Wikipedia:WikiProject Novels/Harry Potter task force/CS Differences

This Harry Potter WikiProject subpage is no longer in use and is kept primarily for historical interest.

These are differences between the book and film versions of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling. {{Spoiler about|the first four books and first four movies in the Harry Potter series}}

Character changes edit

Omissions edit

The following characters appear in the book, were not cast in the previous film, and are not in the film (in order of appearance): Sir Patrick Delaney-Podmore, Professor Binns, Lavender Brown (later played by three different actresses), Terry Boot.

For characters who appear in the book, and are returning characters from the previous film, see below.

Scenes deleted edit

The characters of Mr Borgin and The Grey Lady were cast and portrayed by Edward Tudor-Pole and Nina Young. Two scenes of Borgin and one of the Gray Lady were filmed; however, they did not make the final cut of the film. They are included in the deleted scenes section of the DVD.

Previously cast characters who did not return edit

Role	Actor	Status	Appeared in…
The Bloody Baron	Terence Bayler	Cut due to narrowing of script	PS
Gringotts Goblin-Teller	Warwick Davis	Cut---no Gringotts	PS
The Fat Friar	Simon Fisher-Becker	Cut due to narrowing of script	PS
The Fat Lady	Elizabeth Spriggs	Cut---no Fat Lady this time	PS
Alicia Spinnet	Leilah Sutherland	Recast to Rochelle Douglas for unknown reasons	PS
Madam Hooch	Zoe Wanamaker	Cut---Zoe Wanamaker was pissed at Warner Bros. for how little she was payed.	PS

Other omitted plot elements edit

Locations edit

The following locations appear in the book (and are identified by the chapter they appear in) but are not in the film (in order of appearance):

Slug & Jiggers Apothecary (Ch. 4)
Gambol and Japes Wizarding Joke Shop (Ch. 4)
Gringotts Wizarding Bank (Ch. 4)
unnamed junk shop in Diagon Alley (Ch. 4)
The Leaky Cauldron (Ch. 4)
Quality Quidditch Supplies (Ch. 4)
unnamed second-hand robe shop in Diagon Alley (Ch. 4)
Hogwarts trophy room (Ch. 5)
Argus Filch's Office (Ch, 8)
History of Magic Classroom (Ch. 9)
Potions Classroom (Ch. 11)
Staff Room (Ch. 16)
Minerva McGonagall's Office (Ch. 18)

