Questions for J.K.Rowling

Dear J.K. Rowling,

Since we are now in the process of second guessing , I’d like ask a few questions.

1. Why do you now suddenly think that Hermione is “settling” for Ron? I can understand why she might love Ron. Hermione was an only child, raised by Muggles. The Weasley family welcomed her with open arms and with them she got the whole package: ready made family, a witch mother in law and sister who would understand her, and the support and acceptance every young person needs. She wasn't only marrying Ron. She was marrying his whole family. Same with Harry. He isn't really just marrying Ginny. He is getting the big family he craves.

I would have matched Hermione with Draco or Viktor, but don’t those choices say more about ME than about Hermione’s character? Aren't you also projecting a little but here? .

2. Why do wizards get married so young? Also, why does Hermione have to get married at all? This alone seems awfully regressive. If any woman can take care of herself without a man, it would be a witch.

3. What kind of family planning do wizards use? Just curious here, as this isn't explained. Perhaps a potion of some kind?

I would hope that magical methods would be available for BOTH witches and wizards, so that finally the whole burden of family planning isn't on the woman.

4. Even though Mrs. Weasley is a powerful witch, how come she is the one stuck at home doing housework and cooking?

5. Why does Madame Malkin have to pin up fabric on their robes  and hem them? Is fabric resistant to magic? Is that why Lupin’s robes are so shabby? Because he can’t repair and replace them by magic?

6. Aren't there any jobs or industries in the Wizarding world? Is the only career options available working for the government, being a small business owner or being born with money?

7. Don’t you think that you need to write about Wizarding Detectives working in the Muggle World, solving crimes? Of course you do!

Looking forward to your answers.

Great Moments in Fabric Literature, Vol VII

This left only one parcel. Harry picked it up and felt it. It was very light. He unwrapped it.
Something fluid and silvery gray went slithering to the floor where it lay in gleaming folds. Ron gasped.
"I've heard of those," he said in a hushed voice, dropping the box of Every Flavor Beans he'd gotten from Hermione. "If that's what I think it is - they're really rare, and really valuable."
"What is it?"
Harry picked the shimmering, silvery cloth off the floor. It was strange to the touch, like water woven into material.
"It's an invisibility cloak," said Ron, a look of awe on his face. "I'm sure it is - try it on."
Harry threw the cloak around his shoulders and Ron gave a yell.
"It is! Look down."
Harry looked down at his feet, but they were gone. He dashed to the mirror. Sure enough, his reflection looked back at him, just his head suspended in midair, his body completely invisible. He pulled the cloak over his head and his body vanished completely.

J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, 1997, pg 201

Invisibility cloaks, caps and other magic articles that render the user invisible abound in literature since the beginnings of literature. There was Hermes' magic cap, also H.G. Wells' Invisible Man, and many, many other examples.
For Harry Potter aficionados, the introduction of the invisibility cloak is a vital plot point. This cloak will make many appearances (disappearances?) throughout the story.
I first heard J.K. Rowling read from her book in an interview on NPR back in 1997, while I was driving home from work. She read the chapter where Harry goes to the zoo on Dudley's birthday, and it was so amusing and interesting that I went to Olsen's Bookstore the next day at lunchtime and bought two copies - one for my kids, and one for my nephew, for Christmas. When we opened presents, the kids (of course) had never heard of Harry Potter. So we read it aloud to each other that whole Christmas vacation. This is a book that should be read aloud to and with children, and we all three took turns reading it to each other. The story really isn't fully appreciated unless it is shared. (Especially the Uncle Vernon parts)
Go read it again - J.K. Rowling is so inventive it is a pleasure to imagine Every Flavor Beans, Chocolate Frogs, Grow-Your-Own-Warts Kit and more.

Invisibility cloaks might soon be more real than you think. Check out what they are up to at the University of California.
(Take that, Stanford! Go Bears!)