Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Question: Does any one know the Japanese golfer joke Uncle Vernon was telling at the beginning of the movie?

Answer: The joke goes like this, "A California business man, while in Japan for some business meetings and a few rounds of golf, arrived in Tokyo a day earlier than expected. Feeling lonely that evening, he employed the services of a beautiful young Japanese girl to be his companion for the evening. Although the Japanese girl spoke very little English and the businessman spoke no Japanese, their passion roared and in the heat of the moment she began yelling "Machigatta ana. Machigatta ana" Hearing this, the Californian believed he had pleased his female Japanese friend and soon afterwards went to sleep. The next day while playing golf with his Japanese business colleague, his Japanese partner holed his shot from 170 yards away. Wanting to impress his friend, the Californian began yelling, "Machigatta ana!" The Japanese business man turned to the Californian and with a confused look on his face asked, "What do you mean wrong hole?"

Answer: The punchline is actually quite vulgar, but you can read a copy of the joke at http://www.sugarquill.net/forum/index.php?s=1a43217a81cc245555ad6ac82d3bcc5b&showtopic=6214&view=findpost&p=225388.

Cubs Fan

Question: Is this true that line "I didn't know you could read" was improvised by Tom Felton, who forgot his original line?

Answer: Yes. It's a common occurrence in a lot of movies for actors to forget their original lines so they improvise something to help move the scene along and not break character. Tom did this because he forgot what his original line was.

Answer: Yes in the same way Daniel Radcliffe improvised his line about always being around when talking to Lucius at the end.

Ssiscool

Actually, Jason Isaacs said that, and he and Daniel didn't forget their lines but did it intentionally.

lionhead

Question: At the end of the Chamber of Secrets, Harry gives Lucius Malfoy the diary, showing him that he knows it was him. In the Half Blood Prince we see Dumbledore at his desk mulling over Tom Riddle's destroyed diary - is this an error, or have I missed something? Was it not given back to Malfoy at the end of Chamber of Secrets?

brdwyguy

Chosen answer: After Harry hands it to Lucius, Lucius hands it to Dobby to carry. After Dobby is freed by the hidden sock and protects Harry from Lucius, Lucius leaves it behind.

Greg Dwyer

Question: Considering how big the Basilisk is, how is it able to travel through the pipes in Hogwarts since so many of them are small?

Answer: It was traveling through the pipes that it could fit into.

raywest

So how was it able to get into the girls restroom and kill Moaning Myrtle many years ago? All of those pipes in the restroom aren't large enough.

The girls' bathroom is the entrance to the chamber of secrets. She was in there when Tom Riddle opened it and let the snake out.

lionhead

Answer: Perhaps the basilisk is a magical creature and can change size at any given time to fit into those tiny pipes.

Yes like the Occamy in fantastic beasts and where to find them.

Answer: The tunnel that leads into the Chamber of Secrets is really big. The basilisk could have made its way up into it.

Yes but the general pipes in the castle are not that size. The entrance tunnel was that big for a reason.

Ssiscool

Question: Wouldn't Lockhart be subject to disciplinary action by the Ministry of Magic considering he attempted to run away from Hogwarts whilst a student was missing and in danger, and he should have been there to help with the rest of the staff?

Heather Benton

Chosen answer: Considering that he was rendered mentally incapacitated by the backfiring spell from Ron's broken wand, he would not be considered competent, at that time, to be charged with any wrongdoing. If you watch the film until after the end credits, it is seen that Lockhart is confined to a mental institution with little of his memory left intact. Most likely his actions were reported to the authorities, and if he ever regained his senses, would likely face some sort of inquiry about what happened at Hogwarts.

raywest

Question: Why would Dumbledore hire Lockhart to be a professor at Hogwarts? Dumbledore knows how incompetent Lockhart is and that the DADA is cursed.

Answer: This is better explained in the book. Dumbledore, and also the other Hogwarts' staff, always doubted the narcissistic Lockhart's credentials and abilities, but no-one else would accept the job, knowing it was cursed and no instructor lasted more than a year. At the time, Dumbledore was pressed to hire a new teacher before the school year started, and Lockhart was the only option and better than nothing.

raywest

Answer: On paper, Lockheart is far from incompetent. Look at all his books. It appears he has exceptional experience of the Dark Arts and creatures such as Hag's Banshee's etc. So as far as Dumbledore knows he's the best position of the job. With regards to the job being cursed, it's been cursed for 13 years with no teacher lasting more than a year. He still needs a teacher. And all the teachers get more and more qualified as time goes on. Consider the fact that he hires ex-auror, Moody.

