Wizard rock of the week: "And Then I Died" by The Moaning Myrtles
During Herbology Harry notices a line of spiders heading toward the forest. Harry is sure if they go in the Forest they'll get answers, even though Ron seems nervous about heading in there. They decide to sneak out that night. Once all the other students go to bed the boys sneak out to Hagrid's. The leave the Cloak there and bring Fang along for their journey into the dark. They're nervous, which isn't remedied by the strange sounds coming from the Forest. The worst sound is coming from a hidden beast rumbling through the trees.... which turns out to be the Weasley's old car!
By the light of the car's headlights Harry can see more spiders and they pick up the trail ... until they're both grabbed by giant, hairy spider legs. The spiders are giant, easily the size of large horses. The spiders drop them and speak to their leader, Aragog. Aragog asks if they humans are Hagrid, and since they're not, he gives the others permission to kill them. Desperate, Harry protests that Hagrid sent them, and Aragog reveals his story.
Fifty years ago, a stranger gave Hagrid Aragog as an egg. Hagrid cared for the spider, hiding him in a cupboard at school. Aragog was blamed for a girl's death, but it wasn't his fault. The dead girl was discovered in a bathroom, somewhere Aragog never went. Hagrid took the monster to the forest and let him grow free, eventually finding him a mate. Harry asks for more information about the monster, but Aragog refuses to talk about it
Sadly, Aragog notes that Harry and Ron are goners; they wandered into the Forest of their own volition and don't have Hagrid's special protection. They're about to be devoured by spiders when the Ford Anglia rushes in to rescue them. Lucky to be alive, they recover in Hagrid's cabin. Ron is livid, but Harry thinks they learned something important. After all, it wasn't Hagrid who opened the Chamber; he just took the blame for it. They sneak back to the castle and go to sleep, disappointed. Hours later, just before he falls asleep, Harry sits bolt upright: he realizes that the girl who died was killed in a bathroom. He asks Ron, "What if she never left?"
Ron understands at once: Moaning Myrtle.
Commentary:
So much dropping of knowledge! Still, I wonder if there hadn't been a less dangerous way for Harry and Ron to learn of Hagrid's innocence? But then, it wouldn't be as exciting if they just had a sit-down and talked about things.
Also, I'm having a horrific memory lapse. When do we next see the Ford Anglia? Ever? I don't think it disappears forever... but I can't recall when we see it next. Someone help me out here.
Oh, and a possible inconsistency: Aragog mentions that he doesn't eat humans out of respect for Hagrid... but then he almost lets Harry and Ron get eaten? I'm sure what that's all about. Let's all note, also, that a traveler gave the spider egg to Hagrid... so our favorite half-giant is 0-2 in the "creatures random strangers give me" department.
And with that, we're off to another cliffhanging chapter... so here we go!
What Happens:
Their brilliant revelation isn't very useful, though, because no students can go anywhere without a teacher. Exams are coming up too, and the students are incredulous. However, McGonagall announces that the Mandrakes are almost ready and the Petrified people will be revived soon. Ron points out that Hermione will probably have all the answers anyway once she wakes up. Ginny sits next the boys and looks nervous. She's about to tell them something, but Percy comes by and Ginny clams up. He seems very twitchy, trying to cover up whatever Ginny was going to reveal.
In Defense Against the Dark Arts, Harry flatters Lockhart in order to slip away. He and Ron are almost to Myrtle's bathroom when McGonagall spots them in the hallway. Harry covers their tracks, saying they were trying to sneak in and see Hermione in the hospital. McGonagall, surprisingly, understands, and lets them go. Harry notices that Hermione is clutching a crumpled piece of paper in Petrified fist. Carefully he and Ron work the paper out. It's an entry from a library book about the Basilik, king of serpents, describing how roosters are fatal the beast and spiders fear its deadly gaze. Hermione's contribution to the page, Pipes, makes things clear to Harry. He describes all the puzzle pieces and how they fit together: the monster is a serpent, which is why he can hear it, being a Parselmouth. The basilisk kills people by looking at them, but no one dies because no one has seen it directly. The roosters were killed because they are the beast's enemy. The spiders are fleeing, and it travels in the plumbing. Finally, he figures that the Chamber's entrance must be in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.
