[HPforGrownups] Re: Getting to Hogwarts

[Mrs.) Lee Storm (God Is The Healing Force]

No: HPFGUIDX 104246

| From: Eustace_Scrubb
| Sent: Friday, July 02, 2004 11:10
| Eustace_Scrubb:
| Good question.  This may be movie contamination in part, but it seems
| that the soot and smudges resulting from floo travel is one of the
| things that sets the Weasleys' socioeconomically below the
| well-groomed Malfoys.  In PS/SS, Ron has dirt on his nose (his mother
| points it out in the book, Hermione in the movie).  It's not stated,
| but my guess is that it's left from a floo journey on the way to
| King's Cross.  I don't remember what the COS book says about the
| Weasleys' appearance after going to Diagon Alley.  Certainly they and
| Harry look quite disshevelled in the movie, especially in contrast to
| suave Lucius Malfoy.  So I doubt the Malfoys travel by floo powder
| very often.

[Lee]:
Well, Eustace, My Friend, I can't agree with you about the socio-economic
thing and floo powder.  Here's the deal:

One has to be a certain age before one can apparate...something like 17
years old.  So that's out for most students.

Portkeys are controlled by the MOM and only certain people can charm them to
work...like Dd. :-)  So, there might be a group portkey or more available to
get students and such to Diagon or maybe to some sort of "Safe" zone we
don't know about at King's Cross or, even more probable, directly to
Platform 9-&-3-Quarters.

Now, considering the bit with the age restriction on apparation and that
portkeys are controlled (mentioned by Fudge near the end of OOTP), and
broomsticks are awfully visible, the only thing left that any witch/wizard
can use is...floo powder.  So, the whole thing about socio-economic falls
apart, IMO.

Just more of my musings on this thread which my fried brain started in the
first place.

Cheers and Grins,

Lee :-)

Do not walk behind me,    | Lee Storm
I may not care to lead;   | N2FGC
Do not walk before me;    | n2fgc at arrl.net (or)
I may not care to follow; | n2fgc at optonline.net
Walk beside me, and be my friend.