[HPforGrownups] Why is the bathroom so important in Potterverse?

[GulPlum]

No: HPFGUIDX 47520

At 04:54 01/12/02 +0000, Xandersgirl18 wrote:

>Why is the bathroom so important in Potterverse?

<snip examples>

I suspect it's mainly an in-joke on JKR's part - bodily functions are 
glossed over in just about all fiction (what other books in *any* genre 
mention toilets?) and it's just another little touch which makes the 
Potterverse more real.

The one thing I find strange is that although we've had several mentions of 
toilets and bathrooms, they've never been introduced in their normal 
context. Toilets are where girls go to cry, the prefects' bathroom is where 
Harry goes for a night-time swim (and to decode the egg clue), yet we never 
for instance have a pupil put up a hand in class in need of relieving 
themselves.

Would would happen in a Potions class (which are, I would note, double the 
length, and thus more likely than most to require a break) if someone asked 
Snape to be excused? :-)

--
GulPlum AKA Richard, still desperately trying to catch up and miserably 
falling behind. :-(