[HPforGrownups] Number of students (was Re: Random ideas)/ Butterbeer

[Richelle Votaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 51718

Greg wrote:

>They had flying lessons with the Slytherins, so if we divide that up, 
> it puts 10 students per year, per house.  The Gryffindors we know of 
> are Harry, Ron, Neville, Seamus, Dean, Hermione, Parvati and 
> Lavender.  So there are either 2 other girls or boys in the first 
> year of Gryffindor, or 12 Slytherins.
> 
> Either way, it doesnt look good for estimates anywhere above 10.

Okay, here are a few thoughts on this.  First, if JKR says there are about 1,000 students, I've got to believe her.  With her having everything else worked out like she has, I don't think she'd slip up on something like that.

Now, all we really see is how many students there must be in Harry's year.  Only Harry's year.  There's not really enough interaction with other years to know how many students there are.  So all we have to work with is Harry's year.

Next, what if there were some sort of prophecy?  That a baby born in (whatever year Harry was born) would defeat Voldemort/ rule the WW/ etc.  Or perhaps that a baby had been born that would defeat Voldemort.  (Warning, Biblical analogy coming up!)  In the Bible, Herod hears that a baby has been born, a new King.  So he orders all the babies killed, two years of age and under. Could Voldemort have done something like this?  And perhaps some of his DE's babies were protected?  Like Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle?  And the others were hidden away?  Like Neville, Dean Thomas, perhaps even sent to live with Muggles to hide him.  Hermione, of course, would've been out of the picture, as a Muggle born.  And Harry, hidden away?  Could Voldemort have wanted to kill more than just him?  But by the time he was 15 months, have figured out just who he should be after? 

sagelyone asks:

> I have a random question about butterbeer. Is it alcoholic? I ask 
> because in the second visit to the kitchens scene in GOF, (sorry for 
> not having a chapter and page number, my books are in storage) Winky 
> is drunk off her little elf ears.

I've always thought that perhaps house elfs get "drunk" different than humans.  Like maybe butterbeer has a high caffeine level.  Or high sugar level.  Something that house elfs don't tolerate well.  I know if I drink enough Coke or Root Beer, I can be sort of "high" on the caffeine.  So maybe a house elf could to?

Richelle


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