Gilderoy Lockhart
If I had to compare a Howler to something, I'd say it's the wizard equivalent of your mother coming to your seventh grade shop class and threatening to use a jig saw on you because you only packed potato chips and soda in your lunch box. Except a howler would be worse than that, because everyone can hear what your mum's yelling in her scary Howler yelling voice—and you know you deserve it. And it's even worse for Ron, because Mrs. Weasley can be a beast when she needs to be. Outwardly, Mrs. Weasley is nothing but kind to Harry, but she does know how to use guilt to whip him into shape.
After the Howler debacle, Harry feels even guiltier when he sees the Professor Sprout doctoring the Whomping Willow and putting its branches in slings. Lockhart is on the grounds, because obviously he's much better at Herbology than Professor Sprout*. He also tells Harry not to let things like fame go to his head*. And also winning Witch Weekly's most charming smile award is much better than defeating Voldemort when you're a baby*. On a happier note, in Herbology class, the second years are repotting Mandrakes. These little buggers will make a return appearance at the end of the year, so don't banish them from your head completely. We also meet Justin Finch-Fletchley, a fellow second year and Hufflepuff, who we find out is muggle-born.
Chamber of Secrets was never my favorite book in the series, but something that does set it apart from the other books is that we really get to see more daily life at Hogwarts. Many more characters are introduced, we find out more about brooms and plants and Hogwarts's secrets, and more than the first book, we are informed of all these different aspects of being a with or wizard. It's just more world building, more proof that these aren't your stereotypical wizards; they're an entire world of their own, something that extends beyond the ink on the pages.
Colin Creevey is introduced in this chapter, a spritely young first year who is pretty starstruck by Harry despite finding out he was a wizard only months before. Harry and Ron get into a little fight about this with Draco Malfoy and Draco ends up insulting Mrs. Weasley, but what's new about that? Lockhart saves the day by giving Colin a picture of both him and Harry*.
In DADA, Harry finds Lockhart's classroom decorated in pictures of Lockhart*. To start the class, Lockhart gives a quiz over all of his books*, including questions such as "What is Gilderoy Lockhart's favorite color?" (100), the answer obviously being lilac*. After the quiz, Lockhart unleashes a herd of freshly caught cornish pixies on the class and proves to be no help collecting them back up, even though cornish pixies aren't even that dangerous*. Ugh, Lockhart is such a fail at being a famous, charming wizard. I don't even know why Hermione is all swoony about him, when he's obviously not as smart as he's leading the rest of the population to believe.
Times Lockhart is an ass in this chapter: ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿
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