Wizard-Muggle marriage

[cindysphynx]

No: HPFGUIDX 33669

Tabouli wrote:

> We have heard about the outcomes of some cross-cultural marriages 
>(Voldemort's tragic childhood, Seamus' shocked Muggle father), but 
>we have never seen or heard about a cross-cultural marriage in the 
>making.  How do such couples meet, and how do they overcome the 
>cultural differences?  How do the Muggles come to terms with the 
>magical abilities of their spouses and overcome their natural 
>scepticism, and what do they tell their families?  How do the 
>Wizards come to terms with the lack of magical powers (but presence 
>of all manner of other technological gadgets) of their spouses and 
>deal with their feelings of cultural supremacy?


Given that the population of the wizarding world in Britain is small 
(we did decide it was small, right?), I wonder if substantial numbers 
of wizards live as muggles by choice.  I don't see how there would be 
enough jobs to support them all.  How many robe shops do you really 
need, after all?  Perhaps rather than attempt to scratch out a living 
in the wizarding world, marginal wizards cross over and live as 
muggles, where the living is easy if you can solve the occasional 
problem with magic.

This would address a question that has always bothered me.  Why 
wouldn't Pettigrew just go into hiding as a muggle rather than as a 
rat?  Sirius gives the answer in the Shrieking Shack when he says 
Pettigrew wanted to keep an ear open to hear of news from Voldemort.  
Eh, OK.  But it is hard to square that reasoning with the fact that 
Pettigrew had no reason to think Dark Wizards would welcome him.  The 
easiest thing would be to get a job in the muggle world and settle 
down there.  That would be impossible, however, if large numbers of 
wizards have settled in the muggle world and would quickly recognize 
Pettigrew.

Cindy