The Statute of Secrecy

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 159138

Pippin:
> > I find all this effort put into ways Dumbledore could have come up
> > with an official document to show Mrs. Cole amusing. Would this
> > document give an address, phone number and contact person for
> > Hogwarts? If Mrs. Cole followed up on this information, as she 
> > should  if she is to show due diligence, would her questions be
> > answered truthfully? If not, then Dumbledore would be handing her
> > a document that he knows is not what it purports to be, and his
> > hands would be no cleaner than they were before. 
> > 
Ken: 
> My only response is why not??? Something like half their student population
> is Muggleborn, showing proper credentials to Muggles can't be an uncommon
> request for Hogwarts. They have plenty of graduates with the proper 
> background to establish an office with a telephone to handle enquiries
> like this.

Pippin:
Are you kidding? Why do you think a pure blood like
Arthur has a job that would be a natural for a Muggleborn?
Muggleborns aren't trusted enough, would be my guess.

As it is, wizards can't even manage a reasonable attempt at
Muggle clothing.  Dumbledore shows up in 1930's Britain  in his 
flamboyantly cut plum-colored velvet suit, long hair and beard, 
and expects Mrs. Cole to believe he's a teacher. And you think
they can manage a whole department turning out false ID's,
answering phone calls and multiplying Dumbledore's flimflam
a thousand-fold, all without rousing any suspicion?

And what for? Is hiding the truth with paperwork somehow
more ethical than hiding it by magic?

I suspect the liason with the Prime Minister was never much use.
I would imagine it arose as a political compromise, a sop to idealists.
 But Rowling has said the breach between Wizards and Muggles is 
permanent. 

http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2004/0304-wbd.htm

Pippin
wondering how many times a day Shacklebolt has to obliviate
someone