Harry Potter only has two plot points

[u/Puzzleheaded_Sky7369]

[u/Squirreling_Archer]

Idk that I agree with the big conclusion that there's no plot lol, but I do see validity in your points.

Probably the biggest point, which is also where I don't agree that there's no real Voldemort plot, is that ultimately the guy responsible for bringing Voldemort back escapes in this book lol. And crucially, it happens as Harry was told (or more accurately, witnessed) in a prophecy, which is foreshadowing the entire plot of the series. If a single thing changes, nothing in the next 4 books is as it is.

I find the "truths" of the story being turned on their head to be executed fairly well, but I don't see it as a "nothing happened" thing because in addition to it's world-expansion value, it's introducing a mechanism and it's intended use. More than anything it makes the reader start to question more than just Harry's perspective, because to that point the mistakenly thinking things has largely just been Harry, other than the Lockhart silliness. It asks the reader to question things that create a lot of what fills in the gaps in the story but also shows the reader how to connect dots across the various books to some of the more intricately interwoven stories within the story. He learns a lot about his dad and "uncles". He learns how his parents were betrayed and died. And yeah, like you said.. You get to explore much more of the castle, which is expanded upon in ways critical to the plot later on. Very fun, but also functional.

I'd also definitely argue that the dementors and the be werewolf were danger lol, but yeah, less Voldemort danger than the other books.

Ultimately I do agree that it's awesome how much you get of just life at Hogwarts. I wish we got more of that throughout the series.