Urgh, Percy as teacher - poor students.

Annoyingly enough, I once again agree with the toad, Dumbledore wanted Harry to find the mirror and to learn how it works. And I see Hermione thinks along the same line. Good.

Enjoyed that little discussion between McGonagall and Snape :)

LOL, no using big words with Ron, they should know that, he can't follow :P

Answer to Hermione's question 10: Because Dumbledore wanted to bait Harry into going after Quirrellmort to protect the stone.

Snape may think that he needs to favour his snakes to make up for prejudices, but all he does with that is that he is making things much worse, because he confirms every single prejudice and makes them universally hated. Idiot. And Minerva's right, he really needs to improve his teaching style. BIG TIME.

Seems Hermione has really worked out how the books came to be, which should be some help to them.

Of course, Dumbledore would think of Voldemort *rolls eyes* If he was so worried about that connection, why did he never try to remove it? How about asking a Curse-Breaker? But of course, he'd have to reveal one of his beloved secrets, and besides, if the Great Albus Dumbledore doesn't know, then no one else can know, right?

Interesting theory Hermione has there. Of course we know the book contains more or less Harry's memories, aside of a few exceptions, but no one else could have known a lot of what happened, save Harry and at best his friends.

*snicker* Of course Trelawney would wander off topic and speculate about Harry's future. She just can't help herself, and with this of all chapters anyway!

Oh, I had never realised that the bathroom key was on the outside, which didn't really make any sense. Good point.

Yeah, the instigators of this reading will get a nasty surprise at the end of the book, which can be used in the following ones to curb their worst reactions. Serves the toad right for not finishing the book first before organising this all :P

Of course Umbitch would want to turn that onto Harry, but then, they can argue that she'd have to punish Malfoy even more, as he was the instigator and the one who did forego all honour, too, and she wouldn't punish one of her precious Purebloods.

*growls* At that rate, they are going to fire half the teachers and probably install a heap of Death Eaters instead. Argh, can I just kill the toad?

Figures that Umbitch wouldn't fire Snape as long as he bullies Harry. Stupid toad. At least the other teachers now know and will hopefully make his life a bit more difficult.

Well, my theory about why the stone was kept like that is that it was actually a fake and Dumbledore got the word out somehow in order to draw Voldemort out. If so, he was really criminally negligent, wasn't he?

The last question, if Flamel is really dead, is a good one. Never was sure what to believe, as I don't think Dumbledore told Harry the whole truth, you know.

Yeah, that would explain why Sally-Anne Perks dropped out of the series after that one mention.

At least *someone* is going to try and do something about that stupid Uncle Algie. Of course Fudge wouldn't care, he'd probably think it all appropriate to rather kill a child than accept it might have little magic.

Wellll ... let's see what Dolores has to say about the truthfulness of the book when her beloved Cornelius is the one made look bad, huh? Or herself?

*snicker* Nice how Binns kept ignoring the toad. Pity the rest of the school can't do the same. At least the teachers know how to deal with him :) To get rid of him is at least *one* good thing to come from that reading.

I'd have liked a bit more comment on Malfoy's behaviour, but oh well, we can't have everything. At least the trio could clear up another pint.

Nice how they point out all the questions and inconsistencies I noticed in the series and try to explain them, like Hagrid flying. Hermione's points 8 and 9 are some of these, too.

Great take about the twin core wands - that's a new one to me, and much nicer than making Harry out to be the next Dark Lord in training.

Um, why is Molly at Grimmauld Place? My impression was that the Weasleys only moved in during the holidays.

Of course Dumbledore worries mostly about the prophecy getting out. Why, though? I never got the point in hiding it so desperately - Voldemort wants to kill Harry anyway, so what difference does it make?

*sigh* On the one hand, I don't want Fudge and Umbitch to have any more reason to claim a victory and feel all snug, but on the other hand, Dumbledore deserves the trouble he is in. Anyway, I appreciate that McGonagall was honest enough with the teens to tell them that much; it will help them a little, I think, and her probably, too, as Harry doesn't blame her.

LOL - great way to get Harry to finally open the parcel and find and use the mirror! :) At least once in her life, Molly's tendency to scream the house down is useful!

Hermione's right, of course, Hagrid was the wrong person to send to Hagrid. My suspicion is that Dumbledore didn't want Harry to know too much about his rights and status, and the inexperienced Hagrid wouldn't know to tell him, contrary to McGonagall. And sadly, she's right that Hagrid will be in trouble.

LOL - good old Kingsley, he really knew how to prevent the worst. Well done! But I keep wanting to strangle Fudge and Umbitch. God, how I hate these two! Though you are portraying them very well.

I like Flitwick's demand that the wrongs done to Harry are noted down, too :)

Always been wondering ... if the Ministry can detect accidental magic, like proved in CoS and PoA, why don't they contact the families of Muggleborn after the first incident and explain, so they at least know what happens? Would probably reduce the stress for them and with that, more incidents, and they'd not have to worry so much what was wrong with their children. It never made sense to me to wait until they are old enough for Hogwarts.

These many letters were indeed ridiculous, they should have sent someone much earlier. Gah, you make me agree with the wrong people in the story here *pouts*

Grrr, I so want to strangle that evil toad. I hope during the fifth book she gets into trouble herself - that sham trial on trumped-up charges, the Blood Quill detentions, and is opening all the post even legal? If Dumbledore is guilty of kidnapping, she is guilty of torture, right?

Ok, I keep getting ahead, so back to the chapter. Harry's right, that are exactly these things that would make the whole torture acceptable, and throw a big wrench into the plans of the toad and her toffee-brained idiot of a superior.

Well, if the Ministry people are so eager to catalogue all of Dumbledore's and Harry's misdeeds, let's hope they do the same for the other side, and if not, that someone points out what they did wrong :P

Entertaining idea.

I hope you come back some day to this as well, but I do understand how it could be hard to swing it.

I do have one question, whilst Dumbledore is an emeritus professor, why would it be treated as a name change? Wouldn't he still be Professor Dumbledore? It's not like he's undercover.

I really like all the attention you pay to how big a deal it is that reading the book aloud means they need to say "Voldemort" aloud.
As much as a prefer to ignore the plot holes, this theory is actually really great, and I may have to start believing it now. I also love Luna's reaction and Hermione's conspiracy theorist line.
I was expecting Dumbledore to go back to teaching Transfiguration. I do like the "make Snape Deputy Headmaster" solution though.
I think this would also make a good starting point for a story not about reading the books-either with Bones etc. reading them in the background and just acting on them, or retcon it so the first book was the only one Umbridge found.

Maybe everyone forgot, but they already explained that there was no anti-Alohomora charm on the first door so Hagrid could take care of Fluffy without using much (if any) magic. On the other hand, he'd have no need to go any farther.