Hagrid in GH

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 140519

Geoff:
I don't claim to be an expert on US geography but if I am reading a 
book based on real places, I will try to get a look at a map to 
orientate myself. Some of my worthy fellow-members of the group seem 
to have some rather vague ideas about the UK so I shall go into 
teacher mode to deal with a little bit of UK geography and history.

Saraquel wrote in message 140474:
I think there could be a very simple explanation as to why
everything happened near midnight, rather than earlier. The cover
of darkness.

We don't know what time the deed happened, but it must have taken
time for DD to formulate his plan, which would have taken at least
until first light. They knew that even if Voldemort was out of the
picture, there were still DEs out there, and secrecy and security
were paramount. 

Hagrid could well have laid low in the Welsh valleys (sparsley
populated countryside) during the day and set off after light fell.
If it took him 4 or 5 hours, that would get him to Privet Drive late
evening.

Geoff:
He wouldn't try to lie low in the Welsh valleys. Sparsely populated 
is hardly the description I would use. The Welsh valleys were the 
centre of the coal-mining areas and are the centre of heavy industry. 
He'd have to go further north up to, say, the Brecon Beacons for 
really remote country and then, if he already had Harry with him, he 
might well then have flown over towns further north than Bristol – 
Gloucester for example.

Musicgal wrote in message 140491:
"My take on the 24 hour gap.

OK, in SS, the only reason the Dursley's are taking Harry to London
is becuase it's the closest hospital from Surrey. So Surrey's gotta
be close to London, otherwise, they would have gone to a different
city..
Also, Hagrid said that "the little tyke fell asleep as we were over
Bristol". If you look on a map, Bristol is in the southern part of
England, probably about...6 hours from London. Especially by
motorcycle. I mean, motorcycles (especially if it's meant for the
road, considering Sirius rode it at some point), don't usually go
faster than 100 miles an hour, and that's kinda scary to be riding
on. With a child, Hagrid would not dare ride more than 40 miles an
hour, if that, and it would take roughly 7 hours to get from GH to
Surrey."

Geoff:
It's more than just Surrey being close to London. Parts of London 
were Surrey...

Until the London County Council (LCC) was created in the  1880s, 
London straddled several counties. The south-western corner of London 
was in Surrey. After the LCC came into being, the county boundaries 
were pushed out, although there are still links; the Oval, where the 
last Ashes test resulted in the England cricketers winning the 
series, is still the Surrey county ground although its only a mile or 
so from the centre of London.

I lived in south-west London from 1949-94 in three places, either in 
Wandsworth or Wimbledon, never more than two miles from the Wimbledon 
tennis ground. I taught for all my career in a school about 5 miles 
south of my home and was employed, to begin with, by the Surrey 
County Council. In 1965, Greater London came into being and I began 
to work for the London Borough of Merton. The Surrey boundary altered 
again but here there is another connection with Harry Potter. Under 
the 1965 reorganisation, most of the old County of Middlesex, which 
was north of the Thames, came into Surrey and it is this part where 
it can be implied from canon that little Whinging lies.

On the question of distances, Bristol lies about 120 miles  almost 
due west of London. If we place Little Whinging on the western edge 
of the capital and assume that there will be fairly quick access to 
the M4 motorway, you could get from there to the centre of Bristol in 
a little over 1½ hours; the speed limit on a dual carriageway in the 
UK is 70 mph. If, as some of us think, Godric's Hollow is perhaps 
beyond Swansea in West Wales would be a further 2 hours or so. But 
remember Hagrid is riding a flying motorbike which could travel 
safely at the same speed or faster.

Musicgal also wrote:
"Actually, one thing is bugging me. How did Hagrid get to GH before
Sirius? He can't apparate or anything..."

Geoff:
Why not? I know he says that he is not allowed to do magic but does 
this count? Some people have also suggested that he might have 
Apparated when Harry left Paddington on the train home...

`The train pulled out of the station. Harry wanted to watch Hagrid 
until he was out of sight; he rose in his seat and pressed his nose 
against the window but he blinked and Hagrid was gone.'
(PS "Diagon Alley" p.66 UK edition)