Physical presence of Wizarding Geogr

[vjmerri]

Original Yahoo! HPFG Header:
No: HPFGUIDX C7039
From: vjmerri
Subject: Re: Physical presence of Wizarding Geogr
Reply To: [Yahoo! #6955] Physical presence of Wizarding Geography
Date: 8/17/00 12:05 am  (ET)

By: brooksindy
Date: 8/15/00 11:32 pm

where are the wizarding spaces?

physically in the Muggle spacetime continuum, I lean more & more to really
in this world, but concealed, or at best (for the Alleys, and Gringott's
vaults) in only a small pocket reality just barely off the Muggle one.

--------------
The wizarding world definitely seems to be in the same _time_ continuum,
and JKR has stated in book one that the bank vaults are miles below
the surface of London, so they would definitely seem to be in the same
physical universe. By corollary, if the vaults are physically in London
then Gringotts really has to be, and thence the rest of Diagon Alley.

However, it just isn't realistic to be able to hide geographic areas the
size a diagon alley in London. I think there is a physical connection
to London that to the observer, maybe appears to be the size of a
building. But like so much else of the wizarding world (the car trunks,
the cars themselves, their tents. . .)it is bigger on the inside than the
outside. JKR's wizarding geography definitely has Tardis like properties.

Its magic. There isn't a scientific explanation for where the space
comes from. It isn't another dimension or anything. Its just magic.

Of course, one could always say that Diagon Alley is simply diagonal to
the muggle universe, which is why they can't see it :-)

>Consider - is the route taken by the Express riding an extant, physical,
(possibly abandoned) Muggle track? And we know in PofA that the train >

Hermione says that the muggles can see Hogwarts, but it looks like a
ruin, so the train must travel from London to somewhere. Remember, in
C of Secrets, Ron and Harry could follow the train in the flying car,
which went north and which was seen by a number of muggles across the
country. That implies that the track and train are physically there but
simply hidden with magical protections from muggle view. Ron and Harry,
as young wizards, could see the train, but the car wasn't protected by
the trains' muggle charms.

vicki