Book 2 reflected in book 5 and affecting last two books?

[Lizzy Bennet]

I can't remember where I read it (I'll have to look), but I could have sworn, in an interview, JKR said that what we learn and the events in book 2 were very important to the latter part of the story (book 5 and beyond). Now, perhaps I'm remembering that wrong. If anyone else remembers reading that, please post so I don't look so foolish!

Going on the assumption that she did say that, let's think back on book 2. We learned some more about the four founders of Hogwarts, we learned about Tom Riddle (who LV was before he became LV), we learned about the issue of purebloods vs. everyone else and that prejudice, we saw how the Ministry (or perhaps, just Fudge) seems to 'controlled' (for lack of a better word) by influential Death-Eaters (Lucius Malfoy, for instance) or perhaps these particular Death-Eaters take advantage of Fudge's insecurities regarding Dumbledore.

What is it and/or what did we learn in book 2 that has come or will come into play in the last part of the series? In book 5, the issue of pure-bloods vs. everything else was quite strong...the prejudices were felt strongly. Again, perhaps I'm remembering the interviews I've read with JKR incorrectly, but I could have sworn she said there were things that happened and/or we learned about in book 2 that were very important...I can't imagine she'd bring back the Chamber of Secrets, as she's already written about that once, so what would it be? For a lot of people, it seems, book 2 was not only unremarkable and/or their least favourite in the series, but it seemed to not add much depth to the series...or so we think. Something tells me many of the things we've found minor or unimportant come back later to be much more important than we initially thought them to be...just a thought...what are yours?


~ Lizzy

[gecko]

I've just been looking at http://www.quick-quote-quill.org/ where they have all interviews with JKR online. Yet, I don't know where to look, or what to use as parameters to search! It's so much there, so you could look yourself if you'd like, or you'll have to give some more precise info! : )

I'll believe you even without having read the original interview though !
In book 2 we meet a Tom Riddle in his 5th year at Hogwarts, and so is Harry in book 5, but that probably isn't the important thing. In book 2 we also meet Lucius Malfoy for the first time, and we get an idea of the sort of person he is. And we all know how good he and Harry got along in book 5 :Þ! In OotP we get to know Lucius a lot better, we get to know what he's willing to do for his Dark Lord.

Wait, I'm on to something ! In CoS Harry was regarded as the heir of Slytherin and almost nobody wished to be with him or dared to look in his eyes. They thought really bad of him, and it was wrong because he wasn't the heir. Now in book 5, we see the same sort of thing, but this time almost the entire nation is, again wrongfully, against him. That's a parallel between the books.
I'm about to start rereading book 2, so I'll keep you updated!

[highsorcerer]

Of extreme importance was the introduction of Fawkes. Fawkes played a major role in book 5 with his teleportation ability (which I still think works on the same principle as floo powder). As his faithful pet, he evacuated Dumbledore away from his office and the Aurors, then took the AV curse meant for his master.

Another important character introduced was Dobby. Harry tricked Lucious Malfoy into freeing him, and then turned up in Book 4 to provide needed assistance with the second task. He was also able to provide Harry with the information about the Room of Requirements. Also, as a free elf (who wants paying for his services), he is not bound to keep his master's secrets. Therefore he was able to warn Harry and the D.A. students about Umbridge before they got caught red-handed, in spite of the order given to the house-elves.

Gilderoy Lockhart was introduced, and while his role in OotP was minor, it was important in order to set up the scene where Ron, Hermoine, Ginny, and Harry run into Neville and his grandmother at St. Mungos. Strictly speaking, his role wasn't necessary, they could have run into the Longbottoms elsewhere in the hospital (simply by putting their beds closer to Arthur Weasley, or setting the encounter in the lobby or teashop).

Speaking of the Chamber of Secrets, why didn't Harry consider using it as a place for Dumbledore's Army? Few people knew where it was located, and nobody would be telling Umbridge, particularly the teachers who probably both knew of and approved of D.A. (McGonagall and Dumbledore at the very least, getting the information from Dobby or Sirius).

[June]

Speaking of the Chamber of Secrets, why didn't Harry consider using it as a place for Dumbledore's Army? Few people knew where it was located, and nobody would be telling Umbridge, particularly the teachers who probably both knew of and approved of D.A. (McGonagall and Dumbledore at the very least, getting the information from Dobby or Sirius).

Didn't the ceiling crash down on them in the Chamber when Harry and Ron were trying to find Ginny? Perhaps that's the reason? The Chamber was in shambles. Besides, Harry has very bad memories of that place... not the best place to set up a Defence league...

