Pre-Hogwarts - Hermione - Percy-Harry-Clubs

[catherine at cator-manor.demon.co.uk]

No: HPFGUIDX 26544

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Amy Z" <aiz24 at h...> wrote:
> Ebony wrote:
> 
> > While some of the children might be homeschooled, I think there is
> > subtext in canon to prove that some sort of pre-secondary 
wizarding
> > education exists.  Haven't we mentioned that some of the students
> > seem to know each other?
> 
> This is a suggestion I don't remember.  Which students seem to know 
> each other, aside from Draco, Crabbe and Goyle?  Those are the only 
> ones I recall showing any prior knowledge of each other, and it 
seems 
> easily explained by their dads being . . . chums.  Draco's friendly 
> little introductory comment also shows he knows about Ron's family 
but 
> also shows that he has never met him before.

I can't remember who suggested it, and I am feeling too lazy to 
search the archives for the message (so apologies to whoever came up 
with this) but it was suggested some time ago that an example of this 
could have been during the first flying lesson:

"Sticking up for Longbottom?" said Pansy Parkinson, a hard-faced 
Slytherin girl.  "Never thought you'd like fat little crybabies, 
Parvati."

It's the "never" which does indicate that they knew oneanother prior 
to Hogwarts.  Whether this is indicative of wizarding primary school 
I don't know - it does seem, however, more likely than unlikely that 
some of the children should know oneanother before Hogwarts, because 
surely their parents socialise?




> Ebony again:
> 
> > I don't think Hermione shows off in the beginning because her ego 
is
> > big.  I think she is a bit insecure and feels as if she needs to
> > showcase her knowledge to prove her worth 
> 
Hear!  Hear!  (Or is it Here!  Here! - I get confused everytime I 
decide to write this and so usually don't bother).  You know how I 
feel about Hermione, Eb, and like many others on the list, I feel as 
though she *is* me, so I too, am already a paid up member of 
S.C.H.A.B.B.    Ditto P.I.N.E. - I think in several respects Percy 
and Hermione are very alike, and I do not think he is evil, just 
insecure, needy and quite sweet.  He cares very much for his family, 
and if this is sometimes portrayed as bossiness and interfering, 
well, so be it, but his heart's in the right place.

One aside, regarding Hermione knowing the answer - I have to say that 
I was like her as a child in that respect.  When I went to college, 
it became embarrassing always piping up, and I stopped, until I was 
sure that no one else knew the answer or were prepared to say 
anything.  However, I quickly learned that there is nothing worse 
than sitting in a class or seminar when no one says anything and the 
professor is really struggling to get any participation from his 
students.  So, I started answering again.  I am sure that if Hermione 
hasn't gone through this already, she will do eventually.

Harry:  again, like Jenny and Ebony, I will always come out and say 
that I would rather talk about Harry than Snape (and Ron or anyone 
else for that matter) anytime.  No one ever seems to want to though, 
as was shown in the last Harry week.  Perhaps because most of us feel 
the same way about him we don't feel the need to argue our cause so 
much?  This is unlike most of the other characters - for example, Ron 
week was extended as it became so controversial - people really do 
seem to love or hate him.  

  Anyway, acronyms for a Harry club - very difficult:      How about 
Support Harry (It's The Best Option )Now   (S.H.I.T.B.O.N)..(Sorry.)
 

Anyway, I'm prepared to be a member of more or less everything except 
C.R.A.B.

Catherine

> --------------------------------------------------------------------
--
>  "I say to you all, once again--in the light of Lord Voldemort's  
>  return, we are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are  
>  divided.
>    "Lord Voldemort's gift for spreading discord and enmity is very
>  great.  We can fight it only by showing an equally strong bond of
>  friendship and trust.  Differences of habit and language are 
nothing 
>  at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open."
>                                                -Albus Dumbledore  
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
--