HARRY POTTER and the Chamber of Secrets Chapter Eleven
Chapters 1-11
Chapter Eleven
THE MAD BLUDGER
The children have a plan. They will change their appearance and enter the Slytherin house. They will ask Malfoy questions. They want to discover if he is the Heir of Slytherin. But to change their appearance, they need a special potion - the Polyjuice Potion. They know where the recipe for the potion is. It is in a special book in the library.
But there is a problem. The book that they need is in the restricted area of the library. And to get the book out of the restricted area, they need a signed note from a teacher. Harry, Ron and Hermione know only one teacher who might be able to help them: Professor Lockhart. The clever part of the plan is that Lockhart does not need to know that he is helping them!
The next day, Lockhart’s class is about to end. “Before you all go,” yells Lockhart, “You have homework for tomorrow: write a paper about how I defeated the Wagga Wagga werewolf! Ten points for the best paper!” The bell rings, and the children begin to leave.
Harry, Ron and Hermione wait until all the children leave. Hermione walks to Lockhart’s desk. She is holding a piece of paper. She seems nervous. “Um, Professor Lockhart?” she asks. “I’m doing a book report on your book Grooving with Goblins…” “Oh, really,” interrupts Lockhart, “Please, Miss Granger, tell me more.”
“Well,” continues Hermione, “I wanted to take a book out of the library for research.” She shows Lockhart the piece of paper she is holding. “But the book I want is in the Restricted Section of the library. I need a teacher’s signature for permission. The book is about powerful potions, you see…”
“Please, Miss Granger, say no more! Of course I will help my best student understand one of my books better! Where do I sign?” Lockhart picks up a giant feather pen from his desk. Hermione puts the paper in front of him. He does not even look at the paper! He begins to make an enormous loopy signature on the paper.
“So, Harry,” says Lockhart as he is signing the paper, “Tomorrow is your first Quidditch game? Gryffindor versus Slytherin? I hear you’re a very good player. I was a Seeker too, when I was a student here. They asked me to join the National Team, but I wanted to dedicate my life to fighting the Dark Forces! Come see me if you want some private lessons.”
Lockhart gives Hermione the paper. She folds it and puts it in her backpack. “Thank you, Professor Lockhart,” she says. The children leave the room quickly. When they are far away, Ron says with excitement, “I can’t believe it! He didn’t even look at the paper!” “Now we have what we need!” says Harry, happily. They run to the library.
The librarian, Madam Pince, is an old, thin, impatient woman. She looks a little like a vulture. “What book would you like to take out, young lady?” she asks Hermione, when they arrive at the library. “Moste Potente Potions,” answers Hermione. “That is a restricted book,” says Madam Pince, in a suspicious voice. “We have permission!” says Hermione, too loudly. She gives Madam Pince the signed paper.
