're a slick one, Harry Potter.

They landed with a soft flump on Harry's bed, and the middle owl, which was large and gray, keeled right over and lay motionless. There was a large package tied to its legs. Harry recognized the unconscious owl at once--his name was Errol, and he belonged to the Weasley family.

I want to buy the Weasleys many things, including a new owl. :(

I couldn't believe it when Dad won the Daily Prophet Draw. Seven hundred galleons!
700 galleons is equal to $3,366.83, in case you were curious as I was. (Gringotts helped me out with that, by the way.)


Harry now turned to his present and unwrapped it. Inside was what looked like a miniature glass spinning top. There was another note from Ron beneath it. Harry -- this is a Pocket Sneakoscope. If there's someone untrustworthy around, it's supposed to light up and spin.

Quick, Harry! Throw it out! Snatchers will catch you because of the noise it made. :( :( :(


Well, this chapter recapped a bit but it was much less annoying than the last book.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Chapter 18 Dobby's Reward

Harry explains all of the Trio's adventure with the Chamber of Secrets to Dumbledore, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and Professor McGonagall. After everyone leaves the office, Dumbledore has a talk with Harry about being a true Gryffindor. Lucius Malfoy appears and we discover his is Dobby's master. When Dumbledore and Harry have each said things to Mr. Malfoy, Harry tricks Mr. Malfoy into freeing Dobby. The end of the year feast takes place and soon everyone heads home for the summer.

What if they expelled her? Harry thought in panic. Riddle's diary didn't work anymore...How could they prove it had been he who'd made her do it all? Instinctively, Harry looked at Dumbledore, who smiled faintly, the firelight glancing off his half-moonspectacles. "What interests me most, " said Dumbledore gently, "is how Lord Voldemort managed to enchant Ginny, when my sources tell me he is currently in hiding in the forests of Albania. 

I wouldn't be surprised that Dumbledore is actually reading Harry's mind right now (or Dumbledore is just very clever which is not surprising either). I think it's interesting how Rowling puts these possible mind reading situations in the books before we're told that such a thing exists in this universe. There has been an instance in both Sorcerer's Stone and Chamber of Secrets where it directly states that Harry wonders if Snape could read his mind. I forgot to mention them both times but I did find them extremely interesting.

He strode over to the door and opened it. "Bed rest and perhaps a large, steaming mug of hot chocolate. I always find that cheers me up, " he added, twinkling kindly down at her.

Dumbledore is just so kind and lovely. I give him three points for being the incredible person he is. 

"You will find that Madam Pomfrey is still awake. She's just giving out Mandrake juice -- I daresay the basilisk's victims will be waking up any moment. "
"So Hermione's okay!" said Ron brightly.

D'aww Ron. :]

"Very strange tales they told me, too...Several of them seemed to think that you had threatened to curse their families if they didn't agree to suspend me in the first place. "
Mr. Malfoy went even paler than usual, but his eyes were still slits of fury. 

Harry didn't know whether the best bit was Hermione running toward him, screaming "You solved it! You solved it!" or Justin hurrying over from the Hufflepuff table to wring. His hand and apologize endlessly for suspecting him, or Hagrid turning up at half past three, cuffing Harry and Ron so hard on the shoulders that they were knocked into their plates of trifle, or hi sand Ron's four hundred points for Gryffindor securing the House Cup for the second year running, or Professor McGonagall standing up to tell them all that the exams had been canceled as a school treat ("Oh, no!" said Hermione), or Dumbledore announcing that, unfortunately, Professor Lockhart would be unable to return next year, owing to the fact that he needed to go away and get his memory back.

What a joyous celebration, so many great things happening. I'd like to give Justin one point for apologizing. I would also like to give Harry four points, I've been forgetting to give him points and he certainly deserves them.


Harry remembered something. "Ginny -- what did you see Percy doing, that he didn't want you to tell anyone?"
"Oh, that, " said Ginny, giggling. "Well -- Percy's got a girlfriend."

"You won't tease him, will you?" she added anxiously.
"Wouldn't dream of it, " said Fred, who was looking like his birthday had come early.
"Definitely not, " said George, sniggering.

