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Original poster

Hogwarts Open Day

91 replies

MillicentMargaretAmanda · 22/01/2019 07:51

If you were a Muggle parent, wouldn't you be concerned that you literally never get to visit your kid's school? I mean, you'd had them all prepped to go to the local good Ofsted rated comp, whose catchment area you had carefully researched before moving in year 4. You'd been to two open evenings, and gone on a separate day visit, and then at some point in Year 6, a weirdo with an owl turns up and tells you your child is magic and is going to a boarding school you've never heard of in the wilds of Scotland...
Your requests to visit are refused, there don't seem to be any open days, parents evenings or speech days to attend. You don't even get asked to come when your little darling is lying petrified in the San....

All seems very unfair given that certain parents seem to be there every other week (looking at you Malfoy senior.)

OP posts:
CountessVonBoobs · 23/01/2019 17:17

They can't all work for the Ministry of Magic, surely?

Even if they don't, it's got to be one of the most bloated Government departments ever.

I guess there are at least a few jobs going at Gringotts and St Mungo's.

Original poster
MillicentMargaretAmanda · 23/01/2019 17:20

Daily Prophet, Professional Quidditch Player, Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher, Gringotts worker, housewife, the list of non ministry careers is long.

Ok, not that long...

OP posts:
Icantreachthepretzels · 23/01/2019 17:33

The harry potter books are a beautiful tapestry - but you lot are angry kittens who have spotted a loose thread. DO NOT PULL THAT THREAD ... oh, you pulled it - now the whole thing is ruined - wizards are inbred weirdos, quidditch is a pointless game, Dumbledore you do not abandon babies on doorsteps overnight and why does nobody just fucking shoot Lord Voldemort in the head?

...sigh

Interested in this thread?

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Icantreachthepretzels · 23/01/2019 17:35

Also - thanks whoever posted about 'my life as' - i've never seen that before. It should while away many a dull hour.

JassyRadlett · 23/01/2019 19:17

Grin I’m glad to have shared the Background Students!

I have been known to mutter ‘Dobby is not caring Miss’ under my breath at appropriate moments.

Original poster
MillicentMargaretAmanda · 23/01/2019 19:33

oh, you pulled it - now the whole thing is ruined

We're sorry... Blush

OP posts:
Frangipane · 23/01/2019 19:42

I am outraged at the portrayal of Harry here. Annoying? Self centred? DONT YOU KNOW HE LOST HIS PARENTS WHEN HE WAS A BABY?

Am I the only one who wishes her own children were as lovely as Harry? Blush

Frangipane · 23/01/2019 19:43

As for the wizards that get expelled from Hogwarts, don't they become Squibs?

NeverHadANickname · 23/01/2019 19:51

It always confuses me why they aren't taught normal non magic lessons. Why don't they learn maths? Non magic history? Geography? Etc.

TaliZorahVasNormandy · 23/01/2019 20:01

How do Muggles make magical children?

Is it like a genetic quirk, a recessive gene that pops up?

Also the Malfoys are liars. They arent as pureblood as they'd have you believe.

Icantreachthepretzels · 23/01/2019 20:15

As for the wizards that get expelled from Hogwarts, don't they become Squibs?

no squibs are born. Wizards that get expelled from Hogwarts have their wands snapped in two and are cast out from the wizarding world (unless Dumbledore pulls some strings for you). They then wander the muggle world not understanding the purpose of postage stamps and rubber ducks and blowing stuff up when they get angry. The ministry of magic does nothing about this ... the system works Confused

notdancingbutplodding · 23/01/2019 20:20

I don’t think Mr Newton Scamander is a squib!
I wish he were mine, he’s really divine etc

Mhw02 · 23/01/2019 20:26

Given that Sirius wasn't expelled when he tried to murder Snape, I don't get the impression there are vast swathes of expelled Hogwarts' students wandering around. Hagrid was only expelled after he was believed to have killed Myrtle by setting Aragog on her. So it seems unless you actually kill someone, you're allowed to stay.