Ssiscool

In the novels, Lockheart has admitted to Harry and Ron that he's a fraud. His backstory goes that all of his "accomplishments" were told to him by other wizards that actually achieved them and after he learned the whole story, he used Obliviate on them to make them forget what they did and claimed them as his own. Even the spell that he claims would work on pixies failed.

In the movie he tells them too. Nobody knew that though, not even Dumbledore when he hired him. Although some do start getting suspicious, like Snape.

lionhead

Dumbledore was aware of Lockhart being a fraud as two of the wizards that had their memories erased were friends of his and was able to correctly guess that Lockhart was responsible.

I wouldn't consider Dolores Umbridge, who succeeded (the fake) Mad Eye Moody, as an improvement. She was mediocre in addition to being corrupt. The real Mad Eye, never taught, so it's unknown how well he would have done. Barty Crouch, Jr. (the fake Moody) was a dark wizard, making him an effective instructor. Lupin was an excellent teacher, as was Snape, though he didn't last a full year.

raywest

Question: After Harry begins to pierce Tom Riddle's diary with the bloody tooth, how does it cause Tom to disappear and revive Ginny?

Answer: The diary is a Horcrux. Tom Riddle, as seen, is just a part of Lord Voldemort's soul. Basilisk venom is one of the few substances that can destroy a Horcrux. When Harry stabs the diary with the fang, the venom destroys the Horcrux and as such Tom Riddle disappears. Due to the strong magic in the item, it has taken control of Ginny as such when the diary is destroyed, Ginny gets her energy back.

Ssiscool

Question: Why did Harry and Ron bring Lockhart with them to the chamber of secrets? Did they really think he'd be any use? Especially after they found out he was a fraud?

THE GAMER NEXT DOOR

Chosen answer: They couldn't leave him alone after finding out he was a fraud or he would tell the other teachers and lie about them and have them in detention before they would be able to enter the chamber themselves. They were in a hurry to save Ginny so they needed to bring him with them.

lionhead

Answer: http://harrypotter.warnerbros.co.uk/home.html. http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/poapics.html has more pictures.

Grumpy Scot

Question: Hermione had to go to the hospital wing after partially transforming into a cat. How did she explain her condition to the hospital staff and/or teachers (if she had to miss classes), without revealing that she made the Polyjuice potion?

Answer: As there are lots of ways for young witches and wizards to get into various predicaments like this, Madam Pomfrey doesn't ask too many questions, she simply treats the students for whatever ailments they present with (this information comes from the books).

kristenlouise3

Question: I'm just wondering from the way how Hermione says she has non magic parents, is she ashamed of her parents?

THE GAMER NEXT DOOR

Chosen answer: She was not ashamed of her parents. Because she was raised a Muggle, she was never exposed to the magical world. She feels awkward and out-of-place and at a disadvantage compared to those who were born into magical families. Hermione does not like feeling inferior to others.

raywest

Also, due to her parents being non-magical she is considered by many pure bloods to be a mud blood meaning dirty blood. Its something she is ridiculed for throughout her education and so simply doesn't want to, as Ray said, feel inferior.

Ssiscool

Chosen answer: Because he's a giant meat-eating spider. His love for Hagrid stops him and his children from attacking Hagrid. But beyond that, they simply want to eat whoever just meanders into their lair.

Garlonuss

Question: In the end credits, the very last character in the cast is someone called Reader (Les Bubb). Who is that character and when did he appear? Note: The cast is listed in order of appearance, so he would be the last character to appear in the movie.

Casual Person

Chosen answer: Les Bubb worked on the Harry Potter films as a voice actor for minor characters. There's no exact indication who he played, but it's likely he was the voice of various portraits, background characters, and other characters who were either unseen or represented by special effects.

Question: Since Dumbledore canceled exams, how did the seven-year students know if they passed for graduation or not? Did they still take exams?

Answer: This is not fully explained, but as the OWL and NEWT students have exams given by the ministry, it is possible that they have already completed their exams or that their exams will not be cancelled. It is also possible that the students' teachers will simply give them a course mark and that they will not have to take the exams.

kristenlouise3

Question: The fang of the basilisk has been shown in the other movies to be able to destroy a horcrux. Since Harry was a horcrux himself, when the basilisk bit him, why didn't it kill him or at the least destroy the piece of Voldemort's soul that was inside of him?

