Stalagmites & stalagtites?

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 107221

> Janet Anderson pointed out that the usual mnemonic (in English) turns
> on the 6th letter -- "stala(g)mite" <==> ground; "stala(c)tite" <==>
> ceiling.
> 
Matt added:
> I had thought that it was supposed to be funny that Hagrid
remembered enough to know that there was a mnemonic having to do with
one of the distinct letters, but misremembered which letter it was. 
It's even more amusing now that Del points out the mnemonic in French
actually does depend on the 7th (rather than the 6th) letter, although
I rather doubt Rowling was aware of that point when she wrote it!
 
> -- 

Carol responds:
Since JKR used to be a French teacher, I'm betting that mnemonic was
*exactly* what she had in mind! (Thnks, Del, for explaining what I
always thought was a useless throwaway line.)

Carol