Wizards studying science - M. Map

[Amy Z]

No: HPFGUIDX 14700

Naama wrote:

>No, no, no. You use physics to circumvent magic! Remember - Hermione
>said of electronic devices that they were substitutes for magic, not
>the other way around. :)

You and Hermione are right--but I didn't mean that magic replaces 
physics.  I literally meant circumvents--as in, the laws of physics 
(as known by the feebleminded likes of Newton and Einstein anyway) may 
teach us that it's impossible to fly using only a broomstick, but 
magic says "sod off, physics--let me show you how it's done."

But physics is still very interesting (well, theoretically, anyway...I 
was terrible at it!), even if wizards would find it a bit quaint.  
"Okay, okay, all this stuff about electricity exists, but why don't 
you just say 'lumos'" and skip all these complications?"

Re: would Dumbledore return the map to Harry if he got a hold of it?  
I hope JKR is going to follow up on this loose end right away 'cause 
I'm really curious.  I don't think Dumbledore knew of the map's 
existence until Crouch Jr. mentioned it--or it may be that he had 
heard rumors of it but didn't know it really existed.  He might want 
it, *not* to keep it out of Harry's hands or even the hands of someone 
like false-Moody, but to use it himself.

The only problem with this theory is that surely Dumbledore is capable 
of creating such a map...*unless* there's a mysterious story behind 
the creation of the map--which after all is a very powerful object to 
have been created by students, even really good ones--and it isn't 
such a simple matter to make one at all. 

Hmmm...

Amy Z

-----------------------------------------
 "This is the weirdest thing we've ever
 done," Harry said fervently.
       --HP and the Prisoner of Azkaban
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