Philosopher's Stone-Lethal White links, Part 5: From athletics obsessions to hidden notes.

Interestingly, the connecting factors I see in this section (Harry Potter Chapters 11-14, "Quidditch" through :Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback"; Strike chapters 36-55, from the aftermath of Chiswell's murder to Robin's leaving Matthew) are many, but fairly non-specific.  Are they significant enough to count?  You be the judge. 

Preoccupation with sports. Early in this section, everyone at Hogwarts is excited and preoccupiedby the first Quidditch match, while everyone in London is excited and preoccupied by about the start of the 2012 Olympics. 

Sure they're right: The Trio are convinced Snape tried to kill Harry during the first Quidditch match and that he is plotting to steal the Philosopher's Stone. Izzy is convinced Kinvara killed her father and is plotting to steal the family fortune (which is largely non-existant).  

Family resemblance and trophy pictures: Harry sees his family in the Mirror of Erised and notes their physical resemblance to him, especially his father. Robin notes that Izzy and Fizzy are literally indistinguishable in their childhood pictures, and sees the difference of dark and swarthy Raff among the blond, blue-eyed Chiswells. In the Mirror of Erised, Ron sees a fantasy future, where he is Head Boy, Quidditch captain and holding up the House cup. In the family pictures Robin reviews, Freddie Chiswell is holding up a fencing cup while Rhiannon Winn looks miserable. 

An oasis of peace and friendship: Harry and Ron enjoy a peaceful Christmas celebrating their friendship and enjoying good food. Robin and Strike enjoy a peaceful meal and restored friendship at the White Horse pub.  

Traumatic nightmares with dripping blood:  Robin dreams about her knife wound dripping blood, leaving a trail that will allow her stalkers to find her. Harry begins having nightmares about Voldy killing his parents, including, post-Forbidden Forest, a hooded figure dripping blood. 

Stalking: Harry notices that Snape seems to be following him in the run-up to his second Quidditch game; Robin notices journalist casing her house after the Chiswell story breaks; Strike sees Mitch Patterson watching him later in the book. 

It pays to befriend: Robin (as Bobbi Cunliffe) befriends and consoles Flick after Jimmy's bullying and is rewarded with information about Chiswell's handwritten note. Harry befriends and consoles Neville after Malfoy's bullying and is rewarded with a chocolate frog card that tells him who Nicolas Flamel is. 

Unbalanced fistfights: Malfoy taunts Ron about his poverty and Neville about his stupidity at the second Quidditch match and gets physically attacked. Strike brings up Aamir's family estrangement at the interview at his house and gets physically attacked. Aamir tries to fight Strike although he is no match for him; Neville tries to fight Crabbe and Goyle though he is no match for them. 

Hidden note: Robin finds Chiswell's to-do list in a sanitary towel in Flick's bathroom.  Draco finds Charlie's letter arranging to pick up Norbert in one of Ron's books. 

Giveaways through items left behind: Harry and Hermione are caught out of bed because they accidentally and stupidly leave the invisibility cloak on the Astronomy Tower. Matthew is caught cheating on Robin because Sarah intentionally and strategically leaves her earring in the bed. 

This next post will wrap up this series with the finales of each book. 

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