# Help -- I'm being niggled! (A Goblet of Fire observation) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 19, 2001, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-im-being-niggled-a-goblet-of-fire-observation/94189 "2001-11-19T12:51:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2001, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-im-being-niggled-a-goblet-of-fire-observation/94189/21 "2001-11-20T21:59:59Z")
BTW, I’m in england, and boarding is quite rare, though not surprising now. It used to be a lot more common. Anyone know anything about bulgaria? How big is a 15/18 difference there? ---
**Author:** ![Gravity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gravity/32/14322_2.png) [@Gravity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gravity)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2001, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-im-being-niggled-a-goblet-of-fire-observation/94189/22 "2001-11-20T22:03:39Z")
No making fun of my use of too many 'though’s, though. I’m tired. _sigh_ ---
**Author:** ![Tenebras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@Tenebras](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tenebras)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2001, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-im-being-niggled-a-goblet-of-fire-observation/94189/23 "2001-11-21T00:52:13Z")
For the record, playstation was orginally released in September 1995, apparently in both the US and UK. Can’t find anything about the Japanese release… Google gives me only stuff about PS2. I don’t want PS2, damnit! Gr… It’s kind of wierd that Harry Potter is only one year younger than I am. What’s up with that? And as far as cursing the bed so it screams if Hermione gets on it, that just encourages them not to use the bed… 😉 Tenebras ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angel_of_the_lord/32/2949_2.png) [@Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_the_Lord)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2001, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-im-being-niggled-a-goblet-of-fire-observation/94189/24 "2001-11-21T03:37:09Z")
Um…I’m 18. My boyfriend’s 15. :o ---
**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2001, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-im-being-niggled-a-goblet-of-fire-observation/94189/25 "2001-11-21T05:06:12Z")
I was born September 26, and I am almost always the youngest person in my class - I’m always a year too young for my grade for the first few weeks of the school year, i.e. 4 when I started kindergarden, 16 my senior year. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2001, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-im-being-niggled-a-goblet-of-fire-observation/94189/26 "2001-11-22T09:26:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Angel of the Lord \* > \*\*Um…I’m 18. > > My boyfriend’s 15. > > :o \*\* But have you invited him to Bulgaria? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_Bowe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df788c/32.png) [@Doug\_Bowe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_Bowe)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2001, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-im-being-niggled-a-goblet-of-fire-observation/94189/27 "2001-11-23T07:23:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by reprise \* > \*\*Maybe it’s just a segue to setting the “summer vacation” segment of the fifth book in a different location and Harry and Ron will end up joining Hermione in Bulgaria - after all, the formula of Harry having a miserable holiday with his Muggle Aunt and Uncle is getting a bit tired as the opening to every book. \*\* –One of the actors in Stone (who was prepped by Rowling) has revealed that in book 5 we’ll learn a bunch of background about Hagrid. I kinda see Harry and Ron on the grounds of Hogwarts in the forest. Heck, mebbe Hagrid goes to Bulgaria. Harry’s birthday, July 31, is the same as J.K.'s. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2001, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-im-being-niggled-a-goblet-of-fire-observation/94189/28 "2001-11-23T10:05:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Doug Bowe \* > One of the actors in Stone (who was prepped by Rowling) has revealed that in book 5 we’ll learn a bunch of background about Hagrid. I kinda see Harry and Ron on the grounds of Hogwarts in the forest. Heck, mebbe Hagrid goes to Bulgaria. It’s not surprising that Hagrid will feature more prominently in the next book, given that at the end of the fourth book Hagrid (and his lady friend) are almost certainly going off to meet with the giants. Whether the giants are in Bulgaria remains to be seen. ---
**Author:** ![Lionors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c37758/32.png) [@Lionors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionors)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2001, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-im-being-niggled-a-goblet-of-fire-observation/94189/29 "2001-12-01T06:20:50Z")
[slight hijack] Has Rowling ever said what house Harry’s mother and father were in at Hogwarts? We know his dad was a Seeker, but that’s about it. I wish we’d find out more about Harry’s father’s family, too. We know Mom was from a Muggle family, but what about Dad? Questions…questions…questions…😃 ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2001, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-im-being-niggled-a-goblet-of-fire-observation/94189/30 "2001-12-01T21:52:11Z")
I’ll have to look it up to verify, but I believe they were both Gryffindors. I could be inventing a memory of something I never actually read, though, and confusing them with Mr and Mrs Weasley. ---
