[HPforGrownups] Quirrell and Trolls

[yr awen]

No: HPFGUIDX 41265

Richelle wondered:

>Anyway, assuming Dumbledore does know what each of the spells/etc. guarding
the stone, doesn't he wonder about it when Quirrell comes running in
screaming about a troll, fainting on the floor and all.  Why is Quirrell
suddenly frightened of trolls?  Which of course, he isn't, but he acts like
he is.  I'd be a little suspicious of that.

Maybe it was just a piece of drama Quirrell conjured up to sort of, oh, I dunno, make it a bit more believable that he accidentally 'stumbled' upon the troll, at least to the students (this is assuming that Dumbledore & co. know of Quirrell's ability to control trolls.) After all, if Quirrell just came in and casually announced that there was a mountain troll running amok in the dungeons, students would wonder why he was being so calm about it -- it *does* come as a shock to Harry that Quirrell is a skilled troll-handler, or whatever. His hysteria also generates the havoc he needs to provide a distraction, so the faculty has to re-organize itself and deal with the students before it heads to the dungeons to deal with the troll.

Quirrell could conceivably cover his tracks by telling Dumbledore that the troll attacked him or suddenly got out of control. Snape, of course, isn't fooled for a moment -- he's definitely much more perceptive than Dumbledore in this instance (and some others.) I'm trying very hard to not question Dumbledore's motives here :-)

Richelle continued:


>So, which does this mean:

a) No one what knows the spells, enchantments, etc. are (including
Dumbledore), so it doesn't matter

I don't really think that's possible, considering that all the enchantments are specifically sequential -- one leads immediately to another. The only way that could have been done is if the ring of protection, so to speak, was constructed in reverse: Dumbledore would install the Mirror in the chamber, which Snape would then ring off with purple flames and set up his potion stand, then McGonagall would build her chess set, all the way back to the third-floor corridor. I suppose that could work, but I dunno...

Richelle again:

b) Dumbledore knows Quirrell has a way with trolls, and this is when he
begans to suspect him.

I'd go with this one, for my peace of mind at the moment :-) I'm trying not to be swayed by the 'questionable motives' camp right now. Sitting on the fence is *so* uncomfortable!

Hf.


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