Wall of Fame | Lesson 3
Wizarding Transport Assessment
For this assignment, each of the 4 main points (effectiveness, speed, comfort and secrecy) will be awarded a score out of 25. Each will be added up to give a total out of 100 for each mode of transportation.
Apparition:
Effectiveness- This method is pretty effective at getting from A to B, but it is somewhat limited by needing to know and visualise the place. If you’ve not been before, it’s not impossible but very difficult to do so. But, it’s not very effective for long-distance travel so no continental hopping. May also result in serious injury through splinching. Limited to one or two people and needs a license. (Score: 15/25)
Speed- This method is ridiculously quick. You get from A to B within seconds (Score: 25/25)
Comfort- This method isn’t known for being comfortable, but with the speed of it, one isn’t in discomfort for too long unless they get splinched (which I don’t count towards comfort) (Score: 20/25)
Secrecy- Secrecy is both easy and hard with this one as you never know who will be in the area you’re going to (unless it’s within sight). Even if one apparates to an area with nobody around, the sound that accompanies it may be loud enough to draw someone into the area. (Score: 20/25)
Total: 80/100
Floo Network:
Effectiveness- Another good method to get from A to B quickly, but it is limited to places that are on the network. If nowhere is close enough, then other means of transportation will be needed. One also needs to have floo powder so it requires a cost. And one ends up dusty on the other side if the fireplace isn’t cleaned. Oh, if one also says the destination incorrectly, they could end up anywhere. (Score: 20/25)
Speed- As long as you end up at the right place, it’s very quick (Score: 25/25)
Comfort- Same as Apparition. Not the most comfortable experience, but it’s over before you know it. (Score: 20/25)
Secrecy- This one is fairly straightforward to keep a secret as one needs to be on the network. This means that it can be limited to wizarding locations only. (Score: 25/25)
Total: 90/100
Portkey:
Effectiveness- Great at transporting long distances with any number of people who are touching the object. The only issue is timing in that if you’re late or not touching the object, you’ll get left behind. (Score: 23/25)
Speed- Same as the previous two, this method is also speedy and can’t be faulted. (Score: 25/25)
Comfort- Again, same as the previous two. If there are loads of people, then your personal space will be invaded. (Score: 18/25)
Secrecy- Usually pretty secret but because the objects tend to be random things, a muggle could accidentally come across it and be transported to who knows where. (Score: 20/25).
Total: 86/100
Flying:
Effectiveness- One has to know how to fly, but no license needed. Don’t need to rely on anything or anyone else as long as a broomstick is on hand. You also need to know where you’re going so planning is required (Score: 20/25)
Speed- Quite slow, but if one wants a leisurely flight, they can do so. (Score: 15/25)
Comfort- Not the most comfortable sitting on a broomstick for potentially hours on end, even with the cushioning charm. (Score: 15/25)
Secrecy- Most likely to be seen by muggles as if someone is flying across the sky, they will be spotted unless behind clouds or so high up, they’re unidentifiable. One needs to be hyper-aware using this method. (Score: 12/25)
Total: 62/100
Although we do have the ones mentioned above, there hasn’t been much exploration of sea travel within the wizarding world. The closest we’ve seen is the ship that travels to and from Durmstrang. I think this is a good one as it allows the leisurely time that flying requires but doesn’t need any of the skill required to do that.
- Ereshkigal Csintalan, Slytherin
There are a lot of dangers when it comes to apparition, especially when it involves unerage witches and wizards. Not just with them, splinching is always a risk which can be severe. It's the fastest way to travel, but also probably the mist dangerous. Apparition is effective for those more experienced, it's the fastest way to travel, not much comfort in the way you feel afterward especially if you're new to it. You can do it in secrecy as long as you don't apparate to a place inhabited by muggles. Floo Powder is ok, but it is traceable and could get first time users lost if they mispronounce the place they want to go. So floo powder is effective as long as you speak very clearly, it is super fast, not much comfort. You can use Floo Powder is secrecy because I don't think many muggle fireplaces would be hooked up to the floo network. Portkey is like Apparition, except more for a group and it is a lot safer. The only issue with Portkeys is you have to prepare them first. Portkeys are very effective, fast, and offer secrecy as long as there are no muggles around. None of these methods I mentioned so far give much in the way of comfort. They can leave you feeling a bit sick afterward, especially for first timers.
I think the Nightbus would be a good addition for transport. We don't want to take away from those who are stranded, so we would need a second one. It could even potentially take students to Hogwarts. It should be more secure for those traveling, so no injuries. It's untraceable, effective, fast, hidden from muggles, and has comfort (as long as the seating is more secure).
- Skylar Peyton, Hufflepuff
Which way of transportation you want to use all depends on your age, location etc. If I would go to a huge event with a large group I probably would take a portkey. A portkey is a way which transports you to a specific location and can be used in a group. It can also be used when you need to travel a long distance which can’t be covered by apparition.
Now that I mentioned apparition. This one would probably the fastest way to move around. It will pop me to the location I would like to go, as long as it’s in a decent distance. It’s fast and not that uncomfortable when you get used to it. But you would have to be really focused when doing this. You wouldn’t want to flinch parts of yourself.
The floo network is probably one of the ways of transportation I wouldn’t like. The chance of me arriving somewhere I shouldn’t be because I spoke the destination wrong, is very highly. Beside having to travel through fireplaces, not my thing And you would have just have to be sure that your destination is on the floonetwork.
And then the way of transportation that would be the most fun is flying. It wouldn’t be that fast on long distances but it would be really fun. But the change that people will see me is of course higher than using one of the other ways. Also it can be very uncomfortable on long distances. I don’t want a saddle butt.
Another option of transportation is of course the Knight Bus. A nice way to move around, as long as you’re asleep. Otherwise I will probably end up car sick. With the speed and the way it drives around.
- Fumei Shirokuro, fu802, Gryffindor
Apparition: This is a very effective option for magical travel because it seems to work really well in terms of both accuracy and speed. It is accompanied by a loud noise, so you can’t really expect to Apparate in total secrecy. That being said, it is physically taxing—people can become sick from doing it and if it’s not done with full concentration, intense bodily harm can result (like when Ron is splinched in Deathly Hallows). It requires training, somewhat akin to Muggles learning how to drive, and someone who is better at it can assist someone who isn’t by holding their hand. (This can also be done so forcefully that the person who is being assisted is not able to break free of the hold.) So, in summary, this is really a form of transportation that is just like driving a car in basically every way.
Floo: Floo powder is fairly effective for long-distance travel, provided you have fireplaces at both ends of the trip. From what we have seen, it looks pretty speedy and you can also have real-time “telephone calls” of sorts by just putