 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
The Arc of the Potter
In Book 1, we meet Harry as the abused, neglected orphan and
watch as he is taken from his world of solitude and cruelty and
introduced to a world of magic where he is all but a boy prince!
Over the course of the book, we discover that this new Magical
World isn’t as ideal as it seemed at first glance. There is a
dark lord, long believed dead on the road to coming back to full
power and settling the score with the last Potter.
From the first book, we are faced with the idea of mortality and
death. Lily and James’ deaths precipitate the action, the book
starting what must be shortly after their massacre.
During the book, a supposedly dead man is trying to regain his
life. And it becomes very clear by the end of the novel, that
it’s not just power he seeks, but revenge on Harry.
The idea of Harry’s life hanging in the balance is not a new idea
come Book 5 when we first hear the prophecy or Book 7 and the
assumed Hunt for Horcruxes. It’s something we’ve all accepted...
the stakes of the book.
If they can’t manage to find a way to stop Voldemort it not only
means the end of the Wizarding World as we know it, it also means
the end of Harry’s life.
watch as he is taken from his world of solitude and cruelty and
introduced to a world of magic where he is all but a boy prince!
Over the course of the book, we discover that this new Magical
World isn’t as ideal as it seemed at first glance. There is a
dark lord, long believed dead on the road to coming back to full
power and settling the score with the last Potter.
From the first book, we are faced with the idea of mortality and
death. Lily and James’ deaths precipitate the action, the book
starting what must be shortly after their massacre.
During the book, a supposedly dead man is trying to regain his
life. And it becomes very clear by the end of the novel, that
it’s not just power he seeks, but revenge on Harry.
The idea of Harry’s life hanging in the balance is not a new idea
come Book 5 when we first hear the prophecy or Book 7 and the
assumed Hunt for Horcruxes. It’s something we’ve all accepted...
the stakes of the book.
If they can’t manage to find a way to stop Voldemort it not only
means the end of the Wizarding World as we know it, it also means
the end of Harry’s life.
| Philosopher's Stone |
The very first thing we see of Harry’s life is the abuse he’s
been forced to endure these last ten years. Having been abandoned
on the doorstep of the “worst sort” of muggles imaginable, Harry
knows nothing but cruelty and neglect.
been forced to endure these last ten years. Having been abandoned
on the doorstep of the “worst sort” of muggles imaginable, Harry
knows nothing but cruelty and neglect.
He has been mistreated and underfed...physically and emotionally
abused. He’s never had the benefit of a loving family, or even a
hug! And yet the boy we meet is sweet, shy, and gentle.
abused. He’s never had the benefit of a loving family, or even a
hug! And yet the boy we meet is sweet, shy, and gentle.
He is caring and stands up for others. Maybe this is a direct result of being
picked on his whole life without ever being able to fight back for himself.
Knowing he was different then everyone else, but never imagining just how
different he could be, or how his life would transform with one undelivered
message...
His first real friend is Hagrid, who rescues him both from the carnage of
that Halloween 10 years ago and now from the demented Dursleys. Hagrid serves
as his first reality instructor, leading Harry into a new world... This
friendship is as close as family and remains strong throughout the books,
showing Harry’s loyalty.
With Hagrid introducing him to this new world, we get to see everyone else’s
reaction to Harry’s past. He’s a cultural icon! A celebrity without doing
anything but living.
We also see his reluctance to accept this and his desire to just be a normal
boy. This is entirely different from little Tom Riddle, whose reaction to
finding out he was different was ecstatic at the thought of being special and
uncommon.
Excited and scared out of his mind by this uncharted territory, Harry shows
his stock right off by refusing to befriend the likes of Draco Malfoy. Just
from hearing the boy talk, Harry can tell he’s not a person to be friends
with, even though Harry is currently friend-less and clueless as to the ways
of wizards...he’d rather be alone than with a kid like Malfoy.
The twins are very excited to have met Harry on the train to Hogwarts and
tell their mother on the platform, to which Ginny freaks and cries over not
being allowed to meet him. Even Ron spazzes out a little when he meets Harry
for the first time.
picked on his whole life without ever being able to fight back for himself.
Knowing he was different then everyone else, but never imagining just how
different he could be, or how his life would transform with one undelivered
message...
His first real friend is Hagrid, who rescues him both from the carnage of
that Halloween 10 years ago and now from the demented Dursleys. Hagrid serves
as his first reality instructor, leading Harry into a new world... This
friendship is as close as family and remains strong throughout the books,
showing Harry’s loyalty.
