Hagrid's reaction (was Re: HP's powers_

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 113552

I (Carol) wrote:
> > > Harry's parents were regarded as powerful wizards ("CAR CRASH?"
shouts Hagrid indignantly in SS/PS. "How could a car crash kill Lily
an' James Potter?") and they were particularly good at Transfiguration
and Charms, respectively. 
> 
> >Kneasy responded: 
> > Just an interjection - I've always considered that the Hagrid 
> > shock/horror wasn't because  of any powers the Potters may or 
> > may not have had, but because wizards don't use cars.
> 
> 
> Sandy thought:
> To Hagrid, James and Lily were heroes who had died trying to save
the wizarding world, fighting against the The Evil Ome. I think his
reaction to the car crash story is 
a) horror and disgust that their heroics would be ignored and covered
 up as something so mundane as a car crash
b) horror and indignation that Harry has absolutely no idea how his 
> parents died and that they died as heroes, not simply roadkill.
> 
> Obviously, wizards do use cars in some forms (the ministry of Magic 
> has a fleet) and they do crash -- Harry and Ron crash in CoS, for 
> instance.


Carol:
But Harry and Ron aren't killed in the crash, though a Muggle
companion might have been (at least if he'd fallen out of the car).

I still think Hagrid is appalled at the idea that a mere car crash
could kill Lily and James. Neville survives being dropped out a window
(he bounces); witches and wizards survived burning at the stake in
medieval times and survive "splinching" in modern times. Quite simply,
IMO, a car crash, even a very bad one, would not have killed even a
moderately powerful wizard (e.g., Gilderoy Lockhart) and certainly
would not have killed Lily and James.

Carol