CHAPTER DISCUSSION PS/SS 10, THE HALLOWEEN

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 188348

 
> Alla
>
>>1.Which sports rules did you find easier to understand: Quidditch or Baseball?
Potioncat:
I paid about the same amount of attention to each
none at all.

> 
> 2.What special circumstances about her getting Harry a broom did McGonagall share with Flitwick in your opinion?
Potioncat:
I think McGonagall must have used the precedent of 100 years ago--allowing a first year on the team. I don't remember (having paid very little attention to Quidditch) whether the team members have to supply their own brooms (even if it means borrowing a Hogwarts broom), or if the team has its own supply of brooms. I know next year Malfoy will buy brooms for the entire Slytherin team. It also isn't clear to me where the broom came from, but it appears to be from McGonagall. Keep in mind, she isn't giving Harry the broom because she has any particular affection for Harry, rather that she wants to win at Quidditch. So the Head of House is providing a broom for a Gryffindor team member. This is a special broom for a special position.

I suspect all the Heads know that Harry will be allowed on the Gryffindor team and that a broom will be provided for his use. I'm not sure they know the quality of the broom, and I'm sure Snape will be livid.  The main reason I think so, is that something has to be done to allow a 1st year to play and I would think the competitors would need to be aware for it to be legit.

I want to address a point Carol made. Hooch threatened expulsion to any student who got on a broom while she was gone. So Harry should have been punished rather than being rewarded by getting to play Quidditch. I used to agree with Carol's point of view.

But now I see it differently. First, I'm not convinced Madam Hooch was serious about the consequence but was exaggerating--something like, "you'll be in detention for the rest of your life"; it sounds like Snape and his (empty) threats of expulsion.  Second, I don't think she has the authority to expel a student. We know that the Head of Slytherin doesn't have the authority to expel a non-Slytherin, and Hooch isn't a Head of House. Third, if Harry were to be expelled, so would Draco. I'm sure no one at Hogwarts really wants either of those boys expelled. Fourth, McGonagall did not hear Hooch make the threat. Perhaps Hooch is just as excited to learn about a new Quidditch star and forgot all about her own threat, and never told McGonagall.

None of the Gryffindors would remind anyone that Harry should be punished. Draco doesn't risk bringing it up because he'd likely be on the train with Harry. So while Harry does avoid punishment, I don't think McGonagall intentionally undermined Hooch.

> 
> 
> 3.We are shown Trevor zooming around the class in Charms, does that mean that kids' pets are allowed in the classrooms if kids so desire?

Potioncat:
I don't think we ever see any pet but Trevor in the classroom. So I agree with an earlier post that Trevor was in class by accident. 

> 
> 4.We are told that Ron and Harry do not want to go fight the troll, but feel that they have no other choice. What does this say about their characters or any characters when thought like this flashes in their minds?

Potioncat:
That's what courage is: doing the right thing even when you're afraid. I think this passage reinforced the nature of Ron's and Harry's courage.

> 
> 
> 5.Do you believe that fighting a troll could be a good start for great friendship?

Potioncat:
Well, there are other ways I'd rather use to start a friendship, but going through adversity together can lead to strong friendships.

> 
> 6.When Ron hears Hermione scream after she is locked in with the Troll, he is described turning "pale as the Bloody Baron". What if anything does it mean to you?

Potioncat:
In this case, it seems to show that Ron realizes the grave danger Hermione is in, and that he is responsible to some degree. For some reason it reminds me of two other characters. It reminds me a little of Snape's reaction when he hears a student has been taken to the Chamber. It also reminds me of James, going in to save Severus.


> 
> Zara's question:
> 7.We now know Snape agreed to help Dumbledore protect *Harry*. What, in your opinion, explains his extra efforts to protect the Philosopher's Stone, as in this chapter, when he sees through Quirrell's ruse and checks on the third-floor corridor rather than going into the dungeons with the other teachers?

Potioncat:
I think he is already DD's man. I assume Snape knows what is being hidden, but he may not know why. He knows to keep an eye on Quirrell and that may be enough. I seem to remember that we'll find out that Quirrell is really very good with trolls and didn't he provide a troll to protect the stone? (I haven't read ahead.) So both Snape and DD should have been suspicious at Quirrell's reaction to the troll.


My question:
"All Neville cared about was never going near the dog again." What do you think about Neville at this point? Are we being misled into thinking he lacks courage?

Thanks, Alla, for the discussion. Very good questions.