The Rare Cloaks

[carin_in_oh]

No: HPFGUIDX 86968

Further to the discussion of the rarity and nature of the cloaks: 

We do learn a little bit more about them in FB&WTFT, p. 9 (US ed.):

"Demiguise: ...The Demiguise is found in the Far East, though only with great 
difficulty, for this beast is able to make itself invisible when threatened, and can be 
seen only by wizards skilled in its capture...The whole body is covered with long, 
fine, silky, silvery hair. Demiguise pelts are highly valued as the hair may be spun 
into Invisibility Cloaks."

Now this doesn't make clear whether the invisibility of the cloaks comes from the 
physical qualities of the hair (with or without additional enchantment), or from 
some part of the magical capabilities of the Demiguise that linger in its hair even 
when it's been skinned. (Note that JKR says "pelts" which to me suggests that 
people kill and skin the DG, rather than shearing it :) The fact that the qualities of 
the cloak when worn by a wizard mimic the natural strengths and weaknesses of 
the DG make me suspect that the hair carries some magical essence of the animal: 
that is, the wizard uses the cloak "to make itself invisible when threatened" BUT the 
cloaking can be penetrated by certain skilled wizards.

The difficulty of capturing the DG would, of course, explain the rarity of the cloaks. 

Carin