Warlock/Wizard - was Asking JKR just one question

[quigonginger]

No: HPFGUIDX 119441


Carol wondered where she had heard Perkins referred to as a warlock:

> I thought it did, and I know I didn't invent the reference. But it
> just calls him "a stooped, timid-looking old wizard with fluffy 
white
> hair" (OoP Am. ed. 134), which at least gives a description of a
> particular warlock, if indeed he is one. The only other reference I
> found is in relation to the tent he lends to Mr. Weasley in GoF for
> the QWC (the one that looks like Mrs. Figg's house inside but 
doesn't
> smell like cats). Unfortunately all that one says is that Perkins
> doesn't camp much any more because he has lumbago (GoF 80). The 
quote
> I'm looking for, as I remember it, is "Perkins, an old warlock who
> worked in Mr. Weasley's office," but exactly where that quote occurs
> escapes me at the moment. (Geoff?)

Ginger:
I'm not Geoff, although I like his posts, but if you both don't 
mind...

In chapter 3 of CoS, Ron, Fred and George pick Harry up to take him 
to the Burrow.  Harry asks how they knew he was in trouble.  Ron 
reminds him that Arthur works for the MoM.  Harry asks what he does.  
Ron tells him about it and comments "it's only him and an old warlock 
called Perkins in the office". (US paperback p. 31)

I had the idea the warlocks were "venerable" or something like that.  
I guess that comes from them reading something 
called "Transfiguration Today" which sounds to me like a professional 
journal.  If they were generally old, then Ron's comment (an old 
warlock) is redundant.  

Whatever they are, they are: 
*easily recognizable 
*literate
*able to produce offspring for at least 9 generations
*employable by the MoM
*allowed to hang out in pubs
*leaders of federations (probably not of planets)
*anything else I have forgotten.

Maybe we need a complete list of what we know about them.

Ginger, who is trailer trash and has never seen a warlock in the hood.