Dobby's Warning is the second chapter of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
Events[]
Harry asks Dobby who he is and tell him it isn't a good time for a house-elf to be visiting because Vernon is having an important business dinner downstairs. Dobby has something to tell him. Harry asks Dobby to take a seat causing the house-elf to burst into tears. Harry begs him to calm down in case Vernon and Petunia hear.
Dobby tells Harry he is shocked at how nice he is being, and Harry figures Dobby can't have known many great wizards. Dobby agrees but starts banging his head on the window and shouting about how badly he has behaved. Harry asks him why when he stops and finds out Dobby can't speak ill of the family he works for or he will be punished.
Harry asks if he could help Dobby but he starts wailing and talking about how humble he is and how brave he is for facing You-Know-Who twice. Dobby finally tells Harry why he is there. He warns Harry not to go back to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry that year because he is in danger. Harry asked who is plotting to do such a thing and wonders if it is You-Know-Who but Dobby shakes his head and hints at someone else being responsible. Harry is unable to guess who it is.
Harry refuses to stay at home and says he has to go back to school. He is confident Professor Dumbledore will be able to stop the danger. However Dobby says Dumbledore will have to use powers he can't dare to use if he wants to do that. Nearly speaking ill of whoever he works for again, Dobby grabs a lamp and starts beating himself in the head. Vernon hears the yelping and goes upstairs so Harry hides Dobby in a closet. Vernon warns Harry he can't make another sound.
Harry tells Dobby he has to go back and help his friends. Dobby asks why when those friends haven't even written to him. Harry is confused about how Dobby could know that and finds out that he has been intercepting his owl post for the whole summer. The two argue and Harry refuses to agree that he won't go back to school. Dobby runs down the stairs and levitates Petunia's pudding, dropping it on Harry's head and disappearing.
Vernon shouted at Harry and apologises to his guests for his nephew's behaviour. It appears to be fine except an owl then shows up and delivers a letter to Harry. One of Vernon's guests is scared of birds and she and her husband run out the house in shock. Having ruined Vernon's dinner, Harry's letter opens up and starts talking. It tells the whole room he has received a warning for using underage magic. Vernon finds it very funny because he now knows Harry can't use magic at home.
The Dursley family have a newfound confidence with the fact Harry can't use magic at home. They give him a very tough punishment. He is locked in his bedroom for days and has bars put on the window. Vernon even installs a cat-flap for Petunia to put food through. Then one night, Harry is woken up by a knock at the window. Ron Weasley is looking in.
Characters[]
| Notable appearances | Notable mentions |
|---|---|
Chapter guide[]
| Chapters in Harry Potter books | |
|---|---|
| Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone | Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets |
| 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 16 • 17 |
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 16 • 17 • 18 |
| Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban | Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire |
| 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 21 • 22 |
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 |
| Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix | Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince |
| 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 • 38 |
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 |
| Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows | Companion novels |
| 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 Epilogue |
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them • Quidditch Through the Ages • The Tales of Beedle the Bard |