PHILOSOPHER'S STONE: CHAPTER FIVE [open for housepoints]

Chapter Five: Diagon Alley

This discussion will be open for earning housepoints for approximately one to two weeks, and everyone who participates could earn a possible fifty housepoints dependant of their participation in the discussion.

Remember – this is a discussion, not a debate, so any strong opinions which may invite debate should be kept out. It’s also helpful to re-read the chapter before participating.

That said, on with the discussion!

Philosopher's Stone
Chapter Five: Diagon Alley

Summary of this chapter:

Quote :

Hagrid takes Harry to Diagon Alley in London to retrieve his inheritance and buy his school supplies including a wand and Hedwig, a snowy owl. At the same time Hagrid gets a secret package from Gringotts vault, Harry meets Draco Malfoy and Hagrid gives Harry his tickets for the Hogwarts Express.

I don't think this is my favourite chapter in the book, although I don't mind it. Harry really gets his first immersion into the wizarding world, and it's a very sudden one. Hagrid is filling his head with all this new information, he's seeing and doing things that the day before he would have thought impossible, and worst of all he meets Draco Malfoy for the first time!

There are some good things about this chapter though - Harry gets his first birthday present from Hagrid, and we see Hagrid getting something secret from Gringotts - setting up the plot for later on.

Some questions to consider in this discussion:

-Was Harry's immersion into the wizarding world too sudden? Was it too much for an eleven-year-old boy to take in all at once?

-Do you think it was a wise choice to trust Hagrid with fetching the Philosopher's Stone from the Gringotts vault?

-What are your thoughts on Ollivander in this chapter?

-What did you think of how Draco Malfoy was introduced?

Let the discussion begin!

I definitely think that Harry diving head first into the wizarding world wasn't a good thing. It may have been to sudden, I mean he was just told about magic and being a wizard then suddenly he is in a magical world and it had to be very overwhelming. Being only eleven couldn't have helped, and taking it all at once definitely wasn't really a smart move for Hagrid to do. I think it would have been better if he had been given a transitional stage from the muggle world to the magical world.

It was made very clear thought the book that Dumbledore trusts Hagrid. So it was probably a wise move to allow him to get the stone, after all he was trusted enough to take the savior of the magical world from his ruined home, why shouldn't he be trusted to retrieve a stone. Dumbledore obviously knew what he was doing to ask Hagrid to get it, so I don't see where it could be considered a foolish move to ask Hagrid to get it.

Ollivander kind of scared me when he first came into play. He had a sort of creepy and scary aura about him that made me immediately dislike his character. He's obviously very powerful, or just has a really good memory to remember all that he does. Yet, for some reason I really just disliked his character, he just sort of creeped me out.

Draco was introduced in a way that fit him. It showed off his attitude toward the world and allowed Harry a glimpse of him that he may not have seen had he just meant him at Hogwarts. If he had been introduced in a different manner it may have changed Harry's opinion of him and therefore the whole story. I really think that was the way that was best suited for him to be introduced all in all.

i like this one becuase its the first time harry goes to a place were theres no muggles and only wizards and witchs.i think that thats were he really feels like a real wizard.and i like it in the movie becuase it looks cool.and thats were he meets the disgusting draco malfoy.i bet harry smelled the disgust and new that he was not good.but i liked when he went in the shops and when everybody was talking to him.and i really liked when he went to go get is wand.that was a great wand by the way.i wish it was mine.hahaha.well i dont remember in what chapter was the sorting but i really liked that also.well i like harry potter.the movies,and books.and i like the hot person.man daniel radcliffe is H*O*T*!

-Was Harry's immersion into the wizarding world too sudden? Was it too much for an eleven-year-old boy to take in all at once?

I think that Harry handeled his sudden immersement in the Wizarding World considerably well. I think that Hagrid did the best he could to make sure he answered all of Harry's questions and make him feel comfortable. At least he had let the fact that he was a Wizard have the oppertunity to sink in a little. I think it was best to do it all at once because this way the Dursely's wouldn't have to put up with Hagrid more than once and it also gave Harry the rest of the summer to think about everything.

-Do you think it was a wise choice to trust Hagrid with fetching the Philosopher's Stone from the Gringotts vault?

I definitly think it was a wise choice to trust Hagrid with getting the PS from Gringotts. Dumbledore was right in trusting Hagrid. I think that Hagrid gets immensly proud when he is given a job and will go to any means to get it accomplished. Because he is like this he will make sure that the stone won't get into harms way.

-What are your thoughts on Ollivander in this chapter?

I was a little frightened of Ollivander to be honest. He seemed nice enough but he was a little creepy and I guess I had the same opionon of him Harry did. I did realize how wise he was though. I think I was really fascinated by wandlore and this was like a whole new world that was just remarkabale.

-What did you think of how Draco Malfoy was introduced?

Draco, Draco, Draco. I think that this was an interesting way to meet Draco. I really like that we didn't know anything yet so we met him without an prejudices. It shows that Harry gave him a chance to be nice and that Draco had prejudices built into him.

I like this chapter a lot because I think it was the perfect time for Harry. He had just celebrated 11 miserable years, and was finally getting somthing happy, somthing he could hold on to. I also feel trusting Hagrid was a good choice becuse if anyone can be trusted by Dumbledore, it was him. This chapter just makes me happy. haha. I also love the meeting with Draco Mafoy. I feel it was a kind of wake up call for Harry, remeinding him that there is always going to be a dark side to this power he has. Overall, this is a great chapter :]

I think meeting Harry showed him that this wasn't a perfect world. People could still be mean and dusrly-ish and it wasn't going to be easy. I think it would have been really intereseting if Harry had said who he was. The whole meeting would have been very diffrent.

-Was Harry's immersion into the wizarding world too sudden? Was it too much for an eleven-year-old boy to take in all at once?
Yes, he should have been told about it at an younger age so he could understand when he got older.
-Do you think it was a wise choice to trust Hagrid with fetching the Philosopher's Stone from the Gringotts vault?
Yes, dumbledore had complete faith in Hagrid. He trusted a baby with Hagrid, he could trust the stone to. And Hagrid was respectful to Dumbledore and he would not want Dumbledore mad at him.

-What are your thoughts on Ollivander in this chapter?
I think he was creepy. Nothing more.

-What did you think of how Draco Malfoy was introduced?
He was introduced as a spoiled brat. talking about brooms and all. But being rich, sometimes you brag.

Hm
I must say, I enjoy this chapter every time I re-read it.
It being the first time Harry is exposed to Wizards and Witches, I think it describes the whole situation well.
Though perhaps it was a little too sudden. Harry being only 11, he might not have been able to take it all in.

I myself would not have trusted Hagrid with something as important as the Philosophers Stone. Hagrid is a very loving and humble character, but to trust him with something that important isnt too clever. It may be lost in one of those many pockets!

Ollivander was slighty weird....nuff said.

Nice forum! XD

Was Harry's immersion into the wizarding world too sudden? Was it too much for an eleven-year-old boy to take in all at once?
I think Harry was introduced to the wizarding world at just the right time in this chapter. Basically if he'd just went to Hogwarts with all of his books we'd have wondered where he has got them wouldn't we, so that's one reason why the chapter was needed. Diagon ally was another great place for Harry to enter the wizarding world because it told us that there was more than Hogwarts out there, that whole communities were based on magic and magical people. I think Harry's age was nothing at all to do witht he subject. For an 11 year old he had went through an awful lot and well it was just good to see him happy for once.

-Do you think it was a wise choice to trust Hagrid with fetching the Philosopher's Stone from the Gringotts vault?
Maybe? I'm not sure about this one, maybe it was a little too obvious when Hagrid went to the vault. Like would you take a curious 11 year old to a bank were you would receive something highly top secret and important, the answer to that is ofcourse no. Maybe if the philosopher stone was introduced another way it would have made the suspense longer and more interesting.

-What are your thoughts on Ollivander in this chapter?
Ollivander? Well i think that he was a basic sort of sub-sub character, he held no importance in the story. Although I did like him he was described and introduced to the story very well.

-What did you think of how Draco Malfoy was introduced?
I think the way Draco Malfoy was introduced in the story was very important to the rest of Harry/Draco relationship. In the shop Draco was very friendly with Harry which showed Draco's cunningness and sly nature. Also the way he shouted at Madam Malkins showed us from the start that he was not to be trusted.

Was Harry's immersion into the wizarding world too sudden? Was it too much for an eleven-year-old boy to take in all at once?
No, I think this whole bit was perfect. Harry understood most of what Hagrid was telling him, I think, as he was such an intelligent 11 year old. Hagrid was perfect for this bit, because he always was a bit full on, there-fore it introduced him well as a character. I think it was also good for the readers- we could all understand what was going on, and understand what type of character Hagrid was.

Do you think it was a wise choice to trust Hagrid with fetching the Philosopher's Stone from the Gringotts vault?
Definitley! I think we all under-estimated Hagrid at the start, but as Dumbledore trusted him, we all sort of trusted him too. I think, as he delivered Harry as a baby, he was perfect for this part. Dumbeldore is very wise, and so his choices normally are correct. Hagrid was, and is, a truly trust-worthy character.

What are your thoughts on Ollivander in this chapter?
Honestly, I couldn't read Ollivander. I couldn't figure out if he was good or b ad, if I like him or not. I couldn't understand him, although he was very well described physically. I just didn't think he had much importance. I began to understand him as the books went on though.

What did you think of how Draco Malfoy was introduced?
I really disliked Draco- I think that was JKR's intention- I think nobody like him. He was very snobby, bragging and things, and seemed very stuck-up. He seemed very interested in Harry- maybe he knew who he was, but didn't let on. Also, when he saw Hagrid outside, he immediately judged him. He seemed very judge-mental, like if someone didn't look 'normal' they were strange. Almost like some stereotypical people today.