Expect the Unexpected. #1

In the beginning of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Professor Snape gives Harry a feeling of dread when he first looks at him. Consequently, throughout the book, Harry suspects Snape of trying to steal the Sorcerer’s Stone. Granted, Snape’s demeanor, greasy hair, and piercing look towards Harry does little to quell this notion. The readers, too, are led to believe that Snape tried to steal the stone and was behind the troll attack. Yet, the readers and Harry find that it is Professor Quirrell that is after Stone, not Snape. Quirrell may seem weak and scared, but he is far from that. He is the man with two faces, his own and Lord Voldemort’s.

In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry focuses all his time on finding the true Heir of Slytherin. He believes the Heir to be Draco Malfoy, a fellow classmate from Slytherin. Malfoy continuously harasses Harry, Ron, and Hermione, even going so far as to call Hermione a “mudblood.” At the same time, the rest of the school thinks Harry is the Heir because he is a Parselmouth. After the Chambers are opened, Harry comes face to face with the memory of Tom Marvolo Riddle, a young student from fifty years ago. It is in a conversation with Riddle that Harry finds out that not only is Riddle Lord Voldemort, but he is the Heir of Slytherin. Who would have guessed that a young boy from fifty years prior was the Heir?

Expect the unexpected. Expectations are raised while reading Harry Potter, but what would be the fun if the expected happened? Failing to fulfill expectations keeps the readers on their toes and keeps them reading the next books. The readers are more alert in the next book, but even then, most expectations are false.