Invisibility Cloak

[anne_t_squires]

No: HPFGUIDX 168361

Donna in Dayton wrote:
>
> Something that occurred to me years ago and again today while
rereading SS: 
> How big is Harry's Invisibility Cloak?  I realize it needs to be big
enough
> to cover an adult but but how big is it?  It covers two 11yos and a
crate
> holding a good sized young dragon.  Seems to me that if it is big
enough to
> cover all of that, when one 11yo boy goes around wearing it, would
he not be
> stepping on and/or tripping on the cloak?  Seems to me that he would
> dragging around a LOT of excess, getting-in-the-way material but
this doesn
> t seem to be the case.  Just how big is an invisibility cloak?
> 
> Donna in Dayton

Anne Squires now:

I have often been very confused by the size of the IC.  On the one
hand, as Donna in Dayton points out, it seems to be able to cover a
great deal.  On the other hand, IIRC, Harry is able to fold it up and
put it in his pocket or his school bag.  This aspect of the cloak has
always bothered me b/c I have never seen a piece of material that can
cover so much but also fit in a pocket.  I decided a while ago though
that since it is a magical cloak that obviously does not follow the
laws of physics then if JKR says it can fit in a pocket or a bag, then
it can fit in a pocket or a bag.  It still bothers me. 

Hermione does say in HBP when the trio are under the cloak that their
feet will show.  So, I guess the cloak is of a size that can cover
three teens but will be about ankle height off the ground. 

"Our feet'll be seen!" said Hermione anxiously, as the cloak flapped
around their ankles; it was much more difficult hiding all three of
them under the cloak nowadays."  (HBP, US hardback edition, p. 124)

Anne Squires