Eucatastrophe in Harry Potter, Part 2

Harry Potter's prospects seem more dismal than ever as we progress through Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Horrible things are happening at Hogwarts. As the end of the story approaches, four students, a cat, and a ghost have been petrified by a mysterious monster. One of those students, to Harry and Ron's horror, is Hermione. The Chamber of Secrets has definitely been opened; Dumbledore has been suspended; Hogwarts might be closed; the Heir of Slytherin is on the loose; and some people even think Harry is the Heir!

The two non-petrified members of the trio have no idea what to do. Then, on a rather impromptu visit to the petrified Hermione, Harry and Ron experience a eucatastrophe. It begins simply enough. Harry sees that Hermione is clutching something in her hand. He works the paper loose and realizes...Hermione has discovered the answer to a major part of the mystery. The paper is a page from a library book...a page that describes the dreadful basilisk, the monster, Hermione has deduced, kept in the Chamber of Secrets. Just below the description of the basilisk (which lines up perfectly with everything that has been happening at Hogwarts), Hermione has written “Pipes.” Harry and Ron now know exactly what they are facing and how the monster has been traveling around the castle. 

At first glance, this might not seem like much of a eucatastrophe. After all, finding a book page in someone's hand isn't all that dramatic. Yet it is a sudden turn in the story, almost miraculous really. Harry and Ron hadn't had any intention of visiting Hermione at all. They only do so when they are caught by Professor McGonagall, and Harry invents an excuse on the spot. Then, suddenly, a large part of the mysterious is cleared up, thanks to Hermione's research (as usual), and a light begins to appear. The resolution of the story has not yet come, of course, but this small eucatastrophe, the unexpected pleasure of an answer, reveals that it is on its way. 

Then disaster strikes. Ginny Weasley is taken by the Heir into the heart of the Chamber of Secrets. Harry and Ron don't even think twice about going after her, but again their future looks bleak when a cave in leaves Harry to go into the Chamber alone. He confronts the real Heir, the memory of Tom Riddle (the future Voldemort), who has been growing stronger off of Ginny's emotions all year. As Riddle becomes more and more distinct, Harry nearly despairs of saving the unconscious Ginny. Riddle brags, claiming to be the greatest sorcerer in the world. But Harry calmly tells him that he's not, and then something entirely unexpected occurs. 

In the midst of haunting music, Fawkes arrives. Dumbledore's phoenix drops the school Sorting Hat into Harry's lap and perches calmly on his shoulder. Neither Harry nor Riddle understands the nature of this eucatastrophe, or rather the beginning of this eucatastrophe. Riddle, in fact, scorns the apparently useless bird and hat. Until... 

Fawkes claws out the eyes of the basilisk. Gryffindor's sword falls out of the Sort Hat (right onto Harry's head), and Harry uses it to kill the basilisk. We readers gasp in awe, delight, and relief, but then we realize that Harry has been wounded by the basilisk's tooth and its poison is spreading through his veins. Riddle laughs. But then another wonder...Fawkes lands beside Harry and begins to cry. His tears fall into Harry's wound, soothing it, closing it, drawing the poison from it. Phoenix tears are healing tears. The series of eucatastrophes continues. Finally, in a moment of inspiration, Harry plunges a basilisk tooth into the Riddle's diary. Ink pours out, and Riddle fades away. The deed is done. Harry (and his readers) breathes a huge sigh of relief, amazed that he has survived, thanks to the sudden, joyous, miraculous turn that is eucatastrophe.