... muggle-borns... off the radar? St. Brutus Academy of Naughty Boys

[quigonginger]

No: HPFGUIDX 127834


a_svirn wrote:
> > I always thought that St. Brutus was invented for the sole 
benefit 
> > of Marge who, judging by her firm belief in existing of corporeal 
> > punishment in schools, seems to live in a time-wrap. I don't 
think 
> > that his neighbours would buy the story much less that he would 
> > attempt to sell it. 
> 
> Geoff:
> I would agree with you completely. As Steve pointed out, Harry was 
> supposed to go Stonewall High.
> 
> St.Brutus' is a cover story for Marge - and possibly for anyone who 
> troubled to ask Vernon. Considering the sort of area the Dursleys 
> live in, I think that would be unlikely; Vernon would probably be 
> steering conversation with the neighbours in the direciton of the 
> weather and the lack of rain for the gardens or the state of the 
> Footsie (FTSE = equivalent of the Dow Jones) or whether John Major 
> was making a better job of things than Maggie Thatcher (bearing in 
> mind this was in thee arly 1990s).


Ginger now:  I agree that Vernon wouldn't encourage conversation 
about Harry or his school and would most likely divert the 
conversation.  

One point from OoP struck me.  Ch. 1 US page 11:
Neighbourhood children all around were terrified of him (Dudley)- 
even more terrified than they were of "that Potter boy", who, they 
had been warned, was a hardened hooligan who attended St. Brutus's 
Secure Centre for Incurably Criminal Boys.

So not only did the story get around, it worked for both Vernon and 
Harry's benefit.  No worries about what to say when people ask about 
your coursework or anything related to school at all.  They just make 
themselves scarce.  Better than a Muggle repelling charm.

Ginger, who thinks the Hardened Hooligans would be a great name for a 
band.