About those vanishing cabinets...

[zgirnius]

No: HPFGUIDX 157662


> Eddie:
> 
> At the beginning of CoS, Harry hides in the Vanishing Cabinet at
> Borgin and Burkes.  Why didn't he get transported to Hogwarts?  The
> other cabinet was not yet broken, since it was broken LATER by Peeves
> (Filch: "That vanishing cabinet was extremely
> valuable...") on Nearly-Headless Nick's prodding.

zgirnius:
Here's the passage:

CoS:
> Hary looked quickly around and spotted a large black cabinet to his 
> left; he shot inside it and puilled the doors closed, leaving a small 
> crack to peer through.


My guess is that the cabinet is only activated when the doors are shut 
completely.