Muggle Hogwarts Notification and Attendance Options (WAS: Contacting parents)

[erisedstraeh2002]

No: HPFGUIDX 55980

Darrin asked:
 
> Do Muggles just get owls notifying them of their children's 
> abilities? And if so, do they just automatically send their kid to 
> a wizarding school on the strength of that letter? 

Now me:

Welcome back, Darrin!

In Ch. 6 of PS/SS, Hermione tells Ron and Harry "...it was ever such 
a surprise when I got my letter..."  And in Ch. 6 of CoS, Colin tells 
Harry "I never knew all the odd stuff I could do was magic till I got 
the letter from Hogwarts."  So while it's not clear whether these 
Muggle-born wizards received their letters by owl or by regular mail, 
what is clear is that they found out about their Hogwarts acceptance 
by letter.  There's no mention of a personal visit by anyone from the 
Hogwarts staff.

We do have to suspend disbelief a bit to accept that a family would 
send their child off to a wizarding school based solely on receipt of 
such a letter, however!

Darrin again:

> And, can a set of Muggle parents or guardians refuse to send their 
> child to Hogwarts, like Vernon wanted to do? 

Me again:

Since Justin Finch-Fletchley tells HRH in Ch. 6 of CoS: "My name was 
down for Eton, you know, I can't tell you how glad I am I came here 
instead", I've always assumed that going to Hogwarts is an option 
rather than a mandate.  For everyone except Harry, of course.  Harry 
is obviously special and it's clear that he's destined for something 
great, so I don't think Dumbledore could allow the Dursleys to choose 
not to send Harry to Hogwarts.  I also don't think Dumbledore views 
the Dursleys as Harry's true family.  I think Dumbledore treats the 
Dursleys as a means to an end - through ancient magic, they protect 
Harry when he lives with them.  But he's not going to let the 
Dursleys get in the way of Harry's destiny by forbidding Harry to 
attend Hogwarts.

~Phyllis