How Twenty is Twenty?

[Grey Wolf]

No: HPFGUIDX 46565

Jazmyn wrote:
> I hope people realize that a 'double class' means twice as LONG, not
> double the students.. All the classes seem to have two houses at a time
> represented in them.  

Nope, in that context, double class was meant as two-groups class (although I 
agree that terminology could've been clearer). There are clases that are 
taught at each house and year on their own. The most obvious are DADA 
(Defence Against Dark Arts), Transfiguration, Charms and History, as well as 
(possibly) Divination. On the "double" type we get CoMC (Care of Magical 
Creatures),  Herbology and Potions (as well as the flying lessons). 

Potions is, very probably, also twice as long, which is what would be 
described in the books as "double" lesson.

> Notice that not all students take all classes each term. Harry and Ron don't
> take Arithmancy and Hermione refuses to take Divination, for example.
> So numbers of students per class is not a good way to figure total
> numbers either.  They obviously only take each class, maybe once per
> week, as noted they did not have Moody's class till Thursday and it was
> the first day they were talking about it.

Again, that is not exact: those lessons that not everyone takes are optional 
classes, chosen by them at the end of the second year. On the other hand, the 
lessons we use for these numbers are the main ones, that they take since first 
year and are *not* optional, and everyone takes them. Also, clever listees 
have figured out how many classes they have of each lesson per week, and 
DADA with Moody was on Thursdays and Fridays (you'll have to search for 
the archives for the reasoning, though).

> There are likely a load of classes we never heard about at all yet.  We
> may only be seeing the tip of an iceberg. Why don't all the hidden
> teachers sit at the staff table?  Well, the history professor doesn't..
> the Muggle Studies Professor and Ancient Runes Professors are never
> mentioned sitting there either. 
>
> Jazmyn

While we cannot discount that there are missing teachers from the main hall 
just like Binns and Trelawney, the excuses wear a bit thin for each of them. 
Those two you mention have not been pointed out because Harry doesn't 
know them, or because they were sitting on the left side of the table in the 
choosing ceremony in GoF.

I personally discount that there are lessons Harry hasn't told us about. After 4 
years, I find it hard to believe that he has ignored every single lesson, 
homework and exam of a class. 

Hope that helps,

Grey Wolf, whose views on this thread can be found at #43367, when Steve 
last brought up this up, and is not going to repeat himself.