'They sent Harry to the unknown': Potterheads Discuss How Irresponsible the Adults in the Wizarding World Were Towards Harry

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Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Sep 12, 2024 1:00 PM EDT

It is no secret that the kids in the world of Harry Potter had a lot to deal with, much more than most of the adults in the series. At 11 years old Harry had to deal with more than any other kid at Hogwarts, and by the time he was 17, he was practically a war hero. 

When you read the book as a kid, you might have overlooked some of the adults and the way they failed to look after the children, mainly because we were all so focused on Harry's adventures to notice. But when you read the book as an adult, you tend to notice exactly how much the adults failed to actually be adults and do the right thing when taking care of the kids.

This Reddit discussion focuses on one example of these kinds of situations – the moment in the Chamber of Secrets when Harry uses floo powder for the first time, and ends up in Knockturn Alley instead of Diagon Alley, and no adults think to go after him.

Scroll down to read the full magical discussion. After you are done, click here for some more geeky content in the form of fantastic Marvel memes. 

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  • 01
    Shutterbutton's INSIDE Why did none of the adults follow harry into diagonally? WAND SHOWROOM RPERS BINGOTTS BAN
    via Christy B
  • 02
    Why did none of the adults follow harry into diagonally?
    via u/LuminousViper
  • 03
    They knew he said diagonally rather than diagon alley and yet none of the "responsible” adults thought: "perhaps I should immediately follow Harry into diagonally since it
    via u/LuminousViper
  • 04
    could be anywhere across the world and at least I know the code to get back to the weasleys". This scene always made me rub my noggin. Due to the irresponsibility of
    via u/LuminousViper
  • 05
    sending harry to the unknown knowing he is inexperienced with this form of travel. It's been years since I read the book is there anymore info to gather on this case before I call childline?
    via u/LuminousViper
  • 06
    AspicHole This is what happens when a film makes changes without considering the wider implications. Not that this is in any way the most egregious example.
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  • 07
    In the book, I'm pretty sure he gets a mouthful of ash and chokes a little, hampering his ability to say Diagon Alley clearly. I doubt anyone could have replicated that accurately enough to follow him.
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  • 08
    LuminousViper OP Gryffindor Ah okay, that makes sense since they say "what did he say"... "diagonally" then preceded to leave him to it
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  • 09
    L2Hiku > Hufflepuff I just reread this and that's exactly what happens. He's smart enough to say one word. It was just unforseen circumstances that made him mess up. Nothing anyone could have done. besides warned him that might happen
    via u/L2Hiku
  • 10
    Building Everything To be fair, no one within the Burrow knew he didn't go to the correct destination until they themselves left and realized he wasn't where he was supposed to be. At that point it was just a hope that they could find him
    via u/Building_Everything
  • 11
    It also brings up something else that has always bothered me as a child who was notorious for wandering away from my parents. If the Ministry can place a trace on every magical child below a certain age to monitor unauthorized use of
    via u/Building_Everything
  • 12
    magic which immediately locates said child, why wouldn't it be standard practice for parents to teach their children a simple harmless spell (with Ministry approval) so they can use that same trace to find a lost kid?
    via u/Building_Everything
  • 13
    H3art1355Ang31 Slytherin The way I assumed it, because he meant a certain place, but a little off about saying it, it took him to almost where we wanted to go but just a bit off. The Weasleys probably figured
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  • 14
    he'd be nearby and if they said the same thing, it would still take them somewhere a bit off but probably not exactly where Harry landed because it was never supposed to be there in the first place
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  • 15
    that_guy2010 I mean, even just saying 'Diagon Alley' is problematic. How many different fireplaces are there? Could you pop out of any of them? That would be annoying.
    via u/that_guy2010
  • 16
    HUNGWHITEBOI25 I really do love that image though "hey guys, that 12 year old with no family is lost in the floo network, think we should go after him? Nawww i'm sure he's fine"
    via u/HUNGWHITEBOI25
  • 17
    BoukenGreen Because they wasn't 100% sure what he said. So it would be difficult to know they were going to the same place
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  • 18
    Azumar1|| Hufflepuff First, different in the books. But, even beyond that, I presume somebody would have had to replicate his mispronunciation PRECISELY in order to follow him and hope to go to the same place. It sounded like "diagonally," sure, but if you don't say it EXACTLY like Harry did, who knows where you end up?
    via u/Azumar1
  • 19
    lennoxlyt That wouldn't have worked really. They very well would've ended up somewhere totally random.
    via u/lennoxlyt

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wand geek hogwarts students Harry Potter voldemort hermione granger horcrux discussion owls entertaining magical hedwig Ron Weasley Dobby potterhead reddit thread Reddit Hogwarts
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