Chapter Six: Gilderoy Lockhart
In chapter six of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets we open with a literal bang when Erroll teleports from the Weasley home to Hogwarts after barely being able to fly to Hermione’s house earlier in the book and Ron gets a Howler from Mrs. Weasley that explodes at breakfast, shaming him and Harry to the whole hall. A Howler, for those of you not in the know, not only makes a great way to shame someone in public, but a lovely wallet.
(Please be advised that this is a reread and I will be discussing book and movie spoilers.)
I do find it hard to believe this is one of the only times we hear of Howlers in the books being used at Hogwarts (the others I think were directed at Hermione later on.) Do you mean to tell me there isn’t at least one parent who routinely embarrasses their kid with a weekly Howler over nothing? And then the poor kid would get nicknamed Sir Howls a Lot or Howly McGee or something.
At the risk of sounding pedantic, I’ll bring up something that’s I’ve pondered for awhile when the Gryffindors have double Herbology with the Hufflepuffs. We know they had flying lessons and also potions with the Slytherins, but they are absolutely never mentioned as having any classes with the Ravenclaws until N.E.W.T. level courses when everyone is mixed in. So what gives? Do they perhaps have another class, like Astronomy with the Ravenclaws and it’s just never mentioned? And if they don’t have classes with the Ravenclaws before sixth year, why not?
Lockhart shows up to Herbology to annoy Professor Sprout by insinuating she’s less competent at her area of expertise then he is, and to harass Harry hilariously in Herbology
and we get our first look at a recurring Harry theme: his complete and utter inability to recognize the faces and names of his classmates of multiple years when he meets Justin Fintch-Fletchley, a Hufflepuff. It wouldn’t be so odd if it wasn’t clear that Harry’s yearmates are a group of around fifty students, maybe sixty at most. Stick a pin in this one, because much like Lily’s eyes in James’s body it’s going to rear it’s head again.
Poor Ron’s got a broken wand that’s basically useless, and is too proud, stubborn, or embarrassed to ask his parents for another one. Stick a second pin in this plot point for later.
Another source of amusement to me and annoyance to Harry in Chamber of Secrets shows up, Colin Creevey, who shows immediately he’s bothersome but brave to ask Harry for attention, a picture and an autograph. He then gets to the heart of D-Malfs issue with Harry
as jealousy after seeing them interact once, and we’ve got to give Colin props for telling Malfoy this to his face in front of his giant bodyguards/friends, even if he is driving Harry batshit crazy.
My new favorite character Gilderoy Lockhart shows up again to take a pic with Harry and I bemoan he wasn’t in the movie enacting his ridiculous shenanigans even more
After this encounter Ron mentions that Ginny and Colin are going to start a Harry Potter fanclub if they ever meet and frankly, doesn’t one exist? How come the kids at school are all mostly over how famous he is? I mean Harry basically defeated Wizard Hitler. A solid third of the school would probably act like Colin!
Hermione’s doomed crush on Lockhart that she will look back and cringe upon as an adult rears its head, and Lockhart lets loose some *cough*terrifying*cough* pixies and tries to corral them with what is clearly a spell he entirely made up, an act so amusing to me I start my own Gilderoy Lockhart fanclub for his antics. Peskipiksi Pesternomi? Oh, Gilderoy!
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What are you thoughts on Harry’s number one fanboy when he’s introduced, Colin Creevey?
Do we all agree Ginny and Colin 100% started a Harry Potter secret fanclub at some point?
Do you find Gilderoy Lockhart as amusing as I do?
Was Colin right, that Malfoy is jealous of Harry?
And would your parents send you a Howler? For what?
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