 Oh, Ginny, haven't you learned by now? Of course they're going to tease Percy!


Memorable Lines:
"Dear me," said Dumbledore, shaking his head, his long silver mustache quivering. "Impaled upon your own sword, Gilderoy!"
"Sword?" said Lockhart dimly. "Haven't got a sword. That boy has, though." He pointed at Harry. "He'll lend you one."

The Chamber of Secrets had a good plot that lured me in throughout the reading. However it had three of the characters I cannot bear to tolerate, especially with them all being in one book. Because of that it made the book a bit difficult to read. I do think the Chamber of Secrets is a very important book, it provides solutions for the future books. There are so many things in the Chamber of Secrets that will crop up throughout the series. So while I may not find this book to be my favorite, I acknowledge it's importance in this series.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Chapter 17 The Heir of Slytherin

Harry reaches the Chamber to find Ginny unconscious and Riddle there, looking strangely blurry. Tom Riddle reveals that he is the Heir of Slytherin, that he made Ginny do his bidding through the diary and that he is Voldemort as a young man. Fawkes helps Harry by plucking the basilisk's eye as it tries to attack Harry. Harry pulls a sword out of the Sorting Hat and defeats the basilisk with it. He also destroys the diary with a basilisk fang. Harry, Ginny, Ron and Lockhart are carried by Fawkes out of Chamber of Secrets.

"Ginny!" Harry muttered, sprinting to her and dropping to his knees. "Ginny -- don't be dead -- please don't be dead --" He flung his wand aside, grabbed Ginny's shoulders, and turned her over.

OH NO HARRY POTTER. Keep that wand with you!

Riddle laughed, a high, cold laugh that didn't suit him.

If I say it myself, Harry, I've always been able to charm the people I needed.
Tom Riddle, poor but brilliant, parentless but so brave, school prefect, model student...

Yes! This is exactly how I pictured Tom Riddle. He was sly and sneaky on the inside but on the outside he seemed innocent and wonderfully charming. I think the actor for Tom Riddle in the Chamber of Secrets movie did a fantastic job but I greatly disliked the actor's performance in Half-Blood Prince.

Instead, the hat contracted, as though an invisible hand was squeezing it very tightly. Something very hard and heavy thudded onto the top of Harry's head, almost knocking him out. Stars winking in front of his eyes, he grabbed the top of the hat to pull it off and felt something long and hard beneath it. A gleaming silver sword had appeared inside the hat, its handle glittering with rubies the size of eggs.

Imagine if the sword fell the other way. We would no longer have Harry Potter, hmhm.

How come you've got a sword?" said Ron, gaping at the glittering weapon in Harry's hand. 

I can just imagine Ron's great confusion and awe at this moment.

While this chapter had a lot of dialogue I still found myself feeling tense as I read it. I was surprised since it's such an info-dump but it was kind of interesting to read these little snippets of information spoken by Riddle that will become important later on.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Chapter 16 The Chamber of Secrets

Things grow more suspenseful in this chapter. Ginny teeters on the edge of revealing secret information but is interrupted before she gets a chance. Soon enough, Ginny is taken into the Chamber of Secrets to die. Lockhart, the horrible fraud, is given a chance to take on the monster in the Chamber of Secrets. While he prepares to flee, Harry and Ron force him to come with them. After talking with Myrtle the discover the entrance to the Chamber. In the Chamber Lockhart uses Ron's broken wand and ends up having his powerful spell rebound.

"Can you imagine me taking exams with this?" he asked Harry, holding up his wand, which had just started whistling loudly.

:(



Ginny jumped up as though her chair had just been electrified, gave Percy a fleeting, frightened look, and scampered away.

Ginny acted rather oddly that whole time. Obviously very afraid to reveal something. We assume she was going to tell of the Chamber of Secrets not of catching Percy and Penelope snogging. But what was it that made her eventually jump up and leave. Was it Ron's badgering that made her nervous? The fact that Harry talked to her and about exactly what she was going to tell of? Her fear of Percy finding out? Or even everyoe in general finding out?

"Then I had to put a Memory Charm on them so they wouldn't remember doing it. If there's one thing I pride myself on, it's my Memory Charms."

