[HPforGrownups] Re: Rats at Hogwarts (was Cedric and Pettigrew)

[Kathryn Cawte]

No: HPFGUIDX 91848


"The Loudest Noise Comes From The Electric Minerva."
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Chelle" <teshara at yahoo.com>
To: <HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, February 29, 2004 4:37 PM
Subject: [HPforGrownups] Re: Rats at Hogwarts (was Cedric and Pettigrew)


> Pip!Squeak wrote:
> > <snip>
> > Oh, and rats aren't on the approved pets list. How *did* Percy get
> > permission to bring a rat to school? That one, particular rat.
>
>
 ~ Chelle
> That's on the First years list. In the first book Lee Jordan, a third
> year is bringing his pet tarantula to Hogwarts. Maybe the school wants
> them to get settled and the idea of what type of environment they're
> supposed to be living in before they decide to bring in a complicated
> pet. I would guess, having a tarantula of my own they would have had
> to rearrange the boys dorm for that year to accomidate Lee's pet.
> It would have had to be something Lee felt comfortable with his year
> mates about.
> Could you imagine arriving your first year terrified of spiders and
> your roomate springs a giant tarantula on you? Cats, toads, and owls
> are pretty safe.
>
>
K

Hmm, I'm not so sure about that - I think fears of toads, birds in general
and cats, while not as common as fear of spiders, aren't exactly *rare*. I
suspect the rule is there as an aid to the teachers when it comes to saying
no to particularly extravagant familiars. i.e. when Draco (for example)
decides he simply *has* to outdo his classmates and bring something rare,
expensive, and hard to care for to school or young!Hagrid decides he wants
an Acromantula, or someone like Charlie Weasley wants to bring a Welsh
Dragon with him (because it'll help with his future career) the teachers can
simply point to the rule and say no (especially helpful if the child is
supported by a parent - like Lucius maybe). While there may well be plenty
of exceptions the teachers have that extra little bit of backing by being
able to say 'it's against the rules' - if all else fails in trying to rein
in a child and/or his/her parent they can always give notice to the rest of
the school that they are enforcing the rule from September and there will be
*no* exceptions.

Anyone else wonder if maybe the rule is Hagrid's fault in the first place? I
wonder what little first-year Hagrid thought was a suitable pet?

K