Quidditch and Christmas

I'm writing this from the airport on my way back to London from Australia and New Zealand. It's been a helluva trip! I've had a fantastic time - but I'm really looking forward to getting back home so I can get in the swing of things...and hang out with the cat again.

I've still not managed to finish Book 1, and I'm mortified at how this endeavour has been so de-railed by July's activities. I knew I would be busy in Oz, but not how busy...

Quidditch

November at Hogwarts sees the first Quidditch match of the school year. We learn about the rules of the game in the various training sessions; now we get to see the game in action. In terms of strategy, the way in which Harry plays Seeker is set out for the rest of the series; stay high and out of trouble. There are also a couple of really important goings-on in this chapter that happen so quickly that you could miss them if you blink.

Artist's representation of Quidditch - available to buy at Source

The first is in the actions of Hermione in the stands, where she thinks Snape is forcing Harry's broom to try unseat him, and sets him on fire to prevent this. We later learn it is Quirrel doing this...

"Hermione had fought her way across to the stand where Snape stood and was now racing along the row behind him; she didn't even stop to say sorry as she knocked Professor Quirrel headfirst into the row in front."

We learn later how important this was; knocking Quirrel over is what saved Harry, although I wonder why it takes so long for the curse to lift after she has done so, as it only lifts when Snape is on fire, directing all suspicion at him.

The second event happens on the very same page as Harry recovers from his dangerous bucking broomstick.

"Harry was speeding towards the ground when the crows saw him clap his hand to his mouth as though he was about to be sick - he hit the pitch on all fours - coughed - and something gold fell into his hand."

This action gives the Snitch the flesh-memory that will be so important in Deathly Hallows, when Dumbledore conceals a message in this Snitch that will only appear after contact with Harry's mouth. So easy to miss; so very important.

Christmas at Hogwarts

Shortly after Hallowe'en, we come to our first Christmas at Hogwarts. I have always been enchanted by this - whether it's the twelve Christmas Trees in the Great Hall, Professor Flitwick with "...golden bubbles blossoming out of his wand..." or exploding crackers containing, amongst other things, live mice.

The all-important Weasley sweater appears at the bottom of Harry's bed, Harry gets a flute that will later on send Fluffy to sleep from no other than Hagrid, and the Dursley's send Harry the best present they ever give him; a fifty-pence piece. Ron is fascinated by the shape of the coin, and it occurs to me that it may not be obvious why if you have never seen British money before. This is what this coin looks like.

A British fifty-pence piece

This would be even more significant if the coin had seven sides, given the importance of the number seven throughout the series...but we can't have everything, can we?

Aside from the joys of Christmas, a lot of important things happen now that will affect the maze that Harry, Ron and Hermione go through to defeat Voldemort at the end of Philosopher's Stone. Harry receives the Invisibility Cloak, which aside from being hugely important in terms of defeating Voldemort, rescuing Ginny from the Chamber of Secrets, saving Sirius and Buckbeak from the Ministry of Magic, and the list goes on...is also one of the Deathly Hallows and a link from James Potter through to the Peverells. No heavy stuff here at all...

Harry, Ron and Hermione under the Invisibility Cloak Source

We also find out how good Ron is at chess, another relevant fact as he has to beat McGonagall's giant chess set in order to get through the challenges...and how terrible Harry is at the game!

Finally, Harry finds the Mirror of Erised. Over three nights he visits the mirror, the first time by accident, the second time with Ron to show each other their families, and the third to spend all night staring longingly at his parents. The magic of the mirror is revealed by Dumbledore on this third visit, with the following.

"It shows us nothing more or less than the deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts."

The danger of this is also demonstrated, in my favourite Dumbledore quote of the book:

"It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live, remember that."

On that note, I'm catching a plane to London now. See you on the other side!

Much love,

Corrie xx