Quirrel and Scandinavia?

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 87538

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Berit Jakobsen" <belijako at o...>
wrote:
> Susan wrote:
> 
> > I was re-reading SS/PS lately and noticed that Quirrel seems to
> > have at least some contact with Scandinavia. 
> > 
> > ...edited...
> > 
> > Do any of our Northern readers have any other information that
> > might connect Quirrel with a northern country or with Durmstrang?
> 


> Berit replies:
> 
> ...edited... Also the mentioning of high mountains, lakes and a 
> harsh, cold climate + very short days in the winter fit well. The 
> only problem I have ...with Durmstrang being in Norway are the
> Slavic sounding names that you mention. 
>
> ...edited...
> 
> Berit

bboy_mn:

JKR said in an interview that Durmstrang is in Scandinavia. Several of
us have spent many hour gazing at our maps trying to determine the
most likely location.

So, get out your European/Scandinavian maps and look for a very large
sparsely inhabited Russian peninsula to the north east of Finland. I
believe the largest city in that area is something like 'Murmansk'
(sorry, away from home, don't have my reference books). This is the
only area that seems to fit all the available information.  All of the
other Eastern European cities are too far south or simply don't fit
the description. 

One does wonder though if Scandinavian countries have their own
schools of magic. Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang are the
largest and best, but there must be others. There does seem to be a
significant amount of wizarding activity in Scandinavia. I believe the
most significant cross-country broom race occurs in there (sorry,
don't have my books available here). 

I guess my point here is the despite being in such close proximity to
Scandinavia, and generally considered in the Scandinavian region, this
Russian peninsula that I speculate is the location of Durmstrang, is
still considered a European school. Logically, because greater Russia
is considered part of Europe.

Just a few thoughts.

bboy_mn