[HPforGrownups] Re: Why the Knight Bus?

[James P. Robinson III]

No: HPFGUIDX 45772


>--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Susan Miller" <smiller_92407 at y...> wrote:
> > Presumably, all adult wizards can apparate.

I do not think we can presume this.  Apparition is regulated and requires a 
qualification test.  I think it is reasonable to assume that the test 
requires a certain level of education.  As I do NOT believe that all 
wizards attend Hogwarts (or a similar school), I do not believe that all 
adult wizard could pass the apparition test.

>Or is this something
>that
> > is only available to those who can prove skill and qualify for a
> > license? Well, that is maybe the subject of another post.  Anyway,
> > assuming that all adults can apparate, you would think that they
> > could apparate to any destination that the bus could go, even if it
> > might take several hops. And it would seem to me that apparating to
>a
> > destination would be quicker than going by bus. Otherwise, there is
> > Floo powder, broomsticks, and even magic motorcycles, not to
>mention
> > the train.
><snip>
> > ~ Constance Vigilance

I believe that there is **horrors** a class distinction involved in who 
would utilize the Knight Bus and who would apparate or use floo powder.  In 
Nancy Mitford terms, apparition (which requires education and 
qualification) and floo powder (which requires a fireplace and money spent 
on the powder itself) are U while the (free) Knight Bus is non-U.  If the 
Knight Bus were a common way for wizards (of the class whose children go to 
Hogwarts) to get around, it is rather odd that Harry had never heard of it 
at all in two years at Hogwarts, but then I continue to believe that most 
of the students at Hogwarts are either U or from muggle backgrounds, and 
neither would have typically ridden the Knight Bus.

                                                         Jim