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

[bboyminn]

No: HPFGUIDX 187877

---  "Geoff" <gbannister10 at ...> wrote:
>
> ---  "jelly92784" <jelly92784@> wrote:
> 
> > 9 At the end of the chapter, Hagrid puts Harry on a train for home.  For a child who had never been to London and probably not far from Privet drive on his own, how did he get back to the Dursleys?
>  
>  Janelle:
> > Interesting question, I guess we can't really know the answer but here are a few possiblities:  Maybe the Dursley's live quite close to the train station and Harry could walk home?  Maybe Hagrid/Dumbledore will have arranged for the Dursley's to pick him up?  Maybe Mrs. Figg happens to be nearby and takes him him?
> 
> Geoff:
> Harry may not have been to London previously but Hagrid saw him 
> to Paddington railway station and onto his train.
> 
> Although he may not be familiar with being away from Little Whinging, and also perhaps rather nervous, Harry is by no means an idiot. Hagrid  probably told him where to get off the train - Harry might already know this anyway if there is a station at Little Whinging. I suspect he would  have to make his own way back, possibly on foot; I can hardly see the Dursleys picking him up.
>

bboyminn:

Let's remember that Harry is ladened with Spell books, potion
ingredients, Hedwig's cage, and assorted other things. While
I have no doubt that Harry would have and could have walked,
even a long distance back to the Dursely's, it would certainly
not have been an easy task.

So, my point is, Harry doesn't just have to get himself back
to the Dursley's, he has to also get a very substantial arm 
load of other stuff back there too.

Steve/bboyminn