Robes with crests

[pengolodh_sc at yahoo.no]

No: HPFGUIDX 27498

--- In HPforGrownups, Aylihael wrote:
> In a message dated 10/9/01 9:59:43 AM, Steve Vander Ark writes:
> > The incident in question isn't the spare robes. It's the fact
> > that Harry and Ron didn't know that Penelope was a Ravenclaw
> > on sight.  They would have known that if she had been wearing
> > all the house-specific stuff we see in the movie.
> 
> Ah, but it's Christmas break during CoS Polyjuice potion time--
> students are in their civilian clothes (SS: Fred and George
> frog-marching Percy in the Weasley jumpers/sweaters to
> Christmas dinner) and Penelope could (italicized)  have been
> in "casual wear". 

(I changed the formatting a bit, to make it easier to separate one 
quoted message from the other)

But are students allowed to wear casual clothes outside of the Common 
Room?  We know that Crabbe and Goyle must have been wearing robes, 
and that Harry, Ron and Hermione must have been able to count on 
Crabbe and Goyle wearing robes, and tHarry wore robes himself prior 
to taking the polyjuice (from the middle of Chapter Twelve:  The 
Polyjuice Potion:  "....; his robes ripped as his chest expanded like 
a barrel bursting its hoops; ....".  If Crabbe and Goyle had not been 
wearing robes initially, then dressing out in robes when polyjuiced 
as them might have clued in Draco that something was amiss.

Regarding Penelope, on the other hand, she apparently wasn't wearing 
anything house-specific, as the context in the book indicates that 
she was facing Harry and Ron when first appearing, and they still 
didn't recognise her house (or that she was a prefect) (from Chapter 
Twelve: The Polyjuice Potion, two pages later):

"'The Slytherins always come up to breakfast from there,' said Ron, 
nodding at the entrance to the dungeons.  The words had barely left 
his mouth when a girl with long curly hair emerged from the entrance.

'Excuse me,' said Ron, hurrying up to her, 'we've forgotten the way 
to our common room.'"

Interestingly, while I always have (and still will) supported the 
notion of closed robes, akin to a monk's cowl, this chapter includes 
what may be a hint towards an open style robe, as seen in the movie.  
While Harry quite clearly wears his robes, Malfoy must have seen his 
new jumper, as he made loud snide remarks about it during Christmas 
dinner that same evening.

Still, I will continue arguing that the majority of evidence given in 
the books directly or indirectly points to closed robes.  The most 
important bit is to me the day when Harry first wears a robe - at 
Madame Malkin's Robes for All Occasions.  When she puts on the robe 
to fit him, it has to be sliped over his head, which seems rather 
unnatural if it is an open robe.  

There is also the fact that there never has been any mention of other 
parts of the uniform than the robes and cloaks - not even in Harry's 
visit to Madam Malkin's.  My impression of the English school-uniform 
is that anything visible that you wear must be part of the uniform as 
detailed in the regulations, with a possible exception for socks.  
Thus the T-shirt and shorts/briefs that a boy would wear (my 
knowledge of English nomenclature with regards to female clothing is 
rather limited, so I'll stick to boys) would be of whatever style 
he'd like them to be (Scooby-Doo, Irish Charms, etc.), while 
trousers, shirts and jumpers, would have to be of a specific style 
(and available in such and such shop).

Regarding the issue of identifying students from different houses, I 
think the present solution, with badges with the coats of arms (and 
they are not called crests - a crest is a figure/device placed on top 
of the helmet which is part of a coat of arms), works fine.  We know 
that prefects and head boys and head girls wear badges, so it seems a 
natural extension.

Best regards
Christian Stubø
who has a weirdness-factor of 38%, and suspects that 1500 people have 
joined this group since the last time he posted.