muggles and knowing about magic

[Indigo]

No: HPFGUIDX 23190

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Michelle Apostolides" 
<michelleapostolides at l...> wrote:
>   there are
> > obviously muggles who know about magic (ie  Hermione's parents,
> > Dursleys)  what is it that keeps them from giving away the secret,
> > plus, what other muggles know (ie government, clergy)
> 
> Well, the Dursleys are a special case in point. It is made extremely
> clear that they would be unlikely to associate themselves with 
something
> that they consider abnormal. But I suspect that they have  a far 
greater
> knowledge than they have so far shown.

They do.  Dumbledore wrote them a very long, detailed letter 
explaining about Voldemort and about James and Lily and that Harry is 
a wizard.  They may not remember, or even still have the letter, but 
potentially they could possess a lot of important wizardworld 
information, yes.

> 
> As for the Grangers, well, Hermione is probably sensible enough to 
have
> explained the situation to them in such a way that they understand 
why
> they can't say too much about Hermione's gifts.

There's also the fact for both families that muggles would think they 
were nuts if they said, "Our hated Nephew Harry is a wizard! A filthy 
Wizard!" or  "Our lovely daughter Hermione is a witch! Yes just like 
on that American telly program!" 
> 
> I think it says in Canon ( I'm not good at quoting or remembering 
where
> to find quotes ) that the MOM and the UK government were working
> together when they were looking for Sirius. 

Yes, but Fudge only told them he was a prison escapee. He didn't need 
to go into detail about Sirius being a wizard.  He just needed the 
muggles to know he was armed and dangerous.  

I personally don't think
> that being a witch or wizard, as we see them in JKR's universe would
> stop them practising a religion, so perhaps the great faiths are 
aware
> of the wizarding world.
> 

Insofar as religion goes?  I have no thoughts at all on this one.

Indigo