Muggle Studies, Aunt Petunia a Witch? and Other Things...

[meboriqua at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 14680

Hmmm, I've just been reading all the posts that I missed while I was 
at work :-( .  I have many responses...

Okay, in relation to all the postings about how witches and wizards 
get educated when they are young and if they study Muggle subjects, I 
was wondering why the magical world celebrated holidays like Halloween 
and Christmas.  Does magical history cross with Muggle history, or 
shouldn't they have their own holidays?  Does that mean that all 
witches and wizards are Christian?  Just a thought.

Now, if Dudley might somehow be able to use a wand (or so we 
speculate), isn't it also possible that Aunt Petunia is really a 
witch, and has always been one?  Perhaps she is part of what protects 
Harry from Voldie while he isn't at Hogwarts.  Perhaps also her hatred 
of magic is all an act (much like Moody was a fake, Scabbers wasn't a 
real rat and Sirius wasn't a murderer).

Snapey - how can he be against dark wizards yet do such potentially 
harmful things at the same time?  He was ready to send Sirius to the 
dementors and in GoF he wouldn't let Harry talk to Dumbledore when 
Crouch Sr turned up at Hogwarts and Harry was so clearly panicking 
(which he doesn't do too often).  Once again, I am reminded of how 
complex a character Snape is.  He's a bad good guy, kind of like the 
person you work with and hate but have to respect because they are so 
good at what they do and will work with you very well if necessary.  I 
don't see Snape as any kind of father figure, but more as a part of 
the motif throughout the series that "things are not what they seem to 
be".  We cannot take Snape at face value, but must examine him on 
various levels.  There is also no proof that he wanted the DADA 
position, but where did the ever lasting rumor come from?

Sorry for rambling - just love to talk about HP!

--