Why Move the Sorcerer's Stone

[sophierom]

No: HPFGUIDX 114633


Angie 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.) 
> 
> 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!
> 
Sophierom:

I'm not sure that I can convince you that moving the stone was more
than a plot device, but it does seem worth mentioning that soon after
Hagrid removes the stone from Gringotts, there was an attempted
break-in on that very same vault.  Perhaps Dumbeldore had been tipped
off (though I don't see how).  More likely, Snape's dark mark became
darker, indicating that LV was making moves.  As for having Hagrid get
the stone while Harry was present, perhaps Dumbledore was thinking: 1.
I trust Hagrid to get the stone and not tell Harry what it is and 2.
even if Harry somehow finds out, what's more important is making sure
that LV can't get to the stone, not its secrecy.  After all, if LV
can't find the stone at Gringotts (though how he would know which
vault the stone was in is another question), he's probably smart
enough to guess that Hogwarts is the next best place.  I wonder if
Dumbledore is really trying to hide the stone, or if he's trying to
protect the stone. 

Now, the fact that LV knew where in Gringotts to go ... makes me
wonder if he had some help from any goblins? Or, is this also just a
plot device so that when Harry reads about the break in, JKR can
remind the readers not to forget about that mysterious package Hagrid
took out of Gringotts?