Weasleys and Diggorys (was Re: the Lovegoods)

[quigonginger]

No: HPFGUIDX 88496

In wondering about whether Ron knew Luna, even though they (may) live 
near each other, bboy_mn provided the following quote and comment:

> - - - Quote: GoF Am Ed HB pg 72 - - -
> 
> "Long walk, Arthur?" Cedric's father asked.
> 
> "Not too bad," said Mr. Weasley. "We live just on the other side of
> the village there. You?"
> 
> --- pause quote ---
> 
> 
> Mr. Diggory and Mr. Weasley don't seem to know exactly were the 
other
> lives.
 
Ginger:  
Which now has me wondering exactly how floo powder works.  In the 
beginning of GoF, ch 11, Amos Diggory's head appears in the Weasley 
fireplace.  He states the he is "calling" from the MoM.  

Does one have to know the physical location of the person one 
is "calling" via floo?  Or does the MoM have some sort of Floo Speed 
Dial for its employees?   

Back to the original question:  Does Ron know Luna?
(much snippage of very good thought)
bboy_mn again writes:

> In a way though, distance doesn't mean much to wizards. Even 
underage
> wizards via Floo can travel hundreds of mile before we could even 
get
> out to the garage and get our car started. So close or far, Ron 
would
> not know other wizards and their kids well unless the Weasleys
> socialized with them in some fashion. This ease of traveling 
hundreds
> of miles effortlessly, can just as easily be isolating as bringing
> wizards closer together.

Ginger again:

Very good point.  Substitute computers for magic and it is true in 
the real world.  I have e-mailed people in England, Philly, and many 
other places, but have no idea what my next-door neighbours look 
like. (Except the one that is a compulsive raker-it's hard to miss 
her.)

As computers transcend the miles for us, so floo does for the WW.  It 
would seem that physical proximity would be a small factor in 
socializing.  Wizarding children probably only know relatives and the 
children of their parents' friends.  Parents may have made those 
friends at school or work, but pre-Hogwarts kids would have no means 
of meeting other Wizarding kids except through their parents.  

Look at Draco, Crabbe and Goyle.  They knew each other on the train 
at the beginning.  Their fathers are DE's.  They may very well live 
miles apart.  Or not.  With floo teavel, it's a moot point (for now).

Ginger, wishing she could just floo to Grandma's