Dobby's Reward (CS)
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Dobby's Reward is the eighteenth chapter of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
Contents |
Reunion
Everyone in the office falls silent when Harry Potter, Gilderoy Lockhart, Ron and Ginny Weasley enter the room, covered in dust, slime and mud. Suddenly, Molly screams her daughter's name, and both she and Arthur rise to hug her. Minerva McGonagall stops pacing nervously; Albus Dumbledore smiles at Harry, and Fawkes leaves the boy to settle on the Headmaster's shoulder.
Molly hugs Harry as well. They are all curious to know how he managed to save Ginny; he walks to the desk, and lays the Sorting Hat, Godric Gryffindor's sword and the remains of Tom Riddle's diary on it. Harry then tells them the entire story, carefully avoiding any mention of the diary for fear that Ginny may be expelled.
"What interests me most," says Dumbledore, "is how Lord Voldemort managed to enchant Ginny, when my sources tell me he is currently in hiding in the forests of Albania." When Harry points out the diary, Albus muses, "Brilliant. Of course, he was probably the most brilliant student Hogwarts has ever seen." Much to the Weasleys' bewilderment, the Headmaster reveals that he once taught Riddle himself, fifty years ago.
Ginny confesses that she has been writing on the diary all year. "Haven't I taught you anything?" Arthur asks angrily. "What have I always told you? Never trust anything that can think for itself if you can't see where it keeps its brain."
She reveals that the diary was inside one of her schoolbooks (CS4). Before the girl's parents can reprimand her any further, Dumbledore commands Ginny to be taken to the hospital wing at once. "This has been a terrible ordeal for her. There will be no punishment. Older and wiser wizards than she have been hoodwinked by Lord Voldemort. Bed rest and perhaps a large, steaming mug of hot chocolate."
Madam Pomfrey, he mentions, is now feeding the paralysed victimes Mandrake juice. He orders McGonagall to warn the kitchens to prepare a celebrating feast.
Reward
Dumbledore then turns to Harry and Ron, reminding them his previous statement that they would be expelled if there was any more rulebreaking (CS5). "Which goes to show that the best of us must sometimes eat our words. You will both receive Special Awards for Services to the School and — let me see — yes, I think two hundred points apiece for Gryffindor."
Albus asks Lockhart why he hasn't spoken anything yet; Ron explains that the Memory Charm Gilderoy tried to use backfired (CS16). "Dear me," says Dumbledore. "Impaled upon your own sword, Gilderoy!"
The Headmaster asks Ron to take Lockhart to the hospital wing as well. He and Harry are finally alone to talk.
Explanations
First, Dumbledore thanks Harry for having shown him remarkable loyalty in the Chamber of Secrets; nothing else would have attracted Fawkes to the boy.
Harry remembers Riddle's statement that the two of them are very similar (CS17), and mentions that the Sorting Hat considered putting him in Slytherin (PS7), and that he is a Parselmouth (CS11). Dumbledore states that Harry can speak Parseltongue because Voldemort—the last remaining descendent of Salazar Slytherin—can, and transferred some of his powers to baby Harry on October 31, 1981.
"You happened to have many qualities Salazar Slytherin prized in his hand-picked students. His own very rare gift, Parseltongue ... resourcefulness ... determination ... a certain disregard for rules." Yet the Hat placed Harry in Gryffindor, because he asked it to; this makes him very different from Tom Marvolo Riddle. "It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."
As a proof that Harry does indeed belong to his House is right in front of them: Albus points out that the silver sword that he used against the Basilisk has the name 'Godric Gryffindor' engraved below the hilt. "Only a true Gryffindor could have pulled that out of the Hat, Harry."
Dumbledore counsels him to go downstairs to the feast, and get some rest later. The Headmaster will now write to Azkaban, requesting Hagrid's immediate return, and draft an ad for the Daily Prophet, asking for a new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher.
When Harry is about to leave, Lucius Malfoy enters the room, followed by Dobby the house-elf.
Malfoy
Malfoy is outraged that Dumbledore has returned to the school, despite having been suspended by the governors (CS15).
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