Connecting the dots - how Quirrell fits in (long - part 1)

[carolynwhite2]

--- In the_old_crowd at yahoogroups.com, "constancevigilance" 
<constancevigilance at y...> wrote:
> 
As Kneasy and Snow have pointed out in this thread, we tend to
forget the early volumes as we pore over the latest books. As many
on other lists know, I feel strongly that there is much overlooked
in the first book. Including one character who has been written
purposefully to be overlooked, and I think, to our peril.
 
The previous post was concerned with issues of possession and
mirrors. How can one not speak of possession or mirrors without a
mention of my favorite character, Quirrell?
 
Let's take a quick review of the Q-man.
 
<snip>

Then we learn some backstory about Quirrell. According to Hagrid, he
has a brilliant mind. He was a fine teacher while he was teaching
out of books but then went on sabbatical to get more experience. We
get an impression of a young and idealistic teacher, possibly with
concerns of inadequecy, who is willing to invest himself in learning
even more of his subject matter.
 
Throughout this book, everytime we hear about Quirrell, we are
immediately pulled away into another area. Troll in the dungeon! No!
Let's go find Hermione. Harry's broom is misbehaving! Snape is evil.
 
Of course, now we all know that we were being set up for the
surprise in the dungeon. But what if we are being set up AGAIN for a
big surprise in Book 7? Here's why I think that Quirrell is the key
to everything:
<snip>

Carolyn:
Nice to see the full current version of this theory, CV! You stick to 
it... 

Now, I don't know whether the Q-Man is dead or not (although, alas, I 
think it probable), but what interests me is how he got into all this 
trouble in the first place. Being a fully paid up conspiracy 
theorist, and hoping to be allowed into D.U.S.T., it will not 
surprise you to learn that I think it was DD wot nobbled him. For the 
greater good, naturally.

As Kneasy pointed out in his Shared Thoughts post (108664), the 
problem we are faced with is that with so much of this story, we are 
coming into a play halfway through the second Act. We don't know 
enough back history to understand what is going on half the time. 
Particularly in PS/SS, which is analysed in its own right even less 
than CoS. These two books tend to be seen rather like the Hobbit in 
relation to LOTR. Fun, but mainly an appetiser for the subsequent 
books.

Whilst we enjoy all the wonderful WW detail, and empathise with 
Harry's escape from the Dursleys, it's easy to forget to ask just why 
Voldemort comes looking for the Philosopher's Stone (and subsequently 
Harry) the first year he starts school. Coincidence it ain't. 

What we are supposed to believe is that nervous, studious Quirrell 
who really preferred reading up on DADA out of books, had suddenly 
decided to take a year off, and then just happened to find Vapour!
Mort..and after his return, just happened to know that the 
Philosopher's Stone was currently being kept in Gringott's Bank at 
the time the story starts. 

It all gets more than a little incredible when you think about it. 
How likely is it that a Hogwart's teacher should encounter Voldemort 
miles from anywhere at this particular point in time? And what 
happened to the rest of the witches and wizards in Albania, or 
wherever he was drifting about? Why couldn't he possess any of them, 
those long years in the wilderness?

There is only one person who could have given permission for 
Quirrell's year off.  And only one person likely to suggest the type 
of first-hand knowledge of Dark Arts that was needed, and the travel 
itinery. And who might decide to `share' his specialised knowledge of 
alchemy and the stone with such a `brilliant mind'?

The plot of PS/SS only starts to make sense if you accept that DD had 
his own reasons for trying to draw Voldemort out of his lair sooner 
rather than later. It is my contention that he played Quirrell in 
this book just as he subsequently played Lockhart in CoS; Peter, 
Sirius and (arguably!) Lupin in POA; Barty Crouch Jr in GOF; and 
finally Harry himself in OOP. 

By `played', I mean understanding people's desires and motivations to 
such an extent that predictable outcomes can be achieved by putting 
them in particular situations. He knew that Quirrell was easily 
seduced by intellectual discussion, and had little common sense or 
courage (`Lord Voldemort showed me how wrong I was. There is no good 
and evil, there is only power, and those to weak to seek it'). It was 
something of a foregone conclusion sending him a-wandering around the 
world, looking in dangerous places for Dark creatures.. although, of 
course, let us not forget that Quirrell had a `choice' as to whether 
he succumbed or not. Yeah, `it's our choices'; never forget that 
mantra. Handy DD get out clause, that.

But it is such an extraordinarily high-risk strategy, actually 
letting Quirrel!Mort into Hogwarts that it does confirm that DD 
anticipated a good deal about Voldy's abilities – or lack of them – 
in his current non-corporeal state. He knew Harry couldn't be harmed.

We are otherwise asked to believe that DD and Snape, with their 
subsequently revealed Legilimens skills, sat at a staff dinner table 
night after night in PS/SS, with Voldy wrapped up in a turban beside 
them. And especially that moment at the first feast when Harry's scar 
burns. Apart from its use as a narrative device (that we are all 
supposed to be misled into suspecting Snape at this point), are we 
also asked to believe that Snape had no awareness of the experience 
Harry just had? When Snape looked at Harry so directly, and eye 
contact being so important in Legilimency? The same Snape that so 
effortlessly `saw' Aunt Marge's dog, the corridor at the MoM etc etc 
when teaching Harry in OOP? 

And, at the climax of the story, as many posters have pointed out – 
what is the point of a series of protections for the stone that three 
eleven year old children could break through in approximately half an 
hour? Even Harry twigs that DD `wanted to give me a chance..just 
taught us enough to help.'

So, my contention is that Quirrell is the first collateral in VW2. He 
may indeed still be alive, revived by a swig of Elixir of Life as CV 
suggests, and we will see him yet, comparing notes with Peter 
(another weak, frightened, manipulated individual)...but I somehow 
doubt it.

Carolyn

PS For those enraged with the new Yahoo layout, and who don't read 
OTC these days, you may be interested in the following link I have 
found:

http://yhoo.client.shareholder.com/comment.cfm

This is the Yahoo Investor Relations page. There is button 
called 'Contact us', which gives you a form to fill out and send. I 
suggest as many people do this as possible. It's my experience that 
this gets results quicker than going through customer service 
channels, which in any case have already proved useless. (See 
appalling Yah reply email on OTC - or don't if you have regard for 
your blood pressure).