[HPforGrownups] Lily's Sister, Petunia

[manawydan]

No: HPFGUIDX 77990

madeyesgal:
>Me, again... this brings me to another question. Both of Hermoine's
>parents were muggles. How did they know about the WW? Did Hermoine
>read about the WW in a book, apply for a scholarship to Hogwarts
>through some sort of spell she found? Frankly, if my daughter had
>received a letter from a Witchcraft and Wizardry School, I'd have
>tossed it into the trash as a joke or fraud. Why did they pay
>attention? Why did any of the muggle parents pay attention?

I think the letter is different, depending on the parental circumstances. If
the parents know about the WW, it's a different letter from the one that
pure Muggles get - there would have to be more information about the school,
how to do things like getting hold of the required clothes and supplies,
getting on to platform 9.75, keeping in touch by owl, and other things that
Muggle parents of a Hogwarts student would need to know. There may well be
an extra book for the student too, just to get them au fait with what
happens in the WW.

Harry, of course, being of wizard parents, doesn't get the muggle letter,
which explains his culture shock (as well of course as giving JKR the
necessary opportunity of explaining the way the WW works!)

But - and it's an important but - I also think that the letter to Muggle
parents has some sort of charm attached, which constrains the parents not to
question or object to the Hogwarts place, not to draw attention to the fact
that their child is in a wizard school, and also protects them from nosy
friends and family who might want to know what little Hermione is doing as
school.

It keeps "The Secret".

Cheers

Ffred

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