Chapter 1: The Worst Birthday | Chamber of Secrets

[@thirteenthandy]

I don't credit the Dursleys at all for Harry's glasses. I imagine it was some teacher who told them that he needed glasses, and so they were forced to concede so *they* didn't seem anything but extremely normal to others. It's more selfishness on display that just happened to benefit Harry.

[@maudline]

Yes exactly!!! 👏👏

[@Cengara101]

I had my eyes tested at school when I was 7 which was when it was discovered I needed glasses. You also have to know that NHS glasses were free for children, so it wouldn’t cost the Dursleys anything either.

[@rhondacrosswhite8048]

I always remembered when I was a kid we had eye exams at school. If a problem was suspected they sent a letter home to our parents advising a further exam with an optometrist. Since England is covered by the NHS, it's possible that Harry was sent to the eye doctor from school and he basically handled it on his own. Yes, it's a stretch to think that a seven or eight year old got to the eye dr. without an adult but the kids are familiar with the buses and underground from a young age. I don't think he needed the Dursleys to pay for anything.

[@TenThousandDoors]

That's also why they're such unusual glasses, too. The Dursleys begrudgingly got him the glasses they were forced into getting but didn't allow him to get a pair that actually looked good as another form of punisment for Harry existing.

[@audreybourgeois4626]

Harry's eyesight would have been caught by teachers, possibly even before the nurse's eye exam. His sight is bad enough that he wouldn't have been able to read off the chalkboard when asked to, but would likely have no problem reading from books. They would have noticed then and might have sent him to the nurse early, even before the standard exams. England's NHS provides free, if ugly, glasses for people. He just has the standard free pair because the Dursleys would never have bought something for Harry which could have been had for free.

[@diefty94]

I've lived in Mallorca for many years. We get a ton of British and German tourist. It's always amusing to see references to It in Harry Potter.

[@TheSonofruss]

Personally I believe that Malfoy Sr was talking to Crabb and Goyal and possibly Mr Nott the death eater’s that escaped going to jail

[@magu5273]

Ooh, so happy to see this video! I'm down with Covid (for the second time in two months!) and listening to you makes me feel so much better! Sending you lots of love from Poland

[@patrickdukart3298]

In regards to polyjuice potion taking in characteristics... In the battle of 7 potters, Hermione mentions how bad Harry's eyesight is. And when Harry is Goyle... He doesn't seem to need the glasses.

[@terraynahallen]

Got my coffee! And I am ready. 😁💕

[@loading1093]

I always thought the reason Salazar and Godric stopped being friends was the same reason dumbledore and grindlewald stopped

[@DisneyTiger10]

Catching up on the series via apple podcast and had to come over to share a thought that I've had for a while. I've watched so many of your videos and listened to every Pop, and can't remember if this has ever been mentioned. In this chapter, you guys were talking about how terrible the Dursley's are to Harry and how they are just terrible people. Is it possible that Harry accidentally causes this hatred by him being a horcrux? Knowing how the horcruxes affect the trio in the later books/movies, I feel like this could be the biggest thing that no one talks about. lol Granted a lot is still due to their jealously of the Potter's, but I feel like having a horcrux in the house doesn't help at all! It would subside while he was at school, so you would think they would love for him to be away!

[@kmatharu91]

When Brit’s typically purchase holiday homes abroad, Spain is the destination of choice. Mallorca, Malaga etc. It’s not necessarily affluent Brits. With Harry Potter being set in the early 90s, a Spanish Villa would have been far more affordable, and a common aspiration for a middle class family. Spain is a couple of hours away and has excellent weather most of the year. That can’t be said for anywhere in England. So perhaps similar to a Florida holiday home.

[@jadeneaston]

Missed opportunity to repaint the wall and update the set in between books!

[@antonypost19]

7:49 i applied to HCC like 900 years ago but they were too Impacted so i ended up having to go to PCC.....(Hogwarts community college 😅)

[@425lukas]

My theory is that Lucius tasked Doby to get the diary and thats how Doby knows about it. (Also this only works if we dont know how Lucius even gets the diary in a first place)

[@0708LC]

As a European (German), Mallorca is just a nice vacation spot that Germans and Brits seem to really like. I think it is a little bit similar to how Americans go to Myrtle Beach. However, I think the main reason why they want a holiday home there is because of Petunia’s friend Yvonne who couldn’t take Harry the year before on Dudley’s birthday because she was on holiday in Mallorca. To me Petunia seems like the kind of woman who always has an underlying rivalry with any other woman even those she is supposedly friends with.

[@heylolp9]

Agree Completely Mallorca is the Epitome of Stereotypical Middle Class Beach Vacations without having to engage with local culture

[@Am3lia77]

As a Spaniard I really just think it’s “they are British, they have to love Mallorca” 😅😂 Spanish people really see it as the standard destination for Germans and English people

[@Harry-Hartmann]

Indeed! Ich komme auch aus Deutschland 🇩🇪

[@Molnek]

I feel by not writing it as Majorca you're really taking away from how out of touch British people would say it. Everyone just go watch the third episode of Documentary Now season 4. Those people would be like the nicer Dursley's.

