...HRH friendship - SS/PS the obstacle course was meant for HRH

[caesian]

No: HPFGUIDX 105722

Cathy wrote: 
> 
> I want to know why there were three broomsticks in the winged key 
> room.  Three.  Seems a bit >> odd, doesn't it?  As though DD KNEW HRH 
> would be the ones to go after it.  Nearly anyone >> >> else would 
> would be trying to get the stone would be acting alone, why would 
> they need three >> broomsticks.
> 
> 
> vmonte responds:
> 
> You are right Cathy, I think there is something fishy about the 
> entire obstacle course in SS/PS. I've said this before but I believe 
> that the whole course specifically geared for HRH. 

<snipped detailed quotes etc from original post>
 
> Minerva's chess game -- Why did MM put this as an obstacle? Her 
> specialty is transfigurations!?  This was definitely geared for Ron 
> who excels in chess.
> 
><snip - Fltwick's> flying-key room -- This is obviously geared for Harry 
> who is great at flying.
> 
> DD's Mirror-of-Erised -- Harry even states that DD got him
> acquainted with it so that he would know how it works.
> 
> Professor Sprout's Devil's Snare – Hermione figures this out.
> 
> Page 285, Snape's obstacle
> 
> "Hermione let out a great sigh and Harry, amazed, saw that she was
> smiling, the very last thing he felt like doing."
> 
> "Brilliant," said Hermione. "This isn't magic—it's logic—a puzzle.
> A lot of the greatest wizards haven't got an ounce of logic, they'd
> be stuck in here forever."
> 
> vmonte:
> 
> It is unusual that Snape's obstacle has to do with logic, not
> potions. <snipped>

Caesian responds:

First off, the scene specifies "broomsticks", but does not suggest that onl=
y 3 broomsticks 
are available. Multiple broomsticks might have been provided to allow other=
s, e.g. the 
cavalry, to follow. (Although if I were Quirrell!mort, I would at least con=
sider simply taking 
the key after it had been captured.  And while I'm at it, did Dumbledore sh=
ow some seeker 
skills in reaching Harry?)

I believe many people who have analyzed the symbolism and portents of this =
scene would 
agree that the talents Harry, Ron and Hermione together bring with them see=
m amazingly 
well suited to the challenges they face.  Each has strengths, and each of t=
heir strengths are 
fully tested.  One that hasn't been mentioned above is loyalty - Ron's exem=
plary sacrifice 
of himself in the chess game - that seems particular to the trio, doesn't i=
t.  But not really 
required to get past the chess set, per se.

The point I want to make here is that it is very unlikely that all of these=
 talents could be 
embodied by a single school age witch or wizard.  I don't think it's necess=
ary to conclude 
that the tasks are merely easy, or only geared for HRH.  I think it might b=
e that this array 
of tasks are designed to challenge a 'complete' witch or wizard, one with m=
astery in many 
disciplines (a highly skilled individual, indead).  As a team, HRH are able=
 to accomplish 
what no one of them could do alone.  

The trio, in their individual characteristics, each exemplifies a facet of =
acheivement and 
virtue that, as individuals, we seek to attain.  

That would be another way to interpret the scene - 
Caesian