Untackled (?) Questions

[grey_wolf_c]

No: HPFGUIDX 32668

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Ronald Rae Yu <ickle_ronniekins at y...> wrote:
> Hi! I'm Ronald Yu, and I'm new here.

Wellcome! I'm Grey Wolf

> And since I'm new, forgive me if I ask questions
> already discussed before. I've searched these already
> in HP sites but none seem to tackle them (or maybe I
> didn't search well). Well, I'm sure somebody somewhere
> have asked himself some of these before. And I'm sure
> there are other newbies here as well.

Try the Lexicon: almost everything can be found there:
http://www.i2k.com/~svderark/lexicon/
 
> How did Myrtle die if she wears glasses (Colin was
> petrified using the camera)?

I assume that the lenses didn't protect Colin; the film did (in the 
same way people use photographic film to look at the sun eclipses)
 
> How did ghosts take their clothes and glasses with
> them when they died?

If you've seen the film "The Matrix", it's exactly the same reason they 
are wearing heir clothes and long hair when inside the Matrix.

> In book 3, Quidditch Final, Lee comments on the beater
> work of George Weasley. How could he have known it was
> HIM (not Fred)? I mean, flying at top speed and
> everything, he recognized George.

Posibly, each of the twins is devoted to one half of the pitch (like in 
football), and Lee knows about it. Also, it's possible that they are 
wearing numbers in their backs.
 
> What's the use of the first two tasks if the champion
> who reaches the Triwizard Cup first wins?

The less points you have, the later you enter the maze.
 
> Why not use Veritaserum or the Pensieve as evidences
> for Harry's account at the end of book 4? And to clear
> Sirius as well.

For the same reason Truth-inducing serums (like Sodium Penthothal) 
aren't used in the real world (whatever that reason may be!)
 
> Why do the Hogwarts electives have such impossible
> schedules? I mean, if you have the option of taking as
> much classes as you can, they should make the schedule
> possible to follow without time-turners.

They don't: Hermione is a VERY special case: she's allowed to take that 
many classes because she's a very good student.
 
> And since you have options of electives they should
> not be scheduled by house (Care of Magical Creatures
> with the Slytherins).

Maybe they believe that there should be more than 10 people in each 
class to make it worthwhile (I know that's the case in my University), 
so when the House numbers are too small, they have to put two together.
 
> With Arithmancy and Divination taking place
> simultaneously, is Hermione the only Gryffindor (in
> her year) in Arithmancy? Everyone else is in
> Divination.

Posibly. It seems like "science" people get into Ravenclaw, while the 
others get into any other house.
 
> Why not Snape go for DADA? What's stopping him?

I believe he doesn't want it - it's just a baseless rumour. Read about 
it in December's posts (last two weeks or so)
 
> Why do wizards still use owls for messages? Frankly,
> phones are faster; they should at least try to adapt
> to muggle ways.

They're not faster than using the fire, and owls can find anyone, 
without need of postal directions or adress. They will follow you even 
if you're moving (HP receives a letter of Sirius in the train, if I 
remeber correctly)
 
> Why are there 4-5 quidditch players in Fred and
> George's batch (them, Alicia, and Angelina, and likely
> but not positively, Katie)? Is their year really that
> good?

It looks like it is, certainly.
 
> What's the big fuss in not being able to apparate or
> disapparate within Hogwarts? One could make a portkey
> anytime and portkey himself in or out of the grounds.

Maybe portkeyes can go out from Hogwarts and back, or whatever magic 
stops aparating at Hogwarts was suspended during the last phase of the 
tournament. It's interesting to mention that house elves have unlimited 
aparating capabilities, though.
 
> No one ever seems to mind or at least notice (even
> Harry) that Oct. 31 is not only Nick's deathday but
> also James's and Lily's.

Someone asked: HP has no idea of what day were his parents killed (I 
think). Hermione posibly knows (it surely comes in "Great Wizards of 
the 20th Century"), but she hasn't got around to telling him yet.

> Where are the dead bodies of James and Lily?

Buried, hopefully.

> If house elves don't want pay the Weasleys could get
> one anytime. Why don't they? Molly wants one.

House elves are slaves, and slaves are expensive, even if, once bought, 
you don't have to pay them. In ancient Rome, only families with at 
least moderate income could buy and mantain slaves. I assume house 
elves is more or less the same, but even more expensive.
 
> If you live in Hogsmeade it would make perfect sense
> NOT to take the Hogwarts Express to Hogwarts. Do all
> students need to ride it to school?

Probably not. If you live in Hogsmeade, you get to get up later the 
first day, and sooner the rest of the year, as in any other boarding 
school which allows children from nearby places to go to sleep to their 
homes
 
> If Voldie couldn't kill Harry with his wand he could
> have done so anytime with a gun or something.

That's assuming that Voldie HAS a gun, and KNOWS how to use it. England 
is not the USA: weapons are mostly illegal, are hard to come buy, 
tightly controlled and people aren't traditionally trained in their use 
(much less wizards). From a wizard's point of view, anyway, muggle 
objects are useless compared to the posibilities of magic
 
> Do Quaffles move on their own? There's at least one
> instance when it fell, but in the World Cup it
> rocketed upwards when it was released.

According to "Quidditch Over the Ages", Quaffles fall very slowly 
towards earth (such as a feather), but that is the only magic on 
movement. I assume that the referee used some incantation to throw it 
into the air.
 
> Why could they talk to paintings and not to photos? It
> is more likely to be the other way around, since
> photos are based on real people.

Paintings take longer, so there is time to put more enchantments on 
them.
 
Hope that helped,

Grey Wolf