CHAPDISC: DH20, Xenophilius Lovegood - Location of Home

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 182917

 
> bboyminn:> 
> Likely they would have gotten together via Floo Network, which
> means unlike traveling by car or train, they would have no
> sense of the space in between, and the relative location of
> each place. 

Potioncat:
Good point. And remember how disoriented Arthur was when he took 
Harry to the MoM by Muggle train.


> Steve/bboyminn
> Given the Weasley's large family, I suspect they were very 
> much self-contained.


Potioncat:
The Weasley kids didn't know Mr. Diggory either. So it does not 
appear that neighbors get together much. Keep in mind though, it was 
a long walk to the hill, and the other two "near-by" families could 
have been coming from as far. Distance doesn't matter with a floo of 
course, and your point about floo travel was very good.

I agree the Weasleys must be self contained. Ron doesn't seem to know 
anyone on that first Hogwarts Express trip. Or if he did, they 
preferred other company. Or he wanted to see if that boy really was 
Harry Potter. During the time at Hogwarts when he and Harry were at 
odds, Ron hung out with the twins, not with other kids from his year.

I don't think JKR gave this aspect of Wizarding life much thought. It 
isn't part of the story she's telling. Many of us have imagined 
wizading parties, and younger-aged schools, but I don't think she 
did. All the new kids at the Gryffindor table seem to be introducing 
themselves to each other. No one seems to know anyone else. I think 
that might make sense in the RW at some schools, but not one where 
everyone goes.

Even going back a generation, we see that James and Sirius didn't 
know each other, even though they have relatives in common. (if you 
consider the Black family tree as canon.) But Severus doesn't seem to 
know anyone either, since he is with Lily. Unless of course at that 
point, he didn't want to introduce Lily to anyone he already knew.

We know that JKR intended to write about a time when Theo was at the 
Malfoy house with his father--but it never made it to canon. We do 
have canon that Seamus and Dean visited each other, but that was 
after they met at Hogwarts. Again, Sirius visited the Potters after 
he met James at Hogwarts.

Must make for a secluded childhood!