CHAPTER DISCUSSION PS/SS 9, THE MIDNIGHT DUEL

[jelly92784]

No: HPFGUIDX 188288

CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone/Philosopher's Stone Chapter Nine, The Midnight Duel

Questions:

1. Why do you think the Gryffindors are forced to do flying lessons with the Slytherins? and why is this the only time flying lessons are even mentioned?

Janelle: 
The obvious answer is that plot-wise Harry needed something extreme enough to make him break the rules and fly his broom, and Draco is the obvious answer to that.  As far as within the story, I don't know why the Gryffindors are paired with the Slytherins for this class, although I think being "forced" to be paired with them is a little too strong worded.  Maybe they put them together for this class, something that is probably generally considered to be fun, in hopes that the first years in these two houses could form some friendships early on and reduce the enmity between the houses.  If it hadn't been Malfoy maybe it could have worked. 


2. Would you like to have a Remembrall ? Why or why not? What would you like to make sure you remember?

Janelle:
I don't think I would like to have a Remembrall.  Yeah, it turns all red to let you know when you forgot something, which is cool, but it doesn't tell you what you forgot!  It would constantly be like when you get up and go into another room to get something, but by the time you get there you forget what you were going to get and then have to stand there trying to remember!  Talk about frustrating!

 
3. Do you think Neville is naturally clumsy and somewhat scatterbrained? or do you think his grandmother had a role in that?

Janelle:
I think his gran probably does have something to do with it.  She was probably pretty demanding, always expecting a lot of things from him and so he bumbles around trying to do everything that she wants him to do and trying not to mess anything up.  I'm sure a part of it is naturally his character, but Gran most likely brings it out in him.

 
4. Malfoy chooses Crabbe as his second. If Crabbe and Goyle are both his friends, why do you think he picks Crabbe over Goyle?

Janelle:
Something I've wondered about myself... It's interesting to add in the fact that he never intended to duel in the first place...  Goyle is the one who is taller, right?  So maybe Malfoy thought that by picking the friend who would be slightly less intimidating to Harry as his second, it would show Malfoy's confidence that he didn't need a second and could take Harry all by himself?  I kinda doubt it though.  It's more likely that Malfoy was mad at Goyle about something and so chose Crabbe in order to make Goyle jealous or something petty like that.


5. Duels are written into many books and stories. More often than not, they are between a good and a bad person and they do not end on a happy note. What were your thoughts as soon as the duel was scheduled to happen? Did you think Ron, Harry, Malfoy, or even Crabbe might have died or gotten hurt?

Janelle:
Hmm, let's see if I can remember...  I know that I didn't suspect Malfoy of setting them up, that I really thought there would be a duel.  I guess I thought it would be interesting to see what Malfoy could do and that maybe some spell would go awry, hit the wrong person or something, but I don't think I really knew what to expect but was eager to find out!

 
My own Questions:
6.  When arranging the duel Draco mentions that the door to the trophy room is "always unlocked."  How does Draco know this?  And, perhaps more importantly, why is the trophy room always unlocked?  

7.  Why was the door to the forbidden corridor set up so that a simple "alohomora" could open it?  Did Dumbledore simply trust that the students would follow his orders?


Thanks for the summary and questions!