[@hoppingwren]

yeh it's like Australian's going to Bali or Americans visiting Hawaii but just staying in the resorts - no need to engage with people who don't speak English or face anything potentially difficult

[@jodimasciave772]

When I had covid, my family asked me what i was going to do during my quarantine, I kept replying, " I'll be in my bedroom making absolutely no noice and pretending I don't exist." Lol

[@MelanieNLee]

About Dudley remembering Harry's birthday: The previous year, at midnight of July 31, 1991, a giant burst into the isolated island shack, presented Harry with a birthday cake, from which Dudley sneaked a piece, and magicked a pig's tail on Dudley's behind--and then took Harry away in the morning. I think Dudley would well remember Harry's birthday the next year. Vernon and Petunia remember it as the day a magical giant sprouted a tail on their son's rear end, which tail they had to have removed surgically. They probably remember Harry's 12th birthday but don't mention it out of habit, frustration, or revenge. In fact, overworking Harry on that day, having business guests over for a special dinner, and making Harry pretend not to exist on his birthday may be a crafted, or maybe subconscious, sort of revenge for the previous year.

[@asiabryant207]

Yeah I was thinking something similar

[@michaelvanliempt8779]

I love how Vernon shouts "Do I look stupid?" in this chapter and Harry replies "Are you actually as stupid as you look?" in Deathly Hallows chapter 3.

[@chrisblanc663]

Wow, that is an impressive link to spot.

[@lotemylife3006]

1:07:30 OMG, I finally figured out what vibe Godric and Salazar give off! :D Merlin and Arthur! And it fits especially well, since Merlin (in this universe) canonically is a Slytherin and King Arthur (no matter if going from the legends or my fav TV show) would totally be in Gryffindor

[@simonish]

My headcanon for the Founders and their contributions to the building wasn't so much a single room each, more each added their own flair. Gryffindor made the great hall, and the corridors, and the headmasters offices and all the grander spaces. Hufflepuff added the kitchens and cosy places for friends to gather, common rooms, gardens and trees in the courtyards, and tbh I would credit her with the Room of Requirement. It's just so useful for so much, but also humble and personal and without fanfare, classic Hufflepuff. Ravenclaw added the towers, classic eagle's nest style and so many of them are dedicated to knowledge and wisdom, the divination classroom, astronomy? Slytherin I think added the dungeons, dark places for secrets and schemes, but safety and security too. And he just sneaked the Chamber of Secrets in there too with some doomsday prepper energy. because you just MIGHT need a superweapon someday. Best to be prepared... ;)

[@fionarodgers4806]

1:07:00 I have a better example of a good Slytherin. Andromeda Tonks. She literally turned her back on her family and their pure blood beliefs and married a muggle born, Ted Tonks. And her daughter, Nymphadora, was in the Order and died fighting for it.

[@TenThousandDoors]

Love Andromeda. She's such an overlooked character that actually seemed to have good morals and values (despite naming her child Nymphadora).

[@sawanna508]

Or Regulus Black

[@alexroberts771]

Regarding Harry and the Dursleys taking him to the opticians, it is not uncommon for British schools to do a sight test on kids and recommend that kids go for an appointment. Glasses are free for kids, but in the past, the free options were limited to the stereotypical unstylish "nerdy" types, and you'd pay extra for nice ones. I like to imagine that the school forced the Dursleys hand in terms of sending him to the opticians, and they made him have that style, which is that "nerdy" style, just so they wouldn't have to pay.

[@jtpadilla1]

The eye tests were done in schools in the US when I was growing up because more often than not teachers were the first to notice an issue with seeing the board or learning to read. Now knowing that it’s similar in the UK and that they take that one step further and have free eyewear for kids it feels totally normal as an expectation for him to get glasses if he needed them

[@alexroberts771]

@jtpadilla1 that's universal health care for ya! It always does make me laugh when J and Ben question things that Brits wouldn't even raise an eyebrow at. Another example from this chapter is questioning how rich you have to be to own a 2nd home in Spain. For info, it is exceedingly common, and you don't need to be mega rich to do it, moderately wealthy yes.

[@gennybaratta2460]

American schools can be the same way! At least in NY we had annual vision and hearing tests throughout elementary school (up until about 11 years old). That’s how my bad eye sight was observed and the school nurse sent out a note to my parents letting them know I needed eyeglasses

[@Tylerthephantom]

I remember seeing a theory that the reason Salazar was so against bringing muggle-borns to Hogwarts was that he didn't trust them. That maybe he thought they would reveal to their muggle families the location of Hogwarts and lead to the muggles launching an attack on the castle. The theory also said the Chamber of Secrets could also have served as a final shelter with the ultimate locks and "guard dog". Then over the centuries as wizard/muggle relations cooled Slytherin's mistrust of Muggleborns got blown into the whole blood purity thing.

[@TheAustralianMapper5378]

That’s interesting thought

[@TenThousandDoors]

That's how I've always seen it. Information gets distorted over time and it wouldn't be a stretch to believe that a thousand years ago when the rest of the world viewed magic with such distain and hatred that Salazar would believe muggleborns would put the castle and institution that he was so proud of at risk of being destroyed.

[@melaniesjournal8998]

Andromeda Black would be a very interesting Slytherin to explore!

[@BauerandBagwell]

I don’t think Dudley remembers Harry’s birthday, I think he remembers that it was a year since he was given a pigs tale which was on Harry’s birthday. I think that makes more sense.

