Riddle and Astronomy

[arcum42]

No: HPFGUIDX 43587

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Heather Gauen <miss_dumblydore at y...> wrote:

> 
> Off on a similar tangent, in SS, why are the only
> teachers to put protections on the stone the teachers
> that Harry has, *with the exception of Sinistra*? (I'm
> not counting Binns here because he's a ghost.)
> Wouldn't it have been a more effective obstacle course
> if every teacher had done something, not just a select
> few?  
> 
Well, for one, I'm not sure what defences Sinestra, Binns, or Sybil
would be able to put up. Also, the entire situation seemed set up to
let Harry & co in. Hagrid *gave* Harry a flute to get past Fluffy.
While Hermione got him past the Devils Snare, that obstacle seemed
geared for if Neville came along, with his knowledge of herbology.
The winged keys were geared towards Harry, with his Quidditch skills.
The chess set was for Ron. The potions puzzle was aimed at Hermione.
And Dumbledore had already gave Harry all the information about how
the mirror of Erisid worked. The puzzles were obviously meant to be
solved by Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Neville in concert. (And it's
quite lucky Hermione knew about the Devils Snare, since things
obviously didn't go quite according to plan.

The big question, naturally, is why Dumbledore wanted Harry to reach
the stone, since obviously they could have put better defences around
it. (An variant of the age circle, for example, keeping anyone under
600 out.)

--Arcum