Well then, Lockhart. Why didn't you work for the Ministry of Magic! They could've put your excellent memory charms to great use. One point from you!

There was a very pregnant pause.
"I'll try and shift some of this rock," said Ron, who seemed to be trying to keep his voice steady. "So you can -- can get back through. And, Harry --"
"See you in a bit," said Harry, trying to inject some confidence in his shaking voice.

What was Ron going to say? I want to know. :/

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Chapter 15 Aragog

With Dumbledore and Hagrid gone, the entire school grows more solemn. In a Herbology lesson Harry notices spiders heading to the Forbidden Forest. One night, with the invisibility cloak, Harry and Ron set out for the forest. There they discover Aragog, a giant spider,  he reveals Hagrid's innocence and hints at other things. When the boys go to leave, though, they are attacked by Aragog's numerous children. They escape with the help of the now wild Mr. Weasley's car.

Snape swept past Harry, making no comment about Hermione's empty seat and cauldron.
"Sir," said Malfoy loudly. "Sir, why don't you apply for the headmaster's job?"

HE WILL BE THE HEADMASTER. :O
Also, I think it's excellent how JK keeps mentioning Hermione's absence. She's brought the problem very close by having Hermione be petrified and she's not going to let the characters or the readers forget that because action needs to be taken and quick.

"I'm quite surprised the Mudbloods haven't all packed their bags by now," Malfoy went on. "Bet you five Galleons the next one dies. Pity it wasn't Granger --"
The bell rang at that moment, which was lucky; at Malfoy's last words, Ron had leapt off his stool, and in the scramble to collect bags and books, his attempts to reach Malfoy went unnoticed.
"Let me at him," Ron growled as Harry and Dean hung onto his arms. "I don't care, I don't need my wand, I'm going to kill him with my bare hands --" 

RON WEASLEY

One point for you.

Ernie took a deep breath and said, very formally, "I just want to say, Harry, that I'm sorry I ever suspected you. I know you'd never attack Hermione Granger, and I apologize for all the stuff I said. We're in the same boat now, and, well --"

He held out a pudgy hand, and Harry shook it.

Ernie and his friend Hannah came to work at the same Shrivelfig as Harry and Ron.

That was very decent of you, Ernie. It takes guts to admit you're wrong and apologize. I award you with two points.

"My dear young man, the Minister of Magic wouldn't have taken Hagrid if he hadn't been one hundred percent sure he was guilty," said Lockhart, in the tone of someone explaining one and one made two.

You know what, I'm taking away three points from Mister Cornelius-jerkface-Fudge. Hmph. One more point from Lockhart as well.

Ron read the message, swallowed hard, and looked sideways at the empty seat usually filled by Hermione. The sight seemed to stiffen his resolve, and he nodded.

How is it not obvious that Ron and Hermione would end up with each other? Right now, of course, I think that Ron thinks of her only as a friend. He defends Hermione very often in this book. Hermione's petrification is Ron's source of determination and courage. Does he want to follow the spiders into the Forbidden Forest? Heck no! He's terrified of spiders and everyone fears the forest. But he's going to do it anyways because Hermione has been harmed and this business of petrifying needs to stop.

Standing up for someone and gaining your courage from them isn't exactly a sign of romantic feelings. That's not what I'm trying to say. What I'm trying to say is that Ron defends Hermione. Ron finds reason to continue on in Hermione's petrification. Not Harry but Ron.

Mr. Weasley's car was standing, empty, in the middle of a circle of thick trees under a roof of dense branches, its headlights ablaze. As Ron walked, openmouthed, toward it, it moved slowly toward him, exactly like a large, turquoise dog greeting its owner.

"it;s been here all the time!" said Ron delightedly, walking around the car. "Look at it. The forest's turned it wild...."

The sides of the car were scratched and smeared with mud. Aparently it had taken to trundling around the forest on it's own.

I like to think the car stayed in the forest, alive forever. It would eventually become a sort of Hogwarts legend.

I heard there's a possessed car in the Forbidden Forest.

It's not possesssed! Harry Potter, the one who defeated Voldemort, made it enchanted.