[@joly6598]

A pig's *tail* but-yes... I mean, he *was* trying to steal Harry's birthday cake, which inspired that bit of Transfiguration from Hagrid, so-yes, I DO think he remembered that, or at least, I'd *hope* he did; he can't be that bloody daft, can he? If he's making at least fair marks at Smeltings? :)

[@amyconcepcion7148]

I think Dudley writes down Harry’s birthday just so that he can taunt him about not being noticed/special on that day

[@sandrarose7129]

That would definitely make that day memorable!

[@joly6598]

Sorry, but... having just read the book, again, last month, I DO believe that the author mentioned the Cake stealing... :(

[@JahanMisra]

@user-os2gm6hv9lwow didn’t believe you until i checked that’s crazy. why wouldn’t he just do it to Vernon instead

[@jacobduncan2142]

The party happens so late because its mid-summer. The sun would be out until quite late, and most homes in the UK dont have air conditioning. Its common to hold dinner parties later in the evening during the summer to allow the home to cool a bit.

[@KatarzynaMatylla]

Bold of you to assume Dudley knows where bacon comes from... He seems like the kind of kid who thinks it comes from a bacon factory.

[@DevilboyScooby]

...it doesn't? 😮

[@VonOutlaw]

The sacrificial charm worked for Lily because Voldemort gave her a choice move out of the way and live, or stay in front of me and die with your son. It also worked for Harry because he had a choice to either come to the forest to die, or to run off and let the fight continue. In both cases Voldemort gave choices to the people that were putting the sacrificial charm. That is the key a choice must be given, I could have sworn this as mentioned in the book but I could be remembering something off of Pottermore

[@conormurphy4328]

Which is why other deaths like Sirius wouldn’t have been able to do it. Maybe Dumbledore’s death would have been able to as he chose to die.

[@IdaSantti]

They mentioned that in one of the episodes. My thoughts about why Harry is special is that no one had ever survived Avada Kedavra. Maybe Dumbledore knew about the ancient magic because it had saved someone somewhere in history, but no one had ever survived Avada Kedavra specifically. So that's why Dumbledore knew about it, but Harry was still the only one

[@ginnyjollykidd]

But then, I understand that Dumbledore had to work magic with that sacrifice in place to make a place in Petunia's home an absolute safeguard for Harry from Voldemort.

[@Liz.8711]

It has now become my Sunday routine to watch/listen to these chapter analyses while I wash dishes and prepare dinner. I love it! Keep up the good work guys!!!!!

[@mechelles2592]

My head cannon is that Slytherin is just like Hagrid loves magical beasts and the bigger and scarier the better!

[@nataliemccarthy9140]

We need a scene in the founder series of Salazar scolding the basilisk in parseltongue like a cat owner

[@robertgronewold3326]

It is revealed in Hogwarts Legacy, that Salazar Slytherin had another secret chamber in the castle, that being his personal scriptorium and office, where he studied Magic. The dude was all about making secret Chambers apparently.

[@422katieleigh]

Also the Room of Requirement seems like it was meant to be just as secret-it wasn’t a thing Umbridge and Filch were able to just go find without issue.

[@silsail]

The thing is: does Hogwarts Legacy count as canon? Because I don't think so

[@422katieleigh]

@@silsail if Hogwarts Mystery does then Hogwarts Legacy for sure does. J and Ben recently talked about how bothered they are about how much Hogwarts Mystery comes up. As far as the Carlin Brothers are concerned, the only Harry Potter media they do not consider to be canon is The Cursed Child. Clearly this is not the official answer, but in the context of the channel, this is the answer. The thing that bothers me personally the most about Hogwarts Legacy being canon is the surrounding hamlets which clearly are not there in the books and movies, and in the game are populated by all magical folks when we know Hogsmeade is the only all-magical village in the UK.

[@robertgronewold3326]

@@silsail Basically, any story introduced by the broader 'Wizarding World' label is canon. Hogwarts Legacy is Wizarding World.

[@erikmueller8535]

The movies aren't even canon to the books. What movie video game is ever not an off fascimile of the original property?

[@altibblin206]

Hi, listener from Sweden here! Interesting how unheard of Majorca seems to be in the states. Here (and in the UK of course) it’s a really common vacation destination. Very common for middle class people to travel to, often even going back once a year or so. To own a house there is not unheard of either, although it’s definitely more luxurious. Love the podcast!

[@audreybourgeois4626]

It's partly because Majorca sounds like our state of Florida. Wealthier people often like to own a condo or second home near a beach in Florida and travel there in the winter to avoid the cold. It's extra popular among retirees. Our country is so big and varied in climate, people find it easier to stay here for vacations, but it just makes vacations to other countries seem extra "foreign and exotic". 😂

[@chaitalibanerjee5643]

a founder's series would be a dream come true. I imagine seeing them go on their own adventures and create pieces of magic and enchanted places that we know today, all with the tragic backdrop of the witch trials and the conflict between the muggle and the wizarding world.

[@HAbarneyWK]

If done right. After the fantastic beasts debacle, Id rather they just left HP alone.

[@JustFlemishMe]

The founders were active around the year 1000 and the massive witch trials we think of wouldn't start until at least 4 centuries later. In fact, magic wasn't illegal by itself, if I remember correctly. However, in our timeline, the Catholic Church maintained for a long time a skepticism of magic. Miracles not from God? However, in HP, this is pre-Statute of Secrecy (17th century, when there were Indeed witch hunts), so everyone should know about magic. How does that change things?

