Muggles in the Dark about the Burrow

[Athena Appleton]

Here's what I don't get: seeing as the only completely wizarding village anywhere around is Hogsmeade, doesn't it make sense that people would need to learn how to do such mundane things as learn muggle currency, learn to use a telephone, or at least pronounce telephone properly, and other basic stuff? I mean, I just don't understand how wizard families who are around no other wizard families actually manage to be completely clueless when it comes to Muggle things. I mean, to some extent, wouldn't it just make sense that the Weasleys, who are one of a very few wizarding families in the area where they live, would know something about Muggles, just because they'd basically be surrounded by Muggles? How in the WORLD has this wizarding thing managed to be kept a secret for so long, when, in the fictional world, they're living among us, but without knowing anything about us...

Okay, well, I guess I've hit that point where there are more questions than there are answers... *sigh*

[Deedra Malfoy]

Well, mind wiping could be a reason word doesn't get out about the Wizarding World.

[Athena Appleton]

Well, good grief... I mean, even if memory charms are really common, and it seems like they are, it doesn't seem like it would regularly be done on neighbors just because you didn't bother to learn to try to pretend to be muggles...

[pallas artemis]

Athena, I think that although there is only the one all wizard settlement in England at Hogsmead, that doesn't mean that the average wizard, or hardly any wizards, interact much with there muggle neighbors. They seem to live almost entirely in the country. There homes may even have similar charms on them as Hogwarts so that muggles don't see a house and get suspicious about who lives there they just see ruins.

I think it has been made rather obvious that they don't interact with locals. If they need to run to the store for something they apperate to Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade etc. They don't drive to the local village drugstore. And unfortunate as it may be, in this day and age reclusive neighbors aren't that unusual. I live in a very small rural area, a very one horse town kind of place, and I can't begin to tell you how many people I don't know at all let alnoe the number of people that live within just a few miles of me that I would barely recognize and I've lived here my entire life, almost 22 years.

[Athena Appleton]

Yeah, I guess you're right... that just seems so sad to me. I mean, I look at it like I do real life: you can't live a really full life without being exposed to and come to understand other people who are different than you... *shrug*

Well, I'm from a small town that was founded by my family two hundred years ago, and most of the town is related, with a few newbies coming in to shake things up a bit, and we talk... a LOT. I just can't imagine a lifestyle other than that. My own husband is from a family where he barely knows anyone other than his parents and siblings, and they have so few friends and acquaintances, it's unreal to me.

[TDM]

Wait. Rewind. Luna lived close to the Weasley's? Since when? Argh...I'm so slow on the uptake...

[Athena Appleton]

In Goblet of Fire, when the Weasleys (minus the three oldest sons), Harry and Hermione hike up the hill to catch the Portkey, they meet up with Amos and Cedric Diggory. Before they catch the Portkey, they make sure there's no one else coming. Arthur, or Amos, I can't remember, says that the Lovegoods are the only other wizarding family in the area, and they weren't able to get tickets. So, I guess it depends on what you consider to be "near". It's within a fairly reasonable walking distance.

[Alice I]

Athena, I think that although there is only the one all wizard settlement in England at Hogsmead, that doesn't mean that the average wizard, or hardly any wizards, interact much with there muggle neighbors. They seem to live almost entirely in the country. There homes may even have similar charms on them as Hogwarts so that muggles don't see a house and get suspicious about who lives there they just see ruins.

The only thing that pops to mind for me when I read this statement was something Molly Weasley said about how she didn't think that the muggle postman had ever been to their house.
This led me to believe that their house could be seen and found.
Also they had two Muggle taxies pick them up for school from the Burrow in one of the books because the Taxi driver had a terrible time with Crookshanks clawing him out of fear when the twins trunk fell and a bunch of fireworks went off.
So if the postman could potentially find the house and the taxi drivers actually did then I don't think that the house has anti muggle charms on it.

[carsten]

... I don't think that the house has anti muggle charms on it.

Maybe not invisibility but it could be any other charm on the Burrow, making its appearance more muggle-like. And to stress another point again: muggles don't recognize wizardry even if it jumps at them, because they don't expect it.

[pallas artemis]

Alice, I wasn't necessarily talking about the Burrow having a charm on it like that but that in general many wizard homes may. The Weasley's being so fond of muggles might not want to complety isolate themselves from their muggle neighbors, but I could almost guaranty(sp) that no muggle has seen the Malfoy's Estate for awhile, like a few centuries.