Yeah, I heard he rode it to school one year and crashed it into the forest. That's why it's there.

Over time facts get muddled, you know.

Mr. Weasley's car was thundering down the slope, headlights glaring, its horn screeching, knocking spiders aside; several were thrown onto their backs, their endless legs waving in the air. The car screeched to a halt in front of Harry and Ron and the doors flew open.

EVEN THE WEASLEY'S CAR IS AMAZING. That's it, every Weasley gets one point, including the car.

"Ron -- that girl who died. Aragog said she was found in a bathroom," said Harry, ignoring Neville's snuffling snores from the corner. "What if she never left the bathroom? What if she's still there?

Ron rubbed his eyes, frowning through the moonlight. And then he understood, too.

"You don't think -- not Moaning Myrtle?"

Now you're getting somewhere!

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Chapter 13 Cornelius Fudge

Harry hears the voices again and Hermione has an epiphany and runs off to the library. A Qudditch match begins but is interrupted by Professor McGonagall who sends everyone back to their common rooms. She takes Ron and Harry to the hospital wing, though, where they discover Hermione and Penelope have been petrified.

"Riddle might have got the wrong person," said Hermione. "Maybe it was some other monster that was attacking people...."

Hermione's right! Doubt Riddle, please. Hagrid is your friend. Tom Riddle is not.

Hermione looked aghast at the news.
"But -- only a Gryffindor could have stolen -- nobody else knows our password --"
"Exactly," said Harry.

I wonder who I originally thought had stolen the diary, if I had suspected anyone at all.

"The voice!" said Harry, looking over his shoulder. "I just heard it again -- didn't you?"
Ron shook his head, wide-eyed. Hermione, however, clapped a hand to her forehead.
"Harry -- I think I've just understood something! I've got to go to the library!"
And she sprinted away, up the stairs.

Hermione, I don't know why I haven't done this before now. You are so clever and helpful. A great friend indeed. Since I have been neglecting awarding you with points I now give you 8 points.

Harry was just mounting his broom when Professor McGonagall came half marching, half running across the pitch, carrying an enormous purple megaphone.
Harry's heart dropped like a stone.
"This match has been canceled," Professor McGonagall called through the megaphone, addressing the packed stadium.

Ah come on! I wanted to read a match with Hufflepuff. Also why didn't McGonagall use Sonorus, eh?


"Percy's in shock," George told Harry quietly. "That Ravenclaw girl -- Penelope Clearwater -- she's a prefect. I don't think he thought the monster would dare attack a prefect."

OR HIS GIRLFRIEND. haha

The door banged shut and Ron pulled off the Invisibility Cloak.
"We're in trouble now," he said hoarsely. "No Dumbledore. They might as well close the school tonight. There'll be an attack a day with him gone."
Fang started howling, scratching at the closed door.

Poor Fang. :(

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Chapter 13 The Very Secret Diary

After a long time, Hermione is finally released from the hospital wing. Ron and Harry happen upon Moaning Myrtle when she floods the girl's bathroom because a book was "thrown" at her. Harry takes this book which he discovers is Tom Marvolo Riddle's diary. An incident happens and Harry discovers the secret powers of this diary. He enters a memory of Tom's which makes Hagrid out to seem the Heir of Slytherin.

Hermione remained in the hospital wing for many weeks. There was a flurry of rumor about her disappearance when the rest of the school arrived back from their Christmas holidays, because of course everyone thought she had been attacked.

BUT SHE WILL BE. D':

Harry and Ron looked under the sink where Myrtle was pointing. A small, thin book lay there. It had a shabby black cover and was as wet as everything else in the bathroom. Harry stepped forward to pick it up, but Ron flung out an arm to hold him back.
"What?" said Harry.
"Are you crazy?" said Ron. "It could be dangerous."
"Dangerous?" said Harry laughing. "Come off it, how could it be dangerous?"

IT IS DANGEROUS. BE CAREFUL. :(

"I wouldn't mind knowing how Riddle got an award for special services to Hogwarts either."
"Could've been anything," said Ron. "Maybe he got thirty O.W.L.s or saved a teacher from the giant squid. Maybe he murdered Myrtle; that would've done everyone a favor...."

O-M-G, HE DID KILL MYRTLE.

Valentine's Day is terrible enough I can't imagine living through Lockhart's Valentine's Day at Hogwarts.

Malfoy was looking furious, and as Ginny passed him to enter her classroom, he yelled spitefully after her, "I don't think Potter liked your valentine much!"
Ginny covered her face with her hands and ran into class. Snarling, Ron pulled out his wand, too, but Harry pulled him away. Ron didn't need to spend the whole of Charms belching slugs.

Poor, Ginny. Oh to be eleven and easily embarrassed of your affections for someone.

I think the interaction between Tom and Harry in this chapter is interesting. Tom carefully chooses his words here, using them to his advantage. When in the memory he first shows himself as unprivileged, worthy of pity and concern. He ends up revealing Hagrid who is guilty but not of the concerned crime.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Capter 12 The Polyjuice Potion

Hagrid bursts into Dumbledores office and protests that Harry did not petrify Justin and Nick. Dumbledore believes the same and so Hagrid left. Dumbledore simply asks Harry if there is something Harry would like to tell him. Harry declines this kindhearted offer. Christmas comes and Harry, Hermione and the Weasleys stay at Hogwarts as well as Draco and his companions. After the Christmas feast the trio drinks the finished polyjuice potion. Hermione stays behind for some reason while Ron and Harry go in search of the Slytherin Common Room. When they reach their destination they talk with Malfoy and discover their suspicions are not true. Upon returning to the girls' bathroom they find Hermione has turned into a cat.

"I must ask you, Harry, whether there is anything you'd like to tell me," he said gently, "Anything at all."
Harry didn't know what to say, He thought of Malfoy shouting, "You'll be next, Mudbloods!" and of the Polyjuice Potion simmering away in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. Then he thought of the disembodied voice he had heard twice and remembered Ron had said: "Hearing voices no one else can hear isn't a good sign, even in the wizarding world" He thought, too, about what everyone was saying about him, and his growing dread that he was somehow connected with Salazar Slytherin....
"No," said Harry, "There isn't anything, Professor...."

Oh, Harry, just say it all. Dumbledore wants to help, he wants to listen.

Fred and George, however, found all this very funny. They went out of their way to march ahead of Harry down the corridors, shouting, "Make way for the Heir of Slytherin, seriously evil wizard coming through...."
Percy was deeply disproving of this behavior.
"It is not a laughing matter," he said coldly.
"Oh, get out of the way, Percy," said Fred "Harry's in a hurry."
"Yeah, he's off to the Chamber of Secrets for a cup of tea with his fanged servant," said George, chortling.
Ginny didn't find it amusing either.
"Oh, don't," she wailed every time Fred asked Harry loudly who he planning to attack next, or when George pretended to ward Harry off with a large clove of garlic when they met.

Oh thank the world for Fred and George. They can bring a smile in the darkest times. 2 points each.
And we know why both Percy and Ginny are upset by these things. Percy is too serious and Ginny is being possessed by Mister Tom Riddle.

I wish we had a happier, lighthearted Christmas chapter in this book.

"Excuse me," said Ron, hurrying up to her. "We've forgotten the way to our common room."
"I beg your pardon?" said the girl stiffly. "Our common room? I'm in Ravenclaw."
She walked away, looking suspiciously back at them.


"What're you doing down here?" said Ron in surprise.
Percy look afronted.
"That," he said stiffly, "is none of you business. It's Crabbe, isn't it?"

Mehehehehe Percy and Penelope!

" -- last time the Chamber of Secrets was opened, a Mudblood died. So I bet it's a matter of time before one of them's killed this time.... I hope it's Granger," he said with relish.
Ron was clenching Crabbe's gigantic fists.


SQUEE. Ron. :D

Also, Myrtle!

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Chapter 11 The Dueling Club

Harry is released from the hospital wing and he finds Ron and Hermione working on the polyjuice potion. The make a distraction in class and steal the rest of supplies needed from Snape's private stores. Lockhart hosts a dueling club. While there, Harry ends up telling a snake to leave Justin Finch-Fletchly alone. People think Harry Potter is the heir of Slytherin even more after that event. Another attack is made and the victims are Justin and Nearly Headless Nick. Harry is taken to Dumbledore's office.

