How wealthy is Harry Potter? (was Re: Ron's Jealousy of Harry...)

[Milz]

No: HPFGUIDX 16639

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Neil Ward" <neilward at d...> wrote:
> Demelza quoted:
> 
> "No -- don't bother," said Ron, going red.  He was always touchy 
about the
> fact that Harry, who had inherited a small fortune from his 
parents, had
> much more money than he did."
> 
> Penny commented:
> 
> <<<[side note: Rita -- this is JKR referring to the Potter wealth 
as a
> "small fortune" -- it seems you challenged last weekend that it 
might be a
> large fortune.  All a matter of perspective, but JKR does describe 
it here
> as a "small" fortune]>>>
> 
> Interesting.  Perhaps this is a problem with UK to US translation:  
In
> British English, "a small fortune" can, and usually does, mean a 
very large
> fortune, not, as might be assumed, a modest fortune.   Admittedly, 
it's a
> rather confusing use of the word "small," but it is an emphatic 
use, and I
> think JKR intended that phrase to mean that Harry was left a 
massive amount
> of money.
> 
> **
> Oxford Encyclopedic Dictionary: -'small fortune'- [colloq] - great 
wealth; a
> huge sum of money.
> **
> 
> Neil


I agree with you Neil. I think the American English definition of 
a "small fortune" means lots of money too. I've heard it used in that 
context to describe 'modestly' a large amount of money. But there 
could be regional differences too in how it's interpreted.

I have the impression that Harry's money in Gringotts is enough to 
cover tuition, room and board, plus clothing, books, and 
miscellaneous expeditures for 7 years. LOL, for all we know, Harry 
could be as wealthy as the Weasley's, but because the Weasley's money 
is spent on the daily living expenses of Arthur, Molly, the Burrow, 
and the dependent Weasley children, it appears less.

:-)Milz