Welcome to chapter three of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets!
I had a blast reading the chapter for this week, and I hope you did, too. Honestly, I think I was just ready to get away from the Dursleys. They tend to do that to us, don’t they?
In the video for this week, we cover how awesome the Weasleys are, how the movies just really messed stuff up sometimes… yeah. As you’ll see, that will become a common theme.
In this chapter, we got the chance to accompany Harry, Ron, Fred, and George (who will now feature more prominently in the book series!) in a flying car to… THE BURROW. What I wouldn’t give to visit this place!
But what makes the Burrow truly special isn’t the building itself, even though that is spectacular; we love it because of the family who lives there, who could very well take the title of “Best Family in the Wizarding World” if it were up to me—the Weasleys!
Not to be a downer, but Harry’s life is full of a lot of darkness and difficult choices. The Weasley family is a spot of light amidst that darkness, and they bring so much to Harry’s life (and ours!). Today, we’re going to be talking about how the Weasleys are the family Harry always needed but wasn’t able to have as he grew up.
We know Harry was tragically deprived of a loving homelife when he was placed with the Dursleys all those years ago. Lily and James seem like they were wonderful parents, and I’m sure Harry spends many moments dreaming about what it would have been like to grow up with them. But I don’t want to stray too far into that sad topic… we’ve already spent an article breaking that down a couple of weeks ago, and it was brutal!
Anyway, while there were important reasons he was placed with the Dursleys that will be discussed later, it doesn’t make the fact that Harry’s childhood was horrible disappear. Because of the Dursleys, Harry never knew what it was like to be truly loved, appreciated, and cared for by a family—that is, until the Weasleys come along!
In chapter three, Harry is rescued by Fred, George, and Ron in the ol’ Ford Anglia. They whisk him off to the Burrow, where we meet the Weasleys and slowly learn a couple of things about them that will stretch into Harry’s relationship with them.
- First of all, Ron, Fred, and George are willing to put themselves at risk for Harry. As the series continues, we begin to see this quality isn’t only limited to these three individuals. The rest of the family eventually join the Order of the Phoenix and dedicate their lives to stopping Voldemort, which includes protecting Harry. They support him, fight for and with him, and encourage him! And some even die for him… I guess I’ll leave that spoiler out of here for now.
- Molly Weasley becomes a mother to Harry. Goodness, I don’t think I can truly express how I feel about this—there aren’t enough words. Molly is constantly so genuinely loving toward Harry. You can even see it in the small moments, such as when she’s making Harry breakfast in this chapter. Molly is a provider, a caregiver, and Harry is included in that care. And he truly needs this. For someone who’s never known anything close to a mother, Molly Weasley lovingly demonstrates the beautiful relationship between a mother and son for him. She takes care of him when given the opportunity and fiercely defends him from bigger threats later in the series as well. Then there are the heartwarming moments when she says he’s as good as her son, or when Harry compares her hug to being hugged by a mother. Tears.
- Ginny and Harry’s relationship begins here! Of course, we see her at King’s Cross Station in the first book, but this is the first time we see them (kind of) interact. I just wanted to throw that out there because it’s adorable. Ginny’s reactions to him in this chapter make me smile every time, especially considering their future together. It’s perfect. Something else that’s wonderful about their relationship is Harry gets to marry into this beautiful family! Besides, you know, Voldemort’s defeat (of course), Harry becoming a member of the Weasley family might be the happiest part of the series’s ending. Additional note: I can’t wait to talk about how awesome Ginny is in the books! The actress was great, but I think the movies really missed the mark with portraying how she’s written in the story.
- The Burrow becomes Harry’s second home… with the first being Hogwarts, of course! The Dursleys don’t count. From the moment this unique, lopsided house drifts into view, Harry falls in love with it. Little does he know, this place and this family will become a haven for him during the hardest of times as he gets older. Actually, I wonder if Harry and Ginny get married at the Burrow… That would be extremely fitting. Does anyone know? If you do, let me know in the comments. Also, I love the interaction between Harry and Ron in this chapter in Ron’s bedroom. Ron is so self-conscious about his family’s situation, and Harry always demonstrates there are things that are much, much more important than how much money is in your pocket or what your house looks like.
