Quick question about Harry Potter and the PoA

[orbitalfreak]

The money does seem to be like enough funds to get him through school. Think of scholarships, trust funds, etc. He's got enough to pay for his education, food, amenities, with a decent bit left for luxuries (Chocolate Frogs, etc.), though not nearly enough to go on a spending spree. Getting a used broom, like a '99 Comet, after finishing school? Sure... brand new Firebolt '07? Outta the question.

 

[WayneLigon]

If someone in Britain could correct me if I'm wrong, I'd appreciate it, but I'd assume that age of majority there is the same as it is here: 18. Before that time, Harry can't live on his own even if he wanted to without some form of guardian. He can't make a contract, which means that he can't sign the lease on a place to live. Harry isn't the streetwise sort who'd know a crooked landlord who'd rent to him irregardless if showed a bag full of gold. I guess he could live in a series of hostels and hotels all summer, but I'm thinking that's not a good thing either.

Spoiler

Sirius obviously would have counted but not now.

(And the gold presents it's own problems; you show up at a pawn shop with a large amount of gold that's obviously been tampered with and INTERPOL will come knocking). I doubt Harry knows any money launderers either.

The amount of gold would seem not to matter; Hogwarts seems to operate like a public school in America; it's funded by whatever means the wizarding world uses in place of a government. Perhaps by the Ministry? It's not like people choose to be wizards or witches; they're born that way. So it's something provided for; they haven't said what happens to a wizard or witch who doesn't go to school but since people's magical abilities manifest shortly before the letter comes then I assume if left to itself, the talent grows more out of control. So it's in everyone's best interest to donate what they can to the school.

If it took a pile of gold to go to Hogwarts, then I doubt the hardscrabble Weasley's would be able to afford putting, what, seven kids through school.

 

[s/LaSH]

Also, I don't get the impression that Harry is too involved in the wizard world - he knows maybe a dozen shops and houses in that world and that's it. It provides for handy exposition to the readers when Harry asks 'what's that?', of course. But it also means he doesn't have the opportunity to go out and buy stuff all over the show.

As for Hogwarts fees... we know it's a prestigious academy, but not the only one (by inference). How many others? Not too many, I'd wager - wizard population isn't as high as muggle population, hence there's nobody who walks to Hogwarts in the morning - the population is small, widely dispersed, and only requires a few schools per country. Thus, getting into HW might not be a matter of money (it is Ministry-overseen in some regard) so much as a matter of reference and/or nepotism. If you're from a good line, you might be given preference. That could be why Weasleys show up there in such prevalence - by all accounts, the oldest son is really good at what he does, and so the rest of them get points by relation.

So there's some possible reasons for stuff...

 

[MaxKaladin]

I've asked my Potter reading friends the same question and they also mentioned what others have said about his being safe from Voldemort at the Dursley's house. Of course, that leaves aside the question of what happens when he goes out. After all, prior to admission at Hogwarts at age 11, he presumably went to public (UK private as I understand their system) school during the day. There were other outings as well. Does this mean that the Dursley's were unknowingly doing Harry a favor keeping him locked under the stairs all those years since it kept him safe from Voldemort?

Actually, this whole topic brings up a related question. What about the UK version of Child Services? I'm just a bit surprised that they never found out about what looks like a pretty abusive situation -- probably from a teacher picking up unspoken cues from Harry.

When you think about it, its a wonder Harry has turned out as well as he has considering what the first 11 years of his life were like...

Anyway, on the subject of where Harry would go, it occurs to me that everyone is forgetting one obvious solution to the problem. The Weasleys. With the pile of gold we saw in the first movie, Harry can easily afford to pay for his room and board and Mrs. Weasley strikes me as the sort who would insist he come to stay once she heard how the Dursley's treat Harry. Besides, would they really notice one more kid knocking around the place? In fact, it also occurs to me that it might be a good thing for Harry to experience life in the wizard world outside of Hogwarts if he's expected to live in it someday. All he knows of it right now comes from a few guided trips to Diagon Alley and into the little village next to Hogwarts.

I rather think everyone is underestimating the size of that pile of gold. I think it represents a healthy chunk of change. One of my friends commented that Harry knows that he is a lot wealthier than his friends in the wizard world and that this fact makes him uncomfortable and unwilling to spend the money. I suspect that a factor at play here may be Harry's inexperience with money. I'm sure the Dursleys never gave him anything like an allowance so he's probably not very used to having money to spend and he probably isn't used to the idea that he can buy things he wants now instead of just having to do without and watch others enjoy them (from experience with seeing his cousin showered with gifts).

