what about Hagrid with Crossbow? (Was Re: Hagrid in Knockturn Alley)

[Tom Wall]

No: HPFGUIDX 55573


Silly Mr. Wiggles wrote:
Is it just me or does it seem a bit odd that Hagrid, a half giant and 
a wizard, has a muggle weapon like a crossbow? It seemed to me that 
the wizarding world had made its way without muggle inventons, 
espically because Mr.Weasly was so facinated with them. Anyone else 
thought about this? If this has been brought up before I am quite 
sorry, my computer is not wanting to work with the searching.

Erin wrote:
I think they've made their way without *modern* inventions; that is, 
most new stuff from after the (1600's, I think it was) time when they 
began hiding their presence from Muggles and basically cut themselves 
off from Muggle society. I would have found it odd if, for instance, 
Hagrid had had a gun. But a crossbow I can swallow.

I add:
Yeah, I agree with Erin here – we do see instances of members of the 
WW possessing medieval-type objects and muggle weapons quite 
frequently, if you think about it - Godric Griffindor had a sword, 
there are suits of armor all over Hogwarts, and in PoA, Macnair 
brings an axe for the execution of Buckbeak. Incidentally, I do 
remember wondering why they don't have a more humane, magical way of 
taking care of business, y'know?

The WW seems up-to-date with older objects, but not informed on 
modern stuff. For instance, in the Daily Prophet, a gun is described 
as: "a kind of metal wand that Muggles use to kill each other." (PoA, 
US paperback, Ch.3, 38) So, if Ron saw a gun, I bet he'd be confused, 
or at least have questions. Whereas he'd probably, IMO, recognize an 
axe right away, as he does with Gryffindor's sword in CoS: "How come 
you've got a sword?" said Ron, gaping at the glittering weapon in 
Harry's hand. (CoS, US paperback, Ch.17, 324)

-Tom