Both boys rush off to tell McGonagall what they've learned, but before they can find her, an announcement thunders through the corridors: all students must return to the common room and teachers to the staff room. Harry and Ron sneak into the staff room and hide among the cloaks. They overheard McGonagall telling the teachers that Ginny Weasley was taken into the Chamber and they'll be sending students home tomorrow.
Lockhart bursts into the room late, and the teachers all gang up on him, sending him to fight the monster as he's always bragged he could. Lockhart makes excuses and disappears back to his office. Ron and Harry slip back to the common room for a terrible, tense, long afternoon. Ron is so mad at himself; he was sure Ginny had information about the Chamber and was taken because of it. Ron suggests they visit Lockhart and give him all the help they can; after all, he and Harry know what the monster is and what its weakness is.
Lockhart, however, isn't interested in help; he's about to run away. It turns out he's a huge fraud. All the heroic things he's done are shams. He just took credit for other people's work and modified their memories. He's about to do the same to Harry and Ron, but Harry Disarms him just in time. They insist Lockhart comes along and drag him off to the bathroom. Myrtle is incredibly flattered that they want to hear her death story and describes it with great relish. Harry realizes the entrance the Chamber is right there, and uses Parseltongue to open it. He, Ron, and Lockhart slide down the pipe into the slimy darkness.
First, they find a huge discarded snakeskin, which demonstrates just how big the basilisk is. Lockhart manages to steal Ron's wand and tries to Obliviate the boys, but the broken wand backfires and he hits himself instead. The spell's misfire also causes a minor rockslide, separating Harry from the other two.
Harry goes on alone and comes through another chamber. He intuitively knows to use Parseltongue to open the next door and walks inside...
Commentary:
Here we have an early instance of Percy being a prat... and it leads to Very Bad Things! Had Ginny simply told Harry and Ron that morning without Percy's interference, things might have been different.
Also, Hermione is the one who has the answers, per usual. Inconveniently she can't communicate very well, but manages to help the boys nonetheless.
I wonder about the timing of Ginny's taking. We know that Riddle's motive was to get Harry, but just how much did he know about what Harry was figuring out? How exactly does the possession work, exactly?
And Myrtle! Oh, you poor thing. Still, I'm not sure if haunting someone is really a proportionate response for making fun of you... hmm.
Lockhart's great act of cowardice isn't quite unexpected, since, well, he's a tool. But I'm still appalled that he was going to abandon a tiny girl to a horrible fate.... and later, that he tried to curse and betray two two twelve year old boys... horrible man.
And once again, Harry's off to face the Big Bad all by his lonesome. See you next time!
The merriest of Christmases to you and yours. :-)
Hello and Merry almost-Christmas! I hope your week has been super, and if you live in the Northeast I hope you've managed to dig your way out of the blizzard that put our little Midwestern blizzard to shame. 30 inches in some places! Whoa!
Sorry I'm posting this so late! I'm on vacation, which is somehow more frantic than work... and I'm busy planning a friend's wedding and doing costume-y things for The Final Battle (ps go audition! Videos due to Lena and Mallory by January 1st)!
Also, I'd like to take a moment and pause in recognition: I just found out that the latest shipment of EPs from the EP of the Month Club is the last one... ever. ::sniff:: But thanks so much to Paul and Matt who worked so hard these past three years, and to all the bands who contributed.
This week things get really hairy for Our Heroes, literally, because they just couldn't follow the butterflies! This post covers chapters fifteen and sixteen. Usual rules apply: this will contains spoilers for all the books, so read at your own risk!
Sorry I'm posting this so late! I'm on vacation, which is somehow more frantic than work... and I'm busy planning a friend's wedding and doing costume-y things for The Final Battle (ps go audition! Videos due to Lena and Mallory by January 1st)!
Also, I'd like to take a moment and pause in recognition: I just found out that the latest shipment of EPs from the EP of the Month Club is the last one... ever. ::sniff:: But thanks so much to Paul and Matt who worked so hard these past three years, and to all the bands who contributed.
This week things get really hairy for Our Heroes, literally, because they just couldn't follow the butterflies! This post covers chapters fifteen and sixteen. Usual rules apply: this will contains spoilers for all the books, so read at your own risk!