[@jayyfrostyy8359]

currently watching this while burning my pretty obvious candle and loving every second

[@audioblogs12]

I thought the reason they didn't try to make Harry presentable was obvious. They had tried to make his hair presentable, but it had grown back overnight! All his clothes are baggy hand-me-downs. He obviously is treated differently from his cousin in those respects, so he must not be seen by an important guest. Not to mention, he might talk about their abuse. As for Mrs. Figg, I really don't know. Maybe she's away for the summer?

[@jamessmithson-br7rm]

I love that Steven Fry pronounces Majorca differently in the UK audiobook depending on whether he is narrating or being Vernon Dursley in character. He nails how Vernon would pronounce it (as presumably someone less well educated).

[@mrgreatauk]

​@FabienBlin In English it's called Majorca though, which is why you get the pronunciation differences

[@ObsessiveGeek]

@@FabienBlin That’s not grammatically correct for the English language though. There’s no j in Mallorca so the pronunciation would change if it was spelt like that, likewise if you changed it to Mayorca so in this instance Majorca is correct in order of create the necessary sounds for the correct pronunciation, though depending how well taught someone is on English they might not realise the way it should be pronounced and so will put a heavy emphasis on the J.

[@MidoriNatsume]

​@@FabienBlinYou explained pronunciation, you don't need the shitty emoji to justify yourself like having knowledge is a crime.

[@hufflepom]

@@FabienBlin I just looked in the American versions and in both books it is spelled as Majorca. Google search says both spellings are valid. Language is weird.

[@hufflepom]

@@FabienBlin in the books it does have it with a J.

[@MagicalTheoryYT]

I always felt like the frying pan swipe was just lowkey attempted murder lol, even when I read the books as a kid. I don't know how to see it as anything else. Definitely worthy of a Dumbledore howler.

[@trishanderson1819]

Agree!

[@chrisdtgordon5331]

Who’s to say that Draco wasn’t writing to his parents about Harry during the school year?

[@sigexp]

Both Barty Crouch Jr. and Sr. are as Hufflepuff as you can possibly be. Both demonstrate that they value loyalty: Senior places abidance to the Law higher than the love for his son. Junior is notoriously Voldemort's most loyal servant. Both demonstrate that they value hard work: Senior is known in the Ministry as one of the most efficient workers: he led Department of Magical Law Enforcement during the First Wizarding War, and made a reputation for himself as one of the greatest enemies of those who practice Dark Arts. And when the war was over, he transferred to a completely different department and still excelled at his job. Junior spends an entire year disguised as different person. He managed to learn Moody's personality and mannerisms so well, that even Dumbledore didn't suspect anything. Both demonstrate that they value fair game: Senior's insistence on everything being done by the book is well known. Junior is outraged at Death Eaters who wriggled their way out of Azkaban: it wasn't just a question of loyalty, in his view if you were caught, you should be proud to go to prison. Both demonstrate that they value dedication. Senior was pretty much the only wizard at the Quidditch World Cup who managed a flawless disguise as a muggle: when Harry first meets him, he thinks that even Uncle Vernon wouldn't recognize a wizard. Junior, once again, takes part in a very long and complicated scheme, and nobody suspects him. Crouches are a pure-blood family and are listed among The Sacred Twenty Eight. But I don't think they really match Slytherin.

[@SithScribe21]

I like this theory, I am torn now between this and the stated Slitherin theory in this vid, both great points! Maybe one day we’ll find out, but as a token Hufflepuff, Slytherin can keep em 😅

[@yogtheterrible]

At the end of the episode I feel like Ben and J have forgotten the negatives of Crouch because J says the wizarding world would have been better off with him as Minister of Magic because while he's severe he's also effective. Keep in mind that Crouch sent Sirius to Azkaban without a trial and he allowed the use of the unforgiveable curses against the death eaters...something that not only was Dumbledore against but also Moody. He's a very "the end justifies the means" whatever the means are, even if you become what you're fighting.

[@maofamily6509]

I think it was because at least he would have beaten voldemort.

[@torazely]

​@@maofamily6509 No he wouldn't. The prophecy would have still been in play. He MIGHT have been more willing to accept Voldemort's return, but it was ALWAYS going to be down to Harry (or Neville) to defeat him.

[@maofamily6509]

@@torazely Ah yes.

[@bit0159]

On the one hand your're right, he was all for it to use unforgivable curses against Death Eaters, but you also have to see how despaired the Ministry was to fight off and prevent the Ministry to fall in to Voldemorts hands. Unlike the second Wizarding War, the Ministry hasn't fallen. So they did do a good job somehow. And the situation with Sirius was odd, because Sirius didn't defend himself. All evidence they had and that included word from Dumbledore, the most well-known und respected wizard alive, lead to believe that Sirius must be guilty. I think Dumbledore and Moody as Gryffindors were too noble to use unforgivable curses. It speaks for the fact that Crouch was definitely not in Gryffindor house.

[@Blixthand]

I don't know about England, but I'm from Sweden and I think the most common way to serve things would be directly from a pot or a pan unless you're having a nicer party. If it's just your regular everyday breakfast or dinner, why would you dirty another dish? Even if you had friends over as a kid or were the guest in a friends house that was how everyone served their food, just lift the pot or pan from the stove over to the table. Now we wouldn't place a hot pan straight on the table, we'd have a trivet, usually made of cork, but I've seen both wool and metal as well, in-between to protect the table from heat, but we wouldn't bother moving whatever from the pot itself. I could maybe see the argument for bacon if you want to have it on a piece of paper first to suck up some of that grease, but if you want greasy bacon or don't mind then there's no real reason.

