Skip to main content

How was Harry supposed to reply to his first year's letter from Hogwarts?


As a follow-up of this question (quote stolen from the answer with bolded text from me)



Dear Mr Potter, We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July. Yours sincerely, Minerva McGonagall Deputy Headmistress



Assuming that the Dursleys were not complete jerks - they just explain Harry that he is a wizard and stuff.


All good and nice but ... how is Harry supposed to get an owl and answer? The Dursleys cannot buy him one even if they wanted to. Muggle-born students get a visit from a Hogwarts staff member, who explains the situation but this does not seem to be the case. Harry just received a letter. He cannot use the same owl that delivered the letter because the first letter was delivered like a normal one in the mail box.




Answer



Harry is a bit of a special case, since he was born to a witch and wizard (James and Lily Potter), but was raised by Muggles. It seems that he received the version of the letter intended for children born to witches and wizards (which he was). Those families would, of course, have an owl of their own or know where to go in order to send one.


Unlike regular Muggleborns, Hagrid doesn't turn up to explain the things that are normally explained to them, because Harry is assumed to already know all of those things. Hagrid is shocked (and then angry) when he learns that Harry doesn't know "anything". Hagrid is only sent when it becomes clear that Harry wasn't receiving his letters (though it's never explained how they knew that).


We know from Snape's memories in Deathly Hallows that letters sent via the Muggle post can reach Hogwarts, so for Muggle families written confirmation can be sent using a method they're already familiar with.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

harry potter - Did Dolores Umbridge Have Any Association with Voldemort (or Death Eaters) before His Return?

I noticed that Dolores Umbridge was born during the first Wizarding War, so it's very likely she wasn't a Death Eater then (but she is pretty evil -- who knows?). After that Voldemort was not around in a way that could affect many people, and most wouldn't know he was planning to rise again. During that time, and up through Voldemort's return (in Goblet of Fire ), did Umbridge have any connection with the Death Eaters or with Voldemort? Was she doing what she did on her own, or was it because of an association with Voldemort or his allies? Answer Dolores Umbridge was definitely not a good person. However, as Sirius points out, "the world isn't split into good people and Death Eaters". Remember that he also says that he doesn't believe Umbridge to be a Death Eater, but that she's evil enough (or something like that). I think there are two strong reasons to believe that: Umbridge was proud to do everything according to the law, except when she trie...
Post a Comment
Read more

What is the etymology of Doctor Who?

I recently decided to watch Doctor Who, and started viewing the 2005 version. I have the first two episodes from the first season, and I can't help but wonder what is the etymology of the name "Doctor Who"? And why does the protagonist call himself "the Doctor" (or is it "the doctor")? Answer In the very first episode of Doctor Who (way back in 1963), the Doctor has a granddaughter going by the name "Susan Foreman", and the junkyard where the TARDIS is has the sign "I.M. Foreman". Barbara, who becomes one of the Doctor's companions, calls him "Doctor Foreman" (probably assuming that is his name given his relationship to Susan), and Ian (another early companion) does the same in the second episode, to which the Doctor says: Eh? Doctor who? What's he talking about? "Foreman" is most likely selected as a convenient surname for Susan to use because it happened to be on display near where the TARDIS landed....
Post a Comment
Read more

story identification - Animation: floating island, flying pests

At least 20 years ago I watched a short animated film which stuck in my mind. The whole thing was wordless, possibly European, and I'm pretty sure I didn't imagine it... It featured a flying island which was inhabited by some creatures who (in my memory) reminded me of the Moomins. The island was frequently bothered by large winged animals who swooped around, although I don't think they did any actual damage. At the end one of the moomin creatures suddenly gets a weird feeling, feels forced to climb to the top of the island and then plunges down a shaft right through the centre - only to emerge at the bottom as one of the flyers. Answer Skywhales from 1983. The story begins with a man warning the tribe of approaching skywhales. The drummers then warn everybody of the hunt as everyone get prepared to set "sail". Except one man is found in his home sleeping as the noise wake him up. He then gets ready and is about to take his weapon as he hesitates then decides ...
Post a Comment
Read more