Identifiable flying object (was: Sirius's Motorcycle)

[Edblanning at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 35856

Dave
>
>>  For that matter, what happened to the motorcycle?
>
>More problematic... Maybe the Department for the Misuse
>of Muggle Artifacts confiscated it...

Boggles replies

Perhaps.  And maybe Arthur Weasley ot his hands on it, took it apart, 

> and used its components to refurbish a Ford Anglia.  (*eyebrow 
> waggle*)
> 
> What is the fascination with flying vehicles?  The Anglia, the 
> motorcycle, the Beauxbatons carriage . . . I'm half suprised the 
> Durmstrang longship and the Hogwarts Express haven't taken to the air 
> at some point.  And why are all these allowed (well, the Anglia isn't 
> really, but presumably the others are) and the flying carpets 
> disallowed?  Wizarding law seems oddly confused on the subject of 
> identifiable flying objects.
> 
> 
Eloise:

Didn't Arthur Weasley frame the act? Therefore it's relatively new and 
Sirius' motor cycle may predate it. Hagrid had it last ( I've always wondered 
how he managed to sit on it. Perhaps he used an engorgement charm). I suspect 
he discarded it in disgust on hearing of Sirius' supposed treachery. I have a 
vision of it trundling round the Forbidden Forest, where of course, it has 
now met the Flying Ford Anglia and is bringing up a little family of motor 
bikes with sidecars.

The Beauxbatons carriage couldn't be mistaken for a muggle artefact, which is 
the basis of the law. You see, lots of us have oriental style carpets, but 
not so many of us have witch-type broomsticks. I do, as it happens, but it 
has shown no inclination to take off as yet. Again, I think the flying carpet 
law is recent. Someone (?Crouch) mentions having had one in the past. Banning 
broomsticks would cause a major incident. However,  there is definitely some 
cultural bias here. Does the wizarding community outside Europe and North 
America use broomsticks? Institutionalised racism in the MOM, I'm afraid.

My thoughts on broomsticks are far more prosaic, more to do with the 'ouch' 
factor. I mean, sitting on one...even if you can balance on it....well, isn't 
it just painful?

Eloise, who has a tendency towards vertigo, doesn't like speed, has enough 
trouble with horses, even of the non-flying variety and  certainly wouldn't 
dream of trying a broomstick or a carpet. Far too scary.



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