Wizard popn./Snape/McGonagall

[Neil Ward]

No: HPFGUIDX 4145

Christian wrote:

>>>I assume that Hogwarts trains all wizarding-kind in England, Wales and
Northern Ireland, but not in
>>>Scotland or the Republic of Ireland (unless somebody whack me over the
head with an explisit statement from
>>>Dr. Rowling indicating otherwise.)

Why exclude Scotland?  Scotland is part of Britain, and, more to the point,
the consensus is that Hogwarts is located there.  I'm impressed by your
analysis though, Christian: ye gods, it's almost a thesis!  Most people
doodle while they wait for something, but you calculate the wizarding
population of Britain. I'll leave it to Simon - or another Maths whiz - to
comment on the accuracy of the figures.

Voicelady said:

>>>I'm starting to wonder if maybe Snape was in love with James, rather than
Lily - as has already been put >>>forth.  Here is Harry, who looks like his
dad, as a constant reminder to Snape (who really is a good guy, >>>if not a
nice one) that >Harry is the reason that James, the man he loved, is now dead.  

Interesting thought.  His hatred of James may have arisen because his
affections were not returned and he knew they never would be.  Incidentally,
I also like the idea of Snape being a vampire, as several people have
suggested previously.  Someone - Martha I think it was - posted some
evidence for this, and I've just come across another telling snippet from
CoS:  "A bad idea, Professor Lockhart," said Snape, gliding over like a
large and malevolent bat" [during the duelling class].  

Martha said:

>>>McGonagall was there [on the wall outside Privet Drive] because Hagrid
had told her Dumbledore would be >>>there. I think she wanted to hear about
all the rumors going around straight from D.

I think she did too, but I have this crazy idea that McGonagall wasn't being
entirely honest in that first scene with Dumbledore.  Dumbledore asks her:
"I suppose it was [Hagrid] who told you I'd be here?" and McGonagall says
"Yes.."  Earlier in the narrative, it says that she "seemed" to have got the
point she was anxious to discuss - the real reason she had been sitting on
the wall all day, but only "seemed".  She does say, "Why here of all
places?" but she could have been covering up the fact that she knew exactly
where it was, and that she was there for another reason.  

This is my off-the-wall half-cocked theory about why Minerva was on the wall.  

Neil

            Flying-Ford-Anglia

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   "Then, dented, scratched and steaming, 
   the car rumbled off into the darkness, 
   its rear lights blazing angrily"

 [Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]

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