floo travel, fireplace communication, secret tunnels

[bboy_mn]

No: HPFGUIDX 41160

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "kiricat2001" <Zarleycat at a...> wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at y..., "N Fry" <nmfry at h...> wrote:
> <snip>
> 
... gigantic edit ... ... ...
> 
> > OTOH, if it is already on the comm. network, why 
> >don't more families keep in  touch with their kids 
> >this way. There are multiple descriptions of the owls 
> >delivering mail, yet we never see anyone pulling a 
> >chair up to the common room fireplace to have a nice 
> >chat with mom.
> 

kiricat2001/Zarleycat Replied:
> Yes, one wonders.  Perhaps there is a school rule - 
> "Except in dire emergencies, parents will communicate 
> with their children via owl post."  
> 


Picture this-
It's a dark and stormy night, you are young and away from home, and
away from your parents constant gaze for the first time in your life.
You have hundreds of new friends, unbelievable new exciting things to
learn, wonderful new adventures, a whole new exciting wonderful world
around you (Quidditch, forbidden forest, Hogmead, Tri-Wizard
Tournament, dragons, Hypo-Griphs, half-giants, squid in the lake,
etc...); are you really that interested in calling home? 

Think about when you went to college. First week, you phoned Mom
twice,  the next month you phone Mom twice, for the remainder of the
school year, you phone Mom twice and said 'having a great time, send
money; see this summer'. 

I'm pretty sure that even if the Floo communicaton network was
available, not too many student are going to want to sit around the
commons room with all their friends watching while they talk to their
mommy. Plus, you probably have to have your own supply of Floo powder;
sort of like a prepaid phone card.

It would also seem very reasonable that since they have taken so many
precautions to safeguard access to Hogwarts, they would have covered
the Floo Travel Network. 

BBOY_MN