[HPforGrownups] Other magic trains, was Re: Muggle Places

[Pam Hugonnet]

No: HPFGUIDX 18053



Steve Vander Ark wrote:

> This is an interesting point, though. I believe it was discussed on
> here once upon a time. But why in the world did Molly Weasley have to
> ask which platform it was? She'd sent her kids off to Hogwarts year
> after year since who knows when. She sounds like it's all new to her,
> or that she'd forgotten over the summer.
>
> 1) did they change the platform recently?
> 2) did they change the mode of transport recently?
> 3) is she just being playful or teasing with Ginny, pretending to
> forget since Ginny was so excited?
>
> It's actually an example of how JKR's world wasn't fully developed in
> that detail yet when she wrote PS/SS.
>

Actually, I think it's a little more benign (mundane?) than that.  It's
a trick or game that parents use with their kids, just to focus on the
task or to make it a little more fun.  Molly was simply asking  a
question that she already knew the answer to probably to give Ginny a
chance to feel connected to the situation.  I often play "Where's  the
house?"---I drive past our house or around the block while the kids
shout out directions--or "Where's the car?"--same idea as we're walking
through the parking lot.  The kids think it's a blast to "know"
something I don't.  I think this is JKR's way of establishing Molly as a
mother figure in the books.  All mom's of young kids know this trick and
all the young kids I've talked to about the books know this trick too.
Having Molly do it makes her a bit more "real."

drpam