Flitwick's broomsticks - "Flint"

[catherine at cator-manor.demon.co.uk]

No: HPFGUIDX 19102

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., dfrankis at d... wrote:
> --- 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?

The other thing that concerns me about this whole episode is 
Dumbledore's rationale behind getting the stone from the mirror.  It 
doesn't make sense.  He says to Harry, "You see, only one who wanted 
to find the stone - find it, but not use it - would be able to get 
it, otherwise they'd just see themselves making gold or drinking 
Elixir of Life."  
But Quirrel doesn't see himself making gold or drinking Elixir of 
Life - he sees himself finding the stone and presenting it to his 
master.  So why didn't this work for him?

Catherine