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Mistakes in SS/PS?, Contains spoilers so don't read if you're new to SS/PS

The Riddle of Go... The Riddle of Godric's Hollow View Member Profile	Jan 1 2007, 07:41 PM Post #1
Just Through the Brick Wall Posts: 17 Joined: 9:01am September 20, 2006	Despite the total brilliance of JKR in creating the wonderfully consistent world of Harry over 6 books so far, I do feel there's one stand out error in this first book that grates terribly with me. It's when Harry first goes into The Leaky Cauldron and meets Professor Quirrell. Why isn't Quirrell wearing the turban? Remember it was this very day that he attempts to steal the stone from Gringotts for Voldy. In fact, how can Quirrell even bear to touch Harry at all? Why doesn't Harry's scar hurt when they shake hands? Surely Voldy is nearby? It's p. 291 of my US pbk version where Quirrell says: "He is with me wherever I go ... I met him when I traveled around the world ... When I failed to steal the stone from Gringotts he was most displeased." Is there a compelling explanation for this? Are there any other potential mistakes in the book the rest of you have spotted?

davidenglish View Member Profile	Jan 1 2007, 07:47 PM Post #2
Official Singer of the Sorting Hat Song Posts: 6,421 Joined: 3:12pm July 22, 2005 Location: Lost in Hermione's beaded bag	I don't think Voldemort has yet merged with Quirrell when they first meet. I have no idea where Voldemort is, but, as Quirrell is at Diagon Alley to steal the Philosopher's Stone, I doubt Voldemort would risk being captured. However, once the stone is known to be hidden at Hogwarts, Voldemort must get inside the school to find it. And the only way in is to become one with Quirrell. So, I don't really see this as an error. Although, speaking of errors, I've always why Harry's list of school materials begins and ends with "one wand". I've had to assume the second wand is a cauldron stirring wand and not a magical wand. But it does seem odd. -------------------- Come the words that bubble Up through broken laughter, Sweeter than spring-water, "Gods, I am so happy!"

Snark View Member Profile	Jan 1 2007, 08:19 PM Post #3
Knight Bus Driver in Training Posts: 600 Joined: 11:58pm December 4, 2006 Location: Alberta!	davidenglish has the right of it... The line following the one you've quoted reads: "He punished me ... decided he would have to keep a closer watch on me." It is assumed, from this line, that Voldemort took over Quirrell's body after Gringotts, but before the start of term. This is changed in the movie, as Quirrell has the turban in the Leaky Cauldron when he first meets Harry, and there is no time between the start of term and when Harry picks up his supplies in Diagon Alley. -------------------- 'Now, we'll go upstairs really quietly, and wait for Mum to call us for breakfast. Then, Ron, you come bounding down the stairs going, "Mum, look who turned up in the night!" and she'll be all pleased to see Harry and no one need ever know we flew the car.'

jmish View Member Profile	Jan 1 2007, 11:21 PM Post #4
Hiding in the Iron Maiden at Borgin and Burkes Posts: 320 Joined: 2:03am August 10, 2006	QUOTE(davidenglish @ Jan 1 2007, 05:47 PM) [snapback]1049291[/snapback] Although, speaking of errors, I've always why Harry's list of school materials begins and ends with "one wand". I've had to assume the second wand is a cauldron stirring wand and not a magical wand. But it does seem odd. That was just a mistake with the editing; it was fixed in the later editions. The students don't really need 2 wands for school. -------------------- Proud member of P.A.T.H.E.T.I.C.

Kate's Mom View Member Profile	Jan 2 2007, 12:51 AM Post #5
Kibble Boy/Girl at the Magical Menagerie Posts: 285 Joined: 10:31pm February 8, 2005	My favorite "OOPS!" is Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington's faux pas about not having eaten in nearly four hundred years, when he celebrates his five hudredth deathday the very next year. All of my books seem to be first editions, so I'm not sure whether they've corrected it. --------------------

jmish View Member Profile	Jan 2 2007, 01:04 AM Post #6
Hiding in the Iron Maiden at Borgin and Burkes Posts: 320 Joined: 2:03am August 10, 2006	QUOTE(Kate's Mom @ Jan 1 2007, 10:51 PM) [snapback]1049639[/snapback] My favorite "OOPS!" is Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington's faux pas about not having eaten in nearly four hundred years, when he celebrates his five hudredth deathday the very next year. All of my books seem to be first editions, so I'm not sure whether they've corrected it. Yup, they've corrected that one as well in later editions. A list of the changes that were made to the text can be found here at the Lexicon. There's probably still a few inconsistencies and mistakes left in the text but those were the ones that were caught, and changed. -------------------- Proud member of P.A.T.H.E.T.I.C.

allycat891 View Member Profile	Jan 2 2007, 08:35 PM Post #7
Just Through the Brick Wall Posts: 2 Joined: 11:38pm December 21, 2006	On page 122 it says, "And now there were only three people left to be sorted..." and it goes on to sort Dean Thomas, Lisa Turpin, and then Ron. But after Percy says, "Well done, Ron, excellent," Blaise Zabini is said to have been sorted into Slytherin. That's four, not three.

