First Time Readers

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: Ch 6-10

Episode Summary

There are some things you can't share without ending up liking each other, and listening to this podcast with us (and knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll) is one of them. Join Jon, Jenn, Danny, and Kristen as they talk over chapters 6-10 of the Sorcerer's Stone. They talk over some theories about what will happen, impressions of the characters, and the possibilities that WW2 was a cover-up for some kind of wizarding war.

Episode Notes

Chapter 6 - The Journey From Platform Nine and Three-Quarters

Q1 - Is Hagrid an idiot for not showing Harry how to get on the platform?

• He passed a round-faced boy who was saying, “Gran, I’ve lost my toad again.”
• “Blimey,” said the other twin. “Aren’t you —?” “He is,” said the first twin. “Aren’t you?” he added to Harry.” “What?” said Harry. “Harry Potter,” chorused the twins. “Oh, him,” said Harry. “I mean, yes, I am.”
• They leant out of the window for her to kiss them goodbye and their younger sister began to cry. “Don’t, Ginny, we’ll send you loads of owls.” “We’ll send you a Hogwarts toilet seat.” “George.” “Only joking, mum.”

Q2 - What is your first impression of the Weasley family?

• Houses flashed past the window. Harry felt a great leap of excitement. He didn’t know what he was going to — but it had to be better than what he was leaving behind.
• “Are all your family wizards?” asked Harry, who found Ron just as interesting as Ron found him. “Er — yes, I think so,” said Ron. “I think mums got a second cousin who’s an accountant, but we never talk about him.”

Q3 - What is your first impression of Ron?

Q4 - What sweet sounds the best?

• Bertie Botts Every Flavor Bean
• Drooble's Best Chewing Gum
• Chocolate Frogs
• Pumpkin Pasties
• Cauldron Cakes
• Licorice Wands
• “Go on, have a pasty,” said Harry, who had never had anything to share before or, indeed, anyone to share it with. It was a nice feeling, sitting there with Ron, eating their way through all Harry’s pasties and cakes (the sandwiches lay forgotten).

Q5 - Is 500 chocolate frog cards an alarming amount of chocolate frogs to eat?

• When they shook their heads, he wailed, “I’ve lost him! He keeps getting away from me!” “He’ll turn up,” said Harry.

Q6 - First impressions of Hermione Granger?

• “You’ll soon find out some wizarding families are better than others, Potter. You don’t want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there.” He held out his hand to shake Harry’s, but Harry didn’t take it. “I think I can tell who the wrong sort are for myself, thanks,” he said coolly.

Q7 - What do you think of Scabbers the rat’s bravery in biting Goyle’s knuckle?

Chapter 7 - The Sorting Hat

• “Welcome to Hogwarts,” said professor McGonagall
• “There’s nothing hidden in your head the sorting hat can’t see.”

Q1 - If you had to create a way for students to be sorted into their houses without using the sorting hat, what would you do?

Q2 - So what house are you?

Q3 - Why do you think it took so long to sort Seamus Finnigan and Neville Longbottom?

• “You could be great, you know, it’s all here in your head, and Slytherin will help you on the way to greatness, no doubt about that — no? Well, if you’re sure — better be Gryffindor!”

Q4 - Why do you think Harry nearly got sorted into Slytherin?

• “Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!”
• “Is he — a bit mad?” he asked Percy uncertainly. “Mad?” said Percy airily. “He’s a genius! Best wizard in the world! But he is a bit, yes. Potatoes, Harry?”

Q5 - Do you know what mint humbugs are?

Q6 - Where do you think these ghosts come from?

• It happened suddenly. The hook-nosed teacher looked past Quirrell’s turban straight into Harry’s eyes — and a sharp, hot pain shot across the scar on Harry’s forehead.
• Everybody finished the song at different times. At last, only the Weasley twins were left singing along to a very slow funeral march. Dumbledore conducted their last few lines with his want, and when they had finished, he was one of those who clapped loudest. “Ah, music,” he said, wiping his eyes. “A magic beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime. Off you trot.”

Q7 - Do you know what a poltergeist is?

Chapter 8 - The Potions Master

Q1 - If you had a scar, where would you want it and what would you want it of?

Q2 - Do you think Harry is going to get married? If so, do you think he’d marry any of the people who were introduced in the book so far?

• At the start-of-term Banquet, Harry had got the idea that Professor Snape disliked him. By the end of the first Potions lesson, he knew he’d been wrong. Snape didn’t dislike Harry — he hated him.

Q3 - Do you think there’s any reason why Snape would hate Harry or is just one of those let-me-pick-a-student-to-be-mean-to-on-the-first-day kind of thing?

Q4 - Is Fang a boar or a dog?

Q5 - First impression of McGonagall and Snape?

Chapter 9 - The Midnight Duel

• Harry had never believed he would meet a boy he hated more than Dudley, but that was before he met Draco Malfoy.

Q1 - Would you like to have a remembrall?

Q2 - So far in the Hogwarts experience, what event/class would you be most excited for and why?

• WHAM! — a thus and a nasty crack and Neville lay, face down, on the grass in a heap. His broomstick was still rising higher and higher and started to drift lazily toward the Forbidden Forest and out of sight.

Q3 - Was it Neville's issue for falling off his broom or was it his broomstick?

• Harry saw, as though in slow motion, the ball rise up in the air and then start to fall. He leant forward and pointed his broom handle down — next second he was gathering speed in a steep dive, racing the ball — wind whistled in his ears, mingles with the screams of people watching — he stretched out his hand — a foot from the ground he caught it, just in time to pull his broom straight, and he toppled gently on to the grass with the Remembrall clutched safely in his hand.

Q4 - What did you initially think was going to happen to Harry after McGonagall caught him flying?

• “Wood?” Thought Harry, bewildered; was Wood a cane she was going to use on him?

Q5 - Is it a bit too early to make Harry Seeker after one nice catch of a Remembrall?

Q6 - How do you think Goyle feels for now being picked as Malfoy’s second?

• “And what if I wave my wand and nothing happens?” “Throw it away and punch him on the nose,” Ron suggested.

Q7 - Thoughts on the Fat Lady taking a stroll and not manning her post at the door?

• “What do they think they’re doing, keeping a thing like that locked up in a school?” Ron said finally.

Q8 - Is Hogwarts really safe…like really?

Chapter 10 - Hallowe’en

Q1 - Is it shady that McG has bought a Nimbus Two Thousand — the current best broomstick in the world — for Harry?

• “Potter’s been sent a broomstick, Professor,” said Malfoy quickly. “Yes, yes, that’s right,” said Professor Flitwick, beaming at Harry. “Professor McGonagall told me all about the special circumstances, Potter. And what Model is it?” “A Nimbus Two Thousand, sir,” said Harry, fighting not to laugh at the look of horror on Malfoy’s face. “And it’s really thanks to Malfoy here that I’ve got it,” he added.

Q2 - Is the Snitch worth too many points?

• Ron looked still more awkward at this [news Hermione was crying and wanted to be left alone], but a moment later they had entered the Great Hall, where the Hallowe’en decorations put Hermione out of their minds.

Q3 - Theories on how on earth someone could smuggle a troll into the castle?

Q4 - Why didn’t Hermione tell the truth?

Q5 - Is five points a little too skimpy for two first years taking on a mountain troll and winning?

Q6 - The point system at Hogwarts seems absolutely arbitrary, do you think there is a rule book for the point system?

• But from that moment on, Hermione Granger became their friend. There are some things you can’t share without ending up liking each other, and knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll is one of them.

Summary

Q1 - What is your favorite moment in these five chapters?

Q2 - Who is your favorite character so far?

Q3 - Which character do you think won the house cup? (we’ll call it the house cup because you guys know what it is and it’ll be like the MVP award for each podcast.)

Q4 - Discussion on Hogwarts houses. What houses are all of us in?

Q5 - What do you think the major theme of these chapters is?