Flitwick's broomsticks - "Flint"

[dfrankis at dial.pipex.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 19095

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Amy Z" <aiz24 at h...> wrote:
> This is reminding me of my nomination for Silliest Plot Device:  
those 
> conveniently-placed broomsticks in the flying-keys chamber.  Does 
> anyone have an explanation for why they would be there?  Their only 
> purpose seems to be to make it easier for someone to break in (or 
get 
> back out after having stolen the Stone).  I would love it if 
someone 
> could point out a good, non-plot-deviceish reason.

It isn't just the broomsticks.  Snape could have just put in the 
flaming gates and not bothered with the puzzle and bottles; the chess 
set could have been set at mate in one against visitors, etc.  
Presumably Dumbledore asked the professors to set their barriers so 
that it would be possible for the stone to be retrieved.  Dumbledore 
virtually admits as much in connection with the mirror.  The 
broomsticks are just the tools for that particular barrier.  The 
question is, was this just so as to get the stone back to the Flamels 
after the danger was over (why not get the Flamels to agree to 
destroy it earlier?), or was it for Harry (and friends) to find 
because Dumbledore wants him to face Voldemort?  Was it a trap for V 
that failed because he evaporated back to Albania (or wherever) when 
Quirrell died?

In other words, what was the point of all these elaborate defences 
when it was so easy to get rid of the stone afterwards?

> Note on the term Flint:  it's for one of JKR's more famous errors 
(and 
> best saves, IMO), but is also appropriate because of Flint's own 
> stupidity.  The brilliant coinage, worthy of Lewis Carroll, is by 
> Pippin, and that was her stated reasoning.  It was in Message 8359 
if 
> anyone wants to view the historic moment.  I sure hope someone 
does, 
> or I just did 10 minutes of searching for no reason.

Done - impossible not to, after an appeal like that

David
> 
> Amy Z
> 
> ----------------------------------------
>  "We don't send people to Azkaban 
>  just for blowing up their aunts!"
>        -HP and the Prisoner of Azkaban
> ----------------------------------------