But if he does remember the gold-and-silver scheme, then he’s telling Hermione to go work on a problem that isn’t necessary to solve—and there’s every likelihood that she’d find out.
JTHM
Karma: 275
Hermione ought to think that if Harry knew how to pay off the debt, he would already be working on it. We have every reason to think that as well. But he isn’t. And that’s what’s very, very odd.
That could just as easily imply that Harry hasn’t thought of a way to pay off the debt as it could imply that he has.
Oh, yeah. slaps forehead. Still, my other points stand.
Ah, yes, that would prevent Quirrell from being the occlumency teacher. But Mr. Bester could have been allied with or imperiused by Quirrell, and so Quirrell could use Bester or another person to do the memory modifications for him.
And Harry should have mentioned that gold-and-silver scheme here because if Hermione fails to make a philosopher’s stone—which for all Harry knows, she very well may—then if Harry does indeed remember his original gold-and-silver scheme, he will use it anyway. And then Hermione would know that Harry deceived her into thinking that he was actually relying on her, and their relationship would be tarnished.
Moreover, we often hear Harry’s thoughts. And he wasn’t thinking about his gold-and-silver scheme during his conversation with Hermione.
I think this chapter just proved that someone, most likely Quirrell, has modified Harry’s memory. Remember how Harry easily figured out how to quickly make large sums of money by trading gold and silver between the wizard and muggle markets? And now, he doesn’t seem to recall that brilliant insight when Hermione mentions that they need a way to make lots of money fast. Moreover, the occlumency teacher with whom Quirrell set up a lesson (possibly Quirrell himself in disguise) mentioned that he would like to be able to remember that same trick after he read it in Harry’s thoughts. Clearly, whatever the villian is planning, it requires Harry not having large sums of money.
The creation of a philosopher’s stone would, therefore, pose a direct threat to this plan. Hermione is in even more danger than before.
I’d be interested in attending, but how many other people will be there?
In your own quote, you said:
’it’s more important to get that sorted immediately than which one of us gets it sorted.”
Regardless of whether it is urgent, Harry obviously believes it to be so.