CHAPTER DISCUSSIONS: Chapter One/MuggleWorld, Wizard World

[jwcpgh]

No: HPFGUIDX 82520

Gorda:

<snip> Hermione states in GoF that things such as electronics do not 
work within the Hogwarts grounds, because there's too much magic in 
the air. (Don't have exact page, sorry). So, let's imagine for a 
second that magic is a type of energy, say like an electromagnetic 
field. When a place is heavily enchanted (like Hogwarts) or when 
there's tons of magic people around (like at the Quidditch World Cup 
campsite, or at the graveyard with all the DEs), then the field is 
strong enough to make such Muggle things go haywire. It is also so 
> strong, there's so much magic energy in the air, that the only way 
for wizards to do magic is to concentrate their personal magic 
energy through the use of a wand.
<snip>

Laura (still thinking about this energy thing and fearing that I'm 
about to reveal my abysmal ignorance about physics):

If Ffred is right, and I think he is, then magical ability is a sort 
of genetic mutation that occurs in certain people.  The ability lies 
in the capacity to tap a source of internal power or energy that is 
not available to most people.  Hence, the energy is not something 
that exists in the physical world, accessible to anyone, the way 
electromagnetic energy is.  Instead, it inheres in the persons who 
possess it, and they can choose to use it or not.  (see note below)

There seem to be limits on what that power can do, but not many.  
Magical power can't reverse death or allow people to travel at light 
speed, for instance (or can it...?)-but it does allow for time 
travel.  We also know that the amounts of magical power/ability 
differ from person to person in the WW-or else not everyone can 
harness that power to the same degree.  That's why, presumably, not 
every magical child is invited to attend Hogwarts.  And that would 
make sense if the power were a genetic trait rather than something 
that exists external to people.  

We know that having a few wizards around won't cause electronic 
devices to fail, but we don't know what number is required.  Or it 
may be that it depends on how powerful the wizards and witches 
present are.  But can we call that phenomenon a "magical field"?  
And if that's what it is, magical people gathered together in 
numbers would have to be careful to limit the field.  Otherwise, for 
instance, the nearest muggle town to the QWC might have lost its 
electricity, and that's the last thing the MoM would have wanted.  

And what happens when the witch or wizard who casts a spell isn't 
physically present any more-how long does the spell last?  What if 
the Order abandons Grimmauld Place and manage to move Kreacher 
elsewhere? (Portraits don't count, imo, because they can't do 
magic.)  Would the protective charms stop working?  If the Board of 
Governors decided to move the school to a new site, would Hogwarts 
suddenly become visible to muggles as it really is?  Can spells be 
cast in perpetuity?

Note:
We don't know of anyone who does in fact choose not to use his/her 
magical powers, but presumably people could do so.  We also know 
that in moments of high stress, magical powers can manifest 
themselves involuntarily, at least in children.  We haven't seen any 
adult have that experience.