Carpets and Muggles

[ohnooboe]

No: HPFGUIDX 114729



I found myself wondering this morning (on my way to work) about how a 
Muggle Artifact is defined by the MoM.  In GoF there is a lot of talk 
about magic carpets and illegally importing them.  Because they are 
Muggle artifacts, charming a carpet to fly breaks wizarding law 
(Registry of Proscribed Charmable Objects, GoF).  

I find myself wondering what exactly is defined as a muggle 
artifact.  I suppose something that only muggles use, like cars, 
which would explain all the trouble Arthur Weasley found himself in 
after the Anglia incident.  But, what about the Knight Bus--why is 
this not included in the ban?  If we go with muggle artifacts being 
things only muggles use, why carpets?  I would guess that carpets are 
not unknown in the homes of wizards.  

Why can pots and pans be charmed (CoS), but not carpets?  
Why a triple-decker bus, but not a Ford Anglia?

I know the argument exists that flying carpets may pose a "security 
risk" (imagine a family flying over your head on grandma's antique 
Persian rug) but Mad-Eye showed us how to solve that problem in OoP 
(the Disillutionment Charm).  

Just a thought on one of the "little things".

Patrick