Alarm clock

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 146453

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Marg McKay-Lowndes"
<lowndes at b...> wrote:
>
> MML here:
>  
> I'm just browsing through my favourite parts of HBP and have
> noticed the alarm clock on p.46, (Bloomsbury) which is mentioned
> a few times. Harry repaired it a while back apparently. Does 
> anyone see any significance in this? ...

bboyminn:

I think you may be looking to deeply for something that is not there.
First ask yourself where would Harry get an alarm clock at the
Dursleys. They seem to give him the absolute minimum 'stuff' they can
get away with. They are not likely to run out and buy Harry a clock,
and they are not likely nice enough to give him an old clock when they
replaced one. So, Harry found an old discarded clock and fixed it.

I suspect this may be JKR responding to questions that were asked
surrounding Harry having a wristwatch in Goblet of Fire. Where would
Harry get a watch? How could a boy who is clothed in hand-me-downs
with few if any possessions and no pocket money come up with a working
wristwatch. Well, we can specualate on the answer. Perhaps he found it
in a drawer now that he is in Dudley's spare room. Or maybe he found a
old discarded watch and repaired it.

Rather than open the door to more specuation, JKR simply started with
an explanation that explains how Harry managed to have an alarm clock.
He found a discarded alarm clock and repaired it.  

If this were the 1,000 year old alarm clock of Godric Gryffindor, I'm
pretty sure Vernon would have sold it to the antique shop ages ago.

So, I think it is what it seems, an old disgarded alarm clock that
Harry salvaged and repaired. 

Just a thought.
Steve/bboyminn