Fleshing out the Wizarding World

[Ceridwen]

No: HPFGUIDX 141664

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Steve" <bboyminn at y...> wrote:
>
> - Kizor:
> 8) Given that magic causes interference with electricity and wizards
> very seldomly are at home with machinery, yet Shacklebolt was able
> to hold a position in high Muggle government, could the Internet
> provide a safe way for Muggle communication about the WW?
>

bboyminn:
Who would be in communication with whom? Muggles already use the
Internet extensively for communicating, we even communicate about the
wizard word. If you are working in the framework of your story, then
certainly the Internet would play a part. It is a fast, easy,
intangible, and /uncensored/ method of communication.

Also, I'm not sure I follow your logic on this question. It goes from
magic interferring with electricity to Shacklebolt working for the
Prime Minister to muggles using the internet. Not sure I see the
connection. I suspect Shacklebolt is so good at his job because he's
doing it with magic. But I don't see any connection to the internet or
electricity.

On the subject of electricity, I suspect primitive electical devices
like a flashlight/torch would work at Hogwarts, but anything more
complicated and anything electronic would be overwhelmed by the magic
in the air and would not work. So, no computers, radios, TVs, PDAs,
cell/mobile phones or regualar phones, steroes, microwaves, or other
similar devices. I do suspect that while a cell phone would certainly
not work around Hogwarts or Hogsmeade, it would work very marginally
at Diagon Alley, but then that's just my opinion.

Ceridwen:
If I could jump in, trying to keep within the confines of the books...

I think Kizor is exploring this for >Kizor: "I'll be writing a fanfic 
about a post-Voldemort movement against the Statute of Secrecy. Yes - 
the Muggle Liberation Front is here."<

In The Other Minister, things which have been plaguing the Muggle 
Prime Minister (James Hacker? ;) ) - bridges being blown down by a 
freak hurricane, a chilling and depressing fog, two murders in the 
vicinity of 10 Downing Street and so on, turn out to be the work of 
the Wizarding World spilling over, at Voldemort's behest, into the 
greater Muggle world.  The Statute of Secrecy is under threat.  If 
Muggles find out about the WW, and in such a negative way, they are 
bound to be up in arms about it.

What if Muggles, based on the events we know to have happened 
already, and others which might as VWII heats up, band together to 
fight the WW, a modern-day Witch and Wizard Hunt?  Muggles are at a 
disadvantage, even with the information that their enemy really does 
exist.  Therefore, they have to use whatever technological advances 
they can to gain an edge.

We know that electric and electronic devices don't work at Hogwarts 
because of the magic that is there.  So, as you mentioned, using a 
cellphone to report Wizarding activity near Hogsmeade probably won't 
work.  But, could a movement communicate away from the WW areas, 
using computers to make reports, plan, and recruit to further the 
Muggle cause?  Or, would witches and wizards who are savvy with 
Muggle devices infiltrate an on-line list as counter-spies?  Could 
they, given their magic?

This is what I think Kizor is going for, anyway.  If I'm wrong, he or 
she can correct me.  However, this is what I'll try to answer.

I don't think it would be possible for Muggles to keep their 
electronic communications secret from individual witches and wizards 
merely by using the internet.  I don't think a single witch or wizard 
has enough magical energy inside of him or her to seriously affect 
the computer or link.  I do think the WW wouldn't imagine Muggles 
organizing to come after them, though, because of the Statute of 
Secrecy giving them a false sense of security.  I could imagine the 
shock of a Half-Blood or Muggle witch or wizard who stumbles onto the 
organization's site, though.

On a sort-of related tangent, the Dementor fog reminds me of all 
those atmospheric Jack the Ripper and other mystery films from the 
1930s and 1940s.  London in the late 1800s, suddenly filled with 
Dementor Fog (in fact, there was a toxic fog in London, I think it 
was during the 1800s, though I don't think it was around the time of 
Jack the Ripper), depression gripping the populace, mysterious 
murders and disappearances, strange goings-on...

If someone doesn't do a fanfic about that, or hasn't done it already, 
I'll be surprised.

Ceridwen.