harry potter - How did a muggleborn get to Hogwarts before the Hogwarts Express?

We've more or less asserted why the Hogwart's express exists, but at some point in Hogwarts history it didn't. No problem I though, everyone just apparated with their children to Hogsmeade, ~~no problem~~ a long and tedious process considering luggage, and number of children. Except then I realised, how would a muggleborn student get there?

I'm assuming that despite the era (witch burning etc.) that the founders were actively recruiting and not just leaving students too far south from Hogwart's to grow up untrained. So how did they get the students to Hogwart's?

Answer

According to J. K. Rowling's article on Pottermore regarding the Hogwarts Express, originally students arrived at Hogwarts by any means available: brooms, apparition to Hogsmeade, carts or carriages, and even magical creatures. When the International Statute of Secrecy was enacted in 1692, it became vital to prevent Muggle sightings on the way to Hogwarts. At that point, the Ministry set up a complicated system of Portkeys to get to Hogwarts. That caused so many problems, Minister for Magic Ottaline Gambol eventually solved the problem by establishing the Hogwarts Express.

Nowhere does the article address how Muggleborns arrived at Hogwarts specifically, but I would imagine they would arrive there just like regular children; after all, Hermione's parents successfully found Platform 9 3/4 and got her to Hogwarts. I'm sure a Muggleborn's letter would explain all the particular's necessary to get there. Harry's didn't, but at that point, I don't think any one really realized how little Harry was aware of the magical world.

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