Reply To: Harry Potter Reread: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

[Slurpeez]

Discussion Questions

1. Why is Harry is so interested in the box Hagrid removed from Gringotts?

Because he’s Harry? I mean he’s a curious kid. I’d be curious too if Hagrid had removed something secret from a vault the same day it got broken into, and on my birthday no less. That date was seared into Harry’s brain, especially because it was his birthday, not to mention it was his first time anywhere magical. Also, Harry is almost predetermined to seek out trouble both by genetics and by fate. Harry is just like his father, James, who always flouted the rules. Plus, the fate of Harry and Voldemort are intertwined, which is why Harry’s wand shares the same twin core with Voldemort’s wand. Plus, it’s written in the stars, as the centaurs predict. The prophesy means that Harry will go seeking the thing that Voldemort himself seeks. It was just sort of bound to happen for the sake of the story.

2. Do you feel, from what we know so far, that Professor Snape is an effective teacher?

Do I think he’s an effective teacher? No, not based on the way he treats his students. He called his students dunderheads and Neville an idiot boy. Snape ignored knowledgeable students like Hermione Granger, picked on Harry Potter, and showed unfair favor towards Darco Malfoy and the other Slytherin students. That is no way to treat students. It does make me wonder why the wizarding parents don’t object more (I know Hermione’s parents are dentists and wouldn’t know better, but I’d expect the Weasleys to object more).

“You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making,” he began. He spoke in barely more than a whisper, but they caught every word — like Professor McGonagall, Snape had the gift of keeping a class silent without effort. “As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don’t expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses.  .  .  . I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death — if you aren’t as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach.”

Rowling, J.K. (2012-03-27). Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Harry Potter, Book 1) (pp. 136-137).

Snape makes Potions actually sound cool, and if it weren’t for Snape being so vile towards his students, I think Potions would actually be one of my favorite classes (I always loved chemistry). Snape’s extremely intelligent and that he knows his subject — potions — inside and out Yes. He may wish to teach the dark arts, but he clearly has a love and admiration for potions — which is clearly where he excelled in school himself. Being as gifted as he is, however, he lacks the patience to teach novices. If there had been a university of wizardry and witchcraft beyond age 17, I’d say that Snape would’ve made a good professor to very advanced students. However, I think he resents having to teach students whom he perceives as untalented. I’m surprised Snape doesn’t pay more attention to Hermione in the beginning. However, I’m not sure he had the right temperament to be a teacher. Perhaps it’s his bitterness over not being able to teach the dark arts and not getting to marry the love of his life that makes him lash out. Snape couldn’t stand to look at Harry, who is the spitting image of Harry’s dad, James Potter, with the exception of Harry’s green eyes, which remind Snape of Lily’s eyes.

Bonus fluff question: 3. What would be your favorite subject at Hogwarts (in First Year)?

Transfirguration, by far. Not only is it some of the most complex and dangerous magic at Hogwarts, but it’s jut so cool. I would definitely seek to become an animagus like Minerva McGonagall.