[highsorcerer]

There was a bunch of rubble, but Harry learned the Reducto curse in GoF. It wouldn't have been that hard to clear out the debris now that he has that particular spell in his arsenal.

[Albus]

Well, I think Dobby's introduction in book 2 was really important, even for the fact that we knew from him that an elf can leave for a moment a family if he's said "Go away !"... I'm thinking that it was exactly what Sirius told Kreacher, he obeyed to the order and went to the Malfoys...

[highsorcerer]

Also important is the concept of possession. Ginny was possessed in CoS, and Harry both felt he was (particularly during Christmas) and actually was (in the Department of Mysteries).

Duelling was also introduced, and the one spell learned (disarming) has been extremely useful, coming into play in PoA, GoF, and OotP.

[Gypsy]

I think the introduction to the Weasleys as a family unit was very important. Harry got see their dynamics whilst staying at the Burrow, and they were made Harry's ideal of family life. I believe all of the Weasleys except Mrs Weasleys will be killed (due to the boggart incident that i think is foreshadowing). I think they will be the family that we see shattered by Voldemort, in a similar way that the Potters and Longbottoms were destroyed.

In book 4, Mr Weasley tells Harry that every good wizards nightmare during the first war against Voldemort was to return home to see the dark mark hovering over their house and know what they would ind inside. I'm sure that when most readers first read this, they imagined Mr Weasley returning to the Burrow to see the Dark Mark, and I think this nightmare will be realised by Mrs Weasley and possibly Harry and Hermione towards the end of the last book, so I consider the homely image of the Burrow described in Book 2 to be very important.

[Holly Golightly]

Hrmm, I dont' like the idea of reading that, but it's a great theory! I do kid of beleive trhat alot of things taht we see are gong to happen, like I thintk aht Ron will really become Quiddich Captain, and Head Boy, like the mirror showed!

And with the Boggart... Ron did see the huge scary pirer (actaully, that was in the book before, so not really prophecy) but harry had to face the dementors, Snape pulled that cracker with the hat like Neville's boggart showed, Lupin unexpectedly (and with horrid timing) was caught out by the moon, so maybe Mrs W's prediction abotu that will come true...

But then the bit that makes me doubt it was that Harry adn Ron were there too... I dotn' think that they will die like that... itf it was just the older bros and Mr W, I'd say definately, but since those two were seen dead too, I'm not so sure...

[highsorcerer]

You forgot Hermoine's boggart, which implied her greatest fear was failure. Actually, she seemed kind of pained to admit Harry was better than her at DADA (and the scene is quite clear in PoA, Harry confronted and beat the Boggart at the end of Lupin's exam, whereas Hermoine ran screaming out with news that McGonagall told her she failed everything). Ron was somewhat off about Hermoine's boggart when he suggested it would be a piece of homework that only got 9 out of 10, which would have implied her biggest fear was not being perfect.

I found it actually rather odd so many students had physical beings or horrors as boggart, when intangible fears are so much harder to deal with.

I wonder if Percy's boggart would be an authority figure coming down on him for rule-breaking. We know Fudge's would be Dumbledore coming in to take over the MoM.

[Holly Golightly]

Actually, yeah, I did forget Hermoine's! I was thinking of the class with Lupin, where she and Harry didnt' have to face the Boggart!!! My bad!

Oh wells! Maybe Percey's would just be him in a position with no power, no authority... maybe Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Dep that his Dad work's in, afdter all, doesn't Percy see that as embarrasing etc???

I can jsut imagine all the DE's seeing Hasrry beating Voldie!!! HAHAHA!!!

[fra-sirius]

that's amazing!
i haven't found so many possible connections btw the 2nd and the 5th book ...
everything you just said makes me say: "ok, it's time to read HP more carefully!!!!!!!!!!!!"

[Holly Golightly]

Yeah, I know! I do that sometimes, I read the book, but neer really try t make any connections, but when other peopl epooint them out, it's like... Oh yeah... why didn't I see that!!!

[Gwared]

The biggest point I saw in book 2 was the simularity between Tom and Harry, especially the green eyes.

[Violet]

Lizzie,i too heard.read on some interview that book 2 is very important in relation to later books. As you suggested no-one particualrily finds it to be one fo their favourites in the series, in many ways it appears dis-jointed from the rest of the series in my opinion.
However i think it was the introduction to the darker side of the wizarding world (with Lucius, the Basilisk, the pure blood prejudice, and of course Tom Riddle).
As much as i dont really want to i think i will re-read it before i re-read book 5 then i think some more connections will emerge