boggart

Amy Z aiz24 at hotmail.com
Sat May 5 00:16:34 UTC 2001


No: HPFGUIDX 18176

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Tandy, Heidi" <heidi.h.tandy.c92 at a...> 
wrote:
> I forget exactly who wrote: 
> > <Imagine Petunia or Dudley's reaction if they opened the
> > front door and saw a dementor there>
> 
> But Lupin said that Muggles can't see Dementors, although they can 
sense
> their presence, so would they see anything? Or would they just open 
the door
> and get very depressed all of a sudden. 

They might be able to see Boggarts.  Boggarts are a part of Muggle 
legend, explained away (as are Redcaps, Grindylows, fairies, etc.) as 
mere legend, but possibly perfectly visible to those who happen to 
run into them, though most dismiss the experience as the product of 
too much booze or such . . . FB deals with this nicely.

But if Muggles can't see Boggarts, how's this:  Dementors, though 
invisible to Muggles, cause them to feel hopeless, sad, and haunted 
by terrible memories (i.e., in DSM-IV lingo, depressed).  Boggarts, 
by the same token, cause Muggles to feel unaccountably afraid (i.e., 
again in DSM-IV lingo, anxious).

I like the thought that Boggarts are the cause of panic attacks in 
Muggles.

Amy Z





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