Plot differences edit

Item (alphabetical)	Book (origin of story) Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets	2002 film Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Arrival at Hogwarts	After recovering from the crash of Arthur Weasley's Ford Anglia, Harry and Ron watch (Colin Creevey) be sorted through the windows of the Great Hall and notice that Snape is not there. They speculate over where he is, with several unpleasant suggestions, until they hear his voice behind them. Snape leads them to his office, shows them the Evening Prophet, and tells them that they were seen by no less than seven Muggles while flying the car. Snape does not have the power to expel them, though he notes he would if he did, and Professor McGonagall, who does have that privilege, enters and listens to the boys' story. Professor Dumbledore subsequently enters and hears the story as well. The boys are told they will not be expelled, though they will receive detention, and they are left in Snape's office with dinner. After finishing their meal, the two make their way up to Gryffindor Tower, where they are congratulated by their classmates for their superb entrance.	After recovering from the crash of Arthur Weasley's Ford Anglia, Harry and Ron don't look in on the Sorting; instead, they go inside the castle, drop off their belongings, and proceed up the stairway, Harry relaying to Ron the events so far (Dobby, the barrier closing at King's Cross station, and the Whomping Willow). At the top of the stairs, they are met by Argus Filch, the caretaker, who takes them to Snape's office. Snape shows Harry and Ron the Evening Prophet, and tells them that they were seen by six or seven Muggles while flying the car. Snape does not have the power to expel them, though he notes he would if he did, and Professor McGonagall, who does have that privilege, enters and listens to the boys' story with Dumbledore. She informs them that she will be writing to their families and that they will receive detention. The scene next cuts to a Herbology lesson.
Destruction of Tom Riddle's Diary	Takes place after Fawkes heals Harry's Basilisk wound, so that Tom Riddle's memory knows when he is destroyed that his plans had failed.	Fawkes healing Harry takes place afterwards. Ginny witnesses Fawkes heal Harry. The horcrux is destroyed not knowing his plan failed.
Dobby's Freedom and Surrounding Events	In McGonagall's office, Harry deciphers Dobby's charades behind Lucius Malfoy's back to discover that it was Malfoy himself who planted Tom Riddle's diary in Ginny Weasley's cauldron at Flourish and Blotts in August. Harry confronts Malfoy about this fact, who denies it by asking Harry to prove it. Dumbledore mentions that it cannot be proven now, but advises Malfoy not to hand out any of Riddle's old "school things". Outside, in the corridor, as Malfoy is leaving, Harry gives a sock to him, who promptly throws it to the ground. However, it is caught by Dobby, and since it is clothing, the one item which can liberate a house-elf, Dobby is freed. Malfoy lunges at Harry, but Dobby Stuns him and Malfoy falls down a set of stairs, and retreats in a huff, without a word.	In Dumbledore's office, Harry deciphers Dobby's charades behind Lucius Malfoy's back to discover that it was Malfoy himself who planted Tom Riddle's diary in Ginny Weasley's cauldron at Flourish and Blotts in August. Malfoy and Dumbledore exchange some words, and Malfoy and Dobby leave. Harry takes the diary and runs out into the corridor to catch Malfoy. He hands him the diary, citing that it is Malfoy's, who hands it to Dobby in passing and asks Harry to prove it. With these words he turns and leaves and calls for Dobby to follow, but Harry had put in a sock of his own hidden with the diary. Since it is clothing, the one item which can liberate a house-elf, Dobby is freed. Malfoy begins to use the Killing Curse on Harry (the word "Avada" is heard though not translated into subtitles, likely as to not give away details of the fourth movie), but Dobby Stuns him and Malfoy vows revenge on Harry, and retreats in a huff.
Flourish and Blotts	At Flourish and Blotts, Arthur Weasley and Lucius Malfoy engage in a physical fight.	No such fight occurs, though Arthur Weasley and Lucius Malfoy share some tense moments, including exchanges of names relating to blood purity.
Foreshadowing about Ginny Weasley	The book offers several foreshadowing clues that Ginny Weasley is being possessed by Tom Riddle, including clues about roosters and Ginny's unevenness. There are also clues that Ginny is enamoured of Harry, including clues at the Burrow and a scene on Valentine's Day where she sends Harry an anonymous singing Valentine.	Most of these clues are left out of the final cut. (See #Deleted scenes for those that were included in the deleted scenes section of the DVD.) However, Lucius Malfoy is seen taking a second-hand book out of Ginny's cauldron at Flourish and Blotts, used seemingly to insult the Weasley family's lack of money, when he returns the book he has slipped Tom Riddle's diary in with it. In addition, when Professor McGonagall warns Gryffindor House that Hogwarts may close, Ginny shows signs of nervousness. The only clue that Ginny has affections for Harry is when she runs away, nervous, at the sight of him in her own home.
