The Riddles' Murders (WAS: The only one he ever feared?

[ginnysthe1]

No: HPFGUIDX 117559


Kim wrote:
> <snip> ... monitoring practices must have changed after the first 
Vold War (whoever thought that phrase up deserves a gold star!) but 
they sure aren't up to snuff even now.  Voldemort's emissary Quirrell 
had a pretty easy time getting a job at Hogwarts - haven't they heard 
of background checks?  <snip> <

Cathy responded:
> For some reason, many people keep overlooking the fact that 
Quirrell was already a teacher at Hogwarts *before* he met 
Voldemort.  He took a year off for *practical* experience, and was 
quivering Quirrell when he returned. (This is all mentioned early on 
in PS/SS, after Harry meets Professor Quirrell at the Leaky Cauldron 
when Hagrid takes him to London to buy his school supplies).  We also 
find out later that Quirrell had returned with Voldemort, and that 
Voldemort decided to "share" Quirrell's body after blowing stealing 
the stone from the vault (due to the fact that Hagrid had just 
removed it), so he could keep a closer eye on him.<

> Sorry I don't have the exact reference, of course I'm at work and 
the books are at home.  However, I see this same type of reply so 
often I had to say something.  The quote from Hagrid was something to 
the effect of "afraid of his own shadow, afraid of his own subject."<

Kim now:

Cathy, thanks for that reminder!  I've even read SS a couple of times 
too (though it didn't make the same impression on me as the later 
books).  My brain can be a sieve for some of the details if I haven't 
checked them before I write a post.  But even in light of the facts 
you pointed out, with Quirrell returning as a DADA teacher who's now 
scared of his own shadow (but faking it, mind you), don't you think 
it would have made sense to interview him to find out what happened 
to make him so jumpy and whether he's even up to the job anymore? (or 
did they? -- I'd better go back and re-read that part of the book)  
Of course, he'd have lied about it, but can't Dumbledore tell a liar 
when he sees one?   I do realize it's supposed to be hard to find 
DADA teachers, so shear desperation may be the only explanation for 
letting Quirrell have the post again.  I mean, that explains Lockhart 
getting the job (well, kind of)!    Another thing (that someone else 
probably pointed out already) is that the DADA teachers all seem to 
turn out to be Dark Arts Defense lessons in themselves, far more so 
than the defense skills they try to pass on in class.  Not sure if 
Dumbledore intends this to happen or not.  In any case, I still think 
the WW is pretty lax about security, considering what LV put them 
through before, but then it's not a perfect world either, is it?  
Again, a perfect world would be dull, dull, dull.  

Cheers, Kim