Friends, Lawns and Artefacts

[kerravonsen]

This morning:

Me: My friends keep me sane.
AM: You keep them sane too.

Coming back, I looked at my lawn. The only things that are alive there are dandelions and thistles. 8-(

Harry Potter world-building idea:

Invisibility cloaks must be knitted or crocheted, not sewn, because they need to be constructed of one long unbroken thread, or else the invisibility doesn't work. This is one reason why Harry's cloak is so unique and valuable, because the thread is unbreakable. Other cloaks don't last long because one rip or one moth-hole makes it stop working.

(I'm writing down this idea because otherwise I will forget it)

Speaking of invisibility cloaks, we don't really hear much about the making of magical artefacts in HP. I mean, they exist, but nothing to do with artefact-making is taught at Hogwarts, not that we know of.

Everyday artefacts:

* Wands - made by Ollivander; made of wood with a core from a magical creature
* Brooms - made by broom companies
* Snitches, Bludgers - made by Quidditch supply companies
* Wizarding portraits - are they painted by specialist portrait painters? Do the Hogwarts Headmaster portraits appear magically or are they painted beforehand?
* Wizarding wireless - ?
* Wizarding cameras - ?

Unusual artefacts:

* Time Turners - made by the Department of Mysteries?
* Mad-Eye Moody's eye - made by St. Mungos?
* Invisibility cloak, Resurrection Stone, Elder Wand - made by the Peverell brothers
* Dumbledore's deluminator - made by Dumbledore?
* The Weasley clock - ?
* Mirror of Erised - ?

The one that interests me the most is the Weasley clock. Canon says that the Weasleys are poor, but that clock is a very impressive piece of work, and we haven't seen another like it. It may even be unique.
I like the idea (which I read in a fic) that it had actually been made by Molly herself, because it would explain how they could have something that expensive without being rich; there's also a side issue raised by that idea, of the unthinking sexism of the Wizarding world, that could have a situation where the wife could have earned more money with her talents than her husband, but nobody even conceives of the possibility that a wife could be a breadwinner.

Comments

[kaffy_r]

The only things that are alive there are dandelions and thistles. 8-(

My BB loves dandelions; they are one of his favorite flowers. And thistle flowers are pretty too. *g*

I really love your last thoughts about the Weasleys and the unthinking sexism of the Wizard world.

[kerravonsen]

My BB loves dandelions; they are one of his favorite flowers. And thistle flowers are pretty too. *g*

Yeah, dandelions are kind of cute. But these thistles aren't the classic Scottish Thistles (which I agree have pretty flowers), they're more low-growing and they don't have pretty flowers.
What is most depressing, though, is the vast expanse of dead brown grass. 8-(

I really love your last thoughts about the Weasleys and the unthinking sexism of the Wizard world.

I can't really take credit for that idea; it was clearly implied in the fic itself. I can't remember for sure the name/author of the fic, but it might have been "Tyger Tyger", a SSHG fic.

[kaffy_r]

The brown grass is always sad. Do you folks have European grass varieties, or do some folks make use of native grasses, with longer root systems that can withstand drought? (I ask because I did some stories on native plants here in the American midwest a while back, and learned that Prairie grasses often have roots systems that go down up to 20-35 feet, which is why they can thrive even in hot dry summers (or at least survive), while the grass settlers brought from England and Europe browns very quickly, with root systems made for cool wet climates, that go down only about 6-12 inches. Waaaaay too much information, I know.)

[kerravonsen]

I think it's European.

[watervole]

I'm pretty sure the headmaster portraits appear magically, though that might be a memory from the film after Dumbledore died, rather than the book.

[dawnmist]

For photos - when Colin Creevey joined Hogwarts (Chamber of Secrets) he brought his muggle camera & film with him. At one point he said: "a boy in my dormitory said if I develop the film in the right potion, the pictures’ll move."

So for photos...normal camera + normal film + special processing fluid = moving photos.

Given that, I'd suspect for paintings they'd need special formula paints, or a varnish added at the end that "activated" them.

[kerravonsen]

Given that, I'd suspect for paintings they'd need special formula paints, or a varnish added at the end that "activated" them.

Or, more likely, both.

[waterfall8484]

I really want to read Tyger Tyger now, but it has apparently disappeared from the internet... do you know where I can find it?

The cloak must have been knitted or crocheted from fine thread with fine needles though, otherwise you could see the person through the holes in the stitches. :~D

[kerravonsen]

I really want to read Tyger Tyger now, but it has apparently disappeared from the internet... do you know where I can find it?

I hadn't realized it had vanished. I originally found it at Digital Quill but I see now that it isn't there any more. Sorry, I don't know where else it might be.

The cloak must have been knitted or crocheted from fine thread with fine needles though, otherwise you could see the person through the holes in the stitches.

All the more reason why Invisibility cloaks are rare.

[waterfall8484]

Oh well, if I really look I can probably find it somewhere... I'll see how much time I want to spend on it. :~)

Now I'm imagining a room full of little old ladies, knitting and swearing daintily when they can't find the ball of yarn they're working with. :~D Surely the thread itself would be at least mostly invisible already?

[kerravonsen]

Now I'm imagining a room full of little old ladies, knitting and swearing daintily when they can't find the ball of yarn they're working with. :~D Surely the thread itself would be at least mostly invisible already?

(chuckles) What a delightful image...

[waterfall8484]

... I may actually have to drabble this, if I have the time (and if Frozen has not completely taken over my brain).

[kerravonsen]

Oh do!
Or continue to let Frozen take over your brain, if you wish, so long as ficcage ensues. (grin)

[waterfall8484]

The way my days are right now I might manage to do both. I don't know when I'll be able to computerise and edit them though. :~D

PS: I love your icon!

[jaxomsride.livejournal.com]

Flamel's Philosopher's stone would be under artefact too.

It would be difficult spinning a thread long enough for an entire cloak. What sort of thread too, not ordinary wool yarn I think.

There is a lot that doesn't seem to be taught at Hogwarts. Although Care of Magical creatures is taught nothing seems to be taught about the sentient races e,g, centaurs, goblins, giants etc.

[kerravonsen]

It would be difficult spinning a thread long enough for an entire cloak.

True, but it wouldn't be impossible. One could spin multiple balls and then join their ends seamlessly; you'd just need to unravel them at the end, add in a bit more fleece, and then spin just that bit. Doubtless someone could have invented a spell to make that easier.

What sort of thread too, not ordinary wool yarn I think.

Agreed. Probably Demiguise hair.

[jaxomsride.livejournal.com]

vis a vis demiguise :- Cloaks made from their hair eventually turn opaque, losing their invisibility effects as time passes. Cloaks made from their hair eventually turn opaque, losing their invisibility effects as time passes.

So if ordinary invisibility cloaks are made from their hair and don't last, then the Hallow cloak must be made of something else, or treated differently.

[dozmuffinxc.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't be surprised if, perhaps, the Weasley clock was a wedding present. The Weasley family as we know them are poor as a result of one (not-so-great) income and a bajillion kids, but that doesn't mean the rest of the clan is. Aunt Muriel has that goblin tiara, after all!

[kerravonsen]

Good point.