Owl Post Secret Activity 1: The Secret of Magic

[brightflower]

Activity: The Secret of Magic
Points: Long debate: Participation 10pts, Additional comment: 2pts.
Deadline: April 22, 11:59 PM UTC
Details:

Let's jump right into the magical world's secrets with a debate on the biggest secret of all: the secret of magic itself.

What are your opinions on the International Statute of Secrecy? Is it a fair law? When is it okay to break the law and reveal the secret of magic to Muggles? And what would you do if a Muggle discovered your secret and tried to take advantage of it?

Initial comment of at least 150 words for 10 points, additional comments 2 points each. Let's get a conversation going!


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Comments

[bergeronprocess.livejournal.com]

Yes, absolutely--I'd like to believe in the goodness of people, but we both know for sure that people aren't always calm, cool and collected when faced with something different and something powerful. That's a great point about if you are betrothed to a Muggle. Marriage means no secrets, right? That means telling your spouse about something that is as much a part of you as your eyes or feet...and occasionally being able to do magic in front of them?

Emmapuff

[caitieness.livejournal.com]

I imagine there are all kinds of exceptions to the Statute -- doesn't Dumbledore do magic in front of The Durselys? Doesn't Hagrid (even though he is supposedly not allowed to do magic in the first place)? It's supposed~ to help them understand their dependent is a wizard so I bet most muggles who have a magical child see magic at one time or another without repercussions. That leads me to believe if you're married to a wizard, the same rules apply. Perhaps, no excessive magic is allowed?

caitie / puff

[bergeronprocess.livejournal.com]

Either there are exceptions or we're reading a series with a lot of lawbreaking rebel types ;) Kids, don't break the law! But good point--you'd hope there would be a little leeway in reasonable scenarios. Surely cooler heads would prevail when crafting these laws.

Emmapuff

[slumber.livejournal.com]

This is a very good point. I'm thinking there are tons of different exceptions because, hi, how can Muggleborn witches and wizards be told? Their parents definitely know, and if you were a wizard who married a Muggle, then you'd let them know too. Seamus' mum told his dad eventually, though he never did say how-- Dean's dad never told his family though (and if I'm not mistaken JKR has mentioned she had a whole backstory for him; basically, Dean isn't Muggleborn like he thought, his dad was a wizard who went into hiding or something like that) so maybe it's on a case-by-case basis? McG also never told the Muggle she was in love with, so I'm guessing the Statute played a part maybe a long time ago? And I think maybe the Ministry has this blanket rule of "if you think it's going to be a problem, you can Obliviate Muggles who find out" or something.

Evyclaw

[pinksonia.livejournal.com]

I was under the impression that McG didn't tell the Muggle because she thought it would put a strain on their relationship and she didn't want to repeat the problems in her parents' relationship, not any law based reason. Of course, things between her parents probably would have been less strained if her mother had just spoken up to begin with so maybe it is a case of taking the law too seriously and causing personal troubles.

Allison//Ravenclaw

[kaitydid33087.livejournal.com]

Hmm...I'm sure there were exceptions. I really wish that JKR would write a tell-all book! I would love to see research and stuff she did for the series! Like you, I'm curious as to what the exceptions would be. I'm sure that if you had a Muggleborn, it'd be okay to see the magic in front of you. I don't think a Ministry member would be at your doorstep, every time a child performed magic, on accident, when they were growing up.

8

[slumber.livejournal.com]

HEY REMEMBER THE VANCOUVER RIOTS? I'm pretty sure when those fans went to watch a game, tipping cars over and breaking into stores was pretty much the last thing on their mind. They were just mad after the loss, too, and I can see that, but somehow, something sparked them to do more-- you just can't account for "but this is what rational people would do" because people CAN and HAVE behaved irrationally.

Evyclaw

[bergeronprocess.livejournal.com]

OH GOD, ABSOLUTELY. I have a friend who lives there and she found herself downtown--doing karaoke or something, not really watching the game--that night, which was very frightening. She is okay, but I think she got a little traumatized by the experience. This is part of the reason why I think people can do well alone or in small groups, but crowd mentality takes over in larger groups...and it's not good.

Emmapuff