Wizard and Muggle Interactions

[Vicki]

No: HPFGUIDX 32510

Hi all -

I'm new to the list and am very much enjoying it - it's great to be around
others who are as into the whole HP world as I am. :)

Now, I have a question, and it may be something that's already been
discussed, so I apologize if that is the case.  But - how is it that there
ARE muggles aware of the wizarding world?  JKR makes the strong point of how
muggles are not to know about magic, and we have muggles being protected by
Arthur Weasley, et all, and yet we have a number of examples of muggles who
are aware of magic and are left with that knowlege.

First, we have Lily and the Evans, which leads directly to Harry and the
Dursleys.  Petunia mentions that her parents were so happy to have a witch
in the family.  Petunia's jealousy undoubtedly helps to form Vernon's
feelings about magic; they both hate the idea and as we know, try their
hardest to keep Harry out of it.  But they are aware of it all the time.

The second example we have is Hermione and the Grangers.  We don't hear a
lot about them, but it's certainly mentioned often that Hermione is
"muggle-born" (or that she's a mudblood if it's Malfoy talking).  We know
that her parents are dentists and that she buys a special kind of magical
floss as a gift for them during a trip to Hogsmeade.  We know that they
accompany her to Diagon Alley at least once and that they're supportive of
her, although they don't want her using magic to solve everything.

We also have the examples of Hagrid's father and Tom Riddle's father and
their different reactions to the women they fathered children with. Hagrid's
giantess mother leaves her family, but supposedly his father loved her,
accepted her and didn't want her to leave.  Riddle's father kicked his
mother out when he found out she was a witch.

So, the ultimate question is, how is all this possible?  Why are some
muggles allowed knowlege of magic while most are not?  Do I just need to
stop thinking so much? ;)

Vicki