Pottermore-

[mary-j-59.livejournal.com]

Okay - I confess; I joined Pottermore, out of sheer curiosity. I want to know if, by any strange chance, I will sort to Slytherin, and also what sort of wand I get. Still, some things struck me at once (I've spent about 20 minutes exploring the first chapter):

When describing Number 4, Privet Drive, Rowling said that she chose the number four because she disliked that number, finding it hard and unforgiving. I believe those were the exact words! Do you suppose that feeling is limited to the number four, or might it extend to other numbers?

On a more serious note, she based the look and floorplan of the house on that of a house she lived in herself - and got wierded out because, without discussing it with her, the filmmakers got the floorplan exactly right.

And - this is fascinating! - she had to argue with the publishers, who wanted to convert all the British measurements into metric ones. She also said that Wizards can do complex calculations magically. Can they, really? Then why did we never see them doing this?

Oh, dear. Maths.

But I'm very glad that she talked the publishers into keeping the old fashioned measurements. Can you imagine a metric Wizarding World? I can't.

Comments

[oryx_leucoryx]

The only person in canon known to have an exceptionally short wand is Dolores Umbridge (though the exact length is unknown). The longest known wand is Hagrid's, and IIRC the next longest is Tom Riddle's.

[sunnyskywalker]

And Umbridge had enough magical power to cast a Patronus, however much that is. If a room full of kids can do it, I suppose it isn't as hard as advertized, at least under non-combat conditions. (There weren't actually Dementors in the room, iirc.) So... a short wand means she's what, only moderately powerful? Uncreative, magically speaking? And does the Ministry have wand-length requirements for certain jobs (Aurors' wands must be this high to ride, or something)?

[oryx_leucoryx]

Actually there were dementors - they were guarding the prisoners being interrogated. The Patronus was keeping the dementors out of the side of the room where Dolores and her staff were.