HP and similarities to other books

[rosabella_rb]

No: HPFGUIDX 37081

In exactly what sense where the two books similar?
And speaking of similarities, the first time I read HP it seemed 
extremely similar to "The Worst Witch" books (I can't remember the 
author's name...anybody does) which I read more than 10 years ago. A 
school for witches (an all girl's school) which is also a castle, a 
main character (female called Mildred) who is always breaking the 
rules and getting in trouble (but she's way more innocent and with 
worse luck than HP...he kind of reminds me of Neville), a dreaded 
teacher with dark hair and a long nose (called Miss Hardbroom, who 
reminds me suspiciously of Snape), Mildred's archenemy is a girl with 
blonde hair called Ethel (Draco anyone? only in this book Ethel is 
top of the class)...
but my point is, I don't think Rowling intentionally pinched 
anybodies ideas, perhaps she did read a lot and a lot of what she 
read ended up spilling into her plot...