[HPforGrownups] Fleshing out the Wizarding World

[manawydan]

No: HPFGUIDX 141690

Kizor wrote:
>3) How much would the wizarding outlook on human rights differ?
>Muggles  are largely considered an inferior race and their deaths,
>should they encounter a Statute-protected species, are covered up.
>House-elves are sapients kept in (admittedly willing) slavery;
>Slughorn had them test for poison.

I'm not sure that the WW would understand the concept of "human rights".
Bear in mind that it's existed for around 3 centuries in a state of
concealment with increasingly restrictive governance by the Ministry (and
with an increasing Muggle population making it harder to find seclusion).

>4) Might any other paramilitary organisations form in the current
>conflict, aside from the Order of the Phoenix?

It's certainly not contraindicated. In the WW, the political class and the
bureaucracy are one and the same. If you're interested in a political career
(cf Percy), you join the Ministry and work your way up the greasy pole. In
turn, this would mean that participants in Wizarding Congresses (which seem
to be the only overarching policy making bodies) would be largely drawn from
existing members of the Ministry who have the greatest interest in
preserving the status quo. If you want to change things politically, really
your _only_ option is the conspiratorial route.

>5) Given the wizard infiltration of Muggle governments, was there ever
> a significant risk of nuclear war?

I don't see any support in canon for wizard infiltration of Muggle
governments, though it wouldn't surprise me to learn that there was a
Kingsley Shacklebolt in every country, hard working yet unobtrusive, passing
on information that the WW needs to know. Maybe there never were nuclear
weapons in the Potterverse, of course. But we don't really know how much
interference is allowable without compromising security on the wizarding
side.

>7) How voluntary is the enrollment of Muggle-borns into Hogwarts?

Would they be kidnapped if their parents didn't want them to go (or if they
themselves didn't want to)? Or mind-altered? Interesting thought. Mind you,
there's only a few per year. Most would have at least one wizarding parent
so they'd know what to expect.

>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?

Acculturation from Muggle sources seems to be slow and piecemeal. At some
point, I suspect, a Muggleborn child will pop up who is an IT wiz before
they go to Hogwarts and in later life comes up with magical equivalents of
some of the computer facilities that have changed our world. Can't see it
working off eckeltricity, though.

>X) Is it okay to steal an idea and use it as a detail? Should I
>include a note saying that it came from someone whom I can best thank
>by not mentioning his name?

Everything posted on the Internet is in the copyright of the author. If you
want to use someone's ideas, you should ask for permission

hwyl

Ffred

O Benryn wleth hyd Luch Reon
Cymru yn unfryd gerhyd Wrion
Gwret dy Cymry yghymeiri