Number of Students

[plinsenmayer]

Original Yahoo! HPFG Header:
No: HPFGUIDX C6886
From: plinsenmayer
Subject: Number of Students
Date: 8/15/00 9:40 am  (ET)

Hi:

If only JKR knew how much we all debate this particular subject --
it would make a great interview question for her!

<<<It is possible that Hogwarts is currently underpopulated and has a
capacity rather above the current enrollment, which would address the
'society needing suficient reproduction rate' argument. Specfically, a
lot of wizard families may have chosen not to have kids during the latter
years of the rise of Lord Voldemort due to the fear and uncertainty of
the future - perhaps the large family of the Weasley's reflects their
hope and optimism!>>>

Great points Brooksindy! I wonder too if the gap between Charlie &
Percy could also be partially explained by the Voldemort years. That
could well be the reason for the "2 Weasley families."

<<<I don't agree we know that there are only eight Gryffindors in Harry's
year. There are five boys, and we have only heard of three girls, but
we haven't been told that's all there are.>>>

Well, we may not have been told explicitly, but surely new Gryffindor
girl(s) aren't going to be introduced all of a sudden in Book 5. We all
wondered whether Parvarti's twin was another Gryffindor girl, and we
found out that she is a Ravenclaw in GoF. I think enough mention is made
of the 8 Gryffindors in Harry's year that we can be reasonably sure there
are no others. There are numerous descriptions of the classes in all 4
books, and JKR makes brief but repeated mentions of Parvarti, Lavender,
Seamus & Dean. Of course, Neville, Ron & Hermione are mentioned more
than briefly. I can't imagine that JKR's suddenly going to describe a
previously never-mentioned Gryffindor girl in Book 5.

While we really have no idea for sure how many Ravenclaws, Hufflepuffs &
Slytherins there are in Harry's year, I do think JKR has gone to some
trouble to describe Harry's fellow Gryffindors (the ones in his year
that is).

I see your point about the general wizarding population levels, but I
still think the preponderence of the evidence in the books suggests a
current student body at Hogwarts of somewhere between 225-300. Perhaps
Brooksindy's point about the falling birth rates during the Voldemort
years is the explanation.

Before GoF, I might have tried to argue that Hogwarts was perhaps not
the only wizarding school in the UK. But, I think that argument would
be much weaker now. Still somewhat plausible, but definitely weaker.

Just my 2 galleons for the day on this subject --

Penny