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

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 187851


> 
> 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?

Pippin:


I think it's definite that Hagrid was not well-informed, since Snape was not informed either. We'd have a  different story if Snape brought the prophecy to Voldemort knowing that "those who have thrice defied him" would include Lily and James. I suspect that few people even within the Order knew that James and Lily had been approached until they'd been murdered.  

Voldemort did not, as Sirius put it in OOP, bang on people's doors and order them to join the Death Eaters. He used trickery, blackmail and enchantments, all of which imply stealth. As long as the targets kept their silence,  Voldemort could  take his time killing off those who refused  him and still keep his reputation for killing anyone who defied him intact. Of course if you made your defiance public, you'd be dead, probably within days.


> 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?

Pippin:
Harry turned his teacher's wig blue, so it's not that his magic didn't work against people. But the magic probably knows that Lily's blood protects Harry and won't work against it. That leaves only Vernon, who, despite his size and bluster, doesn't frighten Harry  much. Harry steps on Vernon, beats him with the smelting stick and talks back to him without fear.
> 
> 
> 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? 

Pippin:
It would have to be, or Harry would soon find out differently. Hermione has read all about him in books. 

Alla:
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?

Pippin:
It's fascinating to read Chapter One of PS/SS beside "The Prince's Tale" and see just how little Dumbledore was willing to let McGonagall know. But I'm planning a separate post about that. 

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

Pippin:
Hagrid's no actor. 
> 
> 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?

Pippin:
He had the right to do so, certainly. In the second book, Dobby will try to convince him to exercise it. (Another reason to believe there is blood protection. Dobby does not just want Harry to avoid Hogwarts, he wants him  specifically to remain at Privet Drive.) 

Pippin