CHAPTER DISCUSSION PS/SS 6, The Journey from Platform Nine and Three-Quarters

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 187973


1.	Dumbledore seems to have left contact with Harry in the hands of Hagrid. What
do you think would have happened if the Dursleys had refused to take Harry to
Kings Cross? Was there a Plan B available? Being a special case, would it have
made more sense to arrange to take Harry directly to Hogwarts?


Alla:

Would it have made more sense to take Harry directly to Hogwarts? Of course it would have IMO, but I sort of reconciled myself with the idea that Dumbledore's plans are either incredibly manipulative/ borderline evil (to me) or make no sense whatsoever. I mean, please this is the guy who was just so sure that Dursleys would take Harry in, so of course IMO he would be sure that Dursleys would do as little (in comparison) as to take Harry to the station.

I supposed plan B was as somebody said for Harry to notify Hagrid.


2.	It seems strange that Harry should just happen to overhear Molly mentioning
Muggles and particularly strange that she should ask for the platform number
considering that all three of the boys had made at least one previous trip on
the Hogwarts Express. Could this be a discreet way of manipulating Harry so that
he meets the "right" people on his way who will slant his thinking towards
Gryffindor?

Alla:

I would not put **anything** past Dumbledore, absolutely anything at this point, however Harry may have just as well overheard Slytherin parents asking about the platform IMO, so I am not sure about this one.


4. When Hermione first appears, she is described as having a "bossy voice" and
she seems to behave in this way when she returns to the compartment after the
incident with Malfoy. What was your first impression of Hermione? Did later
events confirm this for you or not?

Alla:

Actually, I do not remember my first complete impression of Hermione, the only thing I remember is what Pippin said, in my mind this first meeting that she was meant for Ron, absolutely without any doubt. This is one of the very few things in the book I was 100% sure since the very beginning that Hermione and Ron are meant for each other, that is why (and because I did not really care who will end up with whom ) I never cared for shipping threads lol. While I was a little less sure of Harry and Ginny, in my mind Ron and Hermione were meant to be by the author, so I did not see the debate as interesting (for myself of course).


5. At this point in the story, do you see the friendship between Harry, Ron and
Hermione taking off as it did later after the troll incident at Hallowe'en? On
first reading, how would you have expected things to proceed?

Alla:

I am not sure I remember my first impression either or was it influenced by later readings, but yes I think I could see that simply because THIS to me is the sort of first meeting of kids who may not like each other on the first glance, but then become friends (contrary to Harry and Draco's meeting). I mean obviously Harry and Ron becoming friends was clear to me, but yes I think I could see Hermione joining them later in some fashion. JMO of course.

6. What do you think prompted Draco's visit to the compartment? Do you think he
genuinely wanted to make a friendly contact with Harry? If not, how do you
interpret the contact? If he did want to strike up a relationship, what effect
do you consider Harry's rejection had? What long term implications did there
seem to be at this point in time?

Alla:

Sure I can believe that he wanted to be friends with Harry, but I do not think it was because he really liked Harry, I think he was following his father's directions and because he thought it would be advantageous for him. So I guess I question the genuine part of it. I am not sure what long term implications you mean. That Harry did not like Slytherin because of Draco and would have liked them otherwise? I don't know. 
Thanks for the great questions Geoff.