Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Books/Philosopher's Stone/Chapter 14
From Wikibooks, the open-content textbooks collection
Chapter 14 of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone: Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback
Contents |
[edit] Synopsis
Professor Quirrell, though, seems to prove stronger than expected, as Fluffy remains alert and growling behind the door. But with only 10 weeks left until end of the year exams, Hermione starts laying out timetables for studying and insisting that Harry and Ron do likewise. So it is when they are studying in the library that they find Hagrid taking a book out of the dragon section. Asked directly about Nicholas Flamel and the Philosopher's Stone, he promises to tell them something about it, but not in the library; students aren't supposed to know about it.
At Hagrid's hut, they find out that the Stone is protected by Fluffy, and enchantments by Professors Sprout, Flitwick, McGonagall, Quirrell, Dumbledore, and... Professor Snape. This is alarming as of course Snape is the one who is trying to get the Stone, but to add to the confusion, it turns out Hagrid has won a dragon's egg from someone down in the village, and is planning to hatch it despite living in a wooden house.
In due course, the egg hatches. Hagrid invites Harry, Ron and Hermione down to witness it. Draco Malfoy unfortunately overhears and sees the dragon hatch as well, through Hagrid's window. Of course, this means that they will have to get rid of it somehow, before Malfoy tells Professor Dumbledore. Harry has an idea: Ron's brother Charlie is working with dragons in Romania, maybe he can find Norbert (as Hagrid has named the dragon) a home. Hagrid is not happy about this, but finally agrees, and Charlie also agrees.
Malfoy manages to find out about Charlie's schedule, and is waiting when Harry and Hermione (Ron being incapacitated by a dragon bite) carry a crated Norbert towards the tower where Charlie's friends will take him away. Harry and Hermione see him being caught by Professor McGonagall, who penalizes him twenty House points, and gives him detention. Harry and Hermione, safe beneath the Invisibility Cloak, make it to the top of the tower and see Norbert off, but then are caught by Filch on their way back to the dormitory - in their excitement, they have forgotten the Cloak on the top of the tower.
[edit] Analysis
At first glance, this chapter seems to have little purpose in the book – Norbert is introduced and sent away all in one chapter and never re-appears in the series, except occasionally Hagrid gets to missing him, and there is a mention in passing in the seventh book. The purpose of the chapter seems to be largely preparatory.
Part of the purpose is making the need to get to the stone more urgent. The Trio at this point quite firmly believe, and with reason, that it is Professor Snape who is seeking the Stone. Knowing that Snape was involved in setting up the guardians for it, they are sure that he also now knows enough about the guardian spells to start making his way through them.
Another part of the purpose is setting up the scene in the Forbidden Forest, in the next chapter. Without detention, there would be no need for Harry to go into the Forest, and no way for him to witness the events that occur there.
A third part of the purpose is actually setting up the final scene in the book. As we have not reached that scene yet, we will not discuss it here, except to say that a victory is sweeter if it follows, and reverses, a defeat.
And finally, this chapter shines a light on part of the character of Draco Malfoy. Having found that he has an advantage over Hagrid and the Trio, in that he knows Hagrid is doing something horribly illegal and the Trio is helping him do it, he does not report this to the authorities. Instead, he holds this knowledge tight, using it to torment Ron in the hospital wing, and trying to get additional advantage out of the situation. This is classic Slytherin deviousness and ambition.
[edit] Questions
[edit] Review
[edit] Further Study
- How did Charlie's friends fly to the school to get Norbert if there are numerous enchantments protecting the school?
[edit] Greater Picture
As mentioned in the Analysis section, this chapter also is a significant part of the set-up for the final scenes in the book. Having been instrumental in losing a huge number of House Points for Gryffindor, as Harry will be in the opening pages of the next chapter, how much sweeter is it that he is also instrumental in winning them all back, and more?
Norbert does reappear in passing in the seventh book. Hagrid and Charlie happen to be together at the Weasley home, and Hagrid inquires about Norbert. Charlie says that they are calling her Norberta now. Hagrid asks how they know she is female, and Charlie says that the females are more fierce.
In this chapter we also see Harry's willingness to break rules if he has a good reason. This ability to think independently will be useful in later years as more and more daunting tasks are put before him.
