[HPforGrownups] Help! McGonagall's book of babies born with magical powers

[Amanda Lewanski]

No: HPFGUIDX 12386

Doreen Rich wrote:

> I am trying to find the reference to the book or scroll in which it is
> written which babies are born with magical powers and upon their
> eleventh birthdays, get sent invitations to Hogwarts.
>
> I know this is referred to at least once, if not twice.

Found it! Found it! And damn you for asking a question like this, that I
*had* to find the answer to, on a night when I got the kids to bed early
and could have crashed early myself!

(1)
Message #9707 states (in part, at the end):

I agree with Meg.  In one of the online chats with JKR on Scholastic.com
(the transcripts are printed there), JKR says,"In Hogwarts there's a
magical quill which detects the birth of a magical child, and writes his
or her name down in a large parchment book.  Every year Professor
MacGonagall checks the book, and sends owls to the people who are
turning 11."  This would seem to indicate that there is not a set number
of students for each class or each house.  It just depends how many
magical kids are born each year and then turn 11 and get their owl.
Also, if there are close to 1,000 students (which JKR said in the same
chat) it is quite possible Harry only mentions the kids he knows by name
-- I doubt he would know all 1,000 by name, eh?

This is my theory. Rip it to shreds as you will:)

Amy Johnston

(2)
And here's the URL of the transcript of the chat, too:

http://www.scholastic.com/harrypotter/author/transcript1.htm

because it's kind of fun to read, anyway. AND she refers offhand to a
character "John Weasley," whom I'm betting is Arthur in a previous
editorial incarnation...whatcha think? Or mayhap it's Ron and a typo?

--Amanda, no life, no sleep, but always dishes and laundry


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