Sorting Houses/Sirius's Legacy/Professor Neville/Weasley Given Names/PitBull

[Catlady (Rita Prince Winston)]

No: HPFGUIDX 170698

Bart Lidofsky wrote in
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/170393>:

<< My conclusion from the evidence is that, among the factors the
Sorting Hat considers, the student's preference is one. (snip) his
would also explain why Cedric got into Hufflepuff; he probably would
have been a Gryffindor, but had some reason to choose Hufflepuff >>

Like, all his family has been in Hufflepuff? 

Maybe Hufflepuffs are just Gryffindors who don't seek personal glory.

<< As a Muggle-born, there was no obvious reason for her to WANT to
get into Gryffindor. >>

As I am not the first to point out, there's canon in PS/SS: "I've been
asking around, and I hope I'm in Gryffindor, it sounds by far the
best; I hear Dumbledore himself was in it, but I suppose Ravenclaw
wouldn't be too bad...."

Carol wrote in
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/170417>:

<< Wonder why the "generous" Black didn't will some robes and money,
or even his house, to *Lupin*, who needs them much more than Harry
does. >>

I like Sirius and I like Severus (as long as he doesn't turn his venom
on *me*, whereupon I will switch to hating him) and I like Remus and
they're all sexpots. (Digression: I don't like Lucius, but he is
definitely a sexpot, too. The listie suggesting JKR4GU calendar guys
made just one mistake: she should have put Rufus Scrimgeour instead of
Arthur.)

But I was quite shocked that Sirius didn't will any money to Remus
(not the house; I am sure there are plot reasons why Harry must own
the house). 

All I can figure is that something in those anti-werewolf laws forbids
werewolves to inherit anything. Maybe werewolves are forbidden to
*own* anything. (I guess Department of Magical Law Enforcements is
willing to ignore that he has a couple of shabby robes and a worn-out
suitcase that he uses as if he owns, as long as he doesn't offend
their sensibilities by renting a flat or wearing nice new robes.)
Still, Sirius should have left a note for Harry asking him to help out
poor old Remus.

Constance_Vigilance wrote in
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/170514>:

<< The Herbology post is, of course, already filled by Professor
Sprout. >>

I don't want to wish any harm on any Hogwarts professor still on the
job at the end of HBP, but I also don't think any of them are
immortal. All of their jobs will be vacant from time to time sometime
in the future.

Professor Sprout might want to retire someday; Neville IS younger than
she is and less likely to be retired by that time. She also might be
promoted to Headmistress someday and have to give up teaching
Herbology and being Head of House. 

Bruce wrote in
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/170686>:

<< Look at the names in the Weasley family. Arthur, Mary (Molly),
Charles, William, Percival, Frederick & George, Ronald, and Ginevra.>>

I think it's entirely possible that Molly, Charlie, Percy, and Fred
are named Molly, Charlie, Percy, and Fred -- no nicknames. JKR said
Ginevra's middle name is Molly, indicating that she believes 'Molly'
can be a given name, not just a nickname.

<http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2004/0304-wbd.htm> 
<< kylie: Thanks for writing such wonderful books, Ms Rowling :). Just
one question: What are Ron, Hermione and Ginny's middle names? Thank
you :)
JK Rowling replies -> My pleasure:) Middle names: Ginny is Molly, of
course, Hermione 'Jane' and Ron, poor boy, is Bilius. >>

I believe Bill is named Bilius, after his uncle Bilius who saw a Grim
and died. JKR seems to believe in giving the first-born of each sex
the name of the parent of that sex as a middle name; I believe in
naming children after deceased relatives.

Lanval wrote in
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/170695>:

<< If a pair of dangerous pitbulls roams the neighborhood (snip) If,
on the other hand, I run outside with a stick or a knife and throw
myself between the dog and the kids, then that's a different story. I
may just deserve that medal then. >>

My spouse's late father's late dog did that, when the pit bull next
door got loose from its back yard and menaced a toddler in its front yard.