Timing Question

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 151297

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Kim" <spirittalks at ...> wrote:
>
> Perhaps this was dealt with before I joined the group or I've 
> missed it since but I wonder if anyone can help me with a timing 
> question that's been bothering me.
> 
> When Voldemort attacked Harry's family in Godrick's Hollow ... 
> Surely Harry wasn't left alone in the ruins of his home for most
> of the day while the wizarding world celebrated the destruction
> of Voldemort?  Hagrid and Sirius must have been there soon after
> the explosion and Harry must have been quickly removed.
> 
> ... and McGonnagal says she's been watching the Dursley home 
> all day.
> 
> ...
> 
> So from what I can tell, the incident at Godrick's Hollow 
> happened overnight or in the early AM.  The placement of Harry 
> at the Dursley's happened after dark that night.
> 
> So I finally get to my question: Why did it take all day for 
> Hagrid to get Harry to Dumbledore? ... So where have I messed up
> in my working out the timing of this day?
> 
>  Thanks! 
>  Kim

bboyminn:

This is referred to as the infamous 'Missing 24 Hours'. Indeed your
assessment is correct, near midnight on the evening of Oct 31, the
Potters were attacked. Near midnight on the evening of Nov 1, Harry
was delivered to the Dursley. Sometime on the day of Nov 1 (or
possibly Nov 2) Sirius and Peter had their confrontation, and Sirius
was arrested.

So, the first implication is that Harry falling asleep over Bristol on
 his way to Privet Drive is not necessarily an indication of the
location of Godric's Hollow. It is an indication of the location
Hargid was staying at before coming to Privet Drive. It could be
Southern Wales, Southern Ireland, Cornwall, Devon, or Somerset. Flying
from all those places using landmarks as guides would involve flying
near (not over, but near) Bristol. 

And indeed where Hagrid was is the BIG QUESTION. Somewhere in the
early hours of the morning of Nov 1, Hargid spoke to McGonagall. Where
could McGonagall and Hagrid have run into each other? Hogwarts is 500
miles way, presumably. So, I don't see Hargid going to Hogwarts. 

I have always speculated on the thinnest of evidence, that Harry and
Hagrid stayed with the Longbottoms, the /other/ Prophecy family, while
 waiting for Dumbledore to make the proper arrangements and put in
place the proper protective enchantments. I further speculate that
that prompted the later attack on the Longbottoms. Again, base on HUGE
speculation and the scantest of evidence. 

This is one of the great mysteries of the series, but we really don't
know whether it is significant or not. JKR could have simply written
in this way assuming the basic in-book explanation would be adequate.
Now however, JKR has detail obssessed fan who don't miss anything.
It's possible that only now after the fact, she will make up an
explantion for where Hagrid was.

On the other hand, she could be keeping this information secret from
us because it has some substantial relevance to the plot. Only another
year and another book, and it's possible, though not guaranteed, we
will know the answers.

Just passing it along.

Steve/bboyminn