"You haven't seen Ron or Hermione, have you?" said Harry.
"No, I haven't," said Percy, his smile fading. "I hope Ron's not in another girls' toilet..."

Hehehehe. I wonder what Percy thinks they're doing.


"They went for Flich first,' Neville said, his round face fearful. "And everyone knows I'm almost a Squib."

Awwh, Neville. It's okay.

"I wonder who'll be teaching us?" said Hermione as they edged into the chattering crowd. "Someone told me Flitwick was a dueling champion when he was young -- maybe it'll be him."

It would've been nice to see more Flitwick instead of Lockhart. hmph

"So?" said Harry. "I bet loads of people here can do it."
"Oh, no they can't," said Ron. "It's not a very common gift. Harry this is bad."

"It matters," said Hermione, speaking at last in a hushed voice, "because being able to talk to snakes was what Salazar Slytherin was famous for. That's why the symbol of Slytherin House is a serpent." 

ERGH! Speaking Parseltongue doesn't make you evil. Who you are and what capabilities you have do not determine if you are a bad person. Your actions and decisions reveal that. Can't these children understand that! I want to shake their heads and with it have all the nonsense pour out. It's not because I'm right and their wrong or anything like that. It's just that they should know better. They should realize this. I suppose I should give them a break, they're only twelve.

There's too much conversation between the Hufflepuffs for me to quote it but I just have to say they make me feel ashamed to be a Hufflepuff. They should know better than to label Harry so quickly. They won't believe what Harry says. Yes, I know they're scared, especially for Justin. But you can't let fear control you and make foolish decisions. And Harry shouldn't lose his temper so easily.
GAH! I need to stop nitpicking on these characters, I feel bad. Everyone has flaws and novel characters especially do. I just can't stand it when people let their flaws hurt others. :(

"Caught in the act!" Ernie yelled, his face stark white, pointing his finger dramatically at Harry. 

Ernie, stop. :( Your afraid and upset. That doesn't mean you should accuse someone of something so serious. Innocent until proven guilty, Ernie, not the other way around.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Chatpter 10 The Rogue Bludger

 The Gryffindors and Slytherins face off in a Quidditch match. A bludger acts very strange and only tries to knock Harry off his broom, it eventually breaks Harry's arm. Despite this Gryffindor wins the match. Lockhart attempts to mend Harry's arm but removes his arms' bones instead. In the hospital wing to regrow his bones, Dobby appears and some things are revealed.

Since the disastrous episode of the pixies, Proffesor Lockhart had not brought live creatures to the class. Instead, he read passages from his books to them, and sometimes reenacted bits of them.

How will these poor children ever learn to defend themselves?

I was a Seeker too. I was asked to try for the National Squad, but preferred to dedicate my life to the eradication of the Dark Forces.

Well then, Lockhart, assuming that this isn't some mumbo-jumbo you're making up to puff yourself up, YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SEEKER INSTEAD OF A LIAR.

"You nearly got Ron and me expelled," he said fiercely, "you'd better get lost before my bones come back, Dobby, or I might strangle you."

No, Harry Potter! YOU AND RON almost got YOURSELVES expelled. >:|

It was Colin Creevey. His eyes were wide and his hands were stuck up in front of him, holding his camera.
"Petrified?" whispered Madam Pomfrey.

Oh no, Colin. :( At least I won't have to handle your bothersome personality anymore.

"But, Albus....surely...who?"
"The question is not who" said Dumbledore, his eyes on Colin, "The question is how...."

Dumbledore knows! He knows a whole lot more than Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley. So assist or get his help. You're twelve year olds. I know you want to think you can do anything but things wold be a lot eaiser with Dumbledore's help.

Oh, yes, I have finally decided to take 20 points from Lockhart for just being himself and 8 more from Dobby for trying to permanently handicap Harry Potter for the rest of his life.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Chapter 9 The Writing on the Wall

After the strange and scary events of Mrs. Norris' petrification, people begin to think Harry did it. The trio decide to take action and check out the crime scene.

