Battle/Cloak/Apparate/Dobby/TMR/Virus/Shun/Boggart/Animagi/Squib//Bill/Sn

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 168471

---  Kemper <iam.kemper at ...> wrote:
>
> >> Geoff:
> >> ... JKR has based Hogwarts on a British style public
> >> school. Most schools of this type would probably 
> >> have a school roll in the 500-800 range; just maybe
> >> up to 1000. You wouldn't get ANY UK school with an
> >> enrolment anywhere near 3000.
> 
> > someone replied:
> > How many are in castles this size?
> >
> > I can buy that the founders never imagined there'd
> > be so many. But if they're not hurting for space 
> > why would they build another one or whatever ...?
> >
> > I don't see any reason to think there aren't 1000
> > students at hogwarts.
> 
> Kemper now:
> I don't think the Hogwarts of today does not look like
> the Hogwarts of yestermillenium.  I'm no architectural
> historian, but castles of Howgarts immensity did not 
> exist circa 997 AD.
> 

bboyminn:

NO castle of Hogwarts size has EVER been built. Sure
many of the old /Keep/ style castles were approaching
100 feet tall, but they had maybe 3 or 4 floors at 
best. These were huge cavernous building that must have
cost a fortune to heat. But no castle has even been 
built to my knowledge that had a 7 full story main
body.

Windsor Castle is the largest castle still in use in 
Europe, and it isn't even remotely Hogwarts size.

Keeping in mind that main floor of castles had very high
ceilings, and I suspect upper floors while lower than
the main, still had relatively high ceilings by modern
standards. So 20 ft first floor and 15 ft upper floors
makes the main building of Hogarts (1x20 + 6x15 = 110ft)
110 feet, that is about the equivalent of a 10 or 11 
story modern building. Then we add Gryffindor Tower 
which is an additional 7 floors which adds another 70 
to 105 feet depending on the ceiling height. Likely,
Gryffindor and Ravelclaw Towers are not the tallest
tower, I suspect Astronomy is tallest. So, we have a
castle with potentially height of well above 200 feet.

So, the description of Hogwarts is most definitely of
/fairytale/ proportions. 

Personally, I suspect what we see now is very similar
to the castle as it was originally built. But note 
that in the beginning magic was not as developed as it
is now. I suspect no magical train, and likely no Floo
Network or Portkeys, and very possibly no Apparation.
So, most likely all teachers and family had to live at
the school, as well as any necessary support staff. Note
even now there are over 100 house-elves, do we suppose 
they all sleep on the kitchen floor? 

Plus it is possible that since Hogwarts was a central
body of wizarding knowledge, there could have been
some accommodations for adult wizards want to advance
their magical knowledge. Further, we don't know the
extent of Wizarding government at that time. The Statue
of Secrecy which in essence created the current wizard's
government was implemented in 1650 or there abouts. It 
is possible that some accommodation was made at Hogwarts
prior to that time to wizarding government, and civil and
criminal trials.

Teaching styles were also most likely different back then.
I have always suspected that Hogwarts was a shift from
traditional apprentice training to a central school. Yet,
in the beginning, I suspect the four founders taught their
student individually in the Master/Apprentice style. So,
each founder would have needed a section of the castle to
carry out their own private lessons. I suspect that only
later did the modern style of school come into play. 

Even further, who ever needs a castle? These building are
clear displays of opulence and wealth. I'm sure a certain
aspect of Hogwart's size and grandeur is related to the
founders wanting to create the most impressive and 
substantial Wizards school in all of Europe. At the 
time, even with all the things I've mentioned, I suspect
the school was VERY OVER-Built. 
 
> Kemper:
>
> As Hogwarts is a magical place, I imagine the founders 
> built/started with what's now the Great Hall with 
> lessons being taught on opposite sides of the Hall. 
> There wouldn't have been many students in the beginning.
> Maybe 5 or 10 student each House.  Each House could 
> have been housed in a Lesser Hall.
> 
> As the need for space grew, additions were added to the
> Hall.
>

bboyminn:

Well, obviously I don't agree, but we are all just
speculating here. I suspect Hogwarts was near it's
original size, but yes, it is magical and it was 
certainly magically altered over time. But I suspect
most of these alteration were either cosmetic, 
convenience, or minor building alterations and 
expansions. 

Don't get me wrong, it is certainly possible that 
Hogwarts was expanded over time, but I think the 
central size and features were always there. But
then, that's just my opinion.


> Kemper:
>
> "Well what about the Chamber of Secrets?" someone 
> might ask.
> 
> ...
> Or that's how I imagine it, anyway.
> 
> Kemper
>

bboyminn:

It seems the Chamber of Secrets was built early on before
Slyternin left. But we should also note that we don't
really know the timeline here. The founders may have 
gotten along fine for 50 years before the problems 
started and taken another 20 years to come to a head. 
I'm not saying it did happen that way, I'm saying we 
don't know how it happened.

Also note that very likely the Chamber was built using 
magical building techniques. One would logically ask
how could Sytherin build such a chamber, with all the
rock that needed to be hauled in and dirt that needed
to be moved out, without other people knowing, and
of course, the answer is magic. As a side note: I 
suspect it will be a form of magical excavation that 
clears out the caved in tunnel behind the mirror. 

I just can't see wizards schlepping roof tiles, building
stone, and lumber around. Nor do I see them spending
endless hours pounding in nails. I full suspect there is
a whole branch of construction magic that parallels what
we know as 'house-holdie' spells. I also suspect there
is a unique branch of magic for cabinet and furniture
makers, as well as every other craft you can imagine.

Well, I did a lot of talking, just not sure if I actually
said anything.

Steve/bboyminn