Hermione's Polyjuice Potion Accident	Harry and Ron are stunned to learn Hermione is not perfect and used a cat hair, and not a human hair, in her Polyjuice Potion, and to see her appearing as a cat. Moaning Myrtle teases Hermione.	Harry and Ron are amused to learn Hermione is not perfect and used a cat hair, and not a human hair, in her Polyjuice Potion, and to see her appearing as a cat. Ron picks up Myrtle's lines about Hermione's accident.
Polyjuice Potion Effects	The potion changes your appearance and your voice.	The potion changes your appearance only, causing a continuity error in the fourth film.
Moste Potente Potions	Moste Potente Potions is a book in the restricted section of the library cotaining the steps to creating Polyjuice Potion. To access it, a student needs a signed note from a teacher, and Hermione flatters Professor Lockhart, who signs the note.	Moste Potente Potions is a book in the library cotaining the steps to creating Polyjuice Potion. It is not in the restricted section, so she doesn't need a note.
"Mudblood"	Hermione does not react at first to being called a "mudblood", a derogatory term for a Muggle-born witch or wizard, because she does not know what the term even means. Ron later explains it to Harry and Hermione.	Hermione is deeply offended at being called a "mudblood", a derogatory term for a Muggle-born witch or wizard, because she does know what the term and its connotation mean. She explains the term herself.
Nearly Headless Nick's Deathday Party	Nearly Headless Nick invites Harry, Ron and Hermione to the five hundredth anniversary of his death. The reader learns about Nick's quest to join the Headless Hunt which has failed several times, because he is, as his nickname suggests, only nearly headless. Moaning Myrtle is introduced, as is the minor character Sir Patrick Delaney-Podmore.	Nearly Headless Nick's deathday party does not occur in the final cut, but is an unreleased deleted scene.
Percy's Relationship with Penelope Clearwater	Percy Weasley has a closed relationship with Penelope Clearwater, a Ravenclaw in his year. He acts strangely and his behaviour causes other characters to think that he may be involved with the opening of the Chamber of Secrets. However, this thought is turned away when Penelope is Petrified. When Ginny comes across Percy and Penelope kissing in an empty classroom at the end of the school year, the relationship is found out and Percy is extremely upset.	There is one scene with Penelope Clearwater in the entire film: at the start of the term, Nearly Headless Nick says hello to her. Percy's behaviour is not considered bizarre, and, more importantly, Penelope is not Petrified (which is important in the book, as it shows that Slytherin house alone suffers no casualties to petrification.)
Reaction to Justin Finch-Fletchley's Petrification	Ernie Macmillan points at Harry Potter and yells '"Caught in the act!"' Peeves makes fun of Harry.	Argus Filch says '"Caught in the act!"' Peeves makes no appearance.
Stealing Potions	Hermione steals some potions from Severus Snape's private stores, because they are ingredients for the Polyjuice Potion which she can only find there. Two years later, in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Snape uses this as a threat against Harry when he suspects him stealing Gillyweed from his office, even though neither time it was Harry who was the thief.	It is never said that Hermione stole any potions, let alone if they had come from Snape's private stores. Two years later, in the film version of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Snape accuses Harry of stealing Gillyweed from his office as well as the potions that are ingredients in Polyjuice Potion, though the Polyjuice Potion ingredients were never stolen in this film. (Barty Crouch Jr. is actually the thief of these ingredients in the fourth film, for a different reason.)
Story of the Chamber of Secrets	During History of Magic, Hermione interrupts Professor Binns' usual boring lecture (this particular day's is about the International Warlock Convention of 1289) to ask him to tell the class the story of the Chamber of Secrets. Binns tells them the story, but he makes it quite clear he doesn't believe it.	During Transfiguration, Hermione interrupts Professor McGonagall's lesson (this particular day's is about Transfiguring animals into water goblets) to ask her to tell the class the story of the Chamber of Secrets. McGonagall tells them the story and shows signs that she may believe it. (Binns is not a character in the films).
Underage Sorcery	Dobby the house-elf performs a Hover Charm that has a cake rise up from its position at rest and then drops it on the floor, where it smashes. The Ministry of Magic detects this and cannot distinguish the caster of the spell, and naturally assumes Harry conjured it. Because of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery, Harry receives a letter from Mafalda Hopkirk telling him that he may be expelled from Hogwarts if he continues to use magic outside of school. The Dursleys read this letter and find out that Harry would be in trouble if he used magic outside of school, a fact they did not previously know. Vernon locks Harry up in his room by placing bars on the window and door.	Dobby the house-elf performs a Hover Charm that has a cake rise up from its position at rest and fall atop Mrs Mason's head. Harry, however, does not receive a letter from Mafalda Hopkirk and the Dursleys do not find out that it is illegal for underage wizards to perform magic outside of school. Vernon locks Harry up in his room by placing bars on the window and door.

