Gilderoy Lockhart

2.3. Ron goes to Hermione's defense

"Eat slugs, Malfoy!"

In episode 3 of season 2, we discuss the events leading up to Ron coming to Hermione's defense. From what? Let's find out.

After they find out that they cannot get past the barrier in platform 9 3/4, Ron and Harry put their heads together to come up with a misguided and dangerous plan. They decide to ride the flying car to Hogwarts. What could go wrong, right? Turns out, everything.

  • Well, the car is seen by some muggles

  • The car loses juice and starts to protest against the long drive.

  • They hit a tree in the Hogwarts ground. The only tree that hits back

  • Ron breaks his wand.

  • The car throws Harry and Ron out and drives itself into the forbidden forest.

  • Finally, they get caught by Snape who is hell-bent on getting them expelled.

Dumbledore arrives to save the day and lets them off with a detention. But their bad luck does not stop there. Ron gets a howler from Mrs. Weasley and Harry gets a lecture from Professor Lockhart. Harry, to his annoyance, gets a 'FAN' (not Ginny), who follows him around taking pictures and attracting more attention. 

You'd think things would get better for Harry at the Quidditch practice. But the Gryffindor team's practice is interrupted by the Slytherin team. They show off their brand new Nimbus 2001s, generously donated to them by Mr. Malfoy to get his son on the team.

When Hermione points out that nobody in the Gryffindor team bought their way in, Draco Malfoy calls her a nasty word. That's when Ron goes to Hermione's defense.

HARRY POTTER STORIES

In this episode, this segment features Shruthi Venkatesh, a friend and listener of the podcast.

If you are interested in sharing your story with us, just record yourself telling the story of how you starting reading the books and send it to mimblewimblepodcast@gmail.com.

PREPARATION

You can prepare for this episode by reading

  • Chapter 5: The Whomping Willow

  • Chapter 6: Gilderoy Lockhart

  • Chapter 7: Mudbloods and Murmurs

of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

You can also listen to this podcast on iTunes, Google Podcast, or any other favorite podcast app. Just search for Mimblewimble - The Harry Potter Podcast.

NOTES

The very cute illustration of Snape’s first appearance in the Chamber of secrets.

Snape harry ron dogs.jpg

2.2. Ron misses the train (S2E2)

"Very fishy. Definitely dodgy."

After Ron's heroic rescue of Harry who was imprisoned in the Dursley house, Harry updates the Weasley brothers on everything that happened during the summer. They have a very different take on the Dobby episode. Unlike Harry, they think that Dobby was sent by someone who hates Harry aka Draco Malfoy.

At this point, it is important to note that the Weasley brothers and Harry are in a magical flying car. They are flying it back to the Burrow, where the Weasleys live. We meet Mrs. Weasley who is very angry about the boys flaunting the statute of secrecy in this way. She assigns them chores but doesn't forget to feed them. 

Mr. Weasley is happy to finally meet Harry but he is happier when he hears that the flying car works because he was the one who enchanted it. 

Harry has the time of his life in the Burrow. He likes how disorderly and loving the Weasleys are. When his second-year term is about to start, they all decide to travel to Dialog alley using floo powder. Harry, unfamiliar with this new complicated method of travel, ends up in Knockturn Alley, where he overhears a suspicious conversation between Mr. Malfoy and a dark magic shop owner Mr. Borgin.

He is saved by Hagrid who brings Harry to the anxious Weasleys. They shop for a while and then go to Flourish and Blotts to buy their very expensive books. Here Harry and the gang meet their future Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher - the very colorful Gilderoy Lockhart.

The summer holidays end. The Weasleys and Harry hurry to catch the Hogwarts Express. What happens next will probably not surprise you if you have read the books.

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Wow. I am tired of typing the summary. So many things happen in these chapters. And I did not even mention Ginny, Percy or the lady selling human fingernails. Just listen to the episode and enjoy our discussion of these very eventful chapters.

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HARRY POTTER STORIES

In this episode, this segment features Muralidhar Mutnuru, a listener of the podcast.

If you are interested in sharing your story with us, just record yourself telling the story of how you starting reading the books and send it to mimblewimblepodcast@gmail.com.

PREPARATION

You can prepare for this episode by reading

  • Chapter 3: The Burrow

  • Chapter 4: At Flourish and Blotts

  • Chapter 5: The Whomping Willow

of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

You can also listen to this podcast on iTunes, Google Podcast, or any other favorite podcast app. Just search for Mimblewimble - The Harry Potter Podcast.

NOTES

The editor (Aishwarya) tells me that I was so tired when we recorded this video that my continuous yawning ruined the latter part of the episode. Oops. So if you find surprisingly few discussions about the events in Diagon Alley, you know why.