CHAPTER DISCUSSION: PS/SS 4, The Keeper of the Keys

[bboyminn]

No: HPFGUIDX 187847

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> CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer Stone/Philosopher Stone
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> Chapter  Four, The Keeper of the Keys
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> In this chapter a giant of a man comes to the Dursleys'. This man, whose name is Rubeus Hagrid, finally gives Harry the mysterious letter which was trying to get itself in Harry's hands in the previous chapter. Harry learns that he is a wizard and no, the Dursleys are not happy when he learns that. Hagrid also tells Harry what really happened to his parents. No, they did not die in a car crash, an evil wizard killed them when he tried to take over Wizarding World a decade ago. Hagrid also explains to Harry that he is famous because he is the only person so far who survived the attempt of this wizard to kill him. Hagrid tells him that wizard vanished and while some believe that he disappeared forever, he and those with him think that he will be back. Oh and Hagrid is not happy with Dursleys at all.
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> 1. "Suppose the mystery is why You-Know-Who never tried to get "em on his side before... probably knew they were too close ter Dumbledore ter want anythin' ter do with dark side" -p.55. Is this quote a case of Hagrid not being well informed or a case of JKR have not deciding that Voldemort tried to recruit Lily and James just yet?
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bboyminn:

I think we are making assumptions based on hearsay and generalizations. Voldemort many have generally considered trying to get James and Lily on his side, but we don't know that he literally did it. We don't know that he literally tried to recruit them, only that he would generally want to get as many people on his side as possible. 

If anything, someone other than Voldemort approached Lily and James and tried to sound them out; tried to get a sense of whether they would be receptive to being recruited. And, if that failed, where and how were they vulnerable so they could be coerced into supporting Voldemort.

I think the result was that James and Lily we far to entrenched in Dumbledore's camp to even remotely consider changing sides, and I don't think there was really any front upon which they could be Blackmailed. James parents were dead, so that couldn't be a threat. All James friends including Lily were in the Order, and just being in the Order came with a risk of death, so that is a limited avenue of threat. 

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> 2. As the way to convince Harry that he is truly a wizard, Hagrid reminds him about the things that had been happening around him when he is angry or upset.  We know that what Dursleys did upset Harry a great deal. Why haven't his accidental magic kicked in and harmed the Dursleys at least a little bit?
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bboyminn:

I think Harry was pretty downtrodden, and being so young his magic or magical abilities were latent. Once he goes to Hogwarts and starts to get some training, and grows up a bit, his magic becomes more active, and as such, he was able to blow up Aunt Marge without meaning to.

So, while he did do inadvertent magic when he was younger, it was alway under somewhat strange circumstances. He flew to the top of a building, he turned his teacher hair blue (or whatever color). 

I don't think those things occurred because he was especially angry, more during circumstances when he had dropped his subconscious guard, and let the magic out.

I think most of the time, Harry is being very deferential to the Dursleys. In his own mind, he was helpless and at their mercy. So, while I'm sure he gets angry at times, I think he is able to control or redirect that anger.  


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> 3. In the beginning of this chapter Hagrid introduces himself as Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts. At the end of the chapter he tells Harry that Dumbledore let him stay in Hogwarts as **gamekeeper**.  Is it a typo? Is it supposed to be **gatekeeper**?
If it is not a typo, could somebody explain to me how *keeper of the keys and grounds* is the same thing as *gamekeeper*? Thanks.
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bboyminn:

I remember having discussed this before. I'm sure Dumbledore made sure Hagrid had a nice fancy sounding title so he could feel important, though I don't doubt that Hagrid really does the jobs in his title.

He is 'Keep of the Keys', but I suspect when they most need a Keeper of the Keys is when school is NOT in session. If you come to the closed school in the summer, and need to be let in to the castle or to a specific room, Hagrid would be the guy you needed to see, because he has the keys. 

As others have said, gamekeeping would be a subdivision of Groundskeeping. 

Plus, people don't always speak in absolutes. We all tend to generalize and summarize things. If we didn't, every single conversation would be interminably long. So, gamekeeper is just a quick and easy everyday way of describing Hagrid. It saves a lot of long pointless discussion and explanation. We need to try to not take everything as absolutely literal. 


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> 4. In this chapter Hagrid tells Harry "real" version of his parents' death and Harry's encounter with Voldemort. In light of DH we of course know that this version at best can be called incomplete. Do you think that this "reader's digest" version that Hagrid delivers is what the majority of WW population knew about that night? Do you think this version is delivered only for Harry's benefit and Hagrid (and maybe some other people, I am not talking here about Dumbledore) knew at least some more details?
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bboyminn:

If I recall correctly, Hagrid comments that he is not sure it is his place to inform Harry of what happened. So, yes, very much Harry got the condensed summarized version of events. 

But look at the broader series as a whole, when was Harry ever given all the information he needed? 

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> 5. Do you believe Hagrid when he acts angry about Dursleys not telling Harry what was in that letter?
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bboyminn:

Oh I think the anger is very real. The whole purpose of that letter was to explain things, both to the Dursley's and to Harry. Notice, that even now after many years from leaving Hogwarts, Harry still hasn't seen that letter, or so we can reasonably assume. 

I think it was intensional on the part of the Dursely's as a way of keeping Harry ignorant of who and what he was. That was a part of all their lives, that the Dursley's very much wanted to deny. 

But, I don't think Hagrid believed anyone could act with such willful malice. I think he is truly stunned that the Dursley's didn't to Harry the common courtesy of explaining things to him.


> 6. Harry's invitation letter says that Hogwarts expects his owl no later than July 31. Do you think it was possible for Harry to refuse the invitation if he so desired?
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bboyminn:

I think JKR has answered this. You are not required to go to Hogwarts. I think parents and prospective students can refuse to go to Hogwarts, and once the school is clear that they are adamant on that decision, they respect and accept it. 

I suspect Muggle-borns might not accept on moral grounds. They would simply think it not right to be mixed up in such things. Though, most parents have probably experienced various forms of accidental magic and are glad to have an explanation, and an opportunity for the kids to learn to control it. 

Those from the Wizard world are free to not accept because there are other Wizard schools besides Hogwarts, and they might also want to home school their kids. 

The only exception to this is the brief time when the Death Eaters take over the Ministry and the School, then school at Hogwarts is mandatory. 

Just a few thoughts.

Steve/bboyminn