Who else should have been at 9 3/4 at the end of the book?

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 174223

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Mellanie Crowther <magpye29 at ...> wrote:

Mellanie
> I'm new here, but I would have liked to have seen George, and I'm 
intrigued by something I read where JKR suggested that Luna and Neville 
could have ended up together.  I'm also with those who wanted to see 
Dudley there, and my favorite HP movie hottie, Oliver Wood.

Geoff:
Thinking about the various responses to this question, I would like to 
offer a couple of comments.

In the brief and minimalist epilogue which JKR has used to replace 
her original ideas and which tells us hardly anything, we do not know 
who might be there because it's not germane to the story.

We know from each reference to the Express in the books that the 
platform at Kings Cross is always crowded. So? Let me give a parallel 
example. At this time of year, the Sunday morning service at my church 
is full - maybe 180-200 people because in addition to our own folk, we 
get a lot of holidaymakers in the area. I come home and my wife might 
say to me, "I didn't see Y and Z this morning. I wonder if they're away?" 
My reply might be "No. I spoke to Y after the service." There could easily 
be lots of folk we know there but who just don't feature in the meetings 
or conversations.

Some people suggested Hagrid might be there. However, don't forget this 
is /not/ the first time the Potters have been there for the Hogwarts Express.
 James is already a pupil at the school...

It's just a "normal" departure if such a thing exists around Harry. :-)