Professors reaction to Dumbledore’s plan in Sorcerer’s Stone

Or, hear me out, the Trio are exceptional for their age.

A pot of Devils are was used to kill a fully grown wizard in the 5th book. Harry is exceptional on a broom. Ron is exceptional at chess. Hermione is exceptionally bright.

“No, it isn’t,” said Harry thoughtfully. “He’s a funny man, Dumbledore. I think he sort of wanted to give me a chance. I think he knows more or less everything that goes on here, you know. I reckon he had a pretty good idea we were going to try, and instead of stopping us, he just taught us enough to help. I don’t think it was an accident he let me find out how the mirror worked. It’s almost like he thought I had the right to face Voldemort if I could. . . .”

We get the idea that it was deliberate from Harry's point of view, but I don't think he's correct. I think it is the trait of Slytherin in him thinking like that, the desire to prove oneself.

“You got there? You got Hermione’s owl?” “We must have crossed in midair. No sooner had I reached London than it became clear to me that the place I should be was the one I had just left. I arrived just in time to pull Quirrell off you —” “It was you.” “I feared I might be too late.” “You nearly were, I couldn’t have kept him off the Stone much longer —” “Not the Stone, boy, you — the effort involved nearly killed you. For one terrible moment there, I was afraid it had. As for the Stone, it has been destroyed.”

As told by Dumbledore, Harry confronting Voldemort frightened him. He got back as quickly as possible to prevent it from happening.

I think it is a subtly that is lost on the readers. We're conditioned into believing Dumbledore was testing Harry's metal. In the 5th book, we come to the realisation that he was trying to shield him from the burden.

The main theory is that Dumbledore had the protection tailor made to suit Harry, Ron and Hermione's strengths. They were only put into place during the winter of that year, leaving Dumbledore, who always kept an eye on Harry and his friends, to gather enough information about them.

I don't know what exactly he told the teachers, as he would have had to micro manage that part of things to a certain extent as well, but knowing him he wouldn't have told them anything, or as little as possible. After all, Quirrell had already turned out to be a "traitor", so he wouldn't have taken any risk.

The only exception to this rule that we know of, is Snape. We know that Dumbledore asked Snape to "keep an eye on Quirrell". Snape also knew that Voldemort wasn't truly dead and would come back.

I wrote a post about a theory I came up with regarding Snape and Dumbledore's behind the scenes actions  in Philosopher's Stone, if you're curious.

While I agree Dumbledore was hopeful that Harry would pursue whoever was after the Sorcerer's Stone, I don't think that is what Dumbledore's plan revolved around, nor do I think that is what the professors were told.

First off, you have to remember that the connection between Harry and Voldemort was not something Dumbledore wanted to be known. Even Snape wasn't privy to that information, and McGonagall was in the dark as well. Dumbledore wouldn't have told a group of teachers that he was counting on any student to protect the stone, and especially not Harry Potter. Dumbledore may have wanted to test Harry's mettle knowing that a showdown between him and Voldemort was inevitable, but I don't think that was the primary crux of his plan.

But beyond that, while stopping the thief was important, it was more important to try and learn the identity of the thief and what their ultimate goal was in stealing the stone. So the trials that were set up were not really meant to protect the stone, but to slow down anyone who attempted to go after it.

It's long been my theory that Dumbledore set a sort of alarm on the trap door, perhaps similar to the way he had Fawkes the Phoenix keep an eye out for Umbridge in OoTP. If anyone were to breach the trap door, he would be notified immediately. The tasks would slow down the intruder, and Dumbledore would be able to catch them in the act.

He was lured away from the school, but as he got close to London he was alerted about the trap door and began making his way back. Upon returning to the school he met Hermione at the Entrance Hall and realized Harry had, indeed, gone after the thief.

As for the tasks being first year level, I think that is a misnomer. Some of the tasks, remember, were cleared by Quirrell so the trio didn't have to deal with them. But Hermione was quite advanced and knew about the Devil's Snare. Harry was an exceptional seeker. Ron happened to be a skilled chess player. Hermione had always been a logical thinker and had the mind to get past the potions trial. They were unusually talented and there were 3 of them. I don't think the tasks were really as simple as people make them out to be.

