First Chapter Time-line (Was: Two problems in the very first chapter)

[Cindy C.]

No: HPFGUIDX 28721

Marcus wrote:
> Howabout this timeline -- 
> (1) Voldemort shows up and kills Potters, destroying himself in the 
> process.
> 
> (2) Knowing that V was after the Potters, Dumbledore had their home 
> watched.  He knew about the attack almost immediately but not soon 
> enough to do anything about it.
> 
> (3) The "watcher" (living creature or magical device) informs him 
> that James and Lily were dead, the house was in ruins, and Harry 
was 
> still alive.
> 
> (4) Dumbledore, realizing what has happened, has a ton of things to 
> do.  He delegates Hagrid to retrieve Harry and to meet him at 
Privet 
> Drive 24 hours later.  Dumbledore then pops out.
> 
> (5) Hagrid, who cannot legally use magic or a wand needs some means 
> to get there.  He goes to McGonagall asking her for 
transportation.  
> Maybe to call the knight bus.  Maybe use flue powder.
> 
> (6) These are extremely dangerous times.  Perhaps the deputy Head-
> mistress is responsible for staff safety, especially those 
travelling 
> outside the protection of Hogwarts.  She queries him closely.  He 
> only reveals that he is on an urgent errand for Dumbldore and that 
he 
> is to meet him tomorrow at Privet Drive.
> 
> (7) She calls the bus or gets the powder for him, knowing not to 
ask 
> too many questions.
> 
> (8) Hagrid arrives at Godric's Hollow and rescues Harry.  If you 
need 
> a portable crane to shift a colasped house, who better than 
Hagrid? :)
> 
> (9) He meets Sirius.  They argue over Harry.  Then Sirius offers 
his 
> bike to Hagrid.
> 
> (10) Hagrid goes into hiding before sunup somewhere in Wales.
> 
> (11) Long before sunup, the rumors start flying.  McGonagall notes 
> the absense of Dumbledore, remembers Hagrid's urgent errand, and 
> begins to suspect things.  As the rumors get worse, she decides she 
> has had enough, and she pops down to Privet Drive to watch for 
> Dumbledore.
> 
> (12) Dumbledore has a lot to do.  He has to arrange for the 
Dursleys 
> to be Harry's Guardians.  It has to be legal both for the MoM and 
the 
> Muggles.  He has to arrange for the protection screen around the 
> Dursleys.  He has to make arrangements for Arabella Figg to move 
into 
> a home close by to keep an eye on Harry.  All this in one day!
> 
> To make things more interesting, most people don't feel like 
> working.  Everywhere he goes, there are parties and celebrations.  
> Finally when all is in order, he pops over to Privet Drive to keep 
> his appointment with Hagrid.
> 
> (13) Hagrid comes out of hiding after sundown and flies the bike to 
> Privet Drive, passing over Bristol on the way there.
> 

<snip>

Wow!  This seems awfully comprehensive to me. 

I think I might take issue with Point 5 (that Hagrid needs some help 
with transportation) and Point 11 (McGonagal's decision to got to 
Privet Drive).  I think Hagrid can apparate, you see.  From 
PS/SS:  "Harry wanted to watch Hagrid until he was out of sight; he 
rose in his seat and pressed his nose against the window, but he 
blinked and Hagrid had gone."  That, coupled with Hagrid's statement 
that he flew to the hut on the rock, suggests he doesn't need 
McGonagal's help to get around.  He would, however, need the 
motorbike later to transport Harry because he couldn't apparate with 
Harry.

The other puzzling thing is why Dumbledore would send only Hagrid to 
Godric's Hollow to rescue Harry, and not McGonagal with Hagrid.  
Dumbledore could believe (and probably should believe) that Dark 
Wizards pose a continuing threat.  So why send only Hagrid and his 
pink umbrella and limited magical skills, when he could also send 
McGonagal for a little extra protection for young Harry?  

Perhaps Dumbledore did not ask McGonagal to accompany Hagrid because 
he had a bigger job for her:  getting started on the Mrs. Figg issue, 
and to construct the cabbage-smelling house to protect Harry.  It 
might make some sense that McGonagal would have been entrusted with 
something important (Mrs. Figg) rather than something peripheral.
That would explain why McGonagal would be in the general vicinity of 
Privet Drive, would have a reason to be in the area, and would have 
only spotty knowledge of what really happened.   

Cindy (who admits she hasn't thought this through much, so is braced 
for an onslaught of L.O.O.N. nits)