Protecting the Stone- Simple & Logical

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 74997

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Tasukibeth1 at c... wrote:
> 
> > KathyK says:
> > 
> > 
> > How does Dumbledore know the Philosopher's Stone is in danger?
> > 
> <snip>
> 
> > Now here is where I really need help:  Was the Philosopher's Stone
> > at Gringott's to begin with?  
> > Did Flamel move it there after an  attempt  was made on it?  
> > If the Stone was already at Gringott's, why was it there?  
> > Clearly Gringott's is quite safe (see discussion above), but 
> > wouldn't Flamel need the stone to make the Elixir of Life every so
> > often? 
> > 

> 
> Beth replies:
> 
> The fact that the stone was removed from Gringotts mere hours before
> Quirrel tried to take it was at first, IMO, the biggest, fattest, 
> most gaping plothole in the entire HP universe. I mean, If Lord 
> Thingy is dead and there is no logical reason to believe that he is 
> not, why all of the sudden efforts to protect the stone?  Has Thingy
> tried to get the stone in the past, which would set a precedent? And
> why was there a break-in merely hours after the stone was  removed? 
>
>  ...edited...
>
> Beth


bboy_mn:

First, Lord Thingy isn't the only evil greedy person in the world.
There are probably millions who would love to get their hands on the
Philosopher's Stone. So, Dumbledore and Flamel's belief that it was in
danger could be completely independant of Voldemort; I'm sure in the
course of 600 years various people have tried to get access to the
stone by various means on several occassions. 

Let's try this scenerio-

To get the stone, evil Wizard-X would have to know where it is and how
it was protected, so he starts asking around. Maybe he knows a few
thugs who have contemplated stealing the stone in the past. Anyway,
Wizard-X can't get information in a vacuum. To ask the questions that
lead to the needed information, he has to expose himself to some extent.

Flamel and/or Dumbledore and/or some other acquaintance hears rumors
that there is a renewed interest in the stone in the more unsavory
circles of the wizard world.

So, Dumbledore and Flamel form a plan. First, Flamel and/or a trusted
friend remove the stone from Flamel's immediate protection, and drop
it off at Gringotts where they place it in a high security vault. Note
that Flamel has had 600 years of experience at keeping the stone
generally safe, but when he perceives an imminent threat, he decides
to take more extreme precautions.

The rumors of Wizard-X's quest for the stone grow stronger, so Flamel
and Dumbledore decide that they would prefer to have it under their
personal control rather than trust it to an 'institution'. They
conclude that Hogwarts with it's many powerful wizards on staff, and
the presents of Dumbledore himself, is the best place to safeguard it.

They move it to Hogwarts, and the staff begins the process of adding a
long list of enchantments and protections to guard the stone. 

Without a doubt they had allowed for the wily workings of Wizard-X,
they even had good security in the event that a powerful evil wizard
in the same class (league) as Voldemort tried to get it. 

The one thing they hadn't counted on was three way too curious, way
too smart, and way too precocious first years name Harry, Ron, and
Hermione. Metaphorically speaking; sometime when you guard yourself
against a lion, you inadvertently become vulnerable to a mouse.

What is outline above seems a simple and logical explanation of the
events leading up to the stone being moved to Hogwarts. 

Just a thought.

bboy_mn