[@Chris-ks4sw]

You would eat straight from the pot/pan?

[@Blixthand]

@@Chris-ks4sw not eat, but serve straight from the pot or pan. We wouldn’t have a serving dish, but we would have our own plates, which seems to be what is happening at the Dursleys here.

[@silsail]

It's the same in Italy. If it's informal (just those who live there, or close friends), you bring the pot/pan to the table on a "poggiapentola" (potholder? pot-putter? pot-placer? Poggiare means to put/place something down), which is usually woven straw, cork, metal nets, woven straw with a ceramic "tile" on top, etc. It's just something you use to prevent the table -or tablecloth if you're using one- from getting burn marks or getting melted

[@Sway22]

@@Chris-ks4sw Not eat. But it's preaty normal to put it on the table so anyone can just take stuff from it onto their plates.

[@MelanieNLee]

I'm from Queens, NY, USA. Occasionally, especially for holiday meals, my family would place a pot or pan on the table on a trivet or a serving tray.

[@maudline]

I’m also born on the 31st of July and the first book was translated and published in my language… the year I turned 11!!!

[@briangruenewald7536]

Coincidence? I think *NOT* !!!

[@alzeem978]

Number one in Russia? I thought I was like one of 10 geeks listening to the podcast 😂😂😂

[@MultiDudeman]

One thing about the chamber of secrets is the entrance opens up a sink with snake marks on the water tap and pipes BUT there was no indoor plumbing 1000 years ago, so... you know, how did slytherin create this part? Or did Voldemort add that part when he discovered the chamber?

[@shannonheadley4422]

I believe Pottermore had an article saying that one of Slytherin's descendents was responsible for designing the secret bathroom entrance when plumbing was installed

[@lovelylife-tz4be]

Bacon on a plate before you serve it. You have clearly never been to Europe (Germany) . We only do that if you want to impress someone. That sounds so impractical you have more dishes to clean. Just put a heat protector under the pan and put it on the table or serve directly on individual plates 😂

[@kduncanski]

As you go through CoS, there are two items that I remember questioning the last time I read the book. First, I believe Ron adds no positive activities in the entire book. Every idea he has goes wrong, he is incapable of doing magic due to broken wand, and he contributes nothing to solving the mystery. Second, I find Harry's attitude towards colin out of character. Harry is one year away from feeling insecure about his place in the wizzarding world. But he scoffs at colins questions about quidich, has a complete lack of empathy for a small first year that knows nothing about wizzarding world.

[@kduncanski]

Also, how did the professors know it was ginny that was taken into the chamber

[@forestgrump4723]

@@kduncanskiI kinda wonder if they don’t have a ledger with the students in dumbledores office that says where they’re at in a similar vein to the Weasley clock? “In transit” “in bed” “in danger” etc. would be an easy way to catch students out of bed but if it’s in dumbledores office it can probably only be used in extreme circumstances like “we need to find this student to send them home for a family emergency”

[@Rezkeshdadesh]

So, when Harry was in the hospital wing for the last game of last year, did they have a reserve Seeker, or did they just play without one?

[@danyyeltr4803]

It would make sense that they had someone else as seeker (which also happens in later books) but they way I remember it being written implied that they didn't play with a seeker

[@Cengara101]

Does Dudley know it’s Harry’s birthday, or is it that it’s a year ago that Hagrid gave him a tail which just happened to be on Harry’s birthday?

[@kateatkins8778]

I'm Russian and I go back and listen to your podcasts again on a background when I need to do household chores cause you're so calming and enjoyable

[@Keltheran]

When it comes to all the information that is "withheld" I have always wondered if it was truly J.K keeping it secret or if she just kinda made it up as she wrote the books. For example with the dementors, she might have decided in the third book to use some dark creature and if they are important to the story they need a name so she made one up at that time, instead of sitting on it as a "secret" since the first book.

[@stuartwilson6939]

Dudley probably remembers Harry's birthday because it was the day that he grew a tail

[@olandir]

What if the truth of how the founders split and what Slytherin wanted is different from what's told to us. Basically, history is always distorted over time. What if Slytherin had extremely valid reasons for leaving and splitting from the group. Perhaps someone he loved was brutally murdered by a muggle and that's why he doesn't trust muggle-born wizards. It could be any number of reasons that were legitimate or at least defensible. It's very telling that even after he left, they didn't erase him from the school's legacy. Normally, if someone was perceived to be "evil" they wouldn't leave him immortalized as one of the school houses. Instead they'd push him to the background. The fact that they didn't meant in some way they still respected him. Perhaps the reason why the basilisk was left in the school wasn't just to purge the school of muggle-borns "someday" (I mean if he really wanted to purge them, why not do it then and there. Perhaps he left it there as a safeguard. He believed that muggle-born students would eventually betray the school and wizards, and the basilisk was there to purge them when that happened. There are lots of ways to explore his motivations, is what I'm saying.

[@lauramarschmallow2922]

I heard somewhere in an video about "one's unpopular opinions" the theory, that Slytherin was right with his distrust of muggleborn witches and wizards, as they lived durin the beginning of the witchs's persecution.