[Athena Appleton]

... I don't think that the house has anti muggle charms on it.

Maybe not invisibility but it could be any other charm on the Burrow, making its appearance more muggle-like. And to stress another point again: muggles don't recognize wizardry even if it jumps at them, because they don't expect it.

This is quite true.

If I'm not mistaken, also, hasn't it been mentioned before that the Weasleys have to be careful about what they do in the areas surrounding their house because it could be seen by muggles? I admit, it's quite possible I'm wrong, it seems like something I think I remember, but I have no idea where.

It could be, too, that several houses have charms on it like Grimmauld Place has on it. So there is a charm that we know of that wizards use to hide their houses...

But I still find it very hard to believe, unless I just force myself not to think about it, that so many wizards manage to have no contact with muggles, or at least so little contact that they know nothing about Muggle life.

About what was said about the Weasleys liking Muggles so not wanting to be hidden... well, I don't really think that would be the reason. I don't think the Burrow is under any charm, but I don't think it would be for that reason, because... well, that just seems rather irresponsible. I mean, it's obvious that there are many strict guidelines that are put in place to keep wizardry a secret, and even though I don't think there's a charm on the Weasley's house, other than to possibly make it seem normal (much in the same way the Ford Anglia appeared to be just a normal car, but had MUCH more space than a Ford Anglia is supposed to have), I don't think a mere enjoyment of Muggles is a good reason to not have some standard precautions...

[Eol]

In CoS it says that the Burrow is located just outside the local village. Being a village (i.e not having many inhabitants) they mustn't get too many people passing their house. From the discription, the house in itself would draw a lot of attention, but muggles are so determined not to notice anything unusual they'd just ignore it.

There is more evidence in GoF that the burrow isn't under any anti-muggle charms, as Mrs. Weasley writes in her letter that she doubts the postman even knows where their house is, suggesting that muggles can see it, but don't pass it very often.

The points made about the social ineptitude of the wizarding world, due to their lack of organized schooling before Hogwarts is full of insight. Whether JK actually thought about this when writing the world in that way I have no idea, but it is an idea that fits extremely well. One of the best social commentaries I have seen on this forum so far, keep up the good work, especially Carsten and Athena

[Alice I]

If I'm not mistaken, also, hasn't it been mentioned before that the Weasleys have to be careful about what they do in the areas surrounding their house because it could be seen by muggles? I admit, it's quite possible I'm wrong, it seems like something I think I remember, but I have no idea where.

I don't remember which book it is in but the Weasley kids have to be careful when practicing quidditch on their broomsticks. If they fly higher than fifty feet they can be seen over the hill that seperates their house from Ottery Street Catchpole (the village they live near)

[Athena Appleton]

In CoS it says that the Burrow is located just outside the local village. Being a village (i.e not having many inhabitants) they mustn't get too many people passing their house. From the discription, the house in itself would draw a lot of attention, but muggles are so determined not to notice anything unusual they'd just ignore it.

I don't know... Like, I know in the books, they mention how Muggles make up any excuse to keep from knowing about wizardry, but when it comes to a house like the Weasleys', most people I know would sort of despise it because it would be something of an eyesore. In the movie (and, yeah, I know, it's not mentioned in the books, but Rowling has said how much the sets on the movie are like how she imagined they would be), there isn't a straight line in the Weasleys' home. If anyone I know came across that fit that description, instead of just ignoring it, they would try to condemn it.

I don't remember which book it is in but the Weasley kids have to be careful when practicing quidditch on their broomsticks. If they fly higher than fifty feet they can be seen over the hill that seperates their house from Ottery Street Catchpole (the village they live near)

Yay, I was afraid I was losing my mind!!!

[carsten]

...Well, I'm from a small town that was founded by my family two hundred years ago, and most of the town is related, with a few newbies coming in to shake things up a bit, ...

Athena, there is another view to it. My family and I have moved into such a small town some time ago. People know each other , many are related or friends. We are the newcomers / outsiders to this community, and it is quite hard for us to break into this crust. IMHO this is more like the situation of wizards among muggles. They are just different. We connected through our kids going to kindergarten and school and my wife joined the local choir. The question here is: What are the common interests between muggles and wizards? I guess there are very few. Wizards don't seem to send their children to public schools. Wizards don't have to work with (or even for?) muggles. Wizards use a different currency. Wizards don't offer services to the public. Wizards don't shop for groceries. And I could go on with this list. No wonder, that there are concerns about getting in touch.