Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Books/Philosopher's Stone/Chapter 10
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Chapter 10 of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone: Hallowe'en
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[edit] Synopsis
The next morning, Harry receives a long, thin package in the morning post. The attached note warns him not to open it at the table, that it is a broom, and is signed "Professor M. McGonagall." Malfoy is already dismayed that Harry and Ron apparently escaped his plan to have them thrown out, and so arranges to find out what is in the package. Discovering that it is a broomstick, he informs Professor Flitwick of his discovery, and is then further dismayed that not only does the staff know about this breach of the rule that first-years are not allowed to have broomsticks, but they also approve of it.
That evening, as directed, Harry goes down to the Quidditch pitch, where he meets Oliver Wood. Oliver explains the rules of the game, and does some basic practice with Harry. After this, Oliver has the team practicing three evenings a week; Harry of course is practicing as well.
A month and a half passes; and it is Hallowe'en. Professor Flitwick decides that the class is ready to actually use the spell to make things float that they have been learning (Wingardium Leviosa). Hermione corrects Ron's pronunciation of the incantation and is the first to succeed. Later Ron says to Harry that Hermione is unbearable and that is why she has no friends. Hermione overhears them and runs crying into the girls' bathroom.
During the Hallowe'en feast that evening, Professor Quirrell bursts into the Great Hall, hysterical, announcing the appearance of a mountain troll in the dungeons. As they are being shepherded back to their common room, Harry and Ron remember that Hermione is still in the bathroom, and head off to inform her of the troll. On the way, they see Professor Snape apparently headed for the forbidden third floor corridor. They then find the troll, which attacks Harry, Ron and Hermione in the bathroom. Frightened, Ron calls out the first spell that comes to his head, Wingardium Leviosa, which causes the troll's club to float into the air and later crash down on its head, leaving it unconscious. Upon the arrival of the teachers, Hermione lies to Professor McGonagall and says that it was her idea to try to defeat the troll, and that Harry and Ron had arrived just in time to save her. Professor McGonagall chides Hermione and takes away five points from Gryffindor for her action, but awards Harry and Ron five points apiece for defeating the troll. From then on, Hermione becomes friends with Harry and Ron.
[edit] Analysis
In the early part of the chapter, we see Harry once again receiving great joy from his flying ability. The fact that he has been presented with a world-class racing broom, and that he is able to put it so lightly through its paces, is very heartening for him. Flying and Quidditch are quickly becoming his centering point; he can retreat to the air or the pitch when things become too confusing to bear.
JK Rowling has said: "When we were editing 'Philosopher's Stone' my editor wanted me to cut the scene in which Harry, Ron and Hermione fight the troll. Although I had accepted most of the smaller cuts he wanted me to make I argued hard for this one. Hermione, bless her, is so very annoying in the early part of 'Philosopher's Stone' that I really felt it needed something (literally) huge to bring her together with Harry and Ron." Reference This is the beginning of the change in Hermione. At this point, we are starting the process of having her turn into a sympathetic character; previously, she had been the two-dimensional goody-two-shoes grind, and now we very suddenly see that there is some hope for her. This is also the first example of the "trio" working together, and their success when their skills are combined indicates how powerful and vital this friendship will be in the greater story.
[edit] Questions
[edit] Review
[edit] Further Study
[edit] Greater Picture
Harry receives his broom, which he becomes very attached to in the later books, as flying is the one thing he is best at in his year. One of the most devastating moments in the coming books will be when this broom is destroyed; and throughout the series, he will be periodically deprived of flight and will suffer because of this.
Hermione suddenly appears in a more sympathetic light by lying to save Harry and Ron, a key hint towards how her caring and thoughtfulness will be essential to the Trio's success across later years. The bond between the Trio, first formed here, is arguably the most important relationship in the whole story.
