Book Club
By Elena Black
Hello dear Slytherins.
Over the years, I have made quite the number of friends on HEX. Some have been in our own House and there have been an equal amount that I have made outside of Slytherin.
This month, we are taking that very concept of friendship and celebrating it this month. I thus figured it would be appropriate to choose the following book for this month's novel to discuss.
Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you ... Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone!
Yes, that probably seems a bit egotistical of me. Honestly though, when you look rather closely at the Harry Potter series in general, it really does have a great portrayal and display of friendship as well as what it truly means. I find it to be exaggerated or lied about in some books. But here? It just looks and feels natural for the most part.
Even among the Slytherins, there is a very genuine bond between the witches and wizards in our own House. It may not look like it, such as the friendship that Draco has with Crabbe and Goyle. Still, it is revealed later on that even though the two others did act and follow Malfoy around like they were merely his lackeys, they did hold enough respect and regard for Draco to truly be his friend.
It was all just done in a very not-so-obvious manner. Dare I say a cunning one?
Well ... I just did. So there.
Anyway, as most of us already know the plot of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, I actually want to shift slightly in what I usually do and analyze the friendships displayed in the book.
First, there is the obvious friendship between Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Admittedly, it did take a while for Hermione to truly accept Harry and Ron as comrades. Even despite this, it is very obvious throughout the book that their first meeting was but the beginning of a long and strong bond between the three. They were not officially the Golden Trio but it is more than fair to assume that the them finding and befriending one another would likely lead to just that within time.
It's only briefly mentioned, but we actually see a bond even with Dudley Dursley. When he goes to the zoo, his parents allow him to choose one friend to accompany him. His choice is a kid by the name of Piers Polkiss. It isn't elaborated much on whether they were truly friends or mere acquaintances. All the same, it was an interesting thing to note upon reviewing the book as even I myself had forgotten about this part.
Next, we have Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle. Truth be told, Crabbe and Goyle seemed more like followers - devoted ones at that rate - than actual friends. And to an extent, this is somewhat true. There are hints in the later books, however, which better prove to the readers that they are actually friends. I won't reveal said moments to avoid spoilers. Among all of the groups I will list, however, I find this one to perhaps be the most interesting one.
Another briefly but still equally important pairing we see is Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall. They speak with one another whilst delivering Harry to the Dursleys. During this moment, both express that while neither are overly fond of leaving Harry with the Dursleys, they know that - for the time being - it is the right thing to do. Yet it is Albus who reminds Minerva that this won't be the last time they see him.
Finally, there are multiple times we see Harry and Hagrid together. It was the giant who led Harry through Diagon Alley for the first time, gave him his birthday money, a cake, and a photo picture of his parents among many other things. He even gave Dudley a pig's tail after being insulted by Vernon. Granted, it wasn't done because Harry requested this but it is a feat that was noted by Harry all the same.
And there you have it! The friendships from the first Harry Potter book.
Until next time,
Elena Black