Harry Potter Lessons Learned, Book 2, Chapter 10: The Rogue Bludger

Welcome back to the chapter-by-chapter reading of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. We have reached "The Rogue Bludger" and yet another Quidditch match. As a sports fan, I want to talk about that, but there are more important things in this chapter than who caught the Snitch.

"Always happy to pass on my expertise"

The last chapter ended with Ron saying they needed to find a teacher who was "really thick" and just like that, we open Chapter 10 with another Lockhart class. We learn that Lockhart has given up on teaching any defense and is doing dramatic readings instead. I'm sure this is very entertaining to some, but kids aren't at Hogwarts to see a one-man show. They're there to learn and Hermione sometimes exasperates me by admiring the professor's cleverness. She does grow into some more practical feelings towards famous people over time, but we can forgive her for being a clever witch with a crush for now.

The problem with Lockhart is that he's so egotistical that he has to be the expert in everything. He lectures Hagrid and mansplains gardening to Professor Sprout. In this chapter, he even puts himself in the place of Madam Pomfrey, with disastrous effects. We'd be much better served if he recognized his strengths and left the rest to others. My younger sister and I were in the same math class at one point becauses he excelled and I was terrible. Our teacher said that put together, the Olsen sisters knew everything needed for tests. Rather than take offense at this, we tutored each other and got decent marks.

Lockhart isn't the best at everything and someone should have told him that it's perfectly okay. Other people in this chapter know that lesson well. Hermione needs to consult library books. The Gryffindor Quidditch team put their heads together to work out a way to keep Harry safe. Harry tries to get information about the Chamber of Secrets from Dobby while in the hospital wing. And that cooperation is a wonderful thing.

Lesson Learned: Rely on each other

We should all take a page from Harry, Ron and Hermione. It's perfectly fine to not know something. In fact, we all have been through that experience, whether in school and in life. Frankly, it's easier if we put our pride aside and learn to be cooperative learners.

You don't need to have an upcoming exam to ask for advice or learn a lesson. there are some who say it's important to do something new every day, but I say it's better to learn something new.