Unplottability (was Quick Siruis Black /Spells questions)

[ameliagoldfeesh <ameliagoldfeesh@yahoo.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 51664


Scott Northrup, in replying to Rona, said:

>If a location is unplottable, it cannot be plotted on a map. If 
>Dumbledore himself looked at a map of The British Isles (or 
>the world, for that matter), he couldn't tell you where Hogwarts 
>actually was (if Hogwarts is actually unplottable; Maybe it's just 
>the other schools that are unplottable, my mind is blank at the 
>moment; anyway, you get the idea). However, he and probably 
>all Wizards, can still find it.

---------
 I can help a bit here.  In GoF, ch. Aboard the Hogwarts Express, 
Hermione says that Hogwarts is Unplottable like the other two 
schools so as "to keep foreign wizards from finding it."  So it 
sounds as if it is hidden from foreign wizards too.  

     She also says that "Durmstrang and Beaubatons like to 
conceal their whereabouts so no one can steal their secrets."
I assume that perhaps Hogwarts guards some of its secrets a 
little less jealously.  However, this makes me wonder how 
closely the schools do try to guard their secrets.  For instance, I 
would assume the only way each school can contact the other 
would be through owls. (So apparently owls aren't affected by the 
Unplottability spell.)  
     There is also Floo.  Does this mean Floo access is blocked to 
outsiders in the other schools.  From the impression one gets 
from Durmstrang, Karkaroff wouldn't want an unannouced visit 
from Dumbledore or Madame Maxime.  Floo seems to work both 
as a videophone and as a transporter (of a sort.)  Can the 
"transporter" mode be turned off for safety?  I don't recall it 
addressed in the books but I would think so, otherwise thieves 
wouldn't have to work too hard.  Did Sirius get an okay from 
Dumbledore to talk to Harry in Gryffindor common room?  I hope 
so or it would seem as though nearly anyone could at least 
compromise Hogwarts' safety.  (Yes, I realize in GoF 
Dumbledore trusted him, but he was still considered a wanted 
man.)
     One more thought, if a person visits an Unplottable place 
once will he be able to remember where it is in the future, even if 
it can't be found on a map?  For instance, if Harry for some 
reason visited Beaubatons, would he be able to find it again after 
he left it?  Will the students from the other schools remember 
and be able to get to Hogwarts if they wish, without an invitation 
from Hogwarts?

I have a couple more thoughts, but I think I'll end it here. This is
a 
rambling  post that got out of control as I was writing and 
thinking.  Never thought I'd get to pondering unplottability so 
much.  I know it has been discussed before, by Bboy_mn Steve, 
perhaps, but it has been awhile.

A Goldfeesh
   (who is contemplating a Hermione/Scabbers SHIP)
    I suppose I should add that the two aforementioned 
characters are both pet rats- Maia is mine and Scabbers 
belongs to my nephew.  However I'm not sure if I'm up to the 
responsibility of grandmotherhood *g*