 

[jasper]

As mention something in the dursleys house protects or recharges a spell to keep Harry off he who must not be name radar in the muggle world.
As to the abusive situation, I just think from reading some the British classics that the brits hate their relatives and like locking them under the cupboard.
Dickens, the Greyhound, etc but my wife disagrees.

 

[Aaron2]

They wouldn't be happy with ANY amount they got. They'd want it all. ALL OF IT. And it still wouldn't change the way they treat Harry. They'd consider it due payment for putting up with him.

Why would you say that? Think about the situation from Harry's aunt's perspective ...

Your sister is beautiful, you are frumpy
Your sister has cool magical powers, you don't*
Your sister got sent to a fantastic magical school, you didn't
Your sister married a hunky dude, you got a fat bore.
Your sister lives in a nice house, you live in a crowded townhome.

Then, your sister and here husband go and -get themselves- killed, dumping their kid off at your house.

Do they give you any of their fantastic wealth? NO
Did they leave any magical items to help you survive? NO
Does any of their friends even offer to help you out? NO

Considering the situation, I'm suprised that Harry's aunt and uncle are as nice to him as they are.


Aaron

*To top it off, she refers to you with a racial slur and encourages her child to do the same.

 

[Shallown]

I'm a fan but not a huge fan but I remember this part of the novels cause I thought it was cool.

I think Dumbldore said more or less the thing that saved Harry from Voldemort was his mothers sacrificing of her life out of love and the family connection of mother to son. His aunt took on this reposponsibility and therefore part of the power. It has to do with family and blood. As long as harry is mostly with family and in the muggle world he is safe. The only other times he has been out and about outside of the schoold year has been with the Weasleys.

It is a blood bond and powerful magic according to Dumbledore. One that appearently Voldermorte is vulnerable to seeing how it has worked against him once already almost destroying him.

Until Harry stepped out of the Muggle world he was completely safe for two reason's the spell protected him and Voldey was busy rebuildinghimself/his power.

Since then the more active Harry is in the wizard world the more he seems to draw attention and lose that advantage against Voldemorte.

There are several points in the last two books all this is hinted to or directly referenced.

And on his money /being rich.

He has full access to it. In the first movie/book Hagrid takes him to the vault to get his money. It appeared to me he had access and it is his as far as the wizard world is concerned.

But Harry grew up poor and basically unable to have much especially from his adopted muggle family. I just think harry is unpretentious (Maybe becuase of his wizard arch enemy that slythern kid) and doesn't think in terms of money solving his problems since he never had any. In some sense He probably doesn't know how wealthy he is and doesn't really think about it.

Money is not an issue to him.

Just my thoughts...

later

 

[Laurel]

This is for those who have read the books ...

In the first movie, it shows that Harry has a huge vault full of gold. Why the heck doesn't Harry use the gold to leave his uncle or, at least, give some of it to his uncle so they can see that Harry's parents weren't complete bums?

As I think everyone has mentioned by this point:
1) The money is most likely actually in trust of some sort, through Dumbledore or such guardian.
2) Harry is not the kind of person to use this money frivolously even if he had full access to it. When Harry first goes into the vault he is told his parents left it to him for schooling, books, and necessities so he can be happy. He has been paying for books and the like, so he is using some of it, but he knows better then to waste it on hundreds of boxes of candy.
3) If he gave any to his uncle, they would only resent him more. They know what his parents were and that they were good people. The Dursley's are simply using lies to make themselves feel better about their lot in life.
Harry has already done so much to try and please them, and it has gotten him nowhere.

 

[Aaron2]

3) If he gave any to his uncle, they would only resent him more. They know what his parents were and that they were good people. The Dursley's are simply using lies to make themselves feel better about their lot in life.

Who could blaim them?

Harry has already done so much to try and please them, and it has gotten him nowhere.

This is something the movies just aren't reflecting. It seems that the directors/writers go out of their way to make his uncle's family to be complete 1 dimensional dufusses. Harry, OTOH, does little to help and is constantly causing trouble.


Aaron

 

[BrooklynKnight]

Who could blaim them?



This is something the movies just aren't reflecting. It seems that the directors/writers go out of their way to make his uncle's family to be complete 1 dimensional dufusses. Harry, OTOH, does little to help and is constantly causing trouble.


Aaron

I've never before met someone who relates to the dursleys the way you do and seems to have some sort of apprehension or malice towards harry...

I'd almost think you had some connection or similar situation if Harry was real...


I also think you have it wrong.

The Dursleys hate wizards. Period. Some of it may be from jelousy, but they clearly state that they consider all wizards freaks and unnatrual. They're almost religious one might think.
If the Dursleys knew much more about magic, they would try to use harry to benefit for themselves. They are greedy and pigish people. But they are afraid of what they dont understand.