[HPforGrownups] Re: a thought about career's advice

[Shaun Hately]

No: HPFGUIDX 100987

On 11 Jun 2004 at 20:45, Trevor wrote:

> I found this slightly irregular as well.  The troubling part is that not
> only do the kids not focus on their choices for OWL classes nor receive info
> but also the parents do not seem to be involved (not a big deal for Harry
> but for the others.).  This could just be an omission of the books, which
> focus on Harry: who would not receive guidance from the Dursleys anyway.
> Alternatively, JKR is perhaps not perfect and could have possibly skipped
> this detail.

I'd assume parents are involved - and not just parents:

"Neville Longbottom had been sent letters from all the witches and 
wizards in his family, all giving him different advice on what to 
choose. Confused and worried, he sat reading the subject lists with 
his tongue poking out, asking people whether they thought 
Arithmancy sounded more difficult than the study of Ancient Runes. 
Dean Thomas, who, like Harry, had grown up with Muggles, ended up 
closing his eyes and jabbing his wand at the list, then picking the 
subjects it landed on. Hermione took nobody's advice but signed up 
for everything.  

Harry smiled grimly to himself at the thought of what Uncle Vernon 
and Aunt Petunia would say if he tried to discuss his career in 
wizardry with them. Not that he didn't get any guidance: Percy 
Weasley was eager to share his experience."

Neville is getting advice from all of his family - Dean, Muggle 
born, doesn't seem to get any - presumably because his family 
aren't qualified. Hermione might have discussed it with her parents 
(although I doubt it given her attitude in OotP) but if she did, it 
didn't really make much different - and the statement about Harry 
suggests to me that they were encouraged or expected to discuss it 
with their parents or guardians - it is just pointless in his case.


Yours Without Wax, Dreadnought
Shaun Hately | www.alphalink.com.au/~drednort/thelab.html
(ISTJ)       | drednort at alphalink.com.au | ICQ: 6898200 
"You know the very powerful and the very stupid have one
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