@TaliZorahVasNormandy Yes, it's a recessive gene. There are hints of this when Slughorn asks Hermione if she is related to another Granger.

Icantreachthepretzels · 23/01/2019 21:22

Didn't Newt Scamander get expelled? (I haven't seen the Fantastic Beasts movies) Did Newt kill someone?

JassyRadlett · 23/01/2019 21:28

Am I the only one who wishes her own children were as lovely as Harry?

Given he was horrifyingly bullied, emotionally abused and and deprived of love and affection and secure attachment for a decade, I’m always a bit surprised that Harry is as well-adjusted as he is, and is able to form functional friendships.

PhilomenaButterfly · 23/01/2019 21:42

DD is definitely a Ravenclaw.

Frangipane · 23/01/2019 21:43

Given he was horrifyingly bullied, emotionally abused and and deprived of love and affection and secure attachment for a decade, I’m always a bit surprised that Harry is as well-adjusted as he is, and is able to form functional friendships.

Well, attachment theory has it that the first few days, weeks, months of a baby's life are the critical time, and Harry had his parents' love at that time, so I suppose that held him in good stead during the Dursley years, but yes, I agree with you. He really is a lovely boy in my eyes. I don't have strong maternal feelings generally apart for my own children, but Harry triggers something (good trigger) inside me.

So remind me what squibs are then if not failed wizards. Filch is one? The lady in Privat Drive is another? I thought Hagrid was one too, by virtue of being expelled from Hogwarts but I think I must have that all wrong?.....

TaliZorahVasNormandy · 23/01/2019 21:50

Squibs are people who have magical parents but have no magical ability themselves.

Neville was thought to be one even though he pureblood. His magical abilities came later than most.

Hagrid is a wizard, but he's technically not supposed to use magic because he was expelled.

notdancingbutplodding · 23/01/2019 22:31

It is yet to be confirmed if Newt was actually expelled or if Dumbledore managed to pull the aforesaid strings to prevent it. Rumour has it that he took the rap for Leta Lestrange after an accident with a beast that endangered human life. Could be why Queenie described Leta as a “taker”.
Still has his wand though.
Can you tell how weary of actual life I am right now? Blush Grin

Mhw02 · 24/01/2019 07:56

Do you think Hagrid was allowed to take night classes, become a fully-qualified wizard, and get his wand back (legally!) after being cleared in book 2? You never hear of the pink umbrella after philosopher's stone...

theyellowjumper · 24/01/2019 10:12

There are quite a few jobs working in Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, plus presumably some manufacturing jobs making wands, robes, printing text books, etc. Though why can't they just magically make all their stuff appear, rather than having to buy it?

I worried about Hermione's family too, and her old primary school friends. Wouldn't the local authority wonder where she had gone and alert social services? Or maybe underfunding made it easy to slip under the social services radar.

kenandbarbie · 24/01/2019 10:27

Maybe they don't need many jobs? There only appears to be one school in each country with approx 40 (?) students in each year. That's not many wizards.

steppemum · 24/01/2019 10:29

Though why can't they just magically make all their stuff appear, rather than having to buy it

I always think this about the weasleys, if you can use magic surely poverty if irrelevant? Just twirl your wand and what you need appears.
So, you can have a magical cooking pot that makes the dinner, but someone still has ot go to tescos to buy the onions and carrots?
Why don;t they just magic those up too? And why do the house elves have to have a kitchen and do lots of cooking at Hogwarts, why doesn't the food just magically appear?

listsandbudgets · 24/01/2019 10:31

Social services were probably confounded!

I'd love to know more about Hermione. She seems quite independent and somehow knows more about the wizarding world than Harry does despite also having being bought up by Muggles. Perhaps it was all the reading she did?

Hagirds pink umbrella is mentioned a few times I think but most notably when he uses it for a charm to produce water to put out a fire (I think in half blood prince)

Cookit · 24/01/2019 11:10

When Tom Riddell was offered a place at Hogwarts, Dumbledore went to explain it to him and presumably the carers at the home we was living in.
So I take it a teacher went to Hermione’s house and showed her parents magic as proof.