**Author:** ![JessEnigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cdc98d/32.png) [@JessEnigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JessEnigma)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2001, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-im-being-niggled-a-goblet-of-fire-observation/94189/31 "2001-12-02T03:26:22Z")
I don’t believe it was ever stated in the books that Harry’s parents were in Gryffindor, but just based on what’s set up in the books, the contrast between good and evil, I think they probably were. I also think I read somewhere (a chat transcript?) that Rowling said they were in Gryffindor. But it’s not in the books. (There _is_ a bit about Mrs. Weasley, though, in the 4th book. She talks about the portrait of the Fat Lady chewing her out for being out of the dorm so late at night.) jessica ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2001, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-im-being-niggled-a-goblet-of-fire-observation/94189/32 "2001-12-02T05:51:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kaylasdad99 \* > \*\*I’ll have to look it up to verify, but I believe they were both Gryffindors. I could be inventing a memory of something I never actually read, though, and confusing them with Mr and Mrs Weasley. \*\* In the movie, James Potter’s name appears on the Quidditch Cup as a member of the Gryffindor team. One would assume that’s now canon. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2001, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-im-being-niggled-a-goblet-of-fire-observation/94189/33 "2001-12-02T07:52:53Z")
Some interesting facts that may or may not be apart of future books can be found [here](http://www.hpgalleries.com/c115.htm). Including that Harry’s parents were definitely in Gryffindor. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2001, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-im-being-niggled-a-goblet-of-fire-observation/94189/34 "2001-12-03T10:34:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RickJay \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by kaylasdad99 \* > > \*\*I’ll have to look it up to verify, but I believe they were both Gryffindors. I could be inventing a memory of something I never actually read, though, and confusing them with Mr and Mrs Weasley. \*\* > > In the movie, James Potter’s name appears on the Quidditch Cup as a member of the Gryffindor team. One would assume that’s now canon. \*\* Just saw that this weekend. If I’m not mistaken, one of the other names shown was “McGonagall”. Hmmmm… Can anyone confirm? ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2001, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-im-being-niggled-a-goblet-of-fire-observation/94189/35 "2001-12-03T13:30:51Z")
the way the school system works in the UK is that 1st year 11-12 2nd year 12-13 3rd year 13-14 4th year 14-15 5th year 15-16 6th year 16-17 Upper 6th is 17-18. Hermione would have been in 4th year and Vic in the upper sixth form.(3 school years difference) He would have been 18 when he left school. In the UK because the age of consent is 16 and there is no junior high/senior high separation this age gap in a relationship is not uncommon. The cut off date for school years is usually 30th of june. my sister has a birthday in the first week of july and is the youngest person in her year because she was moved up. ---
**Author:** ![KrustyKlown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b4bc9f/32.png) [@KrustyKlown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KrustyKlown)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2001, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-im-being-niggled-a-goblet-of-fire-observation/94189/36 "2001-12-03T15:52:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jr8 \* Just saw that this weekend. If I’m not mistaken, one of the other names shown was “McGonagall”. Hmmmm… Can anyone confirm? [/QUOTE] Yep, M.G. McGonagall. ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2001, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-im-being-niggled-a-goblet-of-fire-observation/94189/37 "2001-12-03T18:17:12Z")
i just reread books one and part of 2 last night, and Ron definately says both his parents were in Gryffindor, and so was Dumbledore. I don’t think they said what House Peter Pettigrew was in, he went bad, so i would assume Slytherin, but he hung out with Potter, Black, and Lupin, so he may have been Gryffindor (there hasn’t been much evidence of cross-house close friendships in those books, besides Percy and Penelope). Of course, when they thought Sirus was bad, they still said bad wizards came from Slytherin only, so maybe Sirus is from Slytherin as well (or maybe Hagrid was exaggerating, which i think is more likely). ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2001, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-im-being-niggled-a-goblet-of-fire-observation/94189/38 "2001-12-03T21:06:39Z")
Personally, I’m betting that Mooney, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs were one each from the four houses. We know that Harry’s dad was a Griffindor, and I’m taking at face value Hagrid’s comments in the first book, so Sirius is Slytherin. Of the other two, I’m guessing that Lupin was Ravenclaw and Pettigrew was Hufflepuff. I most definitely would _not_ assume that all Griffindors are good. Rowling seems to enjoy setting up prejudices like that for the express purpose of knocking them down later: First impressions of good and evil are not always right. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-im-being-niggled-a-goblet-of-fire-observation/94189.md?page=1)