Deleted scenes edit

The following is a list of scenes that appear in the book and that were not in the final cut of the movie but were included on the DVD as deleted scenes, more or less the same as they were written in the book. Alternate versions of included scenes are not mentioned here.

Colin Creevey and Justin Finch-Fletchley, who are both Muggle-born wizards, casually mention this fact in conversation to Harry. This is key for the reader and/or viewer to know when both fall victim to the monster of the Chamber of Secrets. Colin also mentions he's the only one in his family, even though his brother Dennis should know, which was likely why it was cut.
On the first day of Defence Against the Dark Arts, Gilderoy Lockhart hands out a pop quiz to see how well his students have read his books. The quiz is titled "Defence Against the Dark Arts: Second Year Essential Knowledge Test." Some of the questions are: "What is Gilderoy Lockhart's favourite colour?", "What is Gilderoy Lockhart's secret ambition?", "What, in your opinion, is Gilderoy Lockhart's greatest achievement to date?", "When is Gilderoy Lockhart's birthday, and what would his ideal gift be?", and "How many times has Gildeory Lockhart won Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile Award?" (In the final cut, the class just consists of the attack by Cornish Pixies.)
Fred and George tease Harry by calling him a "seriously evil wizard" because he is widely thought to be the heir of Salazar Slytherin. Though Harry knows it's a jest, he is depressed because he knows much of the school really considers him "evil". (In the final cut, this is just omitted.)
A rooster's crow is fatal to the ears of a Basilisk, so Tom Riddle has Ginny destroy all of Hagrid's roosters. Harry sees Hagrid walking around with the dead birds in his hand. (In the final cut, roosters play no role in the film.)
Harry, Hermione and Ron debate whether Harry is related to Salazar Slytherin or not. (In the final cut, similar scenes such as this one occur many times, but in this particular one Hermione raises the fact that Slytherin lived over a thousand years earlier and that Harry very well could be.)
Harry is chased by the rogue Bludger and flies through the Slytherin stands with it close at his heels, prompting the spectators to scream. (In the final cut, he is still chased by the Bludger, but he does not fly through the Slytherin stands.)
Once Harry leaves the library, Ernie Macmillan talks to Hannah Abbott about Harry and how he believes him to be the heir of Salazar Slytherin. Harry, however, overhears them. Ernie tells Hannah how he told Justin Finch-Fletchley to "lie low" in their dormitory for a while, because Justin "let it slip" to Harry that he was Muggle-born. Hannah does not believe that Harry is responsible for the petrifications, but Ernie is fairly convinced. (In the final cut, the scene is excluded because the scene with Justin telling Harry that he is Muggle-born is also cut.)
There are two scenes involving Crabbe and Goyle. The first one has Harry and Ron dragging them, unconscious, into a closet and taking a hair from their heads, and the second has Crabbe and Goyle awakening from their state, only to bump into Harry and Ron midway through their transformation back into their normal selves. (In the final cut, Crabbe and Goyle are just seen eating cupcakes that put them to sleep; their awakening is not shown.)
Harry, Ron and Hermione Granger discuss the diary and the mysterious owner, Tom Marvolo Riddle in the hospital wing. Ron remembers that Riddle was awarded a trophy for Special Services to the School fifty years previously, because he had to clean this trophy as part of his detention at the beginning of the year, and he kept belching slugs all over it. (In the final cut, this doesn't occur at all.)
After Harry finds out, incorrectly, through Tom Riddle's diary that Hagrid opened the Chamber of Secrets fifty years previously, he wakes up Ron to tell him so. (In the final cut, Harry tells Ron and Hermione the next day between classes.)

The following table lists differences of scenes in the book that were not in the final cut of the movie but were included on the DVD as deleted scenes. Alternate versions of included scenes are not mentioned here.

Item (alphabetical)	Book (origin of story) Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets	2002 film Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Argus Filch is a Squib	Harry is in Argus Filch's office for treading mud over the castle floors. Nearly Headless Nick is aware of Harry's presence in there and has Peeves crash the Vanishing Cabinet directly above Filch's office. While Filch inspects, Harry looks at things on his desk and finds an envelope called "Kwikspell: A Correspondence Course in Beginners' Magic", which advertises teaching magic to people who cannot cast even the simplest charm. Harry begins to read the contents when he hears Filch reapproaching and throws the envelope back onto the desk. Filch suspects Harry had read it, denies it being for him ("not that it's mine — for a friend"), and releases Harry, without a detention. It is later revealed that Filch is a Squib.	In his office, Snape reprimands and nearly expels Harry and Ron for flying to Hogwarts Ron's father's Ford Anglia and being sighted by Muggles. He, McGonagall, and Dumbledore leave the room. Argus Filch is left behind with Harry and Ron, and as the two of them are about to leave, Harry picks up an envelope on the floor. He reads the outside, which says, "Kwikspell: A Correspondence Course in Beginners' Magic" and is addressed to Filch. He hands it to Filch, who looks at it and appears nervous. He stuffs it in his pocket and Harry and Ron leave without a word. There is no revelation that Filch is a Squib.
Harry Questioning his Ancestry	At various points throughout the book, Harry questions whether he is really the heir of Salazar Slytherin.	One particular deleted scene that was not in the book shows Harry sitting outside, overlooking the giant Black Lake at Hogwarts, asking Hedwig, "Who am I? What am I?"