[@MelanieNLee]

I agree somewhat, but Slytherin carried it too far. Rather than try to kill Muggle-borns, the right approach would be to help them navigate their two worlds.

[@shorv]

it is possible that Hermione only needed a time turner because her classes had scheduling conflicts. it may have been possible for previous students to take all 12 subjects without conflicts, not requiring a time turner. especially makes sense if hogwarts students are at an all time low because of low birth rate during the War, there may have been a need for more classes to accommodate all students in previous years.

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

Let's go! FIRST chapter of book 2! Thanks For this Guys❤❤❤❤❤

[@Amy-sg8xg]

Russian fan here 🖐 Thought I was the one of the few, but good to know there are many of us) Great support for you guys!

[@hufflepom]

Maybe Dobby can keep popping over to Harry’s while technically not defying the Malfoy family is that making Harry miserable and feeling isolated would please Draco . Harry, I’m pretty sure, speculates that Draco sent Dobby.

[@audralahrhpdoorks]

We know that Draco and his parents write at least weekly, and knowing they were death eaters, it probably wouldn’t have been a secret topic for Draco to find out exactly what kind of person Harry is. Though they did try to protect their son from the messy bits, they would have been at least steering him to do certain things regarding Harry. Behind closed doors, they would have had convos about whether they try to cultivate this child and get access to him to make sure he is aligned with Voldemort’s goals. In the worst case scenario to them, where Harry does in fact prove himself to be infallible to Voldemort’s teachings, what is the best way to snuff this child out quickly to earn Voldemort’s higher favor, and possibly bring him back sooner? These were probably convos they had had in their household at least all year, and probably writing to Drsco prodding him for info. He would have written to them about EVERYTHING. I am absolutely certain that AS SOON AS, what happened with Quirrell was known, Draco would have written to his parents about it, even before the House Cup was announced. I am going to assume that Dobby had this growing fear and sense of what was happening well before the summer started. Of course he heard Narcissa reading these letters aloud all year from her son at Hogwarts to her husband, discussing what to do, how to bring the dark lord back, possibly they could use that fool Weasley’s child as bait. From Draco’s letters, Ron and Harry were described as close. Dobby would have put the pieces together and set his own plan in motion before Draco even got home, likely before they even left Hogwarts.

[@ToaCody1]

This was actually how I was introduced to HP in the first place. My mom got into the series and was consistently trying to get me into it, but the way she described it made it seem like generic fantasy junk I had no interest in at the time. Finally she sat me down and read me this chapter, and it blew my expectations so far out of the water that I was hooked.

[@duellingmasterheropokeland1468]

In my opinion, Derby could be called a minor antagonist in chamber of secrets

[@hufflepom]

The reverse highlighting is helpful for the kids like me who didn’t read the books in order. We were on vacation with my cousins and I had finished all of the books that I brought but my cousin had Prisoner so I borrowed it to have something to read. The recap at the beginning helped me get a little background. lol.

[@elizabethclifford215]

It's my Husband, Alex's birthday today and we are staying in a little cabin listening to this! We love all of your videos. Ive never read the books but love the films. Alex has been showing me his favourite chapters from all of the books. We are from the UK!Thank you very much for sharing!

[@wjhdtyqbc324]

Wow you're number one in Russia! ❤🎉 I thought that I'm the only one who listens to your podcast from Russia.😂

[@potterisbetter]

It would be lovely if you could auction off your annotated books for charity 💛💛

[@lamplighter5545]

I think the relationship between Dudley and Harry is fundamentally different than the relationship between the elder Dursleys and Harry. They're peers. They're almost the same age. To me, this feels like a rivalry between siblings that hate each other because their parents have always pitted them against each other. There's that hate. There's the rivalry that goes along with it. But there's also a connection that comes from being part of the same familial dysfunction.

[@TheDanishGuyReviews]

As I understand it, holidaying in Mallorca to middle class British folks is the height of luxury and something to brag to all the neighbours about for years to come. Mrs. Bucket from Keeping Up Appearances would jump at a chance to go, to lord it over everyone on her street.

[@ToaCody1]

It's pronounced "Bouquet". 😜

[@TheDanishGuyReviews]

@@ToaCody1 "It's been Bucket since before we married, and you know it."

[@ToaCody1]

@@TheDanishGuyReviews Touche

[@benwillis5840]

Mallorca (or Majorca) was a popular package holiday destination in the 1980s for the British. They were cheap and popular and had certainly begun to fall out of fashion by 1992.

[@deserabailey8500]

I always thought Barty Jr was DEF a Ravenclaw for SURE

[@Karinica]

I think what's funnier about the kicked off the quidditch team line is what is the plan here? Fly a broom in a muggle suburb where he can be seen?

[@Rezkeshdadesh]

I share a birthday with Neville, the best character. Also, when the books started coming out, I was the same age as Harry and friends until we got to book 5 and there started being 2-3 years between book releases

[@Tabimatha29]

Love the review question! I think I’m leaning that Jr was in Ravenclaw. While he used his cunning to deceive this was hard and didn’t come easy. I think his intelligence and creativity are what he leverage more when coming up with and executing this very elaborate plan. I do think that Sr was definitely a Slytherin. Really his main characteristic was his career/political ambition and this was ultimately his downfall. Not that he was wrong, but he was blinded by his ambition. And then again blinded when trying to hide his secret once he helped his son escape. PS would love a video breaking down the subtle differences between house traits i.e. cunning v intelligence, chivalry v loyalty, ambitious v daring.

