Phineas/chapter31/Galleon/LVnoHeir/DEs/chains-Sirius,James,Lupin,Peter/ more

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 118272


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Catlady (Rita Prince Winston)" 
<catlady at w...> wrote:

Carol:
 
> <<Discussion questions
> >
> > 1. Why was Draco Malfoy next to Harry during their Charms
> > exam? If they were called alphabetically, Draco must
> > have been called long before Harry.
> >


Geoff:
But how long before? How many names are there between Malfoy and 
Potter alphabetically? 

How long does a Charms test take? Probably varies from examiner to 
examiner. Griselda Marchbanks might be a very thorough person and the 
test was halfway through at this point.



> Granted, there would be six people between Malfoy and Harry (Moon,
> Nott, Parkinson, the Patil twins, and Sally-Anne Perks, SS/PS Am. 
ed.
> 131), just as there were during the Sorting ceremony, but IIRC, 
we're
> told that Harry stepped up to an examiner who didn't have a student
> with him at the moment. It's like being in line at a bank and going 
to
> the "next available teller," who will not necessarily be next to the
> teller serving the person in front of you. Or checking in your 
luggage
> at an airport (where they've now resorted to holding up signs to 
tell
> you which counter to go to). So Harry could easily have ended up 
next
> to Draco, who would be finishing his exam as Harry began his. >>


Geoff:
As I commented above, he was halfway through... though that must have 
been an estimate on someone's part.

Canon agrees with the "teller" idea...

'"Good luck," said Ron quietly. Harry walked into the Great Hall, 
clutching his wand so tightly his hand shook.
"Professor Tofty is free, Potter," squeaked Professor Flitwick who 
was standing just inside the door. He pointed Harry towards what 
looked like the oldeat and baldest examiner who was sitting behind a 
small table in a far corner, a short distance from Professor 
Marchbanks, who was halfway through testing Draco Malfoy.'

(OOTP "OWLs" p. 629 UK edition)

Geoff
http://www.aspectsofexmoor.com