What is Godric's Hollow? (was: Godric Hollow/Heartless Dursleys)

[Andrea]

No: HPFGUIDX 52770

--- Kathryn wrote:
> We don't know from canon if it's their house or town, but I've always
> assumed it was their house (like the Weasleys' "Burrow") or the
> community they live in, but not the city. JKR seems to use real city
> names so I don't think it is their city.

I think it's more likely that Godric's Hollow is the name of the town. 
For one thing, a "hollow" is like a valley, so that's much more likely to
be the name of a town than a house.  ("Cedar Valley" is a perfectly normal
name for a town, but you're going to look a little funny at someone who
refers to their home as "the Valley".)  

Also, look at the phrasing McGonagall used.  "[L]ast night Voldemort
turned up in Godric's Hollow.  He went to find the Potters."  A few things
here.  For one thing, if the name of their home was Godric's Hollow and
Voldemort turned up IN Godric's Hollow, I'd call it a fairly safe bet that
Voldemort was indeed there to find the Potters, so the second sentence is
completely moot. ;)  (Especially if the house name was so well-known that
she would just say the name and not further qualify the statement with
"the Potter's home".)  Secondly, if he turned up in their home, "going" to
find the Potters is rather odd phrasing, especially since we know from
Harry's Dementor-induced flashbacks that James and Lily were both
screaming, "He's here!", so he wouldn't have to look very hard.

If, however, it's the name of the village, that makes the phrasing seem
much more natural.  Let's say you were talking about someone going after
the Dursleys.  "Last night Voldemort turned up in Little Whinging.  He
went to find the Dursleys."  He turned up IN the town and then went to
find their specific home.  Whereas, "last night Voldemort turned up in
Number 4 Privet Drive"....well, it's just a little odd.  You'd probably
say "at" rather than "in", and the whole thing just sounds off.

As for JKR using real towns, I must have missed "Hogsmead" in my geography
lessons. :)  For that matter, I don't *think* that Little Whinging or
Ottery St. Catchpole are real towns, though I know there are towns with
very similar names.  JKR mixes fact and fiction is a *very* convincing
way.



Andrea

=====
"Reality is for people who lack imagination."

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