#1 Expectations

The Harry Potter series is full of expectations, and sometimes, what we expect is not always what actually occurs. From the start of chapter 1 of The Sorcerer’s Stone, assumptions are being formed in the reader’s mind. If all of the expectations that we formed throughout the series actually did turn out to be true, we would grow very tired of reading and would quickly lose interest. The suspense and waiting to see if our prediction actually turns out to be true or not keeps the reader hooked throughout the entire series. While I could go on for pages due to the number of expectations raised in the first two books, the following are the ones that stood out most to me. 

Even though Harry does not realize it for the first 11 years of his life, the wizarding world has a great expectation of Harry himself. He was the only wizard in their history that ever survived a killing curse. He caused Lord Voldemort to lose his power, and escaped with only a lightning bolt scar on his forehead. Ollivander brings to light this expectation when Harry receives his wand “[..] I think we must expect great things from you Mr. Potter” (SS 85). This expectation is one that we will be coming back to again and again throughout the series. Is Harry really a great wizard? Or is his fame the only thing that is keeping him going? That is another expectation that will be visited throughout the series. Another great expectation that is present throughout the entirety of book one is that Snape is evil, and a big supporter of Voldemort. I know that when I first read the books and watched the movies, I completely hated Snape. This expectation could be argued as one of the biggest assumptions throughout the series. I don’t want to give anything away, but this expectation, and whether or not it turns out to be true, plays a huge role in the later books, especially seven. A lot of the expectations formed in this book will not be answered or solved until later in the series. 

One assumption that appears in the middle of The Chamber of Secrets is that Harry could very well be the heir of Slytherin. A group of Hufflepuffs seem throughly convinced that he is, especially after he appears to be egging on the snake that Malfoy set on him to attack Justin Finch-Fletchy. Ernie Macmillian says that “he’s a parselmouth. Everyone knows that that’s the mark of a dark wizard. Have you ever heard of a decent one that could talk to snakes? They called Slytherin himself Serpent-tongue” (CS 199). He also delves further into the theory, saying that the only reason Harry survived Voldemort’s curse because he himself was a dark wizard. Due to all of these similarities, even Harry finds himself questioning if he was placed in the right house, and if he could be the heir of Slytherin. This expectation is proven to be untrue when Harry finds himself battling the true heir of Slytherin in the chamber itself, Voldemort. The sorting hat produces the sword of Gryffindor, which only a true Gryffindor could do.

The expectations in the first two books of the series are plentiful. Wanting to see whether or not or assumptions are true certainly makes the books more enjoyable and keeps us wanting to read more and more. As the series goes on, the expectations formed and answered will continually keep us on the edge of our seats.