[@jb888888888]

- In addition to what you said about it being a year-and-a-half (ish) since the last book came out when it was first published, Rowling also had to set the stage for those readers who hadn't read the first book at all. - It has literally been a thousand years since the founding of Hogwarts, *of course* new things will have been discovered since then. - Harry's iconic round glasses are and have been a staple for British culture for literally decades before Harry existed. John Lennon wore the same glasses. They were the standard glasses provide by the British NHS. The Durlsey's got Harry the cheapest glasses they were legally allowed to, short of not getting him glasses at all which was (probably) illegal -- as his caretakers they had certain legal obligations to take care of him. - Maybe Lucius Malfoy assigned Dobby to spy on Harry and then Dobby took it upon himself to intercept the letters. Plus there's a British tradition amongst the upper classes that the servants basically aren't people They're furniture. You can talk freely in front of the and they're not expected to know anything or pay attention unless they're specifically called upon to do their job. House-elves are an extension/exaggeration of that.

[@gercobosch2870]

I love how HP oracles you guys are. But when it comes to Europe and European lifestyle you guys know very little. Like Mallorca is very popular as a holiday destination because it is like for you guys to go to Cuba.

[@leumasecallaw6313]

This episode just made me want the founders series even more(by y'all)

[@TheDanishGuyReviews]

What a treat on the day I am finally well again after being sick all week!

[@VeronikaHer]

I absolutely love this podcast. Great way to reread the books at a slow pace! I've got a question and maybe I'm being stupid but why does "neither can live while the other survives" mean one needs to kill the other? It's always bugged me. I understand it as "neither can come to full power while the other is alive"... Why does it mean they have to die at each other's hands???

[@LeaF-vo2mx]

Because Voldemort will never stop hunting Harry. Its a self-fulfilling prophecy

[@tvoritsya]

In the LatAm Spanish version, Harry says Abracadabra, pata de cabra (goat's leg), which I find hilarious

[@TheNoteblockLizard]

I suppose it would be possible that Draco has been sending letters home all through their first year keeping Lucius appraised on the activity Harry Potter and friends have been up to ... maybe that's even why he's so obsessed with getting in their way? I also can't see Lucius not finding out that Voldemort made an appearance at the school prior to Draco coming home and deciding it was time to stick the journal into the school. I'd wager it likely he made the plans prior to the kids returning home.

[@tiinakarmala633]

Someone must have told Harry when his birthday is. It's not something a one year old can remember on his own. He did go to school so maybe it came up in some form there? That could explain why Dudley knows but his parents don't remember. They must have seen it on some official paper at one point but just didn't care.

[@jacobdavis3359]

I’m loving this series and book two is in my top three

[@madilynebarbrick8566]

I've been subscribed to the Supercarlinbrothers channel since I first came across their "Beauty and the Beast Makes No Sense" video in 2014. They are the reason I first picked up the Harry Potter books and my life has never been the same since. This may very well be the series that finally gets me into podcasts as well. Every time an episode ends I can't wait to dive into the next. Thank you for creating such an unforgettable experience! Theory idea: how are the portraits made? Did the portrait of Dumbledore appear right when he died? We know that memories can be physical substances in this universe, so is that what they're painted with? Love to hear your thoughts!

[@amicello3461]

Totally love this podcast and super interested what you will uncover in this book. As a German I can say that Mallorca is a holiday island that many Europeans love. Many come to party (bachelor parties etc.), but also it's stunningly beautiful and has many family hotels. Spending your holiday there is very much middle class, but buying a house there is something football stars do. Also I love whenever you ask yourself is it a Harry Potter or a british thing, cause I found out many things over the years that I thought were from the Harry Potter universe that in reality were just british. Looking forward to many more episodes.

[@adamkirsopp492]

Mallorca is exactly like Florida for retirement but it goes with the rest of Spain for either retirement or "spring break"

[@NicholasKoeppel]

Waited for this, lol This is becoming a favorite secret view of mine, a week always seems too long

[@carolynbrubaker1619]

And that's why JK Rowling is arguably the best author of our time! Nobody can do foreshadowing like she can.

[@danyyeltr4803]

Oda from One Piece is one example that surpasses her in that departement

[@LeraMoonPower]

Hello from a long time fan from Russia lol Honestly, I remember reading the first chapter in Chamber of Secrets as a child and thinking ' I know it already, c'mon!'. But then some detail was mentioned that I totally forgot and I was like 'wait, that did happen and I forgot...'

[@emilyjewett2660]

Just started hearing “when you’re the best of friends” little song from fox and the hound while they talk about Godric and Salazar.

[@maxwell9211]

I think Dudley teasing Harry about remembering his birthday is his way of saying happy birthday

[@gingersnap8543]

About the Barry crouch jr question, I thought I’d weigh in that your traits don’t matter in your sorting but instead the traits that you VALUE, and Barry Crouch is OBSESSED with loyalty, to the point where he hates all of his old colleagues for their disloyalties and even breaks his disguise when outraged that the disloyal death eaters weren’t punished. He even repeatedly refers to himself as lord voldemorts most loyal servant.

[@sungexpression9093]

I envision the lump of cheese being something that was likely gonna be discarded otherwise or a leftover ingredient.

