The Not a Book Club Club discussion

Discuss Chapter 15 - Chapter 17

NOTE: While this section is meant to focus on the specified chapters of this book, this read is meant for people who have already read the entire series.

As a result, unlike most of our group reads, full spoilers for the series will be allowed without spoiler tags in every discussion post.

If you haven't read some/all of the books (What's wrong with you?) proceed at your own peril.












SNAPE KILLS DUMBLEDORE

Ch. 15
-The trio learn that Voldemort wants the stone and suspect Snape is working for Voldemort.

-It's pretty irresponsible for Dumbledore to kind of encourage Harry to go after the stone by giving back his invisibility cloak. I get the Dumbledore is a little eccentric but Harry could have died.

Ch. 16
-The obstacles through the trapdoor are fun. I personally like the potion riddle best.

Ch. 17
-Quirrell, the unexpected baddie! I love that reveal though. And Voldemort coming out of the back of Quirrell's head. Such a creepy moment. Harry is one brave kid though. Can't say I'd be shouting at Voldemort. I'd likely be scared witless.

-I agree with Dumbledore this time for not telling Harry about the prophecy. Eleven years old is entirely too young to bear that kind of burden. But what a happy ending. Harry is the hero and Gryffindor wins!

Is anyone else annoyed that Ron makes an illegal move to win? He's playing a knight, but he takes a step forward.

The part where Hagrid makes the book of photos of his parents for Harry real gets to me. It makes me miss my mom even more and I got 17 years with her, not just 1.

I always took that to mean his move was forward and over one space either left or right instead of to the side or whatnot.

I'm so sorry about your mom, Rob! I can't imagine losing a parent d so young. My mum is in your boat as well. Her mother died when she was 16. Dad when she 23.

Another thing I liked: Hermione is already showing her disdain for Divination.

Yikes, sorry man. Can't imagine life without my mom. Then again, expected, my father hasnt been around for 16 years. New family.

So there may be a flaw in the continuity; Norbert's evacuation. Charlie's friends could just fly right in for him, but in the later books its impossible to just fly onto the grounds, Dumbledore was lowering wards as he and Harry flew back onto the grounds in Book 6.

However, there MAY be an answer. Its possible that not was it possible, but the Ministry of Magic could have placed that ward in Book 3 when Sirius Black escaped and was spotted making his way to Hogwarts.

But more likely, its just possible that Dumbledore placed stronger defences on the school after Voldemort's return; given that he was lowering them as they flew in, I'm inclined to him being the one that placed them from inception.

Also could be reading too much into this, but the centaurs have been dropping hints indicating that whatever is killing the unicorns has it out for Harry.

That's a good point about the flying in on brooms. I guess I'd go with tightened security under the threat of Sirius Black and/or Voldemort.

Voldemort may be more likely as you say since Dumbledore trusts Black, or does he at this point? Maybe not until Peter is exposed?

I think Dumbledore raised security after Voldemort returned. There are instances of parents visiting beforehand (Molly and Bill visiting Harry along with Fleur's and Cedric's family in Goblet of Fire for the 3rd task). I mean, if you went to Hogwarts, you know where it is. It's Unplottable on a map and a ruin to Muggles but I see no reason why a wizard who already knows its location couldn't get there.

At this point Sirius is still in Azkaban, no one knows he's innocent. That's why I considered him as a possible explanation, though I'm more inclined to believe it was Dumbledore.

As to parents visiting Hogwarts, don't they usually come via Hogsmeade? The village is like walking distance from the school. There's always mention of parents strolling up the drive towarda the school or away from it, so I always figured that's how they visit.

You guys have a schedule for the read along somewhere, right? Can you drop it in a frozen thread with dates or something? Or is it all very informal at the moment?

Rabindranauth wrote: "You guys have a schedule for the read along somewhere, right? Can you drop it in a frozen thread with dates or something? Or is it all very informal at the moment?"

https://www.goodreads.com/group/books...

Hermione kind of reveres McGonagall and holds her word dear. Hermione says that McGonagall told her that divination is a very imprecise branch of magic so I imagine Hermione had her opinion formed before actually trying it.

The flying into Hogwarts has always bugged me. While I can use the "they tightened security later" argument, I agree with Alex that it was just a mistake. A small one in the grand scheme, and doesn't take anything away from my enjoyment of the series, but definitely a goof.

Am also very happy to be re-reading these, especially along with a cool group of peeps. Get more insight into these wonderful books.

To answer an earlier question, I don't think house elves are dealt with until the second book, in fact right at the beginning and then throughout with Dobby

Alex - it's a throwaway line in chapter 15. After Harry gets back from the forest and they're all talking in the common room, Harry mentions the centaurs and what they said and Hermione says that McGonagall told her that divination is a very imprecise branch of magic. It's seriously one line. I don't have my book now to find what page it's on but I can get the quote later.

Alex wrote: "Rob wrote: "Is anyone else annoyed that Ron makes an illegal move to win? He's playing a knight, but he takes a step forward."

I don't remember this. Explain?"

He says that he steps forward. Which sounds like 1 square. Nothing about moving 2 to the left or right first like a knight is supposed to.

I love the quote (this may not be exact) "For the well-ordered mind, death is but the next step"

Sorry about your mom, Rob. My dad committed suicide when I was in my teens.

Alex wrote: "Yes. That's a point that was brought up in the Tor.com re-read. They are foreshadowing the war between Voldemort and everyone else...and the deaths of the innocents are the unicorns."

Sorry Alex, I deleted that last post. I thought it may come across as snarky,which wasn't intended. I agree though, all signs were pointing to Harry but I took it as the broader meaning of war between the factions.

For those of you confused, I responded to a post from Alex about the centaurs reference to Mars being bright tonight and I went with Mars the Roman god of war.

I hadn't marked HPatPS as 'read' in goodreads until we did this re-read. Now its always in the top of my goodreads update feed. Is there anyway to turn it off? (This applies to other popular books I've read I don't really want in my feed as well)

Well I'm not really sure what you mean. If you don't want it showing up for this year, your can change the finish date, but then it won't count for your challenge (mine aren't counting this year, because I'm leaving the read date from my 2012 reread).

If you simply want to remove the update and are too impatient for other updates to push it down, go to your profile and there should be a X in the upper right of the post to let you remove it.

Hopefully one of those two things answers your question.