Wizard talent in Muggle families

[flying_ford_anglia]

Original Yahoo! HPFG Header:
No: HPFGUIDX C7010
From: flying_ford_anglia
Subject: Re: Wizard talent in Muggle families
Reply To: [Yahoo! #6979] Re: Wizard talent in Muggle families
Date: 8/16/00 5:04 pm  (ET)

<<I'm of the opinion that if a child and their family are totally unaware
of wizarding society, a personal representative from Hogwarts ... comes to
explain everything to the family, takes them or shows them Diagon Alley,
etc. Perhaps this was Hagrid's job in SS. I bet he'd have shown up even
if Harry had gotten his letter.>>

Hmmm. I'm not sure people would be reassured if the news of their child's
unique talent was broken by a massive giant with his face "almost
completely hidden by a long, shaggy mane of hair". I agree with you,
though, that there might be some sort of Muggle-Wizard liaison team. I
imagine this is why they have "Muggle Studies" on the curriculum at
Hogwarts - it's aimed at those students who might go into that area of
work or to work in the Muggle community in other ways.

I also agree with another comment made (I think it was by Vicky), that
Arthur Weasley ought to be more of an expert on Muggle paraphernalia. If
he is so puzzled by the telephone, for example, how could he tell if it
were being 'misused'? [Ahem - just trying to keep Arthur in the discussion
somehow <g>]

When it comes to Muggle parents dealing with a child's attendance at
a school for witches and wizards, could it be that they are put under
some sort of charm, a bit like the 'Obliviate!' spell? ['Obfuscate'
perhaps?]. It would be a long-term charm that would cause them to make
up very plausible 'smoke-screen' explanations for anyone who pried too
much, or trigger off some sort of alarm at MoM in such circumstances,
so that they could apparate someone over to say 'Obliviate!' The parents
would be fully aware of the situation, but, somehow, never manage to
tell anyone else anything to give the game away.

Neil, who is hot (not in the Sirius way, I've been feverish for the last
three days).