Hogwarts population

[rlpenar at yahoo.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 9592

--- In HPforGrownups at egroups.com, "milz " <absinthe at m...> wrote:
>  Steve Vander Ark  wrote:
> > --- In HPforGrownups at egroups.com, Barbara Morgenroth 
> > <squeakinby at e...> wrote:
> > > Sorry if this has been asked before.
> > 
> > It has, actually. And it's been discussed a lot. And we're still 
not 
> > sure. 
> > 
> > > 
> > > How many students are attending Hogwarts?
> > 
> > JKR says about a thousand. Some of us (myself included) have the 
> > audacity to think she's wrong ;)
> > 
> > > 
> > > How many tables are in the Great Hall?  It always sounds like 
just 
> > 4 plus
> > > the teachers' table.
> > 
> > Yep, there are four, plus the teacher's table. Slytherin is 
nearest 
> > the door, then Ravenclaw, then Hufflepuff, then Gryffindor. In 
case 
> > you're curious, the teachers' table is almost certainly on the 
left 
> > as you come in, with a door behind it and almost to the far wall 
> that 
> > leads to a smaller chamber with a fireplace and a lot of 
paintings, 
> > including one of the Fat Lady's friend Violet.
> > 
> > Oh, and there are only FOUR tables in the kitchens. So where does 
> the 
> > food come from that goes up to the teachers' table?
> > 
> > Steve Vander Ark
> 
> Maybe the House Elves use the Teacher's Table in the kitchen as a 
> prep-station and with it being conveniently topped with pans, 
> chopping boards, etc during Harry's visit, it probably wasn't 
noticed? 
> 
> About the number of students, it could be that Harry's year is 
smaller 
> than the others. I think Ron made a comment about how it will be if 
> Ginny ever met Colin Creevy. Colin and Ginny are in the same year 
and 
> in the same house. So the only way I can see them not knowing each 
> other is if they aren't taking the same classes, or if there's a 
lot 
> of other Gryffindor's in their year.
> 
> Milz

Disclaimer: the following individual is new to the group and new to 
the HP obsession, so please forgive her naivete....

It seems to me that there is come conflict in the way the JKR refers 
to the number of students. At times, she makes it seem as though 
there are dozens of Gryffindors (I cannot think of exact example, and 
I'm not obsessed to the point of bringing my books to work with 
me:)), other times (such as when referring to the dormitories), it is 
a small number.  I am reminded of when Harry gets back to school at 
the beginning of CoS and he goes up to his dormitory, which houses 
the 2nd year boys (he notices that the sign has been changed to 
read "2nd years"). There are only the 5 four-posters in the room. Is 
there ever any other mention of a boy in Harry's class other than 
these 5?

Becky