# of Students (Again!)

[Penny & Bryce Linsenmayer]

No: HPFGUIDX 3904

Hi --

Isn't it amazing?  JKR even answers our question & still the debates
rage on . . . .

I do appreciate the idea that there probably was a bumper crop of little
witches & wizards in the years after Voldemort's fall from power.  But,
all the classes above Harry & even Ginny's class should all suffer from
the alleged "drought" of babies as in Harry's year.

I also appreciate the notion that there could be disproportionate
numbers sorted into the other Houses.  *However,* when Harry & his
fellow Gryffindors take flying lessons with the Slytherins, there are 20
broomsticks.  When Harry & his fellow Gryffindors work with the
mandrakes in Herbology with the Hufflepuffs, there are 20 pairs of
earmuffs.  This would suggest that Harry's entire year is very low on
students.

I just think that there is *no* way that 1000 students makes sense if
you look at the internal evidence in the books.  Simon raises the good
point of how long the Hogwarts Express would need to be to transport all
those students & their luggage (of course, maybe there's a space
enlarging charm like Mr. Weasley uses for his car).  Steve raises the
good point about the length of the Sorting ceremony if there are really
140 new students each year.  I also still think the Common Rooms would
have to be unbelievably enormous for the activities that are portrayed
in the books (Hermione has ample study tables to spread all her books
out on; the room is deserted a fair number of convenient times).

If there are 8 Gryffindors in Harry's year & if the Hufflepuffs &
Slytherins are likewise afflicted with low populations, then Harry's
year would be incredibly disproportionately small in relation to the
other classes in order to come up with a final tally of 1000 students at
any one time.  Let's say there are 8 Gryffindors, 12 Slytherins, 12
Hufflepuffs & 20 Ravenclaws (52).  The other years would have to be 3
times as large (158 students) to come up with 1000.

BTW, I do agree that the Sorting Hat would *not* sort the students in
equal numbers into the 4 Houses.  That's why I've always thought each
House probably had 6-15 students per year.  There's an average range I
would think.  But 8 would be way *low* on a range that is supposed to
average out at 35.

Sorry, but none of this makes any rational sense to me.  Granted, I have
zero mathematical skills or logic but still . . . .

Penny