Lupin / Sirius / Snape-Filch / common rooms / Bagman / Mudblood / Muggles

[Cindy C.]

No: HPFGUIDX 29124

Rita wrote:

> 
> The wizard folk keep themselves secret from Muggles because THEY 
ARE 
> SCARED OF MUGGLES. Rita wrote:

> 
> The wizard folk keep themselves secret from Muggles because THEY 
ARE 
> SCARED OF MUGGLES. 

Hmmm.  This is quite interesting, as I always bought Hagrid's 
explanation of why wizards wish to avoid Muggles.  I guess the theory 
that wizards fear Muggles is also bolstered by the fact that certain 
wizards with a motive to live among Muggles refuse to do so.  Filch 
would likely do better among Muggles than among wizards.  Pettigrew 
would be better off hiding as a Muggle than as a rat, I suspect.  And 
laws governing wizarding secrecy suggest the threat is sufficient to 
require government decree.

I am not sure I would characterize the problem as wizard fear of 
Muggles, though.  I would say it is more the desire to be left along, 
although perhaps different from the way Hagrid sees it.  If Muggles 
knew about wizards, they might feel threatened and behave 
aggressively.  These efforts to persecute wizards would be 
unsuccessful, of course, but bothersome nonetheless.  Indeed, it is 
hard to imagine how Muggles could really harm wizards.  A wizard 
captured by Muggles could simply apparate away, after all.  

Cindy