Chapter Fifteen: Aragog
What Happens:
Things are pretty grim at Hogwarts. Dumbledore's absence makes everyone more skittish, and Madam Pomfrey even bars access to the hospital wing. Harry and Ron try to follow Hagrid's advice about following the spiders, but they can't seem to find any. Malfoy, of course, is throughly enjoying all the fear and chaos, especially since his father's influence was responsible for getting rid of Dumbledore.
Things are pretty grim at Hogwarts. Dumbledore's absence makes everyone more skittish, and Madam Pomfrey even bars access to the hospital wing. Harry and Ron try to follow Hagrid's advice about following the spiders, but they can't seem to find any. Malfoy, of course, is throughly enjoying all the fear and chaos, especially since his father's influence was responsible for getting rid of Dumbledore.
During Herbology Harry notices a line of spiders heading toward the forest. Harry is sure if they go in the Forest they'll get answers, even though Ron seems nervous about heading in there. They decide to sneak out that night. Once all the other students go to bed the boys sneak out to Hagrid's. The leave the Cloak there and bring Fang along for their journey into the dark. They're nervous, which isn't remedied by the strange sounds coming from the Forest. The worst sound is coming from a hidden beast rumbling through the trees.... which turns out to be the Weasley's old car!
By the light of the car's headlights Harry can see more spiders and they pick up the trail ... until they're both grabbed by giant, hairy spider legs. The spiders are giant, easily the size of large horses. The spiders drop them and speak to their leader, Aragog. Aragog asks if they humans are Hagrid, and since they're not, he gives the others permission to kill them. Desperate, Harry protests that Hagrid sent them, and Aragog reveals his story.
Fifty years ago, a stranger gave Hagrid Aragog as an egg. Hagrid cared for the spider, hiding him in a cupboard at school. Aragog was blamed for a girl's death, but it wasn't his fault. The dead girl was discovered in a bathroom, somewhere Aragog never went. Hagrid took the monster to the forest and let him grow free, eventually finding him a mate. Harry asks for more information about the monster, but Aragog refuses to talk about it
Sadly, Aragog notes that Harry and Ron are goners; they wandered into the Forest of their own volition and don't have Hagrid's special protection. They're about to be devoured by spiders when the Ford Anglia rushes in to rescue them. Lucky to be alive, they recover in Hagrid's cabin. Ron is livid, but Harry thinks they learned something important. After all, it wasn't Hagrid who opened the Chamber; he just took the blame for it. They sneak back to the castle and go to sleep, disappointed. Hours later, just before he falls asleep, Harry sits bolt upright: he realizes that the girl who died was killed in a bathroom. He asks Ron, "What if she never left?"
Ron understands at once: Moaning Myrtle.
Commentary:
So much dropping of knowledge! Still, I wonder if there hadn't been a less dangerous way for Harry and Ron to learn of Hagrid's innocence? But then, it wouldn't be as exciting if they just had a sit-down and talked about things.
Also, I'm having a horrific memory lapse. When do we next see the Ford Anglia? Ever? I don't think it disappears forever... but I can't recall when we see it next. Someone help me out here.
Oh, and a possible inconsistency: Aragog mentions that he doesn't eat humans out of respect for Hagrid... but then he almost lets Harry and Ron get eaten? I'm sure what that's all about. Let's all note, also, that a traveler gave the spider egg to Hagrid... so our favorite half-giant is 0-2 in the "creatures random strangers give me" department.
And with that, we're off to another cliffhanging chapter... so here we go!
Chapter Sixteen: The Chamber of Secrets
What Happens:
Their brilliant revelation isn't very useful, though, because no students can go anywhere without a teacher. Exams are coming up too, and the students are incredulous. However, McGonagall announces that the Mandrakes are almost ready and the Petrified people will be revived soon. Ron points out that Hermione will probably have all the answers anyway once she wakes up. Ginny sits next the boys and looks nervous. She's about to tell them something, but Percy comes by and Ginny clams up. He seems very twitchy, trying to cover up whatever Ginny was going to reveal.
