Questions: Dumbledore as student, other magic schools, Potter money, Muggle money exchange

[Taryn Kimel]

No: HPFGUIDX 49532

Melissa:
1) Was Dumbledore a student at Hogwarts or at a different wizard school when he was young?  If he was at Hogwarts, which House was he in?  Was this ever answered in the books?

Me:
The closest I believe we get is Hermione saying, "I've been asking around, and I hope I'm in Gryffindor, it sounds by far the best; I hear Dumbledore himself was in it..." [PS/SS US Paperback 106] But that's not necessarily infallible. She just said she /heard/ Dumbledore was in it. Could be an incorrect rumor.

Melissa:
2) Do the other magic schools have Houses as well?  Argh... I must reread GoF, as I seem to remember something about this.  Does the Muggle education system of a particular country affect that country's wizard school(s) in any way?

Me:
I don't recall anything being mentioned about it, and I just recently re-read GoF. But someone please speak up if they remembering anything. ^_^

Melissa:
3) Where did Lily and James Potter get all of the money they left to Harry?  Was James' family rich?  The Dursleys, though well-off, aren't amazingly rich, and most of their money probably comes from the business Vernon owns; did the Evanses leave Lily all or most of their money (we know they were proud of having a witch in the family), cutting out Petunia?  It seems likely to me, though, that if Petunia had been cut out of the will, she would have complained about it, loudly, repeatedly, and at great length ^^ so it's more probable that it was the Potters, not the Evanses, who were rich.

Me:
I'm sure J.K. Rowling has said in an interview that James inheirited his money... Ahh! Here, found it in one of the group's interview transcripts:
Jesse Kornbluth: Here's one from Tiger Lily: What did James and Lily Potter do when they were alive?

J.K. Rowling: Well, I can't go into too much detail, because you're going to find out in future books. But James inherited plenty of money, so he didn't need a well-paid profession. You'll find out more about both Harry's parents later.

[From the AOL Chat, Oct. 2000]

Nice idea about Petunia getting knocked out of the will.. ^_^


Melissa:
4) That's got me thinking, how do wizard children born to Muggle families get any money to spend in Diagon Alley and at Hogsmeade?  Is there some sort of Muggle/wizard currency-exchange service?  Would wizards have any use whatsoever for Muggle money?  Ron has never seen Muggle money, so that suggests it can't be used in the WW.

"But you're muggles!" said Mr. Weasely delightedly. "We must have a drink! What's that you've got there? Oh, you're changing Muggle money! Molly, look!" He pointed excitedly at the ten-pound notes in Mr. Granger's hand. [CoS US Paperback 57]

So we know that there is exchange of money going on. I have wondered what the WW does with the RW money. The best I could think of is it somehow gets exchanged back through the WW's contacts in the government.

--Taryn