 

"Potter and his friends may have simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time," he said, a slight sneer curling his mouth as though he doubted it. "But we do have a set of suspicious circumstances here. Why was he in the upstairs corridor at all? Why wasn't he at the Halloween feast?"

Stop, Snape! Just stop bullying these children! Stop holding grudges, stop being prejudice. Act your age, be a man. This is childish behavior.

"I'll make it," Lockhart butted in. "I must have done it a hundred times. I could whip up a Mandrake Restorative Draught in my sleep --"

"Excuse me," said Snape icily. "but I believe I am the Potions master at this school."

There was a very awkward pause.

Ahhh, yeah! You can be mean to Lockhart, I don't mind, Snape. I'd also like to add that Snape does have good qualities. I always forget that I'm seeing everything through the "Harry Potter filter" which isn't always the best filter to see through. Snape does a lot of the behind the scenes stuff, a lot of which most everyone doesn't see. Sorcerer's Stone is a great example of that. Yes, Snape has difficulty with grudges (we all have struggles in our life). It's not right that he takes it out on an innocent person. His good deeds don't make his mean behavior less terrible. But there is more to Snape than just bullying the Gryffindors.

"D'you think I should have told them about that voice I heard?"

"No," said Ron quickly. "Hearing voices no one else can hear isn't a good sign, even in the wizarding world."

Oh, Ronald, that's such bad advice. I assume Ron is afraid for his friend. If Harry tells someone about hearing the voice it would be "confirmed" in Ron's mind. Just a thought, not sure if it's what is really going on.

But anyways, he should've told them. It would probably be better if he spoke privately with Dumbledore. In the end, something "wrong" is happening and he should get some help. (I put wrong in quotes because really nothing is wrong with Harry. He just has a rare ability.)

"I always knew Salazar Slytherin was a twisted old loony," Ron told Harry and Hermione as they fought their way through the teeming corridors at the end of the lesson to drop off their bags before dinner. "But I never knew he started all this pure-blood stuff. I wouldn't be in his House if you paid me. Honestly, if the Sorting Hat had tried to put me in Slytherin, I'd've got the train straight back home..."

Hermione nodded fervently.

Here we are again, hating on other houses. Judging all of them based on a few people. Prejudice. Stereo-typing. It displeases me greatly. I am so disappointed that even the trio falls to this. I'm not going to pretended I know all about the true qualities of every house. I don't but it's something I want to study over some more. (Oh, goodness, did I really just say I need to study on trivial matters in a book? I just love books. I love understanding characters and why they are the way they are. But anyways...)

Again it must be remembered that we're seeing through the "Harry filter". There are a ton of Slytherin students and truly we've only met a handful of them. Slytherin does have good qualities. To me they seem to be great evaluators and planners. They're cunning, resourceful, determined. They are many other things.

"Can't go in there," said Ron gruffly. "That's a girl's toilet."

I find it so amusing how they often use bathrooms in the books. I wonder if a bathroom is used in every book, hmmm.

The argument between Ron and Percy saddens me greatly. I do think Percy cares for Ginny (despite Ron yelling he doesn't). He cares for Ron too and all his family. Percy has come from a poor family. A poor family who is often looked down upon. Percy wants to be someone, he wants to make a name for himself. But I think he let's himself get too caught up in it which is unfortunate.

Honestly? They honestly think Draco is the heir of Slytherin. Oh gosh.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Chapter 8 The Deathday Party

Wood keeps working the quidditch team hard during their practices. Harry agrees to attend Nick's deathday party on Halloween after Nick saved him from a punishment with Peeves. Hermione and Ron attend the party with Harry and the three of them see all the absurdity that a deathday party is. Harry hears strange voices again and they find Mrs. Norris petrified.

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Warlock D.J. Prod of Didsbury says:
"My wife used to sneer at my feeble charms, but one month into your fabulous Kwikspell course and I succeed in turning her into a yak! Thank you, Kwikspell!"

There is just something so amusing about infomercial type advertising for a magic learning course.

