[HPforGrownups] Accio Stone - was "Plus an old debate"

[Tasukibeth1 at cs.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 71346

Darrin writes:
>> But... since Q-Mort literally couldn't touch Harry, and presumably, 
any offensive spells AGAINST Harry would have rebounded quite neatly, 
I'd say that was as safe a spot as any. 

-- Of course, the smartest student at Hogwarts didn't think to tell 
Quirrell to "Accio Stone," either... <<<<<


I reply:

I have three theories:

[lame theory] - JKR hadn't though of Accio in the writing of her first book; 
I personally don't remember seeing it used until GoF when it was a major 
plotpoint.

[good theory] - I read in the HP Lexicon an essay about Accio-ing, which 
theorized that the Accio-er has to have at least a rough idea of the size, look, 
and most importantly, location of the object. In GoF, Harry knew where his 
broom was during the first test, and was prepared to Accio it. Later in OoP, Fred 
and George do the same thing; even though their brooms are locked up, they 
knew *exactly* where, and they can easily summon them when the moment arrives. In 
Quirreldemort, situation, he was handicapped becase he had no idea where the 
object was, much less what it looked like, how much it weighed, how large it 
was, how it felt in his hand as he held it, etc. Even if he tried to Accio it, 
he probably woudn't be able to "find" it - that is, it wouldn't have come to 
him even if he called it - It would be a shot in the dark.

[reasonable-albeit-not-very-exciting-theory} Since the stone will only reveal 
itself to those who do not wish to find it, Quirreldemort would never have 
found it anyway, though Accio or any other summoning charm.

Hey, that opens up a whole new mess of worms, though. If Quirreldemort will 
never be able to find the stone precisely because he is seeking it, and the 
fact that he is seeking it for personal gain is the very thing that assures he 
will never get it, then why bother with all the traps? Why even hide it? Heck, 
DD could keep it on display in the middle of the grand hall if he wanted to and 
it would still, in theory, be safe from anyone seeking it with ill 
intentions. 

Okay, that "grand hall" thing was supposed to be sarcastic, but my point 
remains. Does anyone know? I appreciate any theories or canon that you have to 
clear this up.


Beth in Sacramento
(who is finishing up SS for the second time and is full of new questions)