[HPforGrownups] Fuel for Flying Fords

[yr awen]

No: HPFGUIDX 42631

Felicia said, in relation to the Anglia's need for fuel:
I am not so sure that now it's magic it does might still need 
*something* to keep it going.  After all how else to Harry and Ron 
finally land? What I mean is.....<<<<<<<<

However, the car *does* turn up several months later trundling around the woods on its own, but there are no oil wells or gas stations(presumably) in the Forbidden Forest.

Felicia:
The Ford Anglia (the surving 1 of 14 permanently extinguished by a 
certain film crew..) appears in the book to be *fading* is the same 
way our anguished old family jalopy did many years ago when it ran 
out of petrol, and it would make sense to have the *running out of 
petrol* scenario as neither Harry nor Ron know how to drive 
*properly* or would know how to land the car anyway.<<<<<<<<

On the other hand, the description of the Anglia isn't really that of it running out of fuel, but rather it's having engine (or possibly radiator) trouble; the engine starts whining, steam starts hissing from underneath the hood, et cetera. Ron makes a remark to the effect that the car's getting tired, as it's never travelled so far before; the farthest it's gone, I guess, is between Ottery St. Catchpole and London, or maybe Surrey, whichever's farthest. There's also the implication that the car, like a horse that's fed up with tolerating an idiot rider, is past the end of its patience and finally kicks Ron and Harry out after being beaten up by the Whomping Willow.

Felicia:
In any event a much more theatrical entrance is necessary.  Otherwise 
how do we find Uncle Severus in a position to berate Harry and Ron 
for their misdemeanour, and miss a Snape fan's moment of fun....?  
And how else to we meet the ultimately vital Whomping Willow?<<<<<<<

Well, that and Harry and Ron have to get rescued from the Acromantulas *somehow* <g> Seriously, though, the Anglia passages are amongst my favorites in the series. 

Felicia again:
... but the Ford Anglia Does Need Something. Arthur 
Weasley *tinkered* with it, he did not do a complete magical 
rebuild....... *Thinks for a moment...*  No he's Definitely, 
Definitely, Not the mechanical type.  His collection of plugs 
recently seen on The Wizarding Wireless web site shows Arthur's 
mechanical ability, I think.......<<<<<<<<

But he does put in an Invisibility Booster *and* enchants it to fly -- mechanics and magic are probably two completely different things, and Arthur strikes me as being a very competent, although somewhat scattered, wizard. I agree that the Anglia does need some form of fuel (nourishment??) but how exactly it goes about getting it while on its own in the forest eludes me. Maybe it cannibalizes itself, or maybe the centaurs (or other sentient creatures) figured out a way to help it out.

The idea of the Anglia going native in the Forbidden Forest, but leaping in to save Ron and Harry from certain death, is, to me, an endless source of entertainment and amusement. Perhaps, as a stereotypical American who is psychically bonded to her car, I find I can relate <g>

HF.


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