Muggleness in the wizard world

[grey_wolf_c]

No: HPFGUIDX 39548

James wrote:
> Ruminating in my room I had a thought (actually I had several, but 
> one is relevant).
> 
> Harry breaks his watch in GoF (in the lake).  
> 
> Why is it not already broken.
> 
> I hardly think the Dursley's the sort of people to give him a good 
> watch and the wind up kind (if they are to have any accuracy) are 
> highly expensive (and quite often will work again if dried out).
>
> The only solution I can think of is that it is a Digital (cheap) or 
> at least a quartz crystal watch - batteries, circuit board and all. 
> And this is working for three years in Hogwarts.
 
I always pictured that it was a hand-me-down watch from Dudley, and a 
(relatively) good one at that: maybe an Omega, who works by 
mechanical only means (you have to wind it every day). That would 
suit the Dursleys: they woulndn't have to keep buying him batteries. 
Remember, Harry's clothes are good quality, even if they're several 
times too big, since they were dudley's. Maybe the watch is a little 
worse for wear, but until he submerged it for an hour in the lake it 
still ticked.

> Am I also right in thinking he has a torch (or am I just 
> remembering that from when he was doing homework under the 
> covers).  We know wizards have radios (although they are very 
> simple technology and could work from valves or crystals) so what 
> else can they use.  If a watch then surely a calculator, and from 
> there to the library computer.

No *electronic* device works at Hogwarts: nothing that requires 
electricity. Radios, we are told are magical. The torch is used only 
in the Dudley's house (and I'd imagine that the torch itself can be 
found there. There are at least three in my hoem alone, and if I took 
one during the night, no-one would notice). JKR has promised 
a "magical Internet" for OotP.

> Also while I'm on the subject.
> 
> [inhales deeply and prepares to rant]
> 
> Biro's anybody?  Why on earth would someone with no qualms about 
> wearing jeans and t-shirt under his school robes risk spilling ink 
> under the covers (and the quill is bound to be scratchy in the 
> hands of a young boy who has only recently started using them - I 
> know I cant make them write smoothly) when he could just use a ball-
> point.  Seriously, they could do that in lessons too.  Ok I concede 
> exams, where they have enchanted quills but that bit under the bed 
> in 4 Privet Drive REALLY bugs me.  I mean if you're worried about 
> the look of a cheap ballpoint then get a better one, or use a 
> fountain pen (they're just metal quills anyway). Grrr.

The quills seem to work well enough, and Harry can buy them in Diagon 
Alley, without having to bother the Dursleys. He also enjoys the ink 
that cahnges colours, which cannot be managed with a byro. Another 
reason it that he's required to use Quills in school, so he'd better 
practice during the summer so he doesn't loose rythim.

> *looks around at all the PG type people on the list in hope his 
> faith in JKR will be restored*
> 
> James (calming down now - and really hoping no-one will tie this to 
> the pen issues he's just had in his finals)

I'm not sure what a PG is, but

Hope that helps,

Grey Wolf, who hasn't had this much fun in posting in *weeks*