Race in HP/name origins + Allusions?

[ldgrrl]

Original Yahoo! HPFG Header:
No: HPFGUIDX C5178
From: ldgrrl
Subject: Re: Race in HP/name origins + Allusions?
Reply To: [Yahoo! #5177] Re: Race in HP/name origins
Date: 7/27/00 7:06 am  (ET)

I've only just joined, so please forgive me if I'm treading on anybody's
toes, but I agree that Malfoy sounds far more like a Medieval French
corruption than Italian.

Furthermore, on the subject of the Patil twins, I had always assumed that
Parvati's name was an allusion to the character of Parvati, a witch in
Salman Rushdie's excellent Midnight's Children, which is set in India
and Pakistan. Any thoughts?

Kate (ldgrrl)