Another silly question

[Miles]

No: HPFGUIDX 187227

Carol wrote:
> At any rate, my question is, if Hermione's cauldron is busily
> bubbling away in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, where did she get another
> cauldron to use for Potions? (She doesn't know about the Room of
> Requirement yet, and I don't suppose that even Hermione can just
> conjure a cauldron out of thin air, especially in second year.)

Miles
While I would not assume it's impossible that JKR didn't think about it, in 
later books we learn about owl order services, so, assuming that her 
well-off parents give her good pocket money, she could simply have bought a 
cauldron.
Additionally, it is possible that there are used cauldrons all over the 
place, maybe it is possible to buy an old one second-hand from one of the 
older students ("good as new, I only can't get rid of those dragonblood 
stains on the outside and had my mom buy me a new one").
I think even if this has to happen offpage, it's not unlikely or impossible.

Miles