Adults Over-analyse Harry Potter - Part 1
@greenmornings and I are re-reading the Harry Potter series, and decided to do it book-club style. Since we ended up overanalysing it anyway, and had to start a google doc to even figure OUT some things, we thought we’d clean stuff up, and share it with you guys. Most of what’s in these posts will be based specifically out of the books, but we’ll have at least some conjecture in attempt to make sense of some events. This specific post is probably half-conjecture, due to the scarce canon info.
This post was supposed to encompass the first 10 chapters or so, but Wynne and I quickly realised there’s something very weird going on with the progression of events from the Attack at Godrick’s Hollow to Harry being delivered onto the doorstep of the Dursleys. This took close to an hour and a half to even slightly figure out, and even then, it makes somewhat limited sense. So, really, this entire post only covers the events of the Prologue of Philosophers/Sorcerer’s Stone. Under the cut are the best to chronological events of those two days that we could figure out. We’re still confused. Rowling, why ;; We apologise for the rambling, and would be happy to attempt to clarify.
Voldemort gets the secret out of Peter, and storms Godric’s Hollow - it can’t be any later than 8 pm or so, as Harry is 1 year old, and still awake (and playing, not awake and in a crib while the parents are trying to get him to sleep). Voldemort kills James and Lily, and is killed by the backlash. Albus is alerted to something happening by a spell, and he sends Hagrid to retrieve Harry. Why does he send Hagrid, when he has no real idea of what the hell is going on over there? There could still be Death Eaters there, there could be any countless number of dangers -- Hagrid can’t use a wand. Sirius arrives after (somehow) coming to the conclusion that Peter had betrayed them — presumably he finds out about the commotion around Godric’s Hollow, but why would he assume a betrayal instead of a post-torture confession? Additionally, why did the Fidelius even fail in the first place -- Voldemort would have no reason to dismantle it, as he knows the secret. The Fidelius is obviously gone by the time the roof of the house explodes due to the magical backlash, due to Muggle reactions.
Sirius is denied taking Harry by Hagrid (on orders, as disclosed by Sirius in PoA book -- important to note that Sirius isn’t mentioned or implied in book 1), and runs off after Peter. Peter grabbed his Lord's wand at some point that day (Does he arrive trailing after V? This has to happen at some point, probably this night, as Peter DOES have Voldemort’s wand in GoF, but is never explicitly mentioned in the books, just in an interview. It had to have happened before Dumbledore or Auror’s arrived on scene. Potentially before Harry was rescued? Otherwise, it’s too strange that Pettigrew was never suspected if he snuck out with Voldemort’s wand? Though Hagrid isn’t particularly observant, and Sirius is a bit out of his mind at the time). Sirius runs off after Peter, presumably without telling Hagrid ANYTHING. For some reason. Presumably, because he’s not exactly in a position to think at all, considering the situation. Sirius would surely trust Hagrid to relay the information usefully? Presumably, his anguish completely melts his brain?
Unknown events happen for a while, presumably still the night of the 31st, maybe very early morning on the 1st. Hagrid presumably returns to Hogwarts with Harry, on Sirius’ bike, and either puts him in his hut, or gives him to Dumbledore. Likely the latter, as he knows Dumbledore will be at Privet Drive, and Dumbledore vanishes with him somewhere for a long while, hopefully including seeing a healer. During this time period, which is late on the 31st, but just as likely on the early morning of the 1st, Hagrid talks to Minerva, mentions Dumbledore planning on going over to Privet Drive. For some reason, Hagrid doesn’t tell her of the fate of the Potters and that baby Harry has somehow defeated Voldemort — maybe he doesn’t really know/hasn’t put it together? There’s no way Hagrid wouldn’t have blabbed to her— alternatively, does she really put that little significance into what Hagrid says?
By this time (the morning of the first), rumours are already flying -- what the hell happened? How the hell does everyone know already? What happened? Express Prophet fuelling rumours that happened from a leak or something? What the hell is going on with November the First, seriously. There are very limited channels where info could have come out -- is this where Dumbledore was for some of the period he was missing?
Minerva leaves to go to Privet Drive, implying Dumbledore was away from Hogwarts on the morning of the first (potentially night of the 31st as well), likely with baby Harry for some of that time, and possibly taking a visit to Godric’s Hollow at some point. As Hagrid is the one to arrive with Harry to Privet Drive, he leaves Harry with Hagrid to be delivered by bike again, for some reason, and (probably) visits Godric’s Hollow immediately prior to apparating to Privet Drive. Otherwise, there’s no likely reason for him to have arrived without Harry. (Most of this is conjecture, because what the fuck really happened that night? Harry and Dumbledore just kinda go missing as far as canon info goes.) He could have just picked Harry up himself, and likely taken less time. Why bother going through Hagrid at all? Again.
