The triggers you propose wouldn’t work, assuming that Dumbledore should be able to make a good estimate of Quirrell’s speed and the time he spent traveling. I also think that Dumbledore should have noticed when Quirrell stopped, since by then he had already returned to Hogwarts.
Fred and George spent quite a long time fighting the troll; if Quirrell had started his mad dash when the troll reached the terrace, when Hermione had her legs bitten off, or when Harry, Fred, and George reached the scene, he would have arrived before the end of the fight. I guess, theoretically, his vast, previously-undetected spy network could have noticed the battle at exactly the right time, but that seems implausible to me, and it would seem similarly implausible to Dumbledore. Quirrell could also have been triggered by Hermione’s death, but I suspect Dumbledore could falsify that one; if he had started when Hermione died, he wouldn’t have been able to cut such a huge swath of destruction through Hogwarts in the time between Hermione’s death and his stopping.
It’s possible he was triggered by the troll’s death, but that would make no sense; as far as he should know, the end of the troll means the end of the catastrophe. I suspect Dumbledore’s first guess should be that Quirrell had put a ward on Harry (despite Dumbledore’s orders otherwise) and he was therefore able to detect when Harry started to fight… however, if Dumbledore were to actually ask Harry about this, Harry would of course tell him that, no, Quirrell isn’t able to cast any magic on him, which would probably be enough of a hint to lead Dumbledore to the correct answer.
It’s hypothesized both in canon and in Methods that Harry and Voldemort might have a connection of some sort. So, it wouldn’t exactly be unexpected and inexplicable; indeed, it seems like it’s something that Dumbledore and McGonagall might rate as high-probability conditional on Quirrelmort theory. (And I can’t imagine that psychic bonds are unheard of in Methods-world.)
assuming that Dumbledore should be able to make a good estimate of Quirrell’s speed and the time he spent traveling. I also think that Dumbledore should have noticed when Quirrell stopped, since by then he had already returned to Hogwarts.
How would he? He was not with Quirrel nor was he presumably examining the Map (if he had it).
Fred and George spent quite a long time fighting the troll
Not really? They spent maybe 30 seconds at the outside—it doesn’t take long to cast a bunch of spells and swing a sword once. In the real world, fights do not last very long. Only in movies do fights go on for entire minutes.
however, if Dumbledore were to actually ask Harry about this, Harry would of course tell him that, no, Quirrell isn’t able to cast any magic on him, which would probably be enough of a hint to lead Dumbledore to the correct answer.
Dumbledore would have to ask, though, and why would he when he would expect Harry to be ignorant? I would also note Quirrel’s own explanation to Harry about a ‘cursed artifact’, which is a likely and also fully general explanation which Dumbledore could not compel a peer of his to explain his secrets, not in a culture like Magical Britain.
It’s hypothesized both in canon and in Methods that Harry and Voldemort might have a connection of some sort.
Based largely on the events at the end of Stone, which never happened in MoR; in MoR, the only basis for this speculation is Harry being a Parseltongue. A passed on ability doesn’t suggest a live physic link.
it seems like it’s something that Dumbledore and McGonagall might rate as high-probability conditional on Quirrelmort theory.
Do they? Everyone seems quite satisfied with the David Monroe theory.
(And I can’t imagine that psychic bonds are unheard of in Methods-world.)
The triggers you propose wouldn’t work, assuming that Dumbledore should be able to make a good estimate of Quirrell’s speed and the time he spent traveling. I also think that Dumbledore should have noticed when Quirrell stopped, since by then he had already returned to Hogwarts.
Fred and George spent quite a long time fighting the troll; if Quirrell had started his mad dash when the troll reached the terrace, when Hermione had her legs bitten off, or when Harry, Fred, and George reached the scene, he would have arrived before the end of the fight. I guess, theoretically, his vast, previously-undetected spy network could have noticed the battle at exactly the right time, but that seems implausible to me, and it would seem similarly implausible to Dumbledore. Quirrell could also have been triggered by Hermione’s death, but I suspect Dumbledore could falsify that one; if he had started when Hermione died, he wouldn’t have been able to cut such a huge swath of destruction through Hogwarts in the time between Hermione’s death and his stopping.
It’s possible he was triggered by the troll’s death, but that would make no sense; as far as he should know, the end of the troll means the end of the catastrophe. I suspect Dumbledore’s first guess should be that Quirrell had put a ward on Harry (despite Dumbledore’s orders otherwise) and he was therefore able to detect when Harry started to fight… however, if Dumbledore were to actually ask Harry about this, Harry would of course tell him that, no, Quirrell isn’t able to cast any magic on him, which would probably be enough of a hint to lead Dumbledore to the correct answer.
It’s hypothesized both in canon and in Methods that Harry and Voldemort might have a connection of some sort. So, it wouldn’t exactly be unexpected and inexplicable; indeed, it seems like it’s something that Dumbledore and McGonagall might rate as high-probability conditional on Quirrelmort theory. (And I can’t imagine that psychic bonds are unheard of in Methods-world.)
How would he? He was not with Quirrel nor was he presumably examining the Map (if he had it).
Not really? They spent maybe 30 seconds at the outside—it doesn’t take long to cast a bunch of spells and swing a sword once. In the real world, fights do not last very long. Only in movies do fights go on for entire minutes.
Dumbledore would have to ask, though, and why would he when he would expect Harry to be ignorant? I would also note Quirrel’s own explanation to Harry about a ‘cursed artifact’, which is a likely and also fully general explanation which Dumbledore could not compel a peer of his to explain his secrets, not in a culture like Magical Britain.
Based largely on the events at the end of Stone, which never happened in MoR; in MoR, the only basis for this speculation is Harry being a Parseltongue. A passed on ability doesn’t suggest a live physic link.
Do they? Everyone seems quite satisfied with the David Monroe theory.
We have no idea.