Number of Students at Hogwarts

[losangelis]

No: HPFGUIDX 75592

> 
silmariel:  I count eleven. Do you think there is time in the few 
pauses to sort 89 more 
 children, even at a 30 seconds each rate? But please refute me, I've 
got a 
translated copy so I can't know for certain the exact timing.

Me:  Oh, trust me, I'm not taking my theory that seriously at all.  I 
found that particular website interesting, and we've tended to err on 
the side that all houses are created equal...that is, they will all 
have about the same amount of people per house, per year.  The 
temperament sorter shows that certain personalities are more 
prevalent than others.

If you take the Hufflepuff/Guardians, it could be supposed that most 
people in the population (45%) fit this particular "house".  In other 
words, these are the honest people of the world...good people, 
friends, workers, and businessowners.  These aren't the people out to 
change the world, just out to do their fair share and take care of 
themselves and their own.  

Conversely, the Slytherin/Artisans are outgoing people who are 
sensation-based...they want their rewards for their efforts now.  
They hunger to impact others and may be the cynics of the group.  
>From our experiences with Slytherins in canon, most Slytherins have 
few redeeming qualities, or even redeeming people.  However, this 
shows that people can be "slytheriney" without being evil...they are 
the ones who are looking for more immediate rewards and pleasures.

The Gryffindor/Idealist traits have been, of course, pummeled to 
death in 
conversation on this and other forums.  Idealists are diplomatic 
leaders, searching for identity and relationships.  The website 
doesn't 
comment on the work habits of the Idealists, except that they tend to 
work with people, either in a teacher role, or take on strong 
political roles.  It makes sense to me that, in society, Idealists 
are rare, and that an overabundance of idealists might make a drastic 
change in the balance of society.  These are our leaders...and too 
many cooks spoil the broth.

The Ravenclaw/Rational was the one that surprised me the most with 
the small numbers.  These are the abstract communicators, autonomous 
studiers of knowledge.  They are the skeptics of the group, looking 
for reason and explanation.  I really thought their numbers would be 
higher.

So let's think a little bit.  Let's say these percentages 
(45/40/10/5) are true in the muggle world, but perhaps a little 
closer in the wizarding world.  Perhaps there are more aspiring to be 
Ravenclaw-ish with rewards coming to those who know their spells and 
who have gained OWLs and NEWTs.  And, with the Dark Wizards in the 
midst, there are a 
higher number of Gryffindor-ish folk around also (in the muggle 
world, evil doesn't exactly reveal itself quite so obviously as the 
wizarding world).

Let's say that the percentages in the Wizworld are more 
35H/30S/20G/15R.  We could possibly theorize that the Hufflepuffs, 
who "rarely get attention" (GoF) and are occasionally called "thick" 
by Ron (Justin and Cedric), may truly be the "leftovers" (no offense 
to any Hufflepuffs out there), and therefore don't score as many 
house points as the other houses.  Slytherin may indeed score wildly, 
but most professors other than Snape catch them and take away points 
as needed, when they are cheating or doing other things to "get 
ahead".  One would guess that Ravenclaws, if they are such academic 
types (and Hogwarts IS a school), can make up their house points with 
performance during classes despite their lesser numbers.  And 
Gryffindor may do the same with the bold and honorable behavior.

This would still back up my point (that I really am not trying that 
hard to defend...it's mostly in fun observation) that Harry's class 
may a) be smaller than other Gryffindor classes due to LV's 
activities, and b) may be a smaller subsection of the total 
population of the wizarding world.  Thus, if there are even double 
the number of Hufflepuffs as Gryffindors, it goes a bit closer (along 
with so many other decent theories I've read on this list) to 
explaining JKR's "1000 student" quote.

Just thinking aloud.  :-)

Wiley o' Ravenclaw