Minerva has been essentially stalking the Dursleys the entire day (she was there in the morning when Vernon left), likely using eavesdropping charms for some reason (she could hear the TV, which is impossible unless they kept the window open all day which is unlikely with the season, plus her conclusion of them being the worst sort of Muggles is only possible if she actually HEARD their exchanges, realistically -- unless she knows details of Lily’s relationship with Petunia, already). Dumbledore arrives, alone, that night, AFTER the Dursleys have gone to bed, so presumably it’s after 10pm (again, where has he been that Minerva couldn’t contact him all day (patroni messaging? Owls seem pretty fast, too), and has been staking him out by the Dursley home?) They have a strange interaction that confirms that she only knows rumours about the entire situation with the Potters and Voldemort -- despite her having talked to Hagrid, which could have only happened AFTER he picked up baby Harry. It also confirms she doesn’t know WHY Albus was there, so her spying on the Dursleys makes no sense, as does her being positioned specifically in front of their house (unless Hagrid specifically mentioned their home, rather than the street?). Does she not question why the hell Dumbledore would go there specifically, considering the rumours (especially if Hagrid mentioned the specific house)? She seems both surprised and appalled when Dumbledore mentions leaving Harry with the Dursleys, which is very odd.
(And if by "rumours" Minerva means what Hagrid said, why doesn't she just say Hagrid?? She’s obviously implying the Wizarding rumours by the rowdy partiers that have been going on/around all day.)
That being said, she gives in surprisingly after a token protest, almost suspiciously so, considering her initial frame of mind. (also, Dumbledore, really? Why do you assume he’ll be bad-off if he grows up with fame? 'It would be enough to turn any boy's head. Famous before he can walk and talk! Famous for something he won't even remember! Can't you see how much better off he'll be, growing up away from all that until he's ready to take it?' Presumably, he didn’t want him to end up like James, but why not leave him with someone like the Weasleys? Happy childhood, but he’d be taught the values of family and humility, plus he’d be less alien to the wizarding world, and he’d have slow exposure to his fame, not be dropped in the deep end. Not to mention, James turned out well in the end, as far as we know. Additionally, at this point, the Longbottoms would still have been a viable option -- presumably, they were friendly enough with the Potters, due to being part of the same organization. There were plenty of viable options in the wizarding world. This really gives credence to both senile and manipulative!Dumbledore theories. Additionally, it’s rather unlikely that Dumbledore and Minerva didn’t know at least a bit about Lily’s relationship with Petunia, surely.) Additionally, Dumbledore’s comment about not intending to remove Harry’s scar even if he could is rather ridiculous, considering it would link in so profusely to his fame in future (considering the reason he gives for leaving Harry with Muggles in the first place). Gives a vague sense he might know of the Horcrux already (as he implies it’s impossible and/or shouldn’t be removed).
After this, Harry is left on the DOORSTEP with a letter and a fucking blanket in the middle of the night in Autumn. He could’ve walked off? Death Eaters are still presumably at large, disregarding the likelihood of him being found (due to it being a relatively random Muggle neighbourhood, as far as Voldemort’s people are concerned. Though Point Me spells are still a thing. Unless the Blood Wards are already active?). Also, the neighbors could've noticed a kid on a doorstep? Minerva seems like the reasonable one, considering her protests, but she never mentions anything about him being left there. She never checks on him after they Apparate away, either, despite the fact that it wouldn’t take much time or effort to do so. Why couldn’t they have left Harry specifically with his relatives, make sure he at least made it THERE safely. Maybe Dumbledore suspects their attitude, and doesn’t want Minerva to see, and go against him, take Harry away? They could have even raised him in Hogwarts if they had the desire to work on it, bloody hell.
She also doesn't ask Harry about his home life in First year, not even a "I left you there ten years ago, just making sure it was the right decision, because I had some second thoughts".
On a completely different note, the prologue also kind of confirms Wizards are idiots and the Ministry/Hogwarts kind of has issues -- I’m honestly surprised at all the recklessness the wizarding world displayed on the 1st, and that they weren’t discovered. I bet the Obliviators had a field day.
This took way too long to figure out. Also, a lot of what we thought is book canon isn’t. Apparently there’s no evidence of Snape being in Godric’s Hollow in the books on the night, and even if he is, no clue where to stick it in the timeline.
