|
Many Hogwarts teachers are introduced, at least those who become major characters in this and later books. While most teachers are delighted to have Harry in their classes, Snape is less than impressed. As we progress through the books, Snape's singling out Harry to unfairly ridicule or reproach him becomes a regular occurrence. We are led to believe that it is Harry's fame that Snape dislikes. This is reinforced in the next book, where Snape's negative reaction to a celebrity teacher is also seen. Only later is it learned why Snape resents Harry so much, and their mutual animosity continues to grow throughout the series.
In Harry's conversation with Hagrid, we see can see Harry's natural urge to understand and investigate, a quality that will equip him to solve (with help) the many mysteries put before him throughout his seven-year story. This innate curiosity may be leading him to the forbidden third-door corridor, determined to discover what lies hidden within.
Meanwhile, Harry's first days at Hogwarts are somewhat difficult, and he dislikes that other students constantly stare at him. Overall, he is happy, and there is no other place he would rather be. In addition to adjusting to his new magical life and struggling a bit with his studies, he also learns more about Wizard society as he becomes acquainted with his classmates. His initial impression was likely that all wizardsWizards were pretty much alike, though Draco Malfoy gave an early indication while in Diagon Alley that class differences exist. Harry discovers that Wizards have differing backgrounds. Some are pure-bloods, like the Malfoys and the Weasleys, while others are half-bloods such as Harry, whose father was a pure-blood Wizard and his mother a Muggle-born witchWitch, and still others are like [[Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Characters/Hermione Granger|Hermione]], who having no magical family is Muggle-born. Seamus Finnigan is also considered a half-blood, having one magical parent (his mother), while his father is a Muggle. Neville Longbottom is pure-blood, though his family feared he had no magical ability whatsoever until it appeared later in his childhood. Even among pure-blood families there are class differences, as seen by how the Malfoys consider the Weasleys inferior because they are poor. At Hogwarts, however, all students are treated equally, regardless of what their individual backgrounds are, and they are judged solely on talent and performance rather than their lineage and connections. There are, however, Wizards, mostly Slytherins, that believe "pure" bloodlines are superior to mixed ones, and some, like the Malfoys, advocate that only the old, pure-blood Wizard families should be allowed to attend Hogwarts and study magic. These prejudicial beliefs become an increasingly prominent theme throughout the series.
It is in this chapter also that we learn the exact date of the Gringotts break-in; the clipping on Hagrid's table states that it had occurred on 31 July, the same day Harry was in Diagon Alley. It is from this that Harry concludes that the burglar had been after Hagrid's "grubby little parcel".
|
