Wizard supremacy (was:Re: Nel Question #4: Class and Elitism)

[Jim Ferer]

No: HPFGUIDX 125899


Betsy: "Every piece of Wizarding history given to us by JKR speaks to
a large calamity that occured back around the middle ages and ended in
a mass retreat of the entire Wizarding World. The entire WW revolves
around keeping their existence secret. This is not the actions of a
victorious people."

Not a calamity, but a widespread pattern of persecution that led to
the Wizards going underground. We know from our Muggle history that
war never ceased, and persecution of minorities didn't, either.  How
many witch-burnings and pogroms did the wizards have to see before
they decided this wasn't their party?  Actually, I suspect wizards had
been hiding for a long time before their concealment was codified in 1692.

Betsy: "Oh, I was just agreeing with Jim that if the WW was revealed,
it wouldn't take long for suspicion and distrust to set in and
eventually for some sort of conflict to breakout. It doesn't go
towards my argument, but it does set out that a war would probably occur."

War, no, but widespread persecution and public distrust. Heck, the
*fictional* wizards we have now are getting themselves in trouble on a
daily basis with some groups!  Imagine the fuss if the Harry Potter
books had to be taken out of the children's literature section at your
local library and moved to History. Prosperous minorities around the
world have been persecuted out of envy and paranoia throughout history.

If it wasn't for this dark side of human nature, a wizard could clean
up. The Trio could go on Jay Leno, Madame Pomfrey could do a guest
shot on "ER," and Snape could get an endorsement deal from Suave
Clarifying Shampoo while Narcissa Malfoy shows off her home to M-----.
But I digress.

Years ago I wrote a fic where Hermione is interviewed by the Muggle
press after the wizard world is outed. She talked about these
problems.  I haven't seen anything to make me change my mind that the
wizards have to stay secret.

Jim Ferer