Stupid food-related question

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 96750

owlery2003 wrote:
> Way too much time on my hands. Thinking about the magical appearance
of food. DD can twiddle-up a tray of tea and cakes. McGonagal can
whip-up a plate of sandwiches (that continues to renew itself). Molly
can make creamy sauces flow from her wand. So why is food ever an
issue if you're a wizard? Why would Lupin ever *not* have a square
meal? Why would Sirius be starving in a cave with Buckbeak, waiting
for deliveries from Harry (he'd have a wand by then, too, or at least
the use of Harry's)? The magical availability of foodstuffs would go a
long way to explaining the Weasley family economy (lord, feeding that
family!). But we don't see the magical creation of packaged "brand"
foods (Cribbages Wizarding Crackers, sweets, etc.). Thoughts?


Carol:
As Steve pointed out, JKR was asked a similar question in an
interview. Here's the quote:

Q: It seems that the wizards and witches at Hogwarts are able to
conjure up many things, such as food for the feasts, chairs and
sleeping bags. . .if this is so, why does the wizarding world need
money ? What are the limitations on the material objects you can
conjure up ? It seems unnecessary that the Weasleys would be in such
need of money. . . (Jan Campbell)

A [JKR}: Very good question (well done, Jan!!). There is legislation
about what you can conjure and what you can't. Something that you
conjure out of thin air will not last. This is a rule I set down for
myself early on. I love these logical questions! 

(Carol again)
In other words, Sirius can't conjure food for himself and Lupin and
the Weasleys can't conjure money. It would just disappear like
leprechaun gold. Besides, if they could conjure money (and food and
clothing), Mr. Weasley wouldn't need his pittance-paying job at the
MoM. In fact, no one would need to earn a living. Inflation would be
rampant and money essentially worthless.

What I wonder is why Lupin doesn't at least do some sort of mending
spell to repair his robes. Maybe he never learned "housekeeping"
spells? Wonder what would come out of *his* wand if he tried to
conjure a sauce, presuming that he had the necessary ingredients, or
at least some real potatoes to put it on?

BTW, I thought wizarding crackers were some sort of exploding toy that
you pull the ends of and a gift of some kind comes out (a vulture hat,
for example). Sorry my definition is so imprecise, but crackers to me
(as to owlery2003, apparently) are a salty snack food (and "biscuits"
are "cookies").

Carol, wishing she weren't so hopelessly American