[HPforGrownups] British schoolsystem, second names & 2nd Aunt?

[SALeathem at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 28874

In a message dated 06/11/2001 17:58:09 GMT Standard Time, 
mirzamblack at yahoo.com writes:

<< #1 British schoolsystem
 
 OK, because I'm from Finland, I have to ask something about British 
 schoolsystem. I heard that the is a birthmonth limit with school 
 beginners or something? Here in Finland all who have born in the same 
 year begin their school together. But how is it in UK? I want to know 
 this, because of the birthday of Angelica Johnson in 4th book and 
 Hermione.. >>


School years run from 1 september to the 31 august the following year. If 
you're born in that time frame you'll be in one year.

So, as an example, for me, it was people born between 1 September 1981 & 31 
August 1982. Anyone born in August 81 or September 82 was either above us or 
below us. 

I see no reason why Hogwarts shouldn't follow this, seeing how JKR is 
British, the books were published originally for British schoolchildren, so 
it makes sense that they'd follow the UK rules. But seeing how JKR's never 
said, I guess it lets kids all over the world follow their local rules.

<< #2 Second names

I'm interested in anagrams and that is why I'm asking about second 
names. What do you think? Could Lucius be Draco's second name? Is it 
a common way to name children like that in UK? Or what?>>

Err.. what exactly do you mean? Like Harry James Potter? It's fairly common 
for people over here to have at least 2 first names (like Harry James, or 
er.. Sara Ann.. *embarrased look away*), some have more than 2, others don't 
have a 2nd or middle name (as it's called). Depending on Malfoy family 
tradition Draco could have been Draco Lucius Malfoy, or it might have been 
one of his grandparents that he was named after, or just his parents liked 
another name apart from Draco, so called him Draco .... Also quite common 
when being told off by parents for full name to be used (example: Harry James 
Potter! You get down these stairs RIGHT NOW!!  [major argument over something 
to follow] etc...) I have a friend whose got 4 names (Timothy James Paul 
Dermot) then his surname, and whenever he did/does anything wrong, even now 
as a 20 year old, if his mother finds out she reels off every name. Must be 
quite a mouthful.



I have another question to add. I was half listening to Radio 2 on saturday 
and Jonathon Ross was asking questions for a competition, I missed the entire 
question, but 3 of the answer options were Petunia, Narcissa & Lily. So my 
question was, a) anyone else happen to be listening at the time know if I 
missed some really cool Harry Potter comp? b) Or was it just that Lily, 
Petunia & Narcissa related in the flower world and question related to 
flowers?
This last one of course raises the possiblity that maybe, just maybe, Harry 
has two aunts, Petunia is a squib and his other as yet unknown by him aunty 
is Narcissa Malfoy. 

That was all

Sara