Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: Chapter 8 Summary.
The Deathday Party
Chapter 8 of Harry Potter and the Chamber, titled “The Deathday Party” focuses on Harry’s experience at the Deathday Party, and introduces the Chamber of Secrets.
Quidditch Practice
The wet and cold weather has caused a surge of colds among the students and staff, keeping Madam Pomfrey very busy. Her Pepperup Potion, which leaves the drinker smoking at the ears for several hours, is very popular at the moment. Even Ginny, who looked pale and sickly, is forced to take some by her brother Percy.
Despite the torrential rain, Oliver Wood insists on regular Quidditch practice. Even aside from practicing in the rains, team Gryffindor is not very happy, because spying on the Slytherin team has revealed that their Nimbus Two thousand and One brooms are truly in a league of their own. Reportedly, thanks to the speed of their brooms, the Slytherin team is practically a group of seven green blurs flying around the pitch.
Encounter with Nearly Headless Nick
On a late saturday evening, Harry encounts Nearly Headless Nick in a deserted corridor, staring morosely out of a window. Nick shares his disappointment about not being accepted into the Headless Hunt, despite being hit forty two times in the neck with a blunt axe.
He shows Harry a letter of rejection from Sir Patrick Delaney-Podmore, who explains that Nick does not meet the requirements for full beheading, thanks to the half-inch of skin attaching his head to his neck.
Caught by Filch
As Harry walked through the corridor, he left muddy footprints, attracting the attention of Filch’s cat, Mrs. Norris. Nick informs Harry of Filch’s foul mood and advices Harry to leave the site as soon as possible. Before he can leave, however, Filch quickly appears from a tapestry nearby and angrily drags Harry to his office.
The office is dimly lit and filled with the smell of fried fish, with filing cabinets detailing the punishments of various students. Harry notices that Fred and George have a dedicated separate drawer. On the wall behind Filch’s desk hang several polished chains, which Filch intends to use to hang students by their ankles, but lacks Dumbledore’s permission to do so.
As Filch proceeds to report Harry’s crime, there is a loud bang on the ceiling of the office, which Filch suspects is Peeves’s doing. He runs to catch him in the act, leaving Harry behind.
While waiting in Filch’s office, Harry notices a glossy purple envelope labeled “Kwikspell, A Correspondence Course in Beginners’ Magic.” Inside, he finds promotional material for a beginners’ magic course.
As Harry wonders why Filch needs such a course, Filch returns, and is flustered and embarrassed to see Harry with the Kwikspell materials. Harry quickly denies reading anything and Filch, looking uncharacteristically uncertain, lets Harry go.
Nearly Headless Nick’s Request
On his way out, Harry meets Nick again, who reveals it was him who convinced Peeves to throw the Vanishing Cabinet at Filch’s office as a distraction. Harry thanks Nick, and in return, Nick invites Harry, Ron, and Hermione to his five hundredth Deathday Party on Halloween. Harry, wanting to help Nick, agrees to attend the party.
In the Gryffindor common room, Harry discusses the invitation with Ron and Hermione. Despite Ron’s reluctance, they decide to attend the Deathday Party instead of the Halloween feast.
The Deathday Party
The Deathday party is organized in a Dungeon. The passageway leading to it is adorned with candles that burn bright blue, but the overall effect is far from cheerful.
The dungeon where the party is held is cold and filled with hundreds of ghosts. They are welcomed by Nearly Headless Nick, and decide to take a look around. A chandelier hangs above, filled with black candles that burn bright blue. The translucent, pearly white guest ghosts can be seen drifting around a crowded dance floor, dancing to the dreadful, quavering sound of thirty musical saws, played by an orchestra on a black-draped platform.
They pass a bunch of ghosts, including a group of gloomy nuns, the Fat Friar of Hufflepuff, the Bloody Baron of Slytherin, and a knight with an arrow sticking out of his head amongst others.
Hermione sees the Moaning Myrtle, a ghost that haunts the first floor girls’ toilet, and asks the group to turn back as she does not want to interact with her.
The trio then meets Peeves, who complains to Moaning Myrtle about Hermione’s comments about her. Upset by Peeves’ teasing, Myrtle starts to sob and leaves.
The party’s food is equally ghastly, with rotten fish and burned cakes. The ghosts can “almost” taste it when they pass through it. Hermione wonders if the food is rotten to intensify the taste.
The Headless Hunt
Right when it is time for Nearly Headless Nick’s speech, the Headless Hunt arrives, with much fanfare. As Nick starts to speak, The Headless Hunt start a game of Head Hockey, overshadowing Nick’s speech.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione, feeling cold and uncomfortable, decide to leave the party early.
The Chamber Of Secrets
As they leave, Harry hears the mysterious voice again, speaking of tearing, ripping, and killing.
He urgently follows the voice, with Ron and Hermione in tow, but cannot not locate its source. The voice seemed to be moving upwards, adding to Harry’s confusion and fear.
While still in pursuit, the trio discovers the petrified body of Mrs. Norris hanging by her tail from a torch bracket, with a chilling message written on the wall:
“The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the Heir, beware.”
Ron suggests they leave the place quickly, but right at that moment, a rumble of thunder declares that the feast is over. People crash into the passageway, and discover the trio with the message.
The students and staff are shocked and horrified. From the crowd, Draco Malfoy declares that the enemies of the Heir should beware, and that the mudbloods are next with a malicious grin.
The chapter ends with Harry, Ron, and Hermione left deeply concerned and confused about the message. The chapter sets a strong foundation for the events that are to follow.
