First Time Readers

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: Ch 11-14

Episode Summary

It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live, remember that. So join Jon, Jenn, Danny, and Kristen as they talk over chapters 11-14 of the Sorcerer's Stone. They talk over some theories about what will happen, impressions of the characters, and the absurdity of the quidditch match that had all 700 fouls committed.

Episode Notes

Chapter 11 - Quidditch

Q1 - How much would you pay to watch the Quidditch World Cup match in 1473 that had all seven-hundred ways to commit a foul committed?

• Harry thought Flint looked as if he had some troll blood in him. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the fluttering banner high above, flashing Potter for President over the crowd. His heart skipped. He felt braver.

Q2 - How do we feel about Lee Jordan shooting his shot with Angelina during his commentary for the match?

Q3 - The Weasleys are poor, how does one of the twins have a gold wristwatch?

Q4 - Should they have magical protection for the players during a quidditch match?

Chapter 12 - The Mirror Of Erised

• So Malfoy, jealous and angry, had gone back to taunting Harry about having no proper family.

Q1 - The wizarding world needs google? This book is kinda at the dawn of the internet, so Hogwarts probably isn’t set with a computer lab, and most tech doesn’t work around Hogwarts, but how much time would they save with a google search?

• “And you could ask your parents if they know who Flamel is,” said Ron. “It’d be safe to ask them.” “Very safe, as they’re both dentists,” said Hermione.
• “Will you look at this? I’ve got presents!” “What did you expect, turnips?”

Q2 - How much would you pay for a Weasley jumper?

• Something fluid and silvery gray went slithering to the floor, where it lay in gleaming folds. Ron gasped. “I’ve heard of those,” he said in a hushed voice, dropping the box of Every-Flavor Beans he’s got from Hermione. “If that’s what I think it is — they’re really rare, and really valuable.” “What is it?” Harry picked the shining, silvery cloth off the floor. It was strange to the touch like water woven into material. “It’s an invisibility cloak,” said Ron, a look of awe on his face.

Q3 - Who did you think the cloak was from on the first read?

Q4 - Is a hundred fat, roast turkeys excessive for the number of kids likely staying at Hogwarts for Christmas?

Q5 - Is it irresponsible to give an eleven-year-old an invisibility cloak and just say “use it well?

Q6 - Did you catch the riddle of the inscription on the mirror: Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi?

• He looked in the mirror again. A woman standing right behind his reflection was smiling at him and waving. He reached out a hand and felt the air behind him. If she was really there, he’d touch her, their reflections were so close together, but he only felt air — and she and the others existed only in the mirror.
• Harry was so close to the mirror now that his nose was nearly touching that of his reflection. “Mum?” he whispered. “Dad?”
• Harry was looking at his family, for the first time in his life. The potters smiled and waved at Harry and he stared hungrily back at them, his hands pressed flat against the glass as though he was hoping to fall right through it and reach them. He had a powerful kind of ache inside him, half joy, half terrible sadness. How long he stood there, he didn’t know. The reflections did not fade and he looked and looked until a distant noise brought him back to his senses. He couldn’t stay here, he had to find his way back to bed. He tore his eyes away from his mother's face, whispered, “I’ll come back,” and hurried from the room.

Q7 - This is way too personal, and I’m not going to ask this, but what would you see in the mirror?

• “So — back again, Harry?” Harry felt as though his insides had turned to ice. He looked behind him. Sitting on one of the desks by the wall was none other than Albus Dumbledore. Harry must have walked straight past him, so desperate to get to the mirror he hadn’t noticed him. “I — I didn’t see you, sir.” “Strange how short-sighted being invisible can make you,” said Dumbledore, and Harry was relieved to see that he was smiling.
• If you ever do run across it, you will now be prepared. 
• It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live, remember that.

Q8 - What do you think Dumbledore saw in the mirror?

Chapter 13 - Nicholas Flamel

• Chess was the only thing Hermione ever lost at, something Harry and Ron thought was very good for her.
• “There’s no need to tell me I’m not brave enough to be in Gryffindor, Malfoy’s already done that,” Neville choked. Harry felt in the pocket of his robes and pulled out a Chocolate Frog, the very last one from the box Hermione had given him for Christmas. He gave it to Neville, who looked as though he might cry. “You’re worth twelve of Malfoy,” Harry said. 

Q1 - What are your thoughts on Neville?

Q2 - Is there a serious issue that the trio could not find the only known maker of the sorcerer's stone — something that makes the elixir of life which makes the drinker immortal — in anything they read until they got to the chocolate frog? Is this bad searching, or bad recorded history?

Q3 - What position would you want to play in Quidditch?

Chapter 14 - Norbert The Norwegian Ridgeback

• “But there aren’t wild dragons in Britain?” said Harry. “Of course there are,” said Ron. “Common Welsh Green and Hebridean Blacks. The Ministry of Magic has a job hushing them up, I can tell you. Our lot have to keep putting spells on Muggles who’ve spotted them, to make them forget.”

Q1 - Now that you’d know but do you think the Ministry of Magic has ever put a memory spell on you?

Q2 - On your first read, did you think Snape was the one who was going after the stone?

Q3 - How much brandy and chicken blood do you think Hagrid went through to feed Norbert?

• “Wonder what it’s like to have a peaceful life?” Ron sighed.
• Harry suddenly turned to Ron. “Charlie,” he said. “You’re losing it, too,” said Ron. “I’m Ron, remember?”