[HPforGrownups] Re: Quirrell and the Troll

[IAmLordCassandra at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 58921

In a message dated 5/29/2003 3:45:31 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
kemp at arcom.com.au writes:


> Pickle Jimmy blocks the attempt to score:
> =========================================
> Far be it from me to argue :-) BUT...
> In your response to my question you state 
> 1) "the other teachers don't know about each others enchantments"
> 
> This is a quote from PS/SS when Hagrid tells HRH who is garding the 
> stone...
> 
> Harry knew Ron and Hermione were thinking the same as he was. If 
> Snape had been in on protecting the Stone, it must have been easy to 
> find out how the other teachers had guarded it. He probably knew 
> everything -- except, it seemed, Quirrell's spell and how to get past 
> Fluffy.
> 
> So, if HRH thought that those involved in protecting the stone would 
> at least know what each other had used, where is the Canon that says 
> they didnt? 

Me (Cassie): 

The key word there is PROBABLY.  They know that Snape went to the Third floor 
on Halloween..but they didn't know it was to stop Quirrell. They thought he 
wanted to see what was up there. And there is Cannon to show they (at least 
Quirrell) didn't know about Fluffy until then. 

PS/SS Chp. 17: "You're too nosy to live, Potter. Scurrying around the school 
on Halloween like that, for all I knew you'd seen me coming to look at what 
was gaurding the stone"  

Then, in Ch. 14 it says "...Harry, Ron, and Hermione would press their ears 
to the door to check that Fluffy was still growling inside."  

This makes me think Quirrell knew there was something (some kind of beast) 
inside, because one could hear it growling. However, he didn't know it was a 
three-headed dog until Halloween. 


I think they know who...but not how.  

Ch. 14 again:  

Hagrid says: "..he borrowed Fluffy from me....then some 'o the teachers did 
enchantments...Professor Sprout, Professor Flitwick, Professor McGonagall" 
"Professor Quirrell-an' Dumbledore himself did something', o' course. Hang on, 
I've forgotten somone. Oh yeah, Professor Snape." 

If I were on of the Trio, I'd be thinking Snape would go after Quirrell first 
because he's the weakest and Hagrid because he's...well...not the brightest 
and more gullible. 

Pickle Jimmy continues: 

> 
> 2) "Quirrell had to investigate each one in order to get to the 
> stone, which is why it took him a year to attempt it"
> 3) "Snape several times asked him how far he was getting"
> 
> The only occasion that I could find in which Snape confronts Quirrell 
> is after the Quidditch match when they go in to the forrest...
> 
> "... d-don't know why you wanted t-t-to meet here of all p-places,
> Severus..."
> "Oh, I thought we'd keep this private," said Snape, his voice icy.
> "Students aren't supposed to know about the Sorcerer's Stone, after
> all."
> Harry leaned forward. Quirrell was mumbling something. Snape 
> interrupted him.
> "Have you found out how to get past that beast of Hagrid's yet?"
> 
> Which suggests that the main unknown obstacle in getting to the stone 
> was Fluffy - I found no evidence that Quirrell investigated any other 
> staff, or any other occasion when Snape interrogated him (though I 
> stand to be corrected) 

Me again:  

PS/SS: (in the same scene Pickle Jimmy referred to above) "Very well," Snape 
cut in. "We'll have another little chat soon, when you've had time to think 
things over and decided where your loyalties lie" 

While we don't see/hear them talking about the Stone again, this line leads 
me to believe they did or may have. There's also different parts in 'The man 
with two faces' chapter where Quirrell says that Snape was 'on to him'. I don't 
think he could've really known this unless Snape made it known in some way or 
another.  

As for interrogating the other teachers. We don't see evidence of this, I 
think, because the Trio aren't exactly chummy with the Professors. They had no 
real evidence that Snape was trying to steal the stone..and if they went up to 
McGonagall or Dumbledore and said they thought he was going to try and steal it 
like they did to Hagrid they would be in a lot of troulbe, I imagine.  Then, 
of course, questions would be asked about how they knew what they 
did...etc..etc.. 

Let's look at each of the challenges: 

1. Fluffy: The evidence is quite clear on this. Hagrid explains in PS/SS Ch. 
16 the he got the dragon egg from a stranger he was playing cards with and 
that the stranger was interested in fluffy/the creatures Hagrid took care of... 

"Well-yeah-how many three-headed dogs d'yeh meet, even around Hogwarts? So I 
told him, Fluffy's a piece 'o cake if yeh know how to calm him down, jus' play 
him a bit o' music an' he'll fall straight off ter sleep-"  

One thing I'd like to know is how Quirrell found out about Hagrid's wanting 
to have a dragon.  

2. Devil's Snare. If Quirrell figured each Professor would do something in 
their feild of expertise, he probably knew Sprout would do something with 
plants. Chances are he: 

a. Studied dangerous plants, hoping something would come in handy 
b. Found out about the Devil's Snare and prepared. 
c. Took a chance...either he or Voldemort knew how to fight the Devil's Snare 
and Quirrell did so when the time came. 

3. Flying Keys. Again...same thing. Either he found out somehow (from 
Flitwick) about his particular enchantment or he took his chances. What we do know is 
he can fly and was able to get the key. Harry had an advantage here. The 
key's wing was broken AFTER Quirrell used it. He had the broken wing to watch for. 
 

4. Whether he found out before or after he got there...Quirrell/Voldemort 
knew how to play Wizard Chess. I don't think McGonagall would go blabbing about 
her enchantment to anyone...but she may have to Quirrell, since he'd seem to be 
the least likely candidate to go after the Sone. I'm highly doubtful on her 
telling anyone...but as I said, one of them knew how to play the game.  

5. Potions challenge. Again...Quirrelled probably be thinking Snape=Potions. 
I'm quite sure Snape didn't give him so much as a hint towards what the 
challenge was exactly. We just know that Quirrell!Mort was able to figure the logic 
puzzle out and he got to see the odd, poetic side of Snape. 

6. The Mirror of Erised. I think this is the one thing he definately did not 
know about because he couldn't predict what Dumbledore would do and probably 
wouldn't question him, lest he be found out.  


So...even if he didn't know EXACTLY what each challenge was, he probably had 
some idea, again, by the expertise of each protector. And, who knows, even if 
he didn't find out exactly he may've gotten little hints. Or at least 
Voldemort may've picked up something during a conversation between Quirrell and one of 
the other teacher's that Quirrell wouldn't have on his own.  


Pickle Jimmy: 

> 
> 
> So, back to my original question 

<snip snip>

So why weren't the staff 
> 
> suprised with wimp!quirrell at halloween?

Me: 

I posted a theory on his earlier. It is possible Quirrell contributed the 
troll BEFORE his little trip/breakdown. Or while he was on this trip before or 
after he met Voldemort. We know that he was fine before he went abroad. 

We don't know when each challenge was set up. 

I have my own question. Was there another way to get down to the PS/SS 
chambers? I doubt all the teachers jumped down the trapdoor to set up their 
challenges or that Dumbledore went through all of them to save Harry. 

~Cassie~ 


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