In Defense Against the Dark Arts, Harry flatters Lockhart in order to slip away. He and Ron are almost to Myrtle's bathroom when McGonagall spots them in the hallway. Harry covers their tracks, saying they were trying to sneak in and see Hermione in the hospital. McGonagall, surprisingly, understands, and lets them go. Harry notices that Hermione is clutching a crumpled piece of paper in Petrified fist. Carefully he and Ron work the paper out. It's an entry from a library book about the Basilik, king of serpents, describing how roosters are fatal the beast and spiders fear its deadly gaze. Hermione's contribution to the page, Pipes, makes things clear to Harry. He describes all the puzzle pieces and how they fit together: the monster is a serpent, which is why he can hear it, being a Parselmouth. The basilisk kills people by looking at them, but no one dies because no one has seen it directly. The roosters were killed because they are the beast's enemy. The spiders are fleeing, and it travels in the plumbing. Finally, he figures that the Chamber's entrance must be in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.
Both boys rush off to tell McGonagall what they've learned, but before they can find her, an announcement thunders through the corridors: all students must return to the common room and teachers to the staff room. Harry and Ron sneak into the staff room and hide among the cloaks. They overheard McGonagall telling the teachers that Ginny Weasley was taken into the Chamber and they'll be sending students home tomorrow.
Lockhart bursts into the room late, and the teachers all gang up on him, sending him to fight the monster as he's always bragged he could. Lockhart makes excuses and disappears back to his office. Ron and Harry slip back to the common room for a terrible, tense, long afternoon. Ron is so mad at himself; he was sure Ginny had information about the Chamber and was taken because of it. Ron suggests they visit Lockhart and give him all the help they can; after all, he and Harry know what the monster is and what its weakness is.
Lockhart, however, isn't interested in help; he's about to run away. It turns out he's a huge fraud. All the heroic things he's done are shams. He just took credit for other people's work and modified their memories. He's about to do the same to Harry and Ron, but Harry Disarms him just in time. They insist Lockhart comes along and drag him off to the bathroom. Myrtle is incredibly flattered that they want to hear her death story and describes it with great relish. Harry realizes the entrance the Chamber is right there, and uses Parseltongue to open it. He, Ron, and Lockhart slide down the pipe into the slimy darkness.
First, they find a huge discarded snakeskin, which demonstrates just how big the basilisk is. Lockhart manages to steal Ron's wand and tries to Obliviate the boys, but the broken wand backfires and he hits himself instead. The spell's misfire also causes a minor rockslide, separating Harry from the other two.
Harry goes on alone and comes through another chamber. He intuitively knows to use Parseltongue to open the next door and walks inside...
Commentary:
Here we have an early instance of Percy being a prat... and it leads to Very Bad Things! Had Ginny simply told Harry and Ron that morning without Percy's interference, things might have been different.
Also, Hermione is the one who has the answers, per usual. Inconveniently she can't communicate very well, but manages to help the boys nonetheless.
I wonder about the timing of Ginny's taking. We know that Riddle's motive was to get Harry, but just how much did he know about what Harry was figuring out? How exactly does the possession work, exactly?
And Myrtle! Oh, you poor thing. Still, I'm not sure if haunting someone is really a proportionate response for making fun of you... hmm.
Lockhart's great act of cowardice isn't quite unexpected, since, well, he's a tool. But I'm still appalled that he was going to abandon a tiny girl to a horrible fate.... and later, that he tried to curse and betray two two twelve year old boys... horrible man.
And once again, Harry's off to face the Big Bad all by his lonesome. See you next time!
The merriest of Christmases to you and yours. :-)
How long does it take the spiders to leave the castle? The basilisk has been active for months, but there are still spiders around for Harry and Ron to follow.
ReplyDeleteI don't think the car appears again after this book.
Lumos
I was just thinking, I'd be pretty scarred after a night of almost getting devoured by giant talking spiders, but both of them seem to bounce back fine! Ron, of course, is skeeved out and throwing up and angry, but Harry is all business.
ReplyDeleteA near-death experience isn't enough to get him worked up I guess. What's that, his third in two years?
@Lumos:
ReplyDeleteI know, that's really weird. The basilisk has been around for months! However, if these current spiders were eggs laid early in the year that might make sense.
@ifucare2findme:
Yeah, Harry's pretty calm and collected about the whole thing. He is the Hero, after all, and Heroes are supposed to laugh in the face of danger (hahahaha). But.... he's 12! I would be freaked out beyond belief and I'm twice his age! However, maybe he's running on adrenaline, since Ginny is so important to Ron.
Though, one of the things I loved most about Deathly Hallows was that Harry was so vulnerable as he walked to the forest to do. It's one of the most heart-wrenching parts of the series, precisely because Harry is so raw and emotional.