Brooms Re: [HPforGrownups] Re: OOP & Quidditch

[aldrea279]

No: HPFGUIDX 41254

Kirsten asked:
> > I was just wondering if it is mentioned anywhere in
> > the books  why broomsticks that fly aren't against any
> > Minstry regulation about manipulating muggle
> > artifacts. Because I knew Mr. weasley had to put a
> > stop to the importation of flying carpets and his
> > flying ford angolia is supposed to be a secret...so
> > how come brooms are allowed to fly? 

To quote Quidditch Through The Ages:

"We are so accustomed these days to the fact that every wizarding 
household in Britan owns at least on flying bromstick that we rarely 
stop to ask ourselves why.  Why should the humble broom have become 
the one object legally allowed as a means of wizarding transport? Why 
did we in the West not adopt the carpet so beloved of our Eastern 
brethren? Why didn't we choose to produce flying barrels, flying 
armchairs, flying bathtubs- why brooms?

Shrewd enough to see that their Muggle neighbours would seek to 
exploit their powers if they knew their full extent, witches and 
wizards kept themselves to themselves long before the International 
Statute of Wizardng Secrecry came into effect.  If they were to keep 
a means of flight in their houses, it would necessarily be something 
discreet, something easy to hide.  The broomstick was ideal for this 
purpose; it required no explanation, no excuse if found by Muggles, 
it was easily portable and inexpensive."


That was, as said in the second paragraph, *before* the WW seperated 
itself so entirely from the Muggle one.  So I think they communicated 
and mingled alot more, which probably put them on more equal terms 
than they are during Harry's time.  A broom isn't neccesarrily a -
Muggle- artifact.  Infact, I don't think everything is either Wizard 
or Muggle; I think many are both, or they are only slightly different
(example: chess. Wizarding Chess isn't -that- diferent from Muggle 
chess).

~Aldrea