chapter discussions, SS/PS, chapter 5, Diagon Alley

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 187875

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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?

Potioncat:
I don't remember what my first reaction was, I've re-read this book several times over the years. Whether it's the book or TMTMNBN I find this section exciting. There are so many new things to see and experience. This is where we get our first look of JKR's magical world, and get the first inkling that it will be both familiar and different from what we're used to in a story about magic.



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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?

Potioncat:
This answer could be as long as the chapter. I'll narrow it down to three areas that particularly stood out Gringotts, Ollivander and the Malfoys. 

The adventure Harry will have in DH in Grigotts is set up in this chapter. Come on, did any of us really think there was a dragon in there? But this part has been answered better than I could.

Ollivander gives us a bit of wand-lore that does play out, and how that played out has been the source for several threads.  Ollivander also makes his "great things---terrible, yes, but great" comment about LV.  It made Harry think he didn't like Ollivander too much and it caused many of us to distrust him. This time, reading it in context, his real emphasis seems to be on Harry's potential. If these brother wands choose powerful wizards, and if Harry already has a reputation, then Ollivander would be right in expecting some powerful magic from Harry. Still, I can't imagine using the word "great" for anything LV did.

Two things jumped out about Draco Malfoy. He is very outgoing, and he's very naïve. He takes it for granted that this boy is one of "our" kind and says a lot more than he should have.  Yep, we see his nature here, and his upbringing. Some of his reasons for not wanting Muggle-born into Hogwarts sound very familiar within the RW of today. I'd forgotten how very current that aspect of the bigotry is..

We may have thought we had a WW version of the Dursleys, with Draco talking about bullying his father. Yet I see the first signs in this chapter of the depth of Malfoy family loyalty that will play out over the course of the series. Also a bit ironic that Narcissa is previewing wands; she'll be the one to replace the wand later on.



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3.  We've already been introduced to Rowling's magnificent sense of humor in this book, but we see more of it in this chapter.  Even the name Diagon alley, and the authors of some of the school books.  What things tickled your funny bone when reading this chapter?

Potioncat:
My favorite is Arsenius Jigger and I'm ashamed to say I didn't catch it the first time.


 
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4.  Harry gets his first real introduction to his fame when he arrives at the Leaky Cauldron.  What was your reaction to this scene?  Did you think anything about Quirrel's behavior?  Did you think Doris Crockford would be more than the extra she was?

Potioncat:
I'm sure I didn't at the first reading, not knowing how important little things could be. I know we poured over her name quite a bit at one point. After all, we see the name several times. Yet who of us gave Mrs. Figg a second thought until much later?



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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?

Potioncat:
I think Draco's opinion about Muggle-borns and about Hagrid would have prevented any friendship between him and Harry. He reveals his true colors up front. What did strike me though, is that Draco isn't exactly wrong about Hagrid. In fact, he's darn right. I'm sure he's repeating what he's heard from his parents, but I wonder how many others might share that feeling? There's nothing here about Hagrid's blood, just his behavior. In a few years we'll learn that Ravenclaw students consider Hagrid a joke.

 I was wondering what would have happened if the boy being fitted had been someone else, who said nothing about "our" kind but still made those comments about Hagrid.



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> 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? 


Potioncat:
I clung to the theory of the Good Slytherin up to the last page of DH. I was sure we had been set up to form our own bit of prejudice just to have it knocked down. I think JKR did intend Slytherin to be the bad guys. Did anyone feel differently about Slytherin House at the end of DH with both Snape and Slughorn coming through for Hogwarts?

 
Thanks for the discussion, Sherri!