Knight Bus and Electricity (Was: Muggle traditions at Hogwarts? (Was - Re:

[bluesqueak]

No: HPFGUIDX 79088

> 
> James wrote:
> Ok I accept that harry likes the WW and wants to use its artefacts 
> butwhen he is in risk of serious trouble if he spills ink then a
> biro/ballpoint/pencil/fountain-pen would be safer.
> 

Unless, of course, Hogwarts school rules don't *allow* Harry to 
write school essays with anything other than a quill.

Entirely possible. You can tell the difference between quill written 
and fountain pen written. Biro (ball point pen) is even easier to 
spot. If the Wizarding World uses quills and looks down on those 
muggle born who know what a biro is and how to use it, they might 
insist on 'quill-written essays'. That way, they know their students 
have learnt to use a quill properly.

One of my schools did something similar. After a certain point, 
pencil was not allowed (learn to use ink). After a higher point, 
anything other than a black or blue ink pen was not allowed (learn 
to use fountain pen). The only place you could use biro's were mock 
exams/exams, where speed was essential.

They weren't being stupid, just making sure that we could write with 
the 'upper class' fountain pen if we needed to. Hogwarts might have 
a 'quill' rule for similar reasons - so their muggle born students 
don't give themselves away to the nearest DE whenever they pick up a 
pen ;-)

Pip!Squeak