"The vanishing cabinet was extremely valuable!" he was saying gleefully to Mrs. Norris

Woah, vanishing cabinet! So it seems that when the cabinet was broken it was moved to the room of requirement. Interesting. I wonder who moved it. They should've thrown it out. :(

The passageway to Nearly Headless Nick's party had been lined with candles, too...


...played by an orchestra on a raised, black-draped platform. A chandelier overhead blazed midnight blue with a thousand more black candles.

Ghosts can't grip things. So who set this all up? And The orchestra can't be ghosts since they're holding instruments, so who are they?

Is Helena Ravenclaw not there? Man, she's never around. I understand that the Baron is there but you'd think they would've made up after haunting the same place for hundreds of years.

UGH, those headless huntsmen are such show-offs. Grrr! >:|

"I can't stand much more of this," Ron muttered, his teeth chattering, as the orchestra ground back into action and the ghosts swept back onto the dance floor.
"Let's go," Harry agreed.

Aw, poor, Nick. He's party isn't going at all as planned. :(

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Chapter 7 Mudbloods and Murmurs

On Saturday Harry is woken by Oliver Wood as the whole team is to have practice. Howver the Slytherin team shows up with their new seeker, Draco Malfoy who says a nasty things about Hermione. Ron defends her but ends up having his curse rebound on himself. Later that night Harry and Ron have their detentions.

I feel kind of bad that the only reason Draco gets on the team is because his father bought all those brooms (it seems at least). Also, did they just kick the past seeker out? :( I just really feel like Draco has bad authority figures in his life, Lucius, Narcissa and Snape. It makes me wonder if he had better authority figures to look up to would he be different? And all the Slytherins for that matter.


"What happened, Harry? What happened? Is he ill? But you can cure him, can't you?" Colin had run down from his seat ad was now dancing alongside them as they left the field. Ron gave a huge heave and more slugs dribbled down his front.
"Oooh," said Colin, fascinated and raising his camera. "Can you hold him still, Harry?"

JUST STOP, COLIN. Oh my goodness. I understand his excitement. Hogwarts is amazing. But he's really taking it too far. Barfing slugs is not a cool thing to take a picture of. Make some other friends. Stop following Harry around just because he's famous! I want to like you because you're young and innocent but you get on my nerves, Colin. :(

The minutes snailed by. Harry let Lockhart's voice wash over him, occasionally saying, "Mmm" and "Right" and "Yeah" 
 Now and then he caught a phrase like "Fame's a fickle friend, Harry," or "Celebrity is as celebrity does, remember that."

Sometimes, Lockhart is funny (but the majority of the time he's very irritating).

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Chapter 6 Gilderoy Lockhart

Ron recieves a Howler from his mother during breakfast. Afterward the students of Hogwarts take begin their first classes. Lockhart seems to think Harry is seeking fame and Defense Against the Dark Arts are ridiculous.

I don't know why I haven't seen this picture before now, bahahaha.

Mrs. Weasley's yells, a hundred times louder than usual, made the plates and spoons rattle on the table, and echoed deafeningly off the stone walls.

Wowie, those Howlers are louder than I thought or remembered.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione were joined at their tray by a curly-haired Hufflepuff boy Harry knew by sight but had never spoken to.
"Justin Finch-Fletchley," he said birghtly, shaking Harry by the hand. "Know who you are, of course, the famous Harry Potter....And you're Hermione Granger - always top in everything"
(Hermione beamed as she had her hand shaken too) " -- And Ron Weasley. Wasn't that your flying car?"

HEY IT'S A HUFFLEPUFF, AND HE'S NOT JUST BEING MENTIONED BUT IS ACTUALLY TALKING.

"That Lockhart is something, isn't he? said Justin happily as they began filling their plant pods with dragon dung compost.

Oh, Justin, no. :(

"Why." demanded Ron, seizing her schedule, "have you outlined all Lockhart's lessons in little hearts?"
Hermione snatched the schedule back, blushing furiously.

Hermione, no, please! :(

Colin and Lockhart are annoying me. There's too much of the both of them in this chapter.

"Rubbish," said Hermione. "You've read his books -- look at all those amazing things he's done --"
"He says he's done," Ron muttered. 

YES RON, THANK YOU.

You get a point for making me feel better after all the annoyingness of this chapter.