With Hagrid introducing him to this new world, we get to see everyone else’s
reaction to Harry’s past. He’s a cultural icon! A celebrity without doing
anything but living.
We also see his reluctance to accept this and his desire to just be a normal
boy. This is entirely different from little Tom Riddle, whose reaction to
finding out he was different was ecstatic at the thought of being special and
uncommon.
Excited and scared out of his mind by this uncharted territory, Harry shows
his stock right off by refusing to befriend the likes of Draco Malfoy. Just
from hearing the boy talk, Harry can tell he’s not a person to be friends
with, even though Harry is currently friend-less and clueless as to the ways
of wizards...he’d rather be alone than with a kid like Malfoy.
The twins are very excited to have met Harry on the train to Hogwarts and
tell their mother on the platform, to which Ginny freaks and cries over not
being allowed to meet him. Even Ron spazzes out a little when he meets Harry
for the first time.
“You know that black-haired boy who was near us in the station?
Know who he is?”
“Who?”
“Harry Potter!”
Harry heard a little girl’s voice.
“Oh, Mum, can I go on the train and see him, Mum, oh, please...”
“You’ve already seen him, Ginny, and the poor boy isn’t
something you goggle at in a zoo.”
“Anyone sitting there?” he asked, pointing at the seat opposite
Harry. “Everywhere else is full.”
Harry shook his head and the boy sat down. He glanced at Harry
and then looked quickly out the window, pretending he hadn’t
looked.
“Are you really Harry Potter?” Ron blurted out.
Harry nodded.
“Oh – well, I thought it might be one of Fred and George’s
jokes,” said Ron. “And have you really got – you know…”
He pointed at Harry’s forehead.
Harry pulled back his fringe to show the lightning scar. Ron
stared.
“So that’s where You-Know-Who –?”
“Yes,” said Harry, “but I can’t remember it.”
“Nothing?” said Ron eagerly.
“Well – I remember a lot of green light, but nothing else.”
“Wow,” said Ron. He sat and stared at Harry for a few moments,
then, as though he had suddenly realized what he was doing, he
looked quickly out of the window again.
Know who he is?”
“Who?”
“Harry Potter!”
Harry heard a little girl’s voice.
“Oh, Mum, can I go on the train and see him, Mum, oh, please...”
“You’ve already seen him, Ginny, and the poor boy isn’t
something you goggle at in a zoo.”
“Anyone sitting there?” he asked, pointing at the seat opposite
Harry. “Everywhere else is full.”
Harry shook his head and the boy sat down. He glanced at Harry
and then looked quickly out the window, pretending he hadn’t
looked.
“Are you really Harry Potter?” Ron blurted out.
Harry nodded.
“Oh – well, I thought it might be one of Fred and George’s
jokes,” said Ron. “And have you really got – you know…”
He pointed at Harry’s forehead.
Harry pulled back his fringe to show the lightning scar. Ron
stared.
“So that’s where You-Know-Who –?”
“Yes,” said Harry, “but I can’t remember it.”
“Nothing?” said Ron eagerly.
“Well – I remember a lot of green light, but nothing else.”
“Wow,” said Ron. He sat and stared at Harry for a few moments,
then, as though he had suddenly realized what he was doing, he
looked quickly out of the window again.
| ... |
| ... |
| Philosopher's Stone Chapter 6 |
The Weasley’s are used to show the Magical World’s view of Harry and his
situation. Not very many people truly comprehend his life or the origins of
his fame. He’s been completely idealized.
situation. Not very many people truly comprehend his life or the origins of
his fame. He’s been completely idealized.
Ron only sits with him cause there is
nowhere else to sit (though that very
well might be a lie)...they are both
rejects.
Harry in his overly large clothes and
Ron in his hand-me-downs.
nowhere else to sit (though that very
well might be a lie)...they are both
rejects.
Harry in his overly large clothes and
Ron in his hand-me-downs.
Molly Weasley has a maternal instinct
for him immediately, as would most
mothers who heard the story.
Ginny has a crush on the boy hero.
The boys are impressed with him and
want the gory details of the story.
for him immediately, as would most
mothers who heard the story.
Ginny has a crush on the boy hero.
The boys are impressed with him and
want the gory details of the story.
They bond right off, being in the same position: inexperienced First Years,
with nothing to show for themselves. Ron has the advantage though, having
grown up in a magical family.
They next meet Neville, who is looking for his toad. They’re of no help to
him. For some reason, they don’t recognize that he’s in the same position as
them. Or it makes them feel better to think they’re at least better off then
poor Neville.
