[HPforGrownups] chapter discussions, SS/PS, chapter 5, Diagon Alley

[Cassy Ferris]

No: HPFGUIDX 187878

> Questions:
> 1. Harry begins getting introduced to the wizarding world and its ways
from the beginning of this chapter with owl post and different money. When
you first read this chapter, what were some of the things that interested or
captivated you about the sights to which harry, and we, are introduced?
>
It's really hard to remember first impressions after almost ten years. I
remember that I was quite interested with Diagon alley shops, specifically
the bookshop (always wanted to read the textbooks of magic ) Also, I was
very curious (and still are) whether galleons are actual gold or they just
look golden. The thing that I really couldn't imagine was how the brick wall
becomes an arch (where are the rectangular bricks go?). Judging by how they
did it in the movie, I'm not the only one who can't really picture that.

> 2. This chapter is full of information that is either vital to the rest of
the series or foreshadows events to come or themes in the series. What jumps
out at you in this chapter that is important to the rest of the series?

Well, in a nutshell, everything. This chapter tells us about organization of
Hogwarts, really tells a lot about Vodemort, explains Quidditch, which also
will play important part. Also Harry makes a first enemy and gets a taste of
his fame.

<SNAP>


> 6. Harry and Draco have their first meeting in this chapter. We know that
this is a vital first meeting, affecting both boys for the rest of the
series. Thinking back to just this moment, without the knowledge you have
now, what did you think of this meeting? How could Harry and or Draco have
behaved differently to change the relationship between them for the future?
Could this have seriously affected events in the future?

I don't think that Draco could behave in a way that would make Harry like
him.  After all, in this scene Draco already was as friendly as he was
capable of - talked to Harry, asked him the usual, for first years,
questions about the House he wanted to get in and Quidditch - normal
conversation for magical children. One of the main reasons Harry hated the
conversation was because he had no idea what the other boy was talking
about. Had Draco talked about familiar things - TV or football, maybe Harry
would have been more willing to converse. I think, that even if Draco knew
who Harry was, he would still antoganized him by mentioning far too much
wizard-specific stuff.


>
> 7. Harry develops his anti-Slytherin feelings in this chapter, based on
Draco's behavior and Hagrid's line about there not being a witch or wizard
who went bad that wasn't in Slytherin. From POA onward, we know this isn't
true. Did you believe the bad Slytherin theme at this point in the story?
Could Hagrid really not have known that people from all houses could become
followers of Voldemort? Are there any other instances of misinformation in
this chapter?
>
At that point I did believe in bad Slytherin (I kept taking things on face
value up to book 3, actually). However, in the retrospect, I think that
Hagrid blackened Slytherin on purpose, and he was told to by Dumbledore
(though perhaps indirectly).

<SNAP>

> 9 At the end of the chapter, Hagrid puts Harry on a train for home. For a
child who had never been to London and probably not far from Privet drive on
his own, how did he get back to the Dursleys?
>
We don't know the geography of Little Whinning, maybe the train station is
the next street from Private Drive and Harry only needs to go around the
corner to get home.


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