Muggle Parents and more

[lizzyben04]

No: HPFGUIDX 184045

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Catlady (Rita Prince Winston)" 
<catlady at ...> wrote:
>
> Justcorbly wrote in
> <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/183968>:
> 
> << JKR tells us nothing about how, or if, Hogwarts deals with Muggle
> parents. Do they offer counseling session explaining such things as
> "Here Is What Your Child Really Is" and "Here Is What The World of
> Wizards and Witches Is All About." >>
> 
> In a webchat archived at
> <http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2004/0304-wbd.htm>:
> 
> << HPFreak7: How are muggle parents convinced to let their kids go 
to
> Hogwarts, a strange place they never heard of before; and wouldn't
> they think it was a practical joke?
> JK Rowling replies -> In the case of Muggle parents, special
> messengers are sent to explain everything to them. But don't forget
> that they will have noticed that there's something strange about 
their
> child for the previous ten years, so it won't come as a complete 
bolt
> from the blue. >>
<snip>

lizzyben:

While reading the books, I've often wondered what the wizards would 
do if some stubborn Muggles parents refused to let their child attend 
Hogwarts. I certainly wouldn't let my kid go to that school! Not 
every parent will be as thrilled as the Grangers or Evans were at the 
thought of giving up their child to a strange school & stranger 
wizards. Possibly the majority would refuse to let their child attend.

And what if the parents said no? The parents are legal guardians of 
the child, so if they refused, that should be the end of it. But 
wizards have never been very good about respecting Muggle customs. 
And if the wizard child doesn't learn to control their magic, & goes 
to normal Muggle schools, that child could expose the entire 
wizarding world. Plus, be a danger to themselves or others. Plus, 
what if those stubborn parents go talking to other Muggles about this 
Hogwarts school? Seems like there are many risks involved.

It would be so much easier for the wizard to do a memory-wiping 
spell, just like Hermione did to her parents, or a mind-altering 
spell, like Ron did to the Muggle driving instructor. W/a spell, the 
wizards could take the child to Hogwarts to learn magic, teach the 
child how to use magic properly & protect the wizarding world from 
being exposed by leaving a wild wizard wandering in the Muggle 
world.  The wizards haven't hestitated to use magic on Muggles 
before, for much less compelling reasons. 


lizzyben