I’m so happy the Weasleys will appear more and more throughout the books; we know this is only the beginning of their relationship with Harry. And now, Harry gets the lovely opportunity to stay with them for the rest of the summer—a whole month!
Next week, we’re traveling back to Diagon Alley—somewhere I really miss, by the way! I definitely need to make my way back to Universal Studios soon. We’ll also meet people like Lucius Malfoy and Gilderoy Lockhart, which is a little less than pleasant. I’m excited to talk about it!
Don’t forget to watch the video, and please message me if there’s a particular topic you’d like to read about. I’d love to hear from you!
I hope you’ve all had a great week, and I’ll see you next Thursday. In the meantime, read chapter four!
Bye, Muggles!
Disclaimer: I do not own any element of the Harry Potter series.
Madison K. Darby 
One of the definitions to describe Burrow, is refuge. I thought, how perfect. Harry definitely thought of this place as a refuge. Not just the house but the wonderful Weasley family. I’m sure Harry looked at Molly and Arthur and wondered if this was what it was like, to have a mom and dad. I love how they are a traditional family full of love, chaos and fun. Molly is definitely the care giver who shows love and care for her whole family but also isn’t a pushover. She is a strong disciplinarian who teaches her children to be respectful and to work hard. Arthur is the fun parent but ultimately will support Molly’s decisions. Molly treats Harry with such love and specialness throughout the books. I’m also glad that he got to permanently become a part of this family.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad, too! Harry needed a family to lean on in the books, and the Weasleys accept him immediately! They’re wonderful!
LikeLike
The Burrow ❤️
I’m so happy we’re finally on this chapter! As you and I have discussed many times, the Burrow is (aside from Hogwarts) my favorite place in these books. Reading through Rowling’s description of this place makes me fall in love all over again. I love everything from what we’ll call the “impossible” architecture, to the name they’ve chosen to give to this wonderful place. As Mia points out, a burrow is a place of safety and security, and this proves to be true for more than just the Weasley family time and time again. Also, this may be a stretch, but I’d like to think that if you were to turn the Burrow upside down and bury it in the ground it would be shaped an awful lot like a real burrow…
Anyway, as you’ve already indicated in both the article and the video this is a very important place for Harry. This place and this family exists solely to succeed where his “home” and “family” with the Dursleys fails. Where Vernon and Petunia are well-off, the Weasleys just get by. Where the Dursleys show nothing but antipathy and hate, the Weasleys show sympathy and love. Where the Dursleys are sterile and put-together, the Weasleys are busy and a little hectic, but also warm and chaotic in the best way. This is really just a long way for me to say that the Weasleys are everything the Dursleys aren’t, and that’s a wonderful thing.
I also really think that Rowling’s affection for the Weasleys shines through when she writes about the Burrow. I love reading her loving descriptions of all the wonderful details that make this house feel like a home. This is a key aspect that Harry would have grasped immediately – this is probably only the second place in his 12 years of life where he’s felt at home. The fact that both of those places are firmly in the wizarding world further drives a wedge between Harry’s old and new life. He’s coming to find that the place where he belongs isn’t the place where he started – which is such great news. Hogwarts and the Burrow are Harry’s sources of hope for a better future. It’s also not a coincidence that these are also the very same places that help him to prepare for what’s to come later, when he fights for the people who occupy these places. I think that Rowling’s moral to the story here is that not only is home where the heart is, but who you chose to be your family makes all the difference.
Hope that rambling makes sense lol
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay, the Burrow! Your idea for what it would look like upside down is fantastic… You’re so right! And even without being upside down, I think the way it works structurally is already a lot like a burrow. The Dursleys are the complete opposite of the Weasleys in every way. I like to imagine how the Dursleys would react if they caught sight of the Burrow! They’d be horrified!
One of my favorite focuses in these books is Harry’s transition from the Muggle world to the Wizarding world and seeing the love and acceptance he experiences during that journey. The Wizarding world is truly where he belongs! Your rambling does make sense, and I always appreciate it! Thank you!
LikeLike