Wizards, witches, warlocks, and hags ...

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 77875


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--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Rebecca M" <rmatovic at s...> wrote:

> ... when Harry is staying at the Leaky Cauldron ... PoA, ... and
> mentions warlocks and hags ... -- any thoughts on how they might
> differ from witches/wizards? Is there canon on this that I've
> overlooked?
>
> ...edited....
>
> Rebecca

bboy_mm:

This is a question we dealt with recently, but without much resolution.

Wizard or Warlock-
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/73992

It is quite clear that Harry knows a warlock when he sees one, and
they are generally characterized as a little rough and rowdy. I
speculated that it might be a regional/cultural distinction, but even
I admit that it is a little weak.

Points-

Warlock:
- Ernie Macillan can trace his ancestry back through 9 generations of
warlocks.
- there is both -
- - International Confederation of Wizards (SS4, GF17)
- - International Federation of Warlocks (PA3)
- Perkins, who is Mr. Weasley's assistant is a warlock.
- Dumbledore is Chief Warlock.
- in the Leaky Cauldron, Harry sees "wild-looking warlocks".
- In the Three Broomsticks, Harry sees a "bunch of rowdy warlocks".
(from HP Lexicon http://www.hp-lexicon.org/titles.html#Warlock )

I think to draw any information on Hags we have to us formal
definitions and mythology.

Hag n. 1. An old woman considered ugly or frightful. 2.a. A witch; a
sorceress. b. Obsolete. A female demon (Am Heritage Dic)

I think the female demon is probably the most significant as I don't
think Hags are considered very nice people. In mythology, the only
thing I really know about Hags is that they typically eat children.

Note that the Hag in the Leaky Cauldron orders a plate of RAW liver.

Having said all that and what I said in my previous posts, I have to
add that I don't think we really know what the distinction is.

Just a thought.
bboy_mn