# of Students in Hogwarts

[flying_ford_anglia]

Original Yahoo! HPFG Header:
No: HPFGUIDX C4931
From: flying_ford_anglia
Subject: Re: # of Students in Hogwarts
Reply To: [Yahoo! #4910] Re: # of Students in Hogwarts
Date: 7/23/00 2:15 pm  (ET)

Going back to something I said about 10 quintizillion posts ago, I think
there is an 'ensemble cast' effect being used when it somes to the student
body (and the teachers). We only hear about a few of the characters and
most of the action focuses on a very few, but that's not to say there
aren't others standing in the background, muttering 'rhubarb, rhubarb'.

For example.... oh, better put in spoilerspace
m
m
m
m
m
m
m
m
m
m
m
m
m
m
m
m
m
In Book 1 there was no mention of Divination, but later, Professor
Trelawney rose out of the ether. Characters seem to appear and disappear
as suits the plot and Harry's direct experiences.

It would be crazy to mention *everyone*, so it makes sense to develop
certain characters and have the rest as a non-speaking 'crowd'.

If someone had asked how many house elves there were at Hogwarts, a year
ago, we would have said 'zero'. The fact that things/people are never
mentioned does not mean they aren't there.

I admit that this is unlikely, but could there be more than one dorm
room for the Gryffindor boys in Harry's year, and the reason we only
hear about the other four boys in his dorm room is precisely because he
shares the room with them and knows them best?

Hmmm - this theory is looking less good by the minute :) Neil