Harry Potter Lessons Learned, Year 2, Chapter 14: Cornelius Fudge

It's not often that I read the news and immediately think that I should talk about Rubeus Hagrid, but such is life. Welcome back to our chapter-by-chapter read of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Last chapter found us realizing alongside Harry that there was solid evidence showing that Hagrid was the person to open the Chamber of Secrets in the 1940s. Now, we join Harry as he confronts the friend he's trusted since his 11th birthday and tries to find truth instead of suspicion as the victor.

"We're in trouble now."

I mentioned being inspired by reading and that's true, but it's a longer process than I first implied. I live quite close to the place where a Turkish Tufts University student was seized off the street for being one of several students who wrote in favor of Palestine in an op-ed. A judge mandated that she be kept here, but that order was ignored by law enforcement. There are a lot of people, myself included, who are angry about this, while others are absolutely on the side of people who want her punished for the article. There are reports of other people whose visas have been revoked without due process and they are being ordered to leave before they too, are arrested. This morning, I found a post on Facebook that said, "Stand for what's right, even if you stand alone."

It was this combination of messages that reminded me of Dumbledore standing in support of Hagrid when the Minister for Magic comes to Hogwarts. So, here we are. At the beginning of this chapter, Harry, Ron and Hermione spend a lot of time second-guessing themselves. They can see some reasons to believe this history that Harry has just seen in the diary, but can't reconcile it with the person they know. In the end, "they decided that they would not say anything to Hagrid unless there was another attack, and as more and more days went by with no whisper from the disembodied voice, they became hopeful that they would never need to talk to him about why he had been expelled."

Harry's snubbing as the supposed Heir of Slytherin is really a comparatively minor offense, but it's good to see that Ernie treats him with decency during Herbology class and even Peeves gives up some of his mischief. The culture of fear that's been festering at Hogwarts makes a shift towards a state in which they can let things be mended.

It is the morning after a fellow Gryffindor steals Riddle's diary that Harry worries about having to involve teachers because someone in his own house might be posing a danger to the students. "He didn't want to be the one who brought it all up again." I love it when Harry shows his loyalty. The real blow of the chapter is Hermione being the next person Petrified. With everyone in a state of panic and Lee Jordan vilifying Slytherin as a house, Harry decides to face whatever truth he needs to hear from Hagrid.

The rest of the chapter barely needs to involve Harry and Ron. Fudge and Malfoy take their own stands and make Hogwarts a less safe to be, while Dumbledore is Hagrid's lone advocate. The best counsel given is that "Help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it."

Lesson Learned: Stand for what's right

I wish we'd had time for Harry and Ron to talk to Hagrid about his experience and what he thinks of the current predicament. All we get is that Harry asks him if he's all right. It must mean something to Hagrid that his young friends came to check on him and I can imagine him remembering that of five people who came to his hut that night, three of them were supportive.

We can't do much to help people at times, but we can make sure we're on the side of fairness and justice. Like Hermione, we can do our research. LIke Harry and Ron, we can go to the source for truth. And we can have faith that "help will always be given...to those who ask for it."