ctl-F for YOUR name or topic - Post Owls

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 125344


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Catlady (Rita Prince Winston)"
<catlady at w...> wrote:
> 

> 
> Richard Jones asked in
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/124956 :
> 
> << (1) Owl Post. The owls get from the Ministry and the Burrow to
> Harry's house in Little Whinging within minutes — faster than owls
> can really fly. So how does owl post work exactly? >>


> CatLady replies to Richard:
> 
> I personally like to believe that post owls travel fast and cannot
> be followed or tracked because they move from our normal space 
> universe to another space, go through the other space, and return to
> our space at their destination -- like Anne McCaffrey's dragons 
> going "between".
>
> Unfortunately, when JKR was asked why the PoA Ministry couldn't find
> Sirius by sending him an owl post letter and following the owl, she
> said because Sirius was Unplottable, not because post owls can't be
> followed. 
> 
> ...edited...
>
> Catlady (Rita Prince Winston)

bboyminn:

I've always speculated that Post Owls are enchanted owls. That is,
they are not normal owls or owls to which wizards have applied magic,
but owls that are naturally born with magical ability just as wizard
and witches are enchanted magical beings. 

Much like House-elves, Owls have their own brand of natural magic that
allows them to travel magically fast, over vast distances, and they
have a natural gift for finding the recipient of the letters they are
asked to deliver. It's also clear that they have intelligence and
wisdom far beyond ordinary owls.

We see this same magical /crossover/ in other aspects of the natural 
world. For example, the magical rats in the pet shop where Hermione
bought Crookshanks. These rats were exhibiting behavior and
intelligence that was far beyond even the smartest ordinary rats;
jumping rope with their tails, the way they cued up to the edge of the
cage to watch Scabbers, the way they sensed the shop-witch was trying
to sell them and they resumed their show-off tail jumping. Clearly
enchanted rats. But again, I believe this indicates that these rats
are naturally born enchanted, not enhanted by the spells and charms of
wizards.

Another example, Grubbly-Plank points out that Bowtruckles (tree
guardians) are most often found in trees whose wood is suitable for
wand making. I believe these are trees that are natually enchanted
magical trees. That's why their wood is so effective in wand making. 

I believe some element of this natural magical essense can manifest
itself in all species of animals and plants, although, some animals
and plants are far more susceptible to natural enchantement than others. 

On the other hand, this belief of mine doesn't elimintate or exclude
the possiblity of wizards applying charms and spells to ordinary
animals to create magically unique animals. I would suspect those
manually enchanted animals would be for very specific purposes, and
that possibility and their existance doesn't in anyway reduce my
belief in natural-born non-mythical enchanted animals and plants.

More examples; there are certain plants that are associated with magic
through mythology, mandrake and ginsing are a couple examples (both
man-root plants). I suspect, that the plants and herbs used in potions
are selected from enchanted plants. Various regular animals are
frequently associated with magic; ravens, crows, cats, snakes, etc....

As far as JKR's comment regarding /tracking/ post owls, I believe it
can be done, but I don't believe it is an easy task, and it would be
exceptionally difficult to track a personal owl like Hedwig. 

Hedwig has a very natural loyalty and allegiance to Harry, she would
not allow herself to be tracked. She would view it as a betrayal of
Harry.  On the otherhand, a general owl, like a post office owl, would
probably be easier to track, but would have more difficulty finding
the /addressee/. Hedwig is an extremely intelligent and talented Post
Owl in my opinion, and I would trust Hedwig to deliver a difficult
letter far more than I would trust a general post owl. 

So, the combination of Hedwig's intelligence, loyalty to Harry, and
exceptional talent as a post owl would make her far more difficult to
track.

So again, I think tracking a post owl is possible, but it is not easy,
and a good post owl would actually be smart enough to actively evade
tracking.

Just a thought.

Steve/bboyminn