@Marina – I’m pretty sure the box you’re thinking of only exists in the movie version of CoS, which, as we all know, is far from canon. :) But since this is happening on Christmas night, I would just assume it was someone’s unopened gift.

I also agree that Polyjuice Potion is probably just too difficult to make and so unknown within the magical community that the Ministry doesn’t worry about it too much. I think we see it so much in the books because we kind of have an insider knowledge of the magical world the likes of which no ordinary wizard and witch would know of. Most witches and wizards that go through Hogwarts never learn of such things as the different hidden passageways, not only within Hogwarts, but going out of it as well (the one to Honeydukes and then the one underneath the Whomping Willow), that being said, just WHY the Whomping Willow is there in the first place (as well as the Shrieking Shack’s true purpose), or the Room of Requirement, or where Dumbledore’s office is, or where the Chamber of Secrets is hidden. It just goes to show, that while we walk alongside Harry in the series, we learn much more than any ordinary student does. I think the Polyjuice Potion is one of those things. Only high-level Potions students learn of it and how to make it because of what career they’re going for, and I think it’s safe to assume most, if not all, adult witches and wizards in Great Britain have gone through Hogwarts. The Order of the Phoenix knows of it and how to make it because of the fact that most are aurors or ex-aurors, or are just well-learned enough to be in-the-know. Anyway, I’m rambling. My point is, the Polyjuice Potion is rare and difficult enough to make, to the point that the Ministry doesn’t worry about too many people using it, especially on a regular basis, to create too much havoc.

One other thing I’d like to point out: When Fred and George are joking around about everyone thinking Harry is the Heir of Slytherin, one of their lines is: “Yeah. he’s off to the Chamber of Secrets for a cup of tea with his FANGED SERVANT.” I found this rather odd. Is this just a simple slight on the fact that Harry is a Parselmouth? That seems likely. It just seems strange to me that they’d be so close to exactly what Tom Riddle was/is doing: using a fanged monster servant to petrify/kill Muggle-born students at Hogwarts. It almost makes you wonder if they know more than they’re letting on… almost =P

In regard to the polyjuice potion, isn’t it against the law to use it? I think the reason the wizarding world doesn’t have to worry about everyone running around disguising their identity during a peaceful time is the same reason muggles don’t worry about people building pipe bombs in their homes all the time. It requires some skill and materials that are attainable but since it might harm others and its against the law not everyone does it.

Also, this isn’t the first case where we’ve seen a student having to go to Madam Pomfrey from breaking serious school rules and not getting in trouble. Ron didn’t get in trouble for his dragon bite either. Like muggle doctors I feel like she’s taken the hippocratic oath and she’ll respect the privacy of her patients.

Finally, I love Hermione’s development in this book. It’s the perfect argument against many who say Harry Potter Characters are one dimensional. =]