Discussion Question #37: The Missing 24 Hours
This is certainly one of the busiest weeks of the year for me at work, and yet I can't seem to focus my thoughts on business and off of DH. So once again I bring you a question:
What happened in the 24 hours between the moment Voldemort cast Avada Kedavra on Lily (10/31/81) and the next evening when Hagrid delivered infant Harry to the Dursley's home (11/1/81)?
When Hagrid delivered Harry to Dumbledore on 4 Privet Drive, he reported that the "house was almost destroyed," he had gotten Harry out of the home just before the muggles "started swarmin' around." He also stated that he had encountered Sirius Black, who had loaned out his motorcycle to Hagrid. In PoA Sirius clarifies that he got there not long after the Potters were killed.
So then, where were Hagrid and Harry for the next 24 hours when the whole wizarding world was celebrating? For that matter, where was Dumbledore? Based on his conversation with McGonagall at 4 Privet Drive, he seemed to have a limited understanding of what had happened between Voldemort and Harry. Without that knowledge, he would not have known to place Harry under the protection of his mother's blood relative.
Dumbledore did not seem to know as much as he did during Harry's school year's, though. For when McGonagall asked him how it was that Harry had survived, he replied: "We can only guess. We may never know." Quite a difference between that and the answers he gives Harry years later.
JKR has refused to discuss this 24-hour period when asked about it by fans. Does that mean that it's a typo? A goof on her part? Or is it something critically important?
Personally, I think this has something to do with whoever was witness at Godric's Hollow that night. I wonder if it was Snape? If so, imagine this scenario: Voldemort flees in near-spirit form. Snape sends a patronus message to Dumbledore, alerting him and asking for someone to come get Harry immediately, then he flees, too. Dumbledore sends Hagrid after Harry then rushes to meet up with Snape. Dumbledore is able to get some limited amount of information from Snape about what happened - enough information for him to devise the plan to keep Harry at the Dursleys. He instructs Hagrid to keep Harry hidden with him until the next night, when they would meet up at Privet Drive. Dumbledore constructs the necessary wards in advance (you'll notice we never saw him casting any protective wards on Privet Drive on 11/1/81), then handles other matters of urgency. That evening, he meets up with Hagrid, Harry & Prof. McGonagall (who has obviously not seen Harry that day, judging by her reaction to his scar, but somehow learned from Hagrid where he was meeting Dumbledore). Because Hagrid knows Snape was the one who alerted Dumbledore to come get Harry, Hagrid emphatically insists that Snape is trustworthy when Harry questions him on it in SS/PS.
What do you think?
What happened in the 24 hours between the moment Voldemort cast Avada Kedavra on Lily (10/31/81) and the next evening when Hagrid delivered infant Harry to the Dursley's home (11/1/81)?
When Hagrid delivered Harry to Dumbledore on 4 Privet Drive, he reported that the "house was almost destroyed," he had gotten Harry out of the home just before the muggles "started swarmin' around." He also stated that he had encountered Sirius Black, who had loaned out his motorcycle to Hagrid. In PoA Sirius clarifies that he got there not long after the Potters were killed.
So then, where were Hagrid and Harry for the next 24 hours when the whole wizarding world was celebrating? For that matter, where was Dumbledore? Based on his conversation with McGonagall at 4 Privet Drive, he seemed to have a limited understanding of what had happened between Voldemort and Harry. Without that knowledge, he would not have known to place Harry under the protection of his mother's blood relative.
Dumbledore did not seem to know as much as he did during Harry's school year's, though. For when McGonagall asked him how it was that Harry had survived, he replied: "We can only guess. We may never know." Quite a difference between that and the answers he gives Harry years later.
JKR has refused to discuss this 24-hour period when asked about it by fans. Does that mean that it's a typo? A goof on her part? Or is it something critically important?
Personally, I think this has something to do with whoever was witness at Godric's Hollow that night. I wonder if it was Snape? If so, imagine this scenario: Voldemort flees in near-spirit form. Snape sends a patronus message to Dumbledore, alerting him and asking for someone to come get Harry immediately, then he flees, too. Dumbledore sends Hagrid after Harry then rushes to meet up with Snape. Dumbledore is able to get some limited amount of information from Snape about what happened - enough information for him to devise the plan to keep Harry at the Dursleys. He instructs Hagrid to keep Harry hidden with him until the next night, when they would meet up at Privet Drive. Dumbledore constructs the necessary wards in advance (you'll notice we never saw him casting any protective wards on Privet Drive on 11/1/81), then handles other matters of urgency. That evening, he meets up with Hagrid, Harry & Prof. McGonagall (who has obviously not seen Harry that day, judging by her reaction to his scar, but somehow learned from Hagrid where he was meeting Dumbledore). Because Hagrid knows Snape was the one who alerted Dumbledore to come get Harry, Hagrid emphatically insists that Snape is trustworthy when Harry questions him on it in SS/PS.
What do you think?