Gryffindor Staircase

[adsong16]

No: HPFGUIDX 83017

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "fourjays22" <jayandjay22 at h...> 
wrote:
> I was curious what role (if any) people think the Gryffindor 
> staircase might play in books six and seven. 
[snip]
> Could this be a key location of some sort of final battle if/when LV 
> enters Hogwarts?  
[more snips]

Excellent question. My thoughts on the staircase: I agree with Richard that it is 
the role of the staircase is to chastise boys for trying to get up there rather than 
actually preventing them from doing so. I also agree that the staricase 
probably is bewitched beyond the steps, that you can't just grab a flying 
device or disguise yourself as a girl in order to get up there. (I'm sure th 
Founders thought of these, I am also sure that all girsl dormitories are so 
bewitched, not just Gryffindor)

When I first read this passage I figured that JKR was pointing out something 
about the workings of relationships at Hogwarts. Thus far we know that 
people, when they want to be alone, seek out dark places on the grounds, 
such as the bushes at the Yule Ball. We also know that Harry kissed Cho in 
the Room of Requirement. Harry hasn't had the chance or need to go making 
out somewhere on the grounds (yet) so we don't really know other places 
couples go on a regular basis. The fact that JKR tells us that the girls 
staircases are bewitched so that boys can't get in there seems significant in 
that it means a couple needs to go elsewhere to meet in private... hope for the 
various shippers out there that JKR will bring this up again. ;-)

As for a site for later batlles with the Death Eaters, I just don't see this 
happening. Of all places at HOgwarts, I just don't see our little heros hiding in 
a girls dormitory, nor do I think LV and Co. would be deterred by it... I could be 
wrong, of course. 

I also think this may come into play as a kind of a clue to later mysteries, for 
example if someone breaks into the girls dormitory in later books, for some 
reason, and we are led to conclude that it must be a woman, because of the 
staircase... or some other such ocurrance.

I do wonder, however... Prof. McGonagall has gone up to the boys' tower 
when there's been trouble, for example when Harry got sick after his vision of 
the snake attacking Mr. Weasley. How do male Heads of House go to help if 
there's a problem in the girls dormitories? [this is not really important, I guess, 
I'm just curious =)]

Gorda