Electricity at Hogwarts (was : Re: Is Trelawney a witch?)

[annemehr at yahoo.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 87191

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, delwynmarch at y... wrote:
> > Erin:
> > Apparently electricity just doesn't function that well around 
> > massive amounts of magic; it isn't something they do on purpose.

Del:
> Ah ? I do not remember other instances where they mentioned that 
> fact. And if that is true, I am worried about Londoners living around 
> the MoM, or Diagon Alley : all the magic must seriously disturb their 
> electrical appliances. In fact, considering how much the WW wants to 
> remain concealed to the Muggles, it would be strange for them to keep 
> highly magical places so close to Muggle places if that could give 
> them away, would it not ?
<snip>

Annemehr:

I found the references -- two of them, anyway.  The first is in GoF
ch.28, when the Trio are wondering how Rita Skeeter is overhearing so
many private conversations, and Harry wonders whether she is having
people bugged (beginning on p. 547 US hardcover):
---------------------------------
Harry started explaining about hidden microphones and recording
equipment.  Ron was fascinated, but Hermione interrupted them.

"Aren't you two *ever* going to read _Hogwarts,_A_History_?"

"What's the point?" said Ron.  "You know it by heart, we can just ask
you."

"All those substitiutes for magic Muggles use -- electricity,
computers, and radar, and all those things -- they all go haywire
around Hogwarts, there's too much magic in the air.  No, Rita's using
magic to eavesdrop, she must be....If I could just find out what it
is...ooh, if it's illegal, I'll have her..."
-----------------------------------

Then the point is repeated in ch. 31, when the Trio are in the empty
Transfiguration classroom helping Harry prepare for the third task and
see Draco out on the lawn speaking into his hand.  On p. 609:
------------------------------------
"He looks like he's using a walkie-talkie," said Harry curiously.
"He can't be," said Hermione, "I've told you, those sorts of things
don't work around Hogwarts.[...]"
-------------------------------------

The fact that it comes from _Hogwarts, A History_ and Hermione
explains it twice sends up a big red flag, no?

Now that you mention it, though, Del, you would think the WW would
need to surround their magical places with some sort of shield charm
to avoid giving themselves away.  Still, what with the other
muggle-repelling charms they have, I do not think they would have
either overlooked the problem nor had much difficulty dealing with it.
 Good point, though.

Annemehr
having left all the apostrophes in the quotes because otherwise they
would not be quotes (sorry), and wondering if yahoo has equipment too
close to a big American wizarding site