[@jamesgardner4738]

Hypothesis: Helga Hufflepuff brought in the House elves to help protect the school, Rowena Ravenclaw Invited the Centaurs to hang around in the Forest, Godric Gryffindor made a deal with the Giant Squid, whilst Salazar Slytherin obviously hatched the Basilisk.

[@bhavens9149]

thinking that Ravenclaw would not be surprising for Barty Crouch JR, negative side of being very bright can be snobbery in extremes. just a thought, maybe try sorting him?

[@sungexpression9093]

I think they’re also hiding the abuse of harry plus they have to have hijinks for dobby to cause

[@kyocciola]

Hiiiii brothers! I love your videos and this podcast is absolutely awesome! I don't think polijuice potion gives short memory of the person you turn into, cause if that would be the case, then Ron in Deathly Hallows would have remembered the wife's trial and I don't even think that gives more of the character traits, cause otherwise Hermione would have been more "Bellatrixy" when going into Gringott's! I think Barry Crouch Jr. is simply very good at what he does and probably either known Moody (I don't think they would attend hogwarts together, but I can't remember their age gap atm) or studied him very well (Moody was a pretty famous auror anyway). I think the sorting hat had a hard time sorting him, cause I think he has a lot of both Slytherin and Ravenclaw!

[@LightsOnTrees]

few cultural points about the UK. Mallorca (esp in the 90's) would of been typical of the middle classes, later on it would of been seen as a bit more working class, or lower middle class. But for the Dursleys it would of been a sign that they had a bit of cash. and the dinner party thing, both time and closing a sale. Signals as being very provincial. Think small c conservative town, that still had gentlemens clubs, dinner clubs etc. also, also, finally, finally, yup, growing up having a heat mat on the table and my mum just bringing the pan over to the table, totally happened... the more you know.

[@keithg460]

31:00 As an author trying to write my own series, keeping huge secrets from the reader is THE most fun thing you can do. Especially coming up with, let's just say Sleight of hand, that keeps readers from learning the truth while trying to leave enough clues so that when they finally discover the secret, they slap themselves for not following the breadcrumbs down the right path. I guarantee that most if not all authors actually enjoy keeping secrets from the reader. The hard part is figuring out how to keep a twist hidden the whole time, all the while making sure the reader has enough information that they could make proper guesses. It like playing a game with the reader, and what is more fun that that?

[@iamshikhersrivastava]

In terms of the good Slytherins things, I would have loved if it was revealed that Dumbledore was in Slytherin. I don’t think it is ever mentioned in the books that he was in Griffindor but I may be wrong about that. With all the information revealed in the ‘Life and Lies of Dumbledore’ one detailed might have been that he was in Slytherin which would have been pretty juicy for what Rita Skeeter was going for. Dumbledore does seem more of a Slytherin than Griffindor. He is very cunning, resourceful, determined, ambitious, self confident. I never really saw Dumbledore as particularly ‘brave’. I just thought of him as having such mastery over magic that he didn’t need to be ‘scared’. He had self belief and trusted himself to be resourceful and find a solution to any problem he may face. Even his plans with Grindelwald of ‘taking over’ and the phrase ‘for the greater good’ have a Slytherin sense of pride and haughtiness that ‘I know what is best for everyone’. He even says he didn’t take the minister for magic position because he learnt that ‘I cannot be trusted with power’. It will also line up with the core lesson of this particular book ‘It is not our abilities it that define who we are, it is our choices’. Him being in Griffindor seems like just yeah he was in the hero house and not very interesting imo.

[@gabrielesh7916]

I still don't like the idea that Ravenclaw made the room of requirements... you don't have to be witty, you just have to be in need... no one found the room because of their wit or thirst for knowledge. (Unless you're counting the old slang for wit, in which case, Dumbledore kind of found it because of his wit, but I digress...)

[@Randomskee]

this is kinda out of left field but I feel like Avatar The Last Airbender depicts a deep rift between two close friends exceptionally well when they tell the backstory of Firelord Sozin and Avatar Roku. Funny enough Roku really fits Gryffindor's traits and Sozin fits Slytherin's

[@lucypreece7581]

I also think this is the book I actually know the least about and only really know the movie. So it will be interesting to explore it in depth. I will say I started bawling a few weeks ago when I was watching the movie. The scene at the end when they all clap for Hagrid i was just gone. Full waterfall on my face ugly crying situation. I think it was because like Robbie Coltrane's passing hit me in that moment. Just like how much warmth and heart he brought to the role of Hagrid. Like to me he IS Hagrid. Nobody else could do that role justice. Knowing that a new HP series is in the works I feel very sorry for the casting director because like the casting for the movies was near perfect. So many of the actors just embodied those roles and i feel like nobody else will be able to do those characters justice. Like come on can you envision anyone else playing Snape other than the late Alan Rickman? What about McGonnagall? Would anyone be able to play her to the same level as THE Dame Maggie Smith.

[@Zeke_O3773]

All of the Dursley chapters get my anxiety level up. 😂

[@stillhere95]

wait, a 7:30 pm dinner party sounds late to you?! When do Americans have supper?! Can anyone English here tell when they have dinner over there? ( I am from India, dinner time is between 8 and 10 pm, so a 7:30 dinner party sounds just right, dinner is the last activity before you go to sleep generally)

[@fidogyrenuzanon2335]

Just an idea, you could always say something like “unpacking the mysteries behind ‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.’”