Number of Students at Hogwarts

[davidbartmess]

No: HPFGUIDX 69635

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Susan Smith" > <A.G., again>
> Many posts have addressed that we only know Harry and his 4 
roommates 
> because that is the perspective and point of view JKR chooses to 
> share.  But, that does not suggest that other rooms with 4-5 
> roommates at the same level do not exist. Since Harry is sharing a 
> room with the same 4 guys year after year it is reasonable to 
think 
> that JKR might choose to share those five boys with us.  Posts 
have 
> also speculated that Gryffindor is highly selective and has fewer 
> students since it takes the brave and courageous.  While , 
Hufflepuff 
> could be twice as large since they take what is left after the 
other 
> 3 houses.  ...
> However, I do think the 1000 is high for a student count.  I have 
> chosen to infer that JKR meant total school population, so I like 
> to  knock off about 125-150 for faculty, administration and all other 
> hired help from the count.  That leaves me with about 850 
students, 
> or four houses of 212 students.  This would mean an average of 30 
> students per year in each house.  


In COS when Harry goes up to his dorm.  We read "They (Harry and 
Ron) hurried up it, right to the top, and at last reached the door 
of their old dormitory, which now had a sign on it saying SECOND 
YEARS.  They entered the familiar, circular room, with it's five 
four-posters....."  Please note the sign does not read SECOND YEARS 
A-K, or SECOND YEARS dorm 1, it simply states SECOND YEARS, implying 
all second years.

  Later in the chapter we read  "The dormitory door flew open and in 
came the other second year Gryffindor boys, Seamus Finnigan, Dean 
Thomas, and Neville Longbottom."  Note that the text does not 
read "some of the other second year...", or "a few of the other 
second year", or "the second year Gryffindor boys who happen to 
share Harry's dorm" it reads "THE other second year...."  Again, 
implying all.

Just my thoughts.
David Bartmess