Changes I would make.

[eggplant107]

No: HPFGUIDX 177465

 Random832 <random832 at ...> wrote:
 
> all this is ignoring the fact that
> the characteristic pattern could
> very well be a spiral rather than a helix.

No it could not. Steam rising in a characteristic spiral pattern is a
logical impossibility. If a spiral is rising then it's not a spiral
anymore, it's a helix. As I said before this is not a big deal, but if
I were JKR's editor I'd point it out and I'll bet she would be willing
to change that word.

I also think in book 1 it would be better if Marcus Flint, the
Slytherin Quidditch Captain, were in his fifth year not his sixth,
that way in book 3 poor Marcus won't be in his 8'th year. In book 5 in
the final astronomy exam Harry is looking at Venus and Orion, but
Venus can only be seen near sunrise or sunset and this was about
midnight, and Orion is a winter constellation and it was June. If I
were her editor I'd suggest she change it to Saturn and Scorpius and
I'll bet she's be willing to change those two words. I'd also ask her
if the sorting hat stool had 3 legs or 4, there seems to be some
confusion about that. I am also a little uncomfortable with the Harry
having only 2 living relatives bit; although not mathematically
imposable it is astronomically unlikely.  

I know all this is all nitpicking, but sometimes it's fun to nitpick.

 Eggplant