Next, Hermione Granger comes looking for the toad. She took pity on Neville,
lost without his pet. She cares even then. Hermione blows both boys away, but
whereas Ron’s reaction seems annoyed or even intimidated, Harry seems
impressed.
Standing up for Neville, Harry makes the Quidditch team, youngest player in a
century. He discovers his first true love: flying. This will forever provide
an escape, a source of comfort and release in dark and frightening times.
The emphasis in this book is certainly in the three of them and how they work
together...that they are stronger together than they are apart.
They are all together as they discover dragons, three headed dongs, mountain
trolls and what exactly lies hidden beneath the trap door.
The trio becomes a unit when Harry remembers Hermione crying in the girls’
loo because of a nasty comment Ron made about her. While Harry doesn’t stop
Ron, nor defend Hermione to him, he does go after her when no one else knows
where she is.
with nothing to show for themselves. Ron has the advantage though, having
grown up in a magical family.
They next meet Neville, who is looking for his toad. They’re of no help to
him. For some reason, they don’t recognize that he’s in the same position as
them. Or it makes them feel better to think they’re at least better off then
poor Neville.
Next, Hermione Granger comes looking for the toad. She took pity on Neville,
lost without his pet. She cares even then. Hermione blows both boys away, but
whereas Ron’s reaction seems annoyed or even intimidated, Harry seems
impressed.
Standing up for Neville, Harry makes the Quidditch team, youngest player in a
century. He discovers his first true love: flying. This will forever provide
an escape, a source of comfort and release in dark and frightening times.
The emphasis in this book is certainly in the three of them and how they work
together...that they are stronger together than they are apart.
They are all together as they discover dragons, three headed dongs, mountain
trolls and what exactly lies hidden beneath the trap door.
The trio becomes a unit when Harry remembers Hermione crying in the girls’
loo because of a nasty comment Ron made about her. While Harry doesn’t stop
Ron, nor defend Hermione to him, he does go after her when no one else knows
where she is.
“It’s no wonder no one can stand her,” he said to Harry as they
pushed their way into the crowded corridor, “she’s a nightmare,
honestly.”
Someone knocked into Harry as they hurried past him. It was
Hermione. Harry caught a glimpse of her face – and was startled
to see that she was in tears.
“I think she heard you.”
“So?” said Ron, but he looked a bit uncomfortable. “She must’ve
noticed she’s got no friends.”
Hermione didn’t turn up for the next class and wasn’t seen all
afternoon. On their way down to the Great Hall for the
Halloween feast, Harry and Ron overheard Parvati Patil telling
her friend Lavender that Hermione was crying in the girls’
bathroom and wanted to be left alone.
As they jostled their way through a crowd of confused
Hufflepuffs, Harry suddenly grabbed Ron’s arm.
“I’ve just thought – Hermione.”
“What about her?”
“She doesn’t know about the troll.”
Ron bit his lip.
“Oh, all right,” he snapped. “But Percy’d better not see us.”
pushed their way into the crowded corridor, “she’s a nightmare,
honestly.”
Someone knocked into Harry as they hurried past him. It was
Hermione. Harry caught a glimpse of her face – and was startled
to see that she was in tears.
“I think she heard you.”
“So?” said Ron, but he looked a bit uncomfortable. “She must’ve
noticed she’s got no friends.”
Hermione didn’t turn up for the next class and wasn’t seen all
afternoon. On their way down to the Great Hall for the
Halloween feast, Harry and Ron overheard Parvati Patil telling
her friend Lavender that Hermione was crying in the girls’
bathroom and wanted to be left alone.
As they jostled their way through a crowd of confused
Hufflepuffs, Harry suddenly grabbed Ron’s arm.
“I’ve just thought – Hermione.”
“What about her?”
“She doesn’t know about the troll.”
Ron bit his lip.
“Oh, all right,” he snapped. “But Percy’d better not see us.”
| ... |
| Philosopher's Stone Chapter 10 |
The Bathroom Rescue is pivotal in the development of the novel. It’s when the
three kids become inseparable...Hermione even lies for the boys making her a
bit more human.
three kids become inseparable...Hermione even lies for the boys making her a
bit more human.
Then a small voice came out of the shadows.
“Please, Professor McGonagall – they were looking for me.”
“Miss Granger!”
Hermione had managed to get to her feet at last.
“I went looking for the troll because I – I thought I could
deal with it on my own – you know, because I’ve read all about
them.”
Ron dropped his wand. Hermione Granger, telling a downright lie
to a teacher?
Hermione hung her head. Harry was speechless. Hermione was the
last person to do anything against the rules, and here she was,
pretending she had, to get them out of trouble. It was as if
Snape had started handing out sweets.
