Choosing sides

[quyntyre]

No: HPFGUIDX 118753


> Anna:
> > What sets Harry apart from other Muggle-borns who manage just 
> > fine? I see no indication anywhere that a rotten childhood in
> > the Muggle world is a prerequisite to love Hogwarts. 
>
> Kneasy:
> Loving Hogwarts is not what it's about so far as Harry is
> concerned. He's a one off, whether he likes it or not. He's 
> special. <snip>
>
> Anna:
> > Not all of Hogwarts's Muggle-born students are as socially 
> > awkward, as Hermione used to be. She switched worlds because 
> > she got the letter, and realized that she is a witch. What 
> > more reasons do any of the Muggle-borns have?
> 
> Kneasy:
> Quite a lot, I'd imagine.
> Put yourself in the place of one of the parents of these children.
> Out of the blue you're informed that your darling offspring has
> been accepted for a totally unknown school that you know nothing
> about, cannot visit, requires textbooks covering subjects that
> folk used to be burned at the stake for studying, offers no known
> qualification and with no career structure at the end of it.
> To the average Muggle, what is so wonderful about being a witch or 
> a wizard? Why should they even believe that they actually exist?
> If you received a letter from the Head Dolally of Piglump School of
> Sourcery and Spells would you happily pack your child's suitcase
> and send them off rejoicing?
> I doubt it. 
> We accept it of course, but we've been let into the secret. We
> don't see a problem.
> But how many parents would take chances like that where their
> children are concerned?

"quyntyre": 
I still don't see how being a Muggle could still make you so 
socially awkward. Harry, for one, was rather normal, socially, 
except for the fact that he's "the boy who lived," trying his best 
to cope with such a different world as most children would if 
lingering in such a different place as the "magical world." There 
are other muggle-born characters who are able to fit in socially, 
such as Dean Thomas. There are more than just one muggle-born in 
Hogwarts, yet Hermione stood out since the very beginning as 
annoying. Hermione just didn't have great social skills, that's all, 
nothing to blame her muggle background.

And about Harry joining Hogwarts: I'm sure he would've loved to join 
the school despite the amout of love Dursley might have given him. 
No matter how much a child's parents/guardians may disapprove, the 
chance to join a MAGIC SCHOOL, learn SPELLS, ride a BROOMSTICK, and 
have your very own WAND would be mindblowingly AWESOME. Sure, the 
parents might be reluctant in giving their child up for a very fishy 
education that they have little idea of its benefits, but I'm sure 
Harry wouldn't mind leaving for magic. Hey, if I were 11 years old, 
I'd want to be the first living creature to board the train to the 
Piglump School of Sourcery and Spells the day it departs for school!

I'm sure my parents would have a fit if I've enrolled into a school 
of obscure education like "magic." But, there could be parents 
willing to sacrifice a year for their children to experience 
something as a magic school. Maybe Hermione's parents figured that 
she's clever enough to catch up with her muggle classmates if her 
first year at Hogwarts turns out to be a waste. Maybe other parents 
had similar agendas if things did go wrong. Some may think being 
one year behind your peers couldn't be too bad. The day the little 
witches and wizards return home and hearing their childrens' stories 
and seeing their marks and other things like that might have 
convinced that this "magic school" is, in fact, worthwhile. I'm sure 
muggle parents of the 1st years might have been mailed (or owled) 
letters about the structure of the school's education and what might 
await for their future if they do attend or stay at Hogwarts. The 
magical world knows of muggles' ignorance of magic and to inform 
prospective wizards/witches would only make sense.

Even if I were a witch of another country moving into Britain, I 
would be a bit unwilling to throw my child into a school I've never 
heard of before, keep him/her boarding at my native country's 
school, and have him/her return to our new home every summer. The 
Malfoys were about to send their own son, Draco, to Durmstrang, 
which is out of the country. Though they've already knew of 
Durmstrang's reputation, I'm sure a magical family from as far as 
Japan might not know. How would they be informed of Hogwarts's 
education unless they've been notified themselves?