Answer: Because he is alive and the piece of Voldemort inside him is too. He had to die to kill the horcrux inside him, but Fawkes the phoenix healed him before that could happen.

lionhead

Good answer. Would add that if Fawkes had not healed Harry with his tears when he did, then the basilisk venom would have quickly killed Harry and the horcrux.

raywest

Answer: As the other answer says, Harry has to die for that part to be killed. Since he doesn't die, that part of Voldemort doesn't die and so is still inside him.

Ssiscool

Question: Why does Dobby only attempt to save Harry from the dangers that will happen at Hogwarts this year? If he knows that Lucius Malfoy is planning something, why not go to Dumbledore and try to save everyone at the school?

Answer: Dobby overheard a plot that involved Harry. He had heard of Harry and his "greatness" and decided to help him for that. Going to Dumbledore would be for totally different reasons and a more direct "betrayal" of his family. Its not unlikely Dobby thought any other wizard like Dumbledore would tell the Malfoy's about his "betrayal", but not Harry. He also didn't know the entire school was in danger.

lionhead

Question: Tom Riddle tells Harry that Ginny wrote the messages on the wall. But how did she write them? They appear to be up way too high for her to reach.

Answer: She got some stairs. The corridors are empty for long times, she had plenty of time to write it. Either that or levitation.

lionhead

Why did Tom Riddle tell Ginny to write the messages on the wall?

Because it was obvious that neither he or the snake could write the message themselves. He's creating fear at Hogwarts.

lartaker1975

Question: When Harry is stabbing Tom Riddle's diary with the basilisk fang, what is that liquid that coming out of the diary?

Joey221995

Answer: The liquid is the black ink that comprises the diary and is in effect is Tom Riddle's soul. The diary horcrux bleeds to death after being stabbed.

raywest

Answer: It's blood, as well as excess Basilisk venom.

Question: Isn't it weird that during the duelling match between Snape and Lockhart, Snape executes a perfect "Expelliarmus" spell on Lockhart, knocking him off his feet but doesn't disarm him? He is still holding his wand as he falls to the ground. Isn't the Expelliarmus spell a disarming spell?

lionhead

Chosen answer: Yes, it's a disarming charm. Rewatch this scene. Snape intently casts Expelliarmus at the blustering fool, and at first Lockhart has the wand in hand. Then, it cuts to a wide shot just as Lockhart lands, and note the wand is twirling in midair at the top center of the screen, so he has been disarmed. It then cuts to a shot from behind Lockhart's head, and the wand is back in his hand. But as he gets up, the wand is not in his hand. This is listed as a continuity mistake on this website.

Super Grover

Question: The pure-blood extremists, such as the Malfoy family, don't want Muggle-born children to attend magic schools. However, wouldn't this cause Muggle-borns to be out in the world, accidentally doing magic, without supervision? For example, the things that Harry did before his eleventh birthday.

Answer: Yes, but the pure-bloods don't care what happens in the Muggle world. What damage they do in the Muggle world, they don't do in the wizarding world. They don't want Muggle-borns to be called wizards; they think they are too weak to train in wizardry. If they stay in the Muggle world, they don't have to deal with them.

lionhead

Answer: Agree with lionhead's answer, but would add that without wands or proper training on how to use them or knowing the different spells, charms, and incantations, Muggle-born wizards' magical abilities would be limited. The pure-bloods would consider them generally powerless.

raywest

Answer: In the "Deathly Hallows" book, the Ministry of Magic, now controlled by Voldemort, has a statue that depicts a witch and wizard sitting on mounds of Muggle bodies. Some of the extremists might want to exterminate Muggles or force them into servitude.

Revealing mistake: Mrs. Weasley might as well knit like a muggle because she's not making any progress with magical knitting. In the Weasley's home and we see the magic knitting, the needle shoves into the hole, but no thread loops around and it is not advancing. The amount that has already been knitted is magic indeed since all the motion shown in the film produces no results. (00:11:25)

More mistakes in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Dobby: Harry Potter! Such an honour it is!
Harry Potter: What... Who are you?
Dobby: Dobby, sir. Dobby the house elf.
Harry Potter: I see. Not to be rude or anything, but this isn't a great time to have a house elf in my bedroom.

More quotes from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Trivia: When Harry, Ron and Fang begin to walk through the Dark Forest there is a close-up of Fang walking towards the camera. At the start of the next shot, at the bottom right of the screen the Ford Anglia is visible. Although the scene of them seeing the car before it rescues them is deleted, this one shot remains of the car 'watching' them. (01:43:40)

Super Grover

More trivia for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

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