Quidditch: Ron, Wizarding population and the rules

[Ali <Ali@zymurgy.org>]

No: HPFGUIDX 49801


Ron:

Much has been said about Ron the strategist and Ron the Quidditch 
devotee, but has anyone questioned why his favourite team is so 
lacklustre? Echoing again Debbie's suggestion that Quidditch is a 
Metaphor for the unfolding story in the Potterverse, can anything be 
read into the fact that Ron is passionate about a team who's motto is
"let's all just keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best" (QTTA 
p.33).

Whilst it is true that team support often runs geographically or 
through families, it is also true that fans follow success. In 
Britain this is particularly true of youngsters flocking in their 
droves to support Manchester United. Ron though is loyal to a team 
who on recent performance (i.e. the last century) have little hope of 
success, yet his greatest desire in life is to be successful. We see 
this in his vision of upholding the Quidditch cup and becoming Head 
Boy in the Mirror of Erised. Ron appears confused, fighting between 
mediocrity (as represented by his love of the "Canons" and his 
feelings about poverty) and his desire for attainment and success.

Quidditch teams and the tie in to Wizarding Population

At Hogwarts, at any one time there are only 28 first team players. If 
Hogwarts is the only Wizarding school in the country (here I'll take 
JKR's words at face value), then it would not be unreasonable to 
assume that the majority of these players would go on to play 
professional Quidditch. Where else are the players from the 
Professional Leagues 13 teams recruited from?

The only professional Quidditch players mentioned in QTTA seem to 
have had careers of around 12 years (Kevin & Karl Broadmoor, 11 
years; Darren O'Hare, 13 years; Hamish MacFarlan, 11 years) which is 
not so different to the careers of professional footballers (as in 
soccer) in the English Football League. Yet, despite this, Oliver 
Wood, captain and keeper of the successful Gryffindor team manages to 
secure only the position of a reserve keeper and the 3 Weasleys all 
choose alternate careers. Perhaps foreign players keep the 
Professional League afloat?

Quidditch rules. QTTA provides us with a framework for Quidditch 
rules. However, this leaves many questions. 

I'd like to refer to Shaun's Haterley's suggestion that Quidditch 
must operate on 2 levels: school Quidditch and Professional 
Quidditch. I would definitely agree that this is likely, but these 
differences can only be imagined. Without any further information I 
would have to assume that the rules we are given refer to both 
Hogwarts and Professional Quidditch. This would lay Hogwarts' 
students open to the possibility of month long games. Perhaps it is 
only the strategy of the teams themselves – and the skill of the 
seekers, which prevents this from happening.

I know that there are circumstances when Harry needs to catch the 
Snitch quickly – bad weather, Snape refereeing, or as in the case of 
the "Quidditch Final" only a set number of points that need be 
achieved before Harry's Snitch catching would win the game. But, I do 
wonder why there has not been any further discussion on Harry 
delaying catching the Snitch until Gryffindor has a certain point 
ratio. Perhaps Shaun is right, and school Quidditch does not need 
such tactics.

I'm slightly confused. Wood tells Harry that he thinks that the 
record for a professional match is 3 months. "They had to keep 
bringing on substitutes so the players could get some sleep". (PS/SS 
UK edition p.125). This contrasts with Rule 5 in QTTA (p.28 UK 
edition): In the case of injury no substitution of players will take 
place. The team will play on without the injured player. This 
inconsistency is  either a Flint, or the rule about no substitutions 
is relatively recent and actually serves to shorten the length of the 
match.

Ali

really excited about finally reading OoP on June 21 - hurrah!