Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: Ch 14-17

Harry Potter and the First Time Readers

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?”

Chapter 15 - The Forbidden Forest

• It was the first time Hermione has ever failed to answer a teacher’s question. She was staring at her slippers, as still as a statue.

Q1 - Do you really think McGonagall has never heard of four students out of bed before?

Q2 - At this point in the book were you convinced Snape was the main assailant to Quirrel? Would you have bet 12 sorcerer’s stones?

Q3 - Is a punishment of going in the forbidden forest too extreme for any students?

• “I want fang,” said Malfoy quickly, looking at Fang’s long teeth. “All right, but I warn yeh, he’s a coward,” said Hagrid.

Q4 - Is it weird that Hagrid goes by Hagrid and not Ruebeus?

• “Always the innocent are the first victims,” he said, “So it has been for ages past, so it is now.”
• Yet again, Ronan took a while to answer. At last, he said, “The Forest hides many secrets.”

Q5 - How much do you think Centaurs know?

• “The planets have been read wrongly before now, even by centaurs. I hope this is one of those times.”

Chapter 16 - Through the Trapdoor

Q1 - Do you think you could make a pineapple tapdance across the classroom?

• “I think it’s a warning…it means danger’s coming.”
• “Neville will play quidditch for England before Hagrid lets Dumbledore down.”

Q2 - What do you think Dumbledore does on a day to day basis?

• “You can’t!” said Hermione. “After what McGonagall and Snape have said? You’ll be expelled!” “SO WHAT?” Harry shouted. “Don’t you understand? If Snape gets hold of the Stone, Voldemort’s coming back!
• “I’ll use the Invisibility Cloak,” said Harry. “It’s just lucky I got it back.” “But will it cover all three of us?” said Ron.
• “I won’t let you do it,” he said, hurrying to stand in front of the portrait hole. “I’ll — I’ll fight you.” He took a step forward and Neville dropped Trevor the toad, who leapt out of sight. “Go on then, try and hit me!” said Neville, raising his fists, “I’m ready!”

Q3 - What are your thoughts on Neville?

• “HAVE YOU GONE MAD?” Ron bellowed. “ARE YOU A WITCH OR NOT?”

Q4 - What do you think was the level of difficulty for that chess game?

• “But Harry — What if You-Know-Who’s with him?” “Well — I was lucky once, wasn’t I?” said Harry, pointing at his scar. “I might get lucky again.” Hermione’s lip trembled and she suddenly dashed at Harry and threw her arms around him. “Hermione!” “Harry — you’re a great wizard, you know.” “I’m not as good as you,” said Harry, very embarrassed, as she let go of him.
• “Harry took a deep breath and picked up the smallest bottle. He turned to face the black flames. “Here I come,” he said and he drained the little bottle in one gulp.

Q5 - Which was your favorite test?

Q6 - If you could add a test to the group, what would you do?

Chapter 17 - The Man With Two Faces

Q1 - When you first read this, did you expect that it was going to be Quirrell?

• “He was at Hogwarts with your father, didn’t you know? They loathed each other. But he never wanted you dead”
• “There is no good and evil, there is only power, and those too weak to seek it.”

Q2 - What do you think Voldemort is at this moment?

• “How touching…” it hissed. “I always value bravery…Yes, boy, your parents were brave…I linked your father first and he put up a courageous fight…but your mother needn’t have died…she was trying to protect you…Now give me the stone, unless you want her to have died in vain.”
• And other voices, maybe in Harry’s own head, crying, “Harry! Harry!”
• “What happened down in the dungeons between you and Professor Quirrel is a complete secret, so, naturally, the whole school knows.”

Q3 - How much elixir do you really think the Flamels have stored?

Q4 - Thoughts on Dumbledore?

• “To one as young as you, I’m sure it seems incredible, but to Nicholas and Perenelle, it really is like going to bed after a very, very long day. After all, to the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.”

Q5 - What do you think Dumbledore means when he says the above quote?

• “The truth,” Dumbledore sighed. “It is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should therefore be treated with great caution.”
• “Your mother died to save you. If there is one thing Voldemort cannot understand, it is love. He didn’t realize that love as powerful as your mother’s for you leaves it’s own mark. Not a scar, no visible sign…to have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is gone, will give us some protection for ever. It is in your very skin.”

Q6 - Do you think Dumbledore meant for Harry to go after Voldemort?

• “Sent owls off ter all ter parents old school friends, askin fer photos…knew yeh didn’t have any…d’yeh like it?” Harry couldn’t speak, but Hagrid understood.

Q7 - How rigged is the point system?

• “It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends. I therefore award ten points to Mr Neville Longbottom.”