The Rare Cloaks (and vanishing spells)

[mfisanich]

No: HPFGUIDX 86996

Melissa originally wrote:  
>... How does it [the cloak] know what to make invisible? How is it 
that the cloak is not invisible itself, but rather silvery, until it 
is put on a person?  Does the cloak magically 'know' when to start 
making something invisible?  Does it have to be in physical contact 
with a human?  When the cloak is folded in Harry's trunk, does it 
render the objects beneath it invisible? the floor of the trunk? the 
floor under the trunk?  How does this all work?
 
> The Steve (bboy_mn) replied with:
<snip>
> My opinion is that the invisibility cloak has a visible side and an
> invisible side very much like the cloak we see in the movie. When 
you fold it up to put it away, a wise person always folds with the 
visible side out. 

I agree, there are no definite answers to these questions.  I like 
the notion that the cloak is only invisible through one side, though. 
This idea solves many of the logistical problems associated with 
invisibility cloaks.  Also, it follows a technique I've noticed JKR 
uses a lot when she introduces magical objects and artifacts -- they 
often magically do something that is accomplished through technology 
in the Muggle world. (E.g., using Floo powder to talk through the 
fireplace = telephone or even video conferencing.  The Marauder's Map 
= 'Onstar' or another on-demand GPS mapping service that you can 
receive in your car.)  In this case, the IC is comparable to a two-
way mirror.

Steve went on to say:
> There are a lot of unanswered and unanswerable question regarding 
the clock. If it only works when a human wraps it around himself, then
> that would imply that you couldn't hide a solid object, like a 
dragon in a crate, unless you were also under the cloak. That doesn't 
seem very practical.

Melissa again:
I agree here, too. It doesn't seem logical for the cloak only to work 
when it's used on a person.  That would greatly limit the power of 
this object which is described as very rare and powerful in the books.


Steve again:
> There is also the issue of magical intent. We know that magic can be
> modified by intent. When Harry stuns Ron, Ron gracefully falls over,
> Hermione revives him, and he gets back up and tries it again. But 
when Dumbledore stuns fake!Moody, he does it through a solid door 
which is destroy in the process of knocking Moody out. 
> We do see a limited amount of magic that is performed by intent 
alone;examples of wordless and/or wandless magic. Tom the innkeeper 
snapes
> his fingers and the fireplace ingnites, etc....
> 
> So perhaps, the ability of the invisibility cloak is modified by the
> magical intent of it's user to take from silvery and nearly 
invisible to fully invisible.
> 
> I don't think we have enough to really make a definitive statement,
> but the visible side/invisibile side seems like a very simple 
solution
> to the mystery.
> 
> Just a thought.
> 

Finally, Melissa:

I like the notion that magical intent would still have to apply to an 
object like the cloak.  This makes me think, though, if magical 
intent is necessary, then why not just develop a spell that renders 
the spellcaster or another person invisible?  Wouldn't the Vanishing 
Spell that the 5th years work so hard to learn be a suitable means of 
making yourself invisible (once you were able to move beyond 
vanishing snails and mice, that is!)  Or does the Vanishing Spell 
make the vanished object cease to exist, instead of merely 
invisible?  If it makes the vanished object cease to exist, I would 
think the spell's use on a fellow human being would be ranked up 
there with the Unforgivable Curses.  Since we don't hear McGonagall 
tell the students anything about this, it leads me to believe that 
the snails, mice, and kittens are merely being made invisible.

At any rate, it seems that JKR has at least thought about the fact 
that widespread use of the Vanishing spell in the WW could render 
many things illogical and unnecessary in the books (why the 
Disillusionment charm? Why would Sirius Black need to hide out -- he 
could just become invisible.)  Perhaps this is why she makes a point 
of showing us how very, very difficult the Vanishing spell is.  Maybe 
she's making it clear that not many wizards would have the talent 
necessary to vanish themselves.

Now I've got to vanish from my computer and make dinner! Evanesco!

Melissa