[HPforGrownups] Re:Inbreeding of Witches and Wizards

[Mellanie Crowther]

No: HPFGUIDX 176291

So regardless of who was caring for the dragons, Bill met Fleur 
at Hogwarts.
 
I think it's sometimes hard for us in the States to understand 
how pervasive an influence school is in British society. JKR 
modeled Hogwarts after the British public (that would be private 
to us here in the US) school system. The contacts one makes during 
one's school career are far more lasting than here in the States, 
where we have a more mobile, transient society. I would think that 
in England, regardless of where you live or where your parents 
might move to, if they've made up their minds that you're going 
to a particular school, that's where you're going to go. And 
since that usually entails boarding, you're even more dependent 
on the people you encounter at school. We kind of have that here 
with our college system, or with things like Homecoming Day with 
our football teams. Everyone shows up to cheer on their alma mater, 
and it's sort of a reunion with old friends.
 
The point I'm trying to make is that events like the tri-Wizarding 
Tournament are important socially, so school is still a central 
part of people's lives, and by bringing in students and others 
from the other schools, the wizards meet peers from other places, 
and that helps to diversify the gene pool when they hook up.
 
Sorry this is so muddled...
 
Mellanie

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