StepInTime View Member Profile	Jan 2 2007, 11:08 PM Post #8
Sundae-Nut-Chopper at Florean Fortescue's Posts: 948 Joined: 12:30am December 18, 2006	QUOTE(The Riddle of Godric's Hollo @ Jan 1 2007, 07:41 PM) [snapback]1049281[/snapback] Why doesn't Harry's scar hurt when they shake hands? Surely Voldy is nearby? It's p. 291 of my US pbk version where Quirrell says: "He is with me wherever I go ... I met him when I traveled around the world ... When I failed to steal the stone from Gringotts he was most displeased." Is there a compelling explanation for this? Perhaps because there's not enough of LV to trigger the connection? Based on the Horcrux info from HBP, this is only a fragment (one-fifth? -sixth? -seventh?) of LV's soul, and it's pretty weak...so weak it needs unicorn blood to strengthen. This fragment may not yet be strong enough to alert Harry's scar. This explanation might work even if, as davidenglish pointed out, LV had not yet actually merged with Professor Quirrell's physical person for this encounter (because even if he had not, he was likely nearby or nearby-ish, according to Quirrell). -------------------- It's not too late to *Sort for the Prisoner of Azkaban* reading groups** in Leaky's Lily & Stag Inn! Click here! "...the world isn't split into good people and Death Eaters" - Sirius Black (OOTP14)

DumbleDebbie View Member Profile	Jan 2 2007, 11:16 PM Post #9
Dodgy Cauldrons Dealer Posts: 1,683 Joined: 7:58pm April 7, 2006 Location: Maine	QUOTE(The Riddle of Godric's Hollo @ Jan 1 2007, 07:41 PM) [snapback]1049281[/snapback] Despite the total brilliance of JKR in creating the wonderfully consistent world of Harry over 6 books so far, I do feel there's one stand out error in this first book that grates terribly with me. It's when Harry first goes into The Leaky Cauldron and meets Professor Quirrell. Why isn't Quirrell wearing the turban? Remember it was this very day that he attempts to steal the stone from Gringotts for Voldy. In fact, how can Quirrell even bear to touch Harry at all? Why doesn't Harry's scar hurt when they shake hands? Surely Voldy is nearby? It's p. 291 of my US pbk version where Quirrell says: "He is with me wherever I go ... I met him when I traveled around the world ... When I failed to steal the stone from Gringotts he was most displeased." Is there a compelling explanation for this? As others have said, I think when Quirrell meets Harry in the Leaky Cauldron Voldemort has not yet taken up residence on the back of Quirrell's head. Voldy was existing through serial possession of animals. I think Quirrell may have brought Voldy back from Albania as his new 'pet snake'. He was probably at a remote location the day that Quirrell attempted to steal the stone. So the fact that Quirell could touch Harry and that Harry's scar didn't hurt aren't necessarily in consistencies. Debbie -------------------- 'It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.' ~ APWB Dumbledore "Caput Draconis" :D Congrats Knight62442 Werewolves! Awooooo!!!

lilian View Member Profile	Jan 3 2007, 07:20 AM Post #10
Monster Book Stacker Posts: 392 Joined: 9:19am December 14, 2005 Location: Somewhere in the United Kingdom, trying to find JKR's house	QUOTE Why doesn't Harry's scar hurt when they shake hands? Surely Voldy is nearby? It's p. 291 of my US pbk version where Quirrell says: "He is with me wherever I go ... I met him when I traveled around the world ... When I failed to steal the stone from Gringotts he was most displeased." Is there a compelling explanation for this? LV answers that one when he sums up his life for his death-etares, chapter 33(the death eaters) of GoF: "a wizard-young, foolish and gullible- wandered across my path in the forest i had made my home. oh, he seemed the very chance i had been dreaming of... for hr was a teacher at Dumbledore's school...he was easy to bend to my will (there, i wonder how, but i suppose it'll come in the discussion about GoF in a few months)...he brought me back to this country, and after a while, i took possession of his body, to supervise him closely as he carried out my orders". -------------------- 2% teens have NEVER tried smoking. I am proud to be one of them. If you are one of them, copy and paste this on your signature!