Fast Moving Killas discussion

If you guys have any discussion questions or want to talk about the first five chapters, feel free to add them!

Here is my question:

What was the pale boy talking about in Diagon Alley? Should Harry befriend him once he arrives in Hogwarts? Do you agree with the boy's ideologies/beliefs, and if so, why?

What would Hagrid not let Harry buy?

I have some questions concerning the family Dursley:

What is their relation to Harry Potter?
Why do they treat Harry so poorly and not accept him as family? Is this justified?
Do you believe it is right for them to keep Harry’s powers a secret from him?

Joe wrote: "I have some questions concerning the family Dursley:

What is their relation to Harry Potter?
Why do they treat Harry so poorly and not accept him as family? Is this justified?
Do you believe it is..."

1. Petunia is Harry's biological aunt through his mother. Making him and Dudley first cousins. Vernon is Petunia's husband.

2. Harry Potter is NOT treated poorly by the Dursleys. Though they may be slightly cold to him at times, the Dursleys are preparing the boy for the cruel world he will face as an adult. Harry is given chores and responsibilities, which in turn can benefit him once he is living independently, which isn't the case for Dudley who is coddled for most of his life. Having Harry live off scraps while sleeping in a cupboard is to give him realistic expectations of the harsh life most Englishmen face when trying to survive in London. In my opinion, yes, the Dursley family was justified in treating Harry this way.

3. I do believe they were in the right to keep the wizarding world away from Harry. Vernon has a high position at a power drill firm. What if he loses his job over his nephew being a freak? From what is gathered from the first two chapters, Petunia is a housewife meaning that the whole family (including Harry) rely on Vernon's income. Furthermore, when Hagrid confronts the Dursleys on the 'mistreatment' of Harry, Vernon says that keeping magic away from Harry can make him a respectable young man, showing that they genuinely cared for Harry's future.

I have a response to Ethan’s question:

On page 80, Harry and Hagrid are shopping for Harry’s school books at the store Flourish and Blotts. When Harry picks up a book titled Curses and Countercurses to purchase, Hagrid denies him stating, “Yer not to use magic in the Muggle world,” and that “yeah’ll need a lot me study before yeh get ter that level”.

hmmmmmm… if wizards are real then why don’t we have them do stuff like solve world hunger or poverty. Big ticket items like this would help grow wizard support i think

In response to tj schwochers response to joes second question, I would argue that the dursleys DID in fact treat Harry Potter like shit. Locking up a child in a cupboard for days at a time is neglect and abuse, it’s not preparing him for reality: its depriving him of the love that children need in order to develop into healthy, centered and stable adults. I wouldn’t be surprised if in his later adolescence Harry develops some sort of avoidant personality disorder or similar psychological obstacles.

Response to Ryan’s question the reason wizards don’t help out is that eventually they won’t be able to fix the problems and then the muggle will no longer find a need for them.