small wonderings

[bess_va at lycos.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 20715

Hi y'all, I'm new to this list (and I'm also the world's worst 
speller), and have a few small questions. 

1.) how does Ron get to keep Pig when he returns home for the summer? 
If I'd brought home a new, resonably expensive, 'thing' from school, 
my mom and dad would have asked a lot of questions.  How does Ron 
explain this to his folks?  Ron's a terrible liar, it not as if he'd 
mentioned Pig previously to his family in letters home ("Dear Mum and 
Dad, Harry gave me a great mini-owl for Christmas...").  His parents 
aren't clued into Sirius' redemption until the end of GoF, so telling 
them the truth is out.  (Love to envision that potential scene..."Well 
 Mom, you remember Harry's godfather Sirius Black...?"

2.) How do Fred and George design/develop their pranks if they're not 
allowed to use magic during the vacations? Loud explosions are heard 
from their rooms and we're introduced to the toffee at the end of a 
summer vacation.  Why haven't they gotten into trouble with the MOM?

3.) where are Lily's girlfriends?  and particularly, where's Harry's 
godmother?  JKR makes a distinction between Sirius being both Harry's 
godfather and guardian.  I took that to mean Sirius was Harry's 
*religious* godfather.  Sirius would have taken the role at Harry's 
baptism and been responsible for overseeing Harry's religious 
education should his parents not been able to take care of it.  
It (godfather) would not just be an honorary title that some people 
use, kindof like an honorary Aunt or Uncle.  And Sirius was appointed 
*legal* guardian should anything happen to his folks.  It's my 
understanding that if there's a godfather, there's usually a godmother 
(only know this second-hand, my religious denomination doesn't "do" 
godparents).  True, she may have passed on during the time of terror, 
but other than Hagrid's collecting photos of Lily and James from 
unnamed "friends", we don't know anything about Lily's friends.  Was 
she like Hermione and just hung with the boys? (but she didn't 
participate in the monthly rambles).

thanks for considering my questions, Bess