February 07, 2023

597: Built Ford Tough (Chamber of Secrets, Chapters 15 and 16)

1 hour 16 minutes

What exactly did the Forbidden Forest do to the Flying Ford Anglia? What did the teachers do all day when Ginny Weasley was discovered missing? And, should Hogwarts lock its front door? These questions and more are asked as your MuggleCast hosts delve into Chapters 15 and 16 of Chamber of Secrets on this week's jam-packed Chapter-by-Chapter episode of MuggleCast! Join Andrew, Eric, Laura, Micah, and Slug Club guest Kimberly (who came prepared with some fun HP-themed Valentines greetings) as we near the final chapters of Book 2.

Welcome to the show Slug Club guest Kimberly!

Is it really Valentine's Day without some Harry-Potter-themed greetings? The hosts are delighted to hear something new.

Main Discussion #1: Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 15: Aragog

7-Word Summary: Andrew and Micah devise, "Spiders spiders spiders spiders vroom vroom vroom"

Parallels abound between life at Hogwarts without Dumbledore in Book 2, and a similar time for students in Year 7.

Should Hogwarts lock its front door at night to prevent students leaving so easily as Harry and Ron do?

Harry and Ron are up to their eyes in spiders, and is Dumbledore responsible for their Anglia-driven rescue?

Aragog's origins and his tale are explored in depth.

In Odds and Ends for Chapter 15, Draco jokes prophetically, the Hufflepuffs come around, Fang gets some relief, and Percy is caught fooling around.

Main Discussion #2: Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 16: The Chamber of Secrets

7-Word Summary: Laura and Eric come up with, "Gilderoy is revealed to have no integrity."

Is it fair that Hogwarts doesn't (yet) cancel exams for the 1992 school year?

Hermione provides Ron and Harry the key to solving the whole puzzle, while unconscious. Her most impressive feat yet!

Ginny tries to tell Ron and Harry something, but is interrupted...

...and Lockhart reveals himself to be every bit as incompetent as everybody feared.

For once, Ron and Harry brought a teacher into their circle, but it came at a cost.

What are the teachers all doing the entire day while Ginny is gone?

Would the person who put Hogwarts' plumbing in have discovered the Chamber of Secrets, and (literally) covered it up? Wouldn't it have been better if the tap on the sink had actually functioned?

Next week: We dive into Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 17, The Heir of Slytherin!

Quizzitch: Who really opened the Chamber of Secrets 50 years ago?

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