How do owls find people WAS: Re: Sirius and jail

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 167577

---  "Aslý Tümerkan" <aslitumerkan at ...> wrote:
>
> Random832:
> > Or that if the MoM sends an owl, it will find them 
> > but they (the MoM) cannot follow it.
> 
> Asli:
> This seems very logical, but still, I can't understand
> how an owl is not traceable. And I don't understand how
> owls are this brilliant in finding people. If the 
> address is written, than okay, but if no one knows 
> where a person is, how can an owl find him?
>

bboyminn:

"If the address is written, then okay..."

So, in your world you imagine that Owls can read???

I think Owls can comprehend, but I don't think they
can read. The only possible explanation for the level
of skill we see in the Owls, is that they are Magical
Owls. They are magical Owls different from ordinary Owls
just as wizards are magical people different from 
ordinary people, just as Wand Wood Trees are magically
different from ordinary trees, just a magical rats are
different from ordinary rats. 

So, like all great mysteries in the series, "It's Magic"
is the only real answer.

I think highly intelligent magical Owls would not allow
themselves to be compromised by being followed to a 
destination. Not so intelligent magical Owls would
simply not be able to find the person in question. I
also think the address on the envelope is irrelevant to
the destination of the message. Perhaps, 'irrelevant' 
is a bit strong, but I think when an Owls is given a
message to deliver, there is an instinctive understanding
between the Owl and the Message sender as to where the
letter is to be delivered. 

If the understanding is 'deliver this to Harry Potter'
then the Owl will instinctively find Harry where ever
he is. If the understanding is 'deliver this to #4 
Privet Drive', then that is where it goes independent
of where Harry is. 

I think this is exactly what the Ministry did to 
attempt to make sure Harry missed his Hearing. They 
sent the letter of notification specifically to Privet
Drive knowing that it was  unlikely that Harry was still
there. They send a letter to Hogwarts rather than to 
Dumbledore, and they did it at about 7:00am, hoping that 
Dumbledore would not get it in time for an 8:00am
hearing.

So, magical Owls have a sense of magical understanding
and a magical instinct for finding the person the letter
is suppose to be delivered to. "It's magic" really is
the answer in this case.

As to the seemingly magically precise addresses -

- Harry Potter, Cupboard under the Stairs...
- Harry Potter, the Smallest Bedroom...
- Petunia, the Kitchen...

I speculate that is an enchantment on the envelope and
has nothing to do with Owls or Owl Magic; it is a self-
modifying address.

For what it's worth.

Steve/bboyminn