[HPforGrownups] Muggles in the Wizarding World

[Master Clef]

No: HPFGUIDX 85146

>*snip*But what about Floo Powder? Is it the powder that holds the magic (in 
which case a Muggle should be able to use it), or does the hand that 
throws the powder need to have magic, *snip*

*waves* Hi, first post, totally amazed at everyone's post thus far on the list. I feel like a five year old who found her way into a college philosophy class. So, like I did at my Mom's college biology class at the same age, I'm going to dive right in. 

I would say, Floo Powder is magical in and of itself; the question is how would a muggle acquire it, and know to state their intended destination before use? Outside of pranks, living through a B&E of a wizard's home (which, I would think would be very difficult for muggles), or inheriting some from a long lost relative I think Floo Powder is an unlikely source for Muggles appearing in Diagon Alley.

>*snip*Same question for Portkeys - it is the Portkey that is magical, or it is the combination of Portkey and magical person that matters? *snip*

If I remember GoF correctly, I think the portkeys are designed only to work at a particular time, from that particular place to the other. The Weasley's transport to the Tournament, but later someone (Bagman?) mentions 'catching a portkey' like once catches a subway train, perhaps you don't have to limit the number of people transporting on any one portkey, but I think each spell is a limited to one shot back and forth. Until Harry grabbed th trophy and ported back to the Hogwarts' field, I thought portkeys only went one way. There was a discarded pile of portkeys at the Tournament. If the spell is continuous, and has multiple uses, what would have stopped Dumbldore from inviting Fudge to see the graveyard Harry and Cedric were transported to? Evidence of LV return might still linger. (I'm still surprised no one has developed time magic to review past events from a safe perspective, like the Pensive. Unless that causes a temporal loop, but that's Star Trek's territory...)

>I'm also curious about how Muggles would fit into the Wizarding 
justice system (such as it is). Would the WW have jurisdiction over 
a Muggle who committed a crime in a magical place (Diagon Alley, for 
example), or against a Witch or Wizard? Could a Muggle be sent to 
Azkaban? Or given a Dementor's Kiss? OoP would indicate that a 
Muggle could receive a kiss (in terms of the soul being sucked out), 
but I'm wondering if the Wizarding court would believe itself to 
have the authority to sentence a Muggle to that fate. 

I find it clear from Aurthur Weasley's dying Muggle Protection Act in CoS through the abuse given to Arabella Figg (abuse for being a Dumbledore Supporter, notwithstanding) that Muggles are almost non-persons to the WW. They seem to have no rights to speak of, and seems to be looked upon as, "awwwww, how cute! Look, those muggles have phellytones. How do they get along without magic?" 

But seriously, yes, the WW would arrest anyone committing a crime on their turf; just like America would arrest an illegal alien. I can't see them sending a muggle to Azkaban. If the crime were serious enough, the offended party involved might take their own revenge. OTOH, muggles don't seem to have the power to hurt wizards. The Inquisition was a joke to the WW. For minor offenses, I think the WW would obliterate their memory, return whatever property was lost/damaged/whatever, and make sure the muggle would avoid that area for the rest of their life. So, I say yes, the WW's arrogance knows few boundaries. Look how they treated the centaurs--"near human intelligence?"--the ACLU would beat them bloody (if they were prone to violence).

Will stop now. Job interview tomorrow.

~Clef


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