Hogwarts numbers

[Tom Wall <thomasmwall@yahoo.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 51919

NOTE: Responses to Ffred and Steve 
in this post.

Ffred wrote:
Plus we are told that failing the end 
of year exams means losing the Hogwarts 
place. So the failures in the first 4 
years end up _somewhere_ (though we 
haven't as yet heard of anyone 
actually failing in the story).

I reply:
Well, I know that this is disputed,
but if you're willing to accept 
interviews with JKR as a valid form
of canon, then JKR provides an answer 
related to this question.

The interview is posted at:

http://www.mugglenet.com/scholchat1.shtml

Q: In the first book you said Slytherin house Quidditch captain was 
sixth year Marcus Flint. If there are only seven years of Hogwarts, 
why is he in the third book?

A: He had to do a year again! :-) 


Steve wrote:
I also have a theory that there are Wizard Universities. They just
don't have campuses, classrooms, or even names. It's all done by
independant study, personal experience, and research. The research or

I reply:

Another quote from the same interview. Again, I guess that whether or 
not you'll accept this depends on whether or not you consider the 
interviews to be a valid form of canon... although, the quote doesn't 
necessarily cover your point, which is that maybe 
wizarding 'university' might be something akin to scientific 
study/independent research, like perhaps Dumbledore's work on the 
philosopher's/sorcerer's stone with Nicolas Flamel?

Q: Do you think that you will write about Harry after he graduates 
from Hogwarts? Isn't there a University of Wizardry?

A: No, there's no University for Wizards. At the moment I'm only 
planning to write seven Harry Potter books. I won't say "never," but 
I have no plans to write an eighth book. 

-Tom