Muggle/Magic Business

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 46462

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., illyana delorean <illyana at m...> wrote:
> >bboy_mn wrote:
> >
> >I think there are some wizards who have married muggles and choose
> >to live in the muggle world, and use their businesses to help magic
> >business transfer goods and services between the magic and muggle
> >world. ... edited... Have a muggle front business the funnels all 
> >the work into the magic world, then returns in faster, better 
> >crafted, and with lower labor costs and a higher profit margin.
> >
> >I wonder if there is a magic world law against that????
> 
> illyana adds:
> 
> I am assuming that there is a MOM law against wizards using magic to 
> manufacture goods that will be sold to muggles. Part of Mr. Weasley's 
> job is to ensure that muggles do not come across bewitched items (and 
> to fix the situation if they do), so that leads me to believe that 
> there would be a law against this. Although I am sure that there 
> would be honest wizards who would only use magic to manufacture the 
> items (and not to bewitch them), you can never be too careful!
> 
> illyana

bboy_mn replies:

Well, you answered your own question. There is a big difference
between an object that was made by using magic, and an object that
contains magic after it's been made. A cabinet maker may use magical
methods to cut and carve the wood for a cabinet, yet when finally done
has nothing more than a ordinary cabinet, there should be no reason to
hide it from the muggles.

A cabinet is a cabinet whether it was cut by hand, by machine, or by
magic. The final products would be indistiguishable from each other.

Of course, in a situation like this absolutely no product could go out
the door to muggles if it was enchanted or magical in any way.

I have to admit that I have thoroughly analyzed and more importantly
thoroughly rationalized my belief that this is OK, because I'm writing
a story in which Harry and Ron have house-elves manufacture ginger
ale/beer which is sold in the magic and muggle markets. 

Independant of my fiction, I still think, mostly on a very small
unobtrusive scale, that there are some businesses that act as an
interface between the wizard and muggle worlds. Probably a better
example is Gringotts bank. They have some need to exchange muggle
currencies. Since there is no way to go to the muggle bank or the
international currency exchange and trade Pound for Galleon, I suspect
they have some muggle front business that allows them to exchange
Pound notes for something of value. Perhaps only investments or
something like that, but as money grubbing and hardnosed as Goblins
are, they are going to do everything within and probably slightly
beyond the boundaries of the law to make money.

Although, I will admit the last example I gave of exploiting magic
labor to made excessive muggle profits might be a stretch of what the
law would allow. I'm sure Arthur would see that as taking unfair
advantage of the poor defenseless muggles. But I can see it happening
on a smaller scale.

Can't prove a word of this, but that what I think is happening. 

Just some thoughts.

bboy_mn