But from that moment on, Hermione Granger became their friend.
There are some things you can’t share without ending up liking
each other, and knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll is
one of them.
“Please, Professor McGonagall – they were looking for me.”
“Miss Granger!”
Hermione had managed to get to her feet at last.
“I went looking for the troll because I – I thought I could
deal with it on my own – you know, because I’ve read all about
them.”
Ron dropped his wand. Hermione Granger, telling a downright lie
to a teacher?
Hermione hung her head. Harry was speechless. Hermione was the
last person to do anything against the rules, and here she was,
pretending she had, to get them out of trouble. It was as if
Snape had started handing out sweets.
But from that moment on, Hermione Granger became their friend.
There are some things you can’t share without ending up liking
each other, and knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll is
one of them.
| ... |
| ... |
It is also pivotal in the development of Harry. Hermione is a sort of guide
for him. A moral compass.
Throughout the remaining novels, she consistently, and with growing
frequency, is the one Harry relies on and turns to for answers, for comfort
and for support. Without their friendship, she would be dead as would he, or
worse...expelled.
It is their friendship that is the real shining star here. They'd each be
dead if not for the others; they are greater than the sum of their parts.
Harry would never have made it to face the Mirror of Erised, defeat Quirrel
and save the Philosopher’s Stone had it not been for Ron and Hermione.
Ron sacrificed himself on the Chessboard; Hermione knew how to get out of
Devil’s Snare; they all helped catch the key; and Hermione outwitted Snape.
This is a pattern we see repeated: first in Third Year and again in Fifth.
Ron sacrifices himself here, then Hermione has to leave Harry to face the
final battle alone. Here, in Book 1, they have a choice.
Later, Ron gets his leg broken and dragged through some tree roots in the
third book. Hermione’s there to help Harry fight off Dementors, go back in
time and save Sirius, but, in the end, it’s Harry who casts the Patronus.
In Fifth Year, Ron makes it to the Department of Mysteries but then is taken
out as soon as they separate into two groups of three. He’s not even with
them in their group.
Hermione is at Harry’s side until she is brutally knocked out. Harry is left
with Neville, who despite a broken nose still puts up a fight. (Nev takes a
lickin' but keeps on tickin'!) Here, too, Harry chases Bellatrix and fights
her alone until he is rescued by Dumbledore.
Will this pattern give us some insight into how events shall play out in Book
7? In my deluded little mind, they all live happily ever after and I’m not
too sure I want to read about it if that doesn’t happen.
Together, as one, as a team, they have the power and ingenuity to save the
Stone, stall Voldemort’s resurrection, and put Gryffindor over the top to win
the House Cup! And really, what is more important than a Gryffindor victory?
for him. A moral compass.
Throughout the remaining novels, she consistently, and with growing
frequency, is the one Harry relies on and turns to for answers, for comfort
and for support. Without their friendship, she would be dead as would he, or
worse...expelled.
It is their friendship that is the real shining star here. They'd each be
dead if not for the others; they are greater than the sum of their parts.
Harry would never have made it to face the Mirror of Erised, defeat Quirrel
and save the Philosopher’s Stone had it not been for Ron and Hermione.
Ron sacrificed himself on the Chessboard; Hermione knew how to get out of
Devil’s Snare; they all helped catch the key; and Hermione outwitted Snape.
This is a pattern we see repeated: first in Third Year and again in Fifth.
Ron sacrifices himself here, then Hermione has to leave Harry to face the
final battle alone. Here, in Book 1, they have a choice.
Later, Ron gets his leg broken and dragged through some tree roots in the
third book. Hermione’s there to help Harry fight off Dementors, go back in
time and save Sirius, but, in the end, it’s Harry who casts the Patronus.
In Fifth Year, Ron makes it to the Department of Mysteries but then is taken
out as soon as they separate into two groups of three. He’s not even with
them in their group.
Hermione is at Harry’s side until she is brutally knocked out. Harry is left
with Neville, who despite a broken nose still puts up a fight. (Nev takes a
lickin' but keeps on tickin'!) Here, too, Harry chases Bellatrix and fights
her alone until he is rescued by Dumbledore.
Will this pattern give us some insight into how events shall play out in Book
7? In my deluded little mind, they all live happily ever after and I’m not
too sure I want to read about it if that doesn’t happen.
Together, as one, as a team, they have the power and ingenuity to save the
Stone, stall Voldemort’s resurrection, and put Gryffindor over the top to win
the House Cup! And really, what is more important than a Gryffindor victory?
| Philosopher's Stone Chapter 10 |