The Scale of Things

[CHRISTOPHER NUTTALL]

No: HPFGUIDX 43288

Hi, All

Am I the only one who has been having doubts about the scale of the
Potterverse?  The size of the Wizarding World and the threat of Voldemort
are
both contradictory.

Lets start with the Wizarding World.  Is it a subset of British society, in
the
sense that its British, not a world wide organisation?  The existence of
other
Wizarding schools suggests that there must be a wizard (pun not intended)
organisation in every county - at least most of them - and the Ministry of
Magic has links with the muggle government.  But for the Wizarding world to
be
so large, the wizards must be at least one percent of the population
(roughly
0.2 million), and Hogwarts does not appear to be large enough to cater for
all
their children.

It has been suggested that Hogwarts does not take every pupil, but they do
send
out invitations to muggle-borns, which suggests that the school is not
exclusive.  All of the wizards seem to be represented there, Malfloy's rub
shoulders with Weasley's, for example.   In which case, there must be other
British Schools, even though canon appears to deny this.

We know that Voldemort is the most powerful wizard - aside perhaps from
Dumbledore - in the Wizarding World, but on what scale does he operate?  Is
he
leading an effective rebellion, such as Oliver Cromwell did, or is he just a
super-powered terrorist?  People in the books were talking about him wanting
to
take over the Wizarding World, but can he do that.  If there are 0.2 million
wizards, he's out numbered heavily and all they have to do is gather
together
at a safe place and crush him.  Can anyone explain these contradictions.

Chris