[HPforGrownups] Philosopher's Stone set-up?

[Claire Geiger]

No: HPFGUIDX 29256

And here I am, de-lurking. : )

I'm not dismissing this theory (the one below)
outright, but I just had to give my two knuts' worth.


--- shanerichmond at hotmail.com wrote:

> 1. Hagrid takes Harry along when he empties the
> vault. Admittedly 
> London could be a long trip from Hogwarts but if the
> task was truly 
> secret why not collect the stone on the way to GET
> Harry rather than 
> on the way back?

True, but Hagrid was having a rather difficult time
catching up with Harry. Maybe he thought that it would
be better to just let it go for a while, since it was
safe and Harry was on the move. (Even though that
wasn't Harry's fault.)


 
> 2. Once the stone is at Hogwarts why doesn't
> Dumbledore simply 
> destroy it immediately? This could be because he
> intends to use it in 
> the puzzle for Harry or, more likely, because
> destroying it means 
> death for Flamel and hence is only a last resort.

I assume that's why, though this is a really good
point. Dumbledore seems to put great faith in people-
perhaps he knew that Harry needed to learn things,
both about himself and the world around him.
Dumbledore also knew James well, and he probably
assumed that Harry would be like James- and maybe make
trouble-making friends like James's ; ). So he
probably figured that Harry would go after the stone
because it's in his nature to run into adventures.

> 3. Also, while Hagrid never lets slip Snape's debt
> to James, or 
> Snape's grudge, or the true nature of Lupin, or
> Sirius Black's 
> treachery - or indeed any of the other pieces of
> priveleged 
> information that he has - he continually slips up
> and gives HRH clues 
> about the stone.

Hagrid may not be the brightest crayon in the box, but
he's reasonably smart. He probably learned very
quickly to watch what he said around HRH.

> 4. Dumbledore gives the cloak to Harry, which allows
> him to find the 
> Mirror of Erised. Dumbledore knows that Harry has
> seen the mirror, 
> explains to him its purpose and then tells him that
> it will be moved 
> and that "if you ever do run across it, you will be
> prepared." (PS 
> Ch.12) Since Dumbledore intends to put it into the
> trapdoor, is he 
> acknowledging the possibility that Harry will
> venture down through 
> the trapdoor?

Again with the "in the Potter nature" thing, which
really arouses a "nature versus nurture" question- why
is Harry the way he is? He can be purposefully AND
inadvertly heroic, and he's generally nice to people,
et cetera, all the little things that make up our dear
Harry. So is he this way because of Lily and James, or
the Dursleys? (I *LOVE* the "nature versus nurture"
question!! LOL.)

> 5. When Harry loses the cloak, someone, perhaps
> Dumbledore, ensures 
> that it is returned to him.

It's Harry's. It belongs to him. Who else would they-
whoever "they" are- give it to?

> 6. Snape knows that Quirrell is after the stone and
> confronts him 
> several times. Why doesn't he simply tell Dumbledore
> what he knows 
> about Quirrell? Snape is loyal to Dumbledore,
> responsible and loves 
> to tell tales - if he simply talks to Dumbledore
> then everything can 
> be resolved with ease. Perhaps he does tell
> Dumbledore but Dumbledore 
> is content to see how things play out?

Dumbledore tends to believe the best in people. He
gives second chances and looks the other way. (Not
that he did that with Quirrell, necessarily.) Perhaps
Snape knew how Dumbledore would react, or maybe he
didn't have enough proof. Or maybe it's just because
he would feel kind of stupid- a former Death Eater
ratting on the quivering little DADA teacher. Then
again, I don't suppose Snape feels stupid a lot, or
even cares what people think about him.

> 7. In the hospital wing when Harry mentions Flamel,
> Dumbledore 
> looks "pleased" and says "Oh you did do the thing
> properly didn't 
> you?" (PS Ch.17) What is "the thing" if not some
> kind of test? Isn't 
> that a strange way to phrase the remark?

He's probably just proud of how thoughtful and
thorough his students are. Dumbledore also gets amused
by the oddest things.



I think it's an interesting theory, especially when
you're looking at all the evidence in that organized
little list. I never really thought about it before
today, though.



=====
Clara

"'THEN YOU SHOULD HAVE DIED!' roared Black. 'DIED RATHER THEN BETRAY YOUR FRIENDS, AS WE WOULD HAVE DONE FOR YOU!'" 

	-- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

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