Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Chapter Twelve:
The Polyjuice Potion

Synopsis by William Silvester
Notes and links by Michele L. Worley

US hardcover edition: pages 205 - 226
UK paperback edition: pages 223 - 245
Timeframe: XXX - XXX, 1992 [Y12]

In which Harry is hauled before Dumbledore, witnesses the phoenix burning, and learns Dumbledore does not suspect him of wrongdoing. Christmas Day, presents are opened, the Polyjuice Potion is ready, Crabbe and Goyle are drugged and hair stolen and the potion drunk by HRH. Disguised as Crabbe and Goyle, Ron and Harry quiz Draco Malfoy and find he has nothing to do with the Chamber of Secrets. Upon returning to the girls' bathroom they find Hermione has taken on cat features.

Interesting facts and notes about the text of this chapter:

Notes to come here

quotation to come here

Characters introduced in this chapter:

• Fawkes

• Clearwater, Penelope

• (names not given) several Slytherins

Characters returning in this chapter:

• Crabbe, Vincent

• Dumbledore, Albus

• Goyle, Gregory

• Granger, Hermione

• Hagrid, Rubeus

• Hedwig

• Malfoy, Draco

• McGonagall, Minerva

• Pettigrew, Peter (as Scabbers)

• Potter, Harry

• Weasley, Fred

• Weasley, George

• Weasley, Ginny

• Weasley, Percy

• Weasley, Ron

• (surname unknown) Myrtle

Characters mentioned in this chapter:

• Bulstrode, Millicent

• de Mimsy-Porpington, Sir Nicholas

• Dursleys, the

• Finch-Fletchley, Justin

• Malfoy, Lucius

• the monster of Slytherin

• Pomfrey, Poppy

• Slytherin, Salazar

• Weasley, Arthur

• Weasley, Bill

• Weasley, Molly

Settings and locations introduced or returning in this chapter:

• Great Hall

• Head's office

• Gryffindor Tower

• Myrtle's bathroom

• Slytherin common room

Settings and locations mentioned in this chapter:

• Azkaban

• Burrow, the

• Chamber of Secrets

• Egypt

• hospital wing

• Malfoy Manor

Exceptional character moments:

• Draco's glee at Arthur Weasley's predicament and at the prospect of Hermione being a victim of the monster.

• Myrtle's glee at Hermione's predicament.

Spells and Potions:

• Polyjuice Potion

• Sleeping Draught

Links and Resources:

• Bestiary

  • chickens

  • ghoul

  • phoenixes

• Daily Prophet

• ghosts

• Hogwarts Express

• items and devices, magical

  • books

    • Flying with the Cannons

    • Moste Potente Potions

  • Dark items

  • Ford Anglia, flying

  • pictures with moving subjects

  • quill

  • Sorting Hat

• Muggle Protection Act

• passwords

• Whomping Willow

Memorable lines:

• Harry was just thinking that all he needed was for Dumbledore's pet bird to die while he was alone in the office with it, when the bird burst into flames.

• "Professor," Harry gasped. "Your bird - I couldn't do anything - he just caught fire -"
  To Harry's astonishment, Dumbledore smiled.
  "About time, too," he said. "He's been looking dreadful for days. I've been telling him to get a move on."

• "Honestly, if you were any slower, you'd be going backward."

Strictly British:

• balaclava

• common room

• holiday

• prefect

• tea

• thick

• treacle

• trifle

Timelines/Calendar: