I know I'm making this sound like homework or something and its not at all - but when are we supposed to have this reading "done" by? Like how does this work - is the reading for the week always going to be announced on a certain day? Will the podcast then follow on a certain day?

Thanks,
Sam

This sounds like a great idea! I;m really excited to read along with everyone! And we have two weeks to read like 3 chapters? I kinda wish it was like maybe one week (cause im ganna wanna go on, but I will be afraid if i go to far ahead of the podcast)

I actually just went through an epiphany today about the very first chapter of Sorcerer’s Stone that is linked to Harry's most crucial decision in Chapter 7: The Sorting Hat. I would venture a guess that everybody knows this by now, but it really clicked with me.

The setting first falls upon Mr. Dursley backing out of his driveway to find a cat that has ritually been there looking at him for a while. That same night, a man to be known as Dumbledore arrives to meet that very same cat, who is then revealed to be Professor McGonagall. After they greet each other, Professor McGonagall questions if they should really leave the recently orphaned Harry Potter with his ungrateful uncle and aunt Mr. and Mrs. Dursley. "They're the worst kind of Muggles, oh really Albus, must we?" she asks.

In fact, Dumbledore may have left Harry with the Dursleys' for that exact reason, because they were "the worst kind of muggles." In doing so, JK Rowling suggest that Dumbledore already thought about the influence that a seemingly failed murder attempt could have had on a defenseless baby Harry, i.e. the horcrux. Professor Dumbledore may have already had his mind set on an 11 year old Harry in this manner. What if this attack left Harry in a different state-of-mind? What if he became a different person entirely from the rebellious, lovable Harry we all know and love?

This question may have raced through Dumbledore’s mind as well, so through some pure genius he created an 11 year insurance to test Harry’s sanity. This, in turn, would cause Harry to develop a reality that would be the antithesis of the reality played by his cousin, aunt, and uncle. That's why, through their hate, he would only grow to love. That’s why it so natural for Harry to choose anything but Slytherin. And that's why, thanks to prior experience of hate initiated by Dumbledore, Harry wouldn’t be subject to a nonbiased opinion between Gryffindor or Slytherin. Even worse, that he would've chosen Slytherin, causing an entirely different chain-of-events.

Man Dumbledore was such a genius!!!!!

GreenSpace, what a great thought! We actually talk at length about Dumbledore and his decision to leave Harry with the Dursleys on episode one of the podcast, and none of us brought this up or even thought about that! Great work! Maybe your comment will make it into episode two...but you'll have to listen to find out!

While I agree that Dumbledore's plan was thought out and, as always, masterful, I think Dumbledore was still a bit surprised on how well it turned out. Throughout the series, he always comments on how it is remarkable that Harry turned out the way he did. That he is even capable of such strong love and loyalty. He is always wondering how harry turned out as well as he did.

Just joined, the site looks great! I will be reading along with my new e-books. May not be posting but definitely will be following the read.

Did anyone notice the part in the first chapter where Mr. Dursley sees the cat-McGonagall reading a map, then looks back and sees that there isn't a map, followed by him seeing in the car mirror that the cat is looking at the Privet Drive sign moments later? What is this map?

This website is a great idea. I was starting to reread the Harry Potter books anyway, with a goal of finishing them before the New Book comes out, and I'm really glad for the chance to discuss the books with others here.

@Miramazement: I think that's a good point that Harry could have ended up hating Muggles. I think this is why I've always seen Harry Potter, Severus Snape, and Lord Voldemort as kind of linked in the stories. They all had some kind of bad experiences with Muggles in their families, but reacted differently. It shows the whole idea of a person's choices determining who they are, not just their birth.

while i suppose harry COULD have ended up with mental health issues, this was probably the safest plan he could find for young harry. Dumbledore didnt want to risk having another Tom Riddle situation in an orphanage, and also an orphanage wouldnt have given him the same treatment as the dursleys did, which was basically being terrible. an orphanage probably would have made harry hate the world even more then the living with the dursleys did, because then he would never know what happened to is parents, and at least the dursleys gave harry a story, even if it was a lie. then of course there was the obvious fact harry needed to have a "home", and an orphanage can hardly count. harry might have considered it a home, but might have just considered it a place he was because he HAD no home.
then there was the option to leave him with another wizard family, any of whom would have gladly excepted him. dumbledore even explained to harry why he did this, he didnt want harry to grow up famous. this would have made him probably an arrogant rude little lockhart, which would not have been good.
so the only thing he can do, is leave him with the dursleys.

@kykid942
I think maybe its like a map only seen by wizards about muggle dwellings?? Or I guess it could just be a map McGonagall had, but then why would she arouse supsicion by reading it in cat form? wouldn't it be better to dress like a muggle and read the map, then turn into a cat later? Its all too fishy....

I've always wanted to have an in-depth discussion of the books. Awesome idea guys! :)

---------------------------

- I agree, Dumbledore may have played chess with Harry's life when he gave him to the Dursleys. But I don't think he could have known for sure how Harry would turn out. He most certainly could have been as resentful and evil as Voldemort just as much as a hero who's easy to love.
- What we can be sure of though is that Dumbledore used Lily's love/protection to Harry's advantage in giving him to the Dursleys. That's something we know Dumbledore to have consciously done. So I'm betting Dumbledore prioritized Harry's safety over comfort in life.

- What's been bothering me though are these:
= There's a whole day missing. I'm assuming Hagrid pulled Harry out of the wreckage of the Potter house just a few hours after Voldemort's attack. So that would be very late evening of Oct. 31 or dawn of Nov. 1. It isn't until the evening of Nov. 1 that Hagrid delivered Harry to Dumbledore and then to the Dursleys. What happened the whole day? Was Hagrid just really flying about Sirius's bike?
= And speaking of Sirius. I find it interesting that there wasn't much reaction on Dumbledore's part when Hagrid mentioned having met the guy. Sure, it was probably JK trying to misdirect us but really, Dumbledore would have already suspected Sirius at this point. Why so calm?

awesome! going to read!

Dumbledore testified that Sirius was secret keeper in Wizengamot.
He knew that from the very beginning, as he proposed himself on this role but James insisted on Sirius. But you know what? First thing Dumbledore do when Hagrid arrived is ask about motorbike.

'Hagrid,' said Dumbledore, sounding relieved. 'At last. And where did you get that motorbike?'
'Borrowed it, Professor Dumbledore, sir' said the giant, climbing carefully off the motorbike as he spoke. 'Young Sirius Black lent it me. I've got him, sir.'
'No problems, were there?'
'No, sir – house was almost destroyed but I got him out all right before that Muggles started swarmin' around. He fell asleep as we was flyin' over Bristol.'

It doesn’t make much sense from writing standpoint to include this detail. I mean, not that reader after seeing cat turn into woman would question giant's ability to have giant motorbike.
But what if Dumbledore recognized a bike?
Hagrid confirms to him that he met Sirius - Dumbledore wonders were there any problems. Because you'd think if Sirius was a traitor there would be some. Hagrid understand the question in relation to his trip (as the readers) and answers no. Dumbledore, as smart as he is, could have guessed he was possibly innocent or something. But Sirius did nothing to protect himself and was probably blaming himself just like 12 years later in the Shrieking Shack. Harry took it as confession of his guilt, no wonder so did Ministry.

Tiny Tim appeared on the Johnny Carson Show to sing the song "Tip Toe Through the Tulips" (The song Vernon was singing as he was dealing with all of Harry's letters). Tiny Tim was tall, wore a suit, had very long curly brown hair and a little ukelele. He spoke and sang in a falsetto voice with a lot of vibrato. He was very effeminate. The song was sung as if it was a joke. He was good at promoting himself. He made several appearances on the Johnny Carson Show. One of his most famous appearances was when he married Miss Vicky ON the show. Miss Vicky was a stripper Tiny Tim had met. After the wedding his fame had a rather dull decline. The song "Tip Toe Through the Tulips", Tim's only song, was funny for a short period of time and ranks with other similar songs such as, "She wore a Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Pokadot Bikini" and "My Ding-a-ling". I picture Vernon singing this insane song because of the insanity of the situation.

got reading these first three chapters again as i have done many a time before...but still i never get bored, never skip ahead even though i know what is going to happen.
it truely is the most exceptional, beautiful and......magical series every written and i doubt anything will ever even come close!

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