Why Move the Sorcerer's Stone

[macfotuk at yahoo.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 114631


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "gelite67" <gelite67 at y...> 
wrote:
> 
> I keep wondering why DD had the SS moved.  I realize the whole 
plot 
> revolves around the capture of the thing, but I mean, why, all of 
a 
> sudden, was Gringott's no longer the best place for it? (I also 
> wonder how long the SS had been at Gringotts.)

Mac: what an interesting post. I guess I'd never thought of it 
before, so let us take it that it wasn't the obvious (but not at all 
interesting) reason that yes there'd be no book if they hadn't.

Clearly, they had to. There was a break-in attempt at Gringott's on 
the very day Hagrid moved it (by Quirrel!Mort we are later told, I 
believe). One has to assume that while goblins are sly, secretive, 
devious and may even have a 'magic of their own' (as does the house 
elf and the centaur - interesting staue that one in the MoM), a dark 
and powerful wizard, which LV even as VApor!Mort *IS*, would be able 
sooner or later to counter their protections. The chief protection 
was secrecy which, once compromised (as it clearly was) meant the 
only place safer was Hogwarts (quote that 'reliable source' - NOT, 
but probably here yes - Hagrid).

Given that the stone itself AND goblin business generally is SO 
secret, it's a surprise the story got into the Daily Prophet. Did DD 
leak it?
 
> Of course, it seems no coincidence that DD moved the SS at the 
same 
> time Harry started Hogwarts.  The simplest answer seems to be that 
DD 
> may have assumed that LV would attempt to get the SS because Harry 
> was finally learning to be a wizard, so the stakes were higher.  
If I 
> remember correctly, no one knew where LV was at the beginning of 
SS, 
> but maybe DD decided to take no chances.  But if was such an all-
> fired secret, he shouldn't have had Hagrid get the stone while 
Harry 
> tagged along (I understand Harry had to know, as far as the plot 
> goes). 
> 
> But then again, by moving the SS to HW, wasn't DD putting all the 
> students at risk?  Or maybe DD thought that DD and/or Harry would 
> have a better chance of thwarting LV at HW?
> 
> Someone please convince me this was more than a plot device!

Sorry Angie - not sure I can. However, there's no place like 
Hogwarts, (repeat and click heels of those ruby slippers) .. there's 
no place like Hogwarts ... and since the stone *had* to be kept from 
LV it needed to be at Hogwarts once Gringott's had proven so nearly 
unsafe.

Not proposing this as an 'original' theory, but it seems each of the 
books so far could be seen as (among other things) being about LV 
getting something he needs in order to return to fight HP at the end 
(some of them obtained unwittingly): SS/PS - the stone (drat - 
foiled!); CoS - the chamber of Secrets itself - maybe it'll figure 
again - and another attempt at Harry; PoA - a 'faithful servant'; 
GoF - blood of an (*the*) enemy; OoP - the prophecy.   


> Angie (who admits that she raises more questions than possible 
> answers, and who also wonders why Harry was able to catch a train 
> back to the Dursleys in SS, but the Dursleys had to thereafter 
come 
> to the train station to get Harry?)