I don't think so. The trio were just too good and maybe it's because of luck, but they were all great at the exact things that were set as traps

You need to remember that these traps were set keeping Voldy in mind, or at least someone with exceptional skills as a witch/wizard. Flitwick or McG could have easily kept their trap to be some complicated charms/transfiguration test, but they knew a skilled wizard would easily overcome it. That's why they had to get creative with their traps

Harry was a serious talent on a broom, and even better at being a seeker. It was luck that Flitwick's test was about flying on a broom and spotting a shiny key (almost like a golden snitch) out of hundreds others

Ron was exceptional and wizard chess. They were lucky that McG's trap was about playing a game of human chess.

Similarly, Hermione was a generational genius and it was mentioned in the book that wizards lack logical reasoning (something we've seen quite often in the books and is even a running joke in the fandom lol). That's why Snape's test was one that required logical reasoning and puzzle solving.

And they had already beaten a troll (Quirell's trap) in their first month itself. It shouldn't have been difficult for them to do so again, with a year's worth of learning now

You need to remember that these traps were unconventional for a good reason, and the reason why they looked so easy was because they were never set keeping the trio in mind

For example, Hagrid could have easily kept a blast ended skrewt or a fire ant or something much more explosive than a dog that sleeps at the sound of music. But he knew a skilled wizard can easily defeat either of these animals

My apologies for not reading all of the responses, but I think your question is better answered outside of the narrative itself. I think the novel's structure is meant for kids to be able to put together what is happening as they are reading using the information they've been given throughout.

There are many different spells, enchantments, potions, curses, etc. that are written about later on in the series. But in this book, we see the MCs go through similar trials in their schoolwork, we see Ron excel at chess and Harry excel at flying, and Hermione being clever enough to make a feather float (i.e. she pays attention in class).

I think the trials are meant to be easy enough for first years because that's the level the reader is at. The reader only has the knowledge the MCs have. Rowling could have made Sprout's trial a chamber full of screaming mandrakes, but mandrakes weren't introduced until book 2. McGonagall's trial could've been a stone floor that transfigured into razor-sharp spikes skewering anyone who tried to cross it. Quirreldemort could have AK'd Harry. But it's a book for 5th graders who want to see their heroes win.

I don’t think the initial challenges were specifically designed so a first-year could beat them, but instead were designed to deter unprepared students without killing them.

They wouldn’t have tried getting past fluffy without knowing the trick with the music. The devils snare was potentially lethal, but a decent wizard with a wand wouldn’t have a problem. The logic puzzle with the potions was deadly, but without understanding how it worked no one would try to get through. Chess was scary but not likely deadly. The trolls would have been a problem with my theory, though.

It does look like the protections were weak and tailored for children to go through them

However, there is a similarity to the protections surrounding the stone and the protections surrounding Voldemort’s locket Horcrux

It is easy to go through the protections surrounding the locket if you are competent. It’s the potion at the end that’s the real trap, and the thirst it creates lead to the activation of the Inferi.

Similarly, the mirror at the end is also the real trap. Even if someone managed to get that stone (which is a near impossibility as you need to want the stone but not to use it) they’d have to go back through all those obstacles. I don’t think the large enchanted chessmen or the enchanted keys are going to just let a thief pass

Of course after that you’re in the castle proper full of very competent teachers who control the enchantments surrounding the castle which would be another Herculean task.

As for Dumbledore’s motivations: It’s Harry’s and Ron’s perception that Dumbledore wanted the confrontation to happen if you ask me. I don’t think he was interested in pushing Harry towards Voldemort. The cloak belonged to James Potter, it was only right to have it returned to the son - it’s as simple as that. The mirror was in a classroom temporarily at a time when the school was closed for the holidays. It was moved rather quickly and Harry only got to see it three times, the last time Dumbledore only told him how it works with a subtle warning that it’s a dangerous artefact and to not go looking for it again. Harry only managed to get that stone because he genuinely wasn’t after it. Voldemort and Quirrel also definitely would have known what the Mirror of Erised was and how it worked. The both knew that the fact that they wanted to use the thing meant that it would be tricky to get it. Fortunately for Voldemort, a boy who didn’t want to use it came along!

We could go with the easiest explanation. Every wizard almost every wizard is incompetent. Thus traps that even “exceptional 1st years” can get past most regular wizards can’t. It’s the wizardings world’s version of are you smarter than a 5th grader.

Or, just maybe, Harry is wrong. He literally just spent most of the entire book being dead wrong on who was after him and would go on to repeat this mistake 4 more times, once per book up until OotP

Whenever Harry makes a guess, he's usually wrong.

Think about that show: are you smarter than a 5 th grader.

Kids know lots of things that adults can’t be bothered with.

The trio also had contact with all the professors during this time. Of course they would use things they have around. The devil’s snare plant for example: how many adults would have access to it ? Have heard about it.

My bet is that Quirell snuck around or managed to ask about most of the other teachers traps. He had close access as well.

And Snape didn’t KNOW that it was Quirell cursed the broom. Snake kept his eyes on Harry for the counter curse.

And Quirell had the so meek to be helpless thing going. Nobody really took note of him.

Herminine with logic on the potions, and Ron with the chess, those were both special skills.

Although with the potions, I would have just lied about the right one to take even in the riddle.

You’re giving neither the trio nor the teachers enough credit. The obstacles weren’t easy - they would’ve stopped most witches and wizards. Granted, not Voldemort, but I don’t think the teachers (with the exceptions of Snape and Quirrell) knew that’s who they were defending the stone from. They only knew that they were to protect the stone from being stolen from somebody.

The trio had a few things going for them. First of all, they were a trio. The obstacles were designed with a single thief in mind - it would be difficult for one person who didn’t belong at Hogwarts to get into the school and reach the trap door, even more so for a group of people. And the whole trio didn’t reach the stone, only Harry did. A single person couldn’t have sacrificed themselves on the chess board for example. Nor would they’ve had a friend to bail them out from the Devil’s Snare.

Secondly, the trio isn’t just any old first-years. Neville, Lavender and Seamus never would’ve gotten past the Devil’s Snare. Neither would Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle, nor Ernie Macmillan, Hannah Abbott and Justin Finch-Fletchley.

Hermione is probably the brightest student to attend Hogwarts in a generation. Harry has great instincts in dangerous situations and he’s an exceptional flyer, the youngest Hogwarts quidditch player in a century. Ron is obviously a chess wiz, and he’s able to keep a cool head even when panicking. Like when he and Harry were being strangled by the Devil’s Snare and he angrily shouted at Hermione to use magic to light a fire.

Very few grown witches and wizards could’ve passed all seven obstacles. Place any skilled witch or wizard you like in that situation and I think you’ll find that too.

And let’s not forget, Quirrell had already dealt with one and a half of the obstacles for them, Fluffy was asleep when they reached the trap door and the troll was knocked out could.

I think the defences were devised that a chosen trio of first years can pass but a powerful wizard might now. It's just how Hermione describes Snape's riddle. A lot of wizards don't know logic. Same with the other tasks, let's take Lucius Malfoy for example, a strong and powerful wizard, supporter of Voldemort but not exceptionally bright, noble or brave. Would he be able to get past Fluffy? I doubt it. Only the trio was able to get the information out of Hagrid (at least Dumbledore presumed so). Would he be able to get past the Devil's Snare? Maybe, but the Dumby knew that with Hermione, the trio will get past simply because she pays attention to every detail and does not discard any information, how unnecessary it may seem. Similarly, would a capable wizard be a good seeker? Nope, but Harry was. I say Lucius would fail the key task. Similarly, just because you are a great wizard doesn't mean you're good at chess. Snape's riddle obviously fits this idea too. Only deviation is Quirrel's troll but the traitor is obviously the only deviation and thus does not adhere to this idea of defence. Nevertheless, I think Dumby let the troll stay because he knew the trio had beaten one. The mirror of Erised requires firm and noble character, not magical prowess. Overall the defences were designed to be doable by first years but not by Dark Wizards, unable to appreciate those subtle skills.

All in All, the Defences were strong but let the Trio breach them. Brilliant idea by Dumbedore tbh

I don’t remember this from the ending!! Can someone remind me why Harry thinks Dumbledore intended it, and why he allowed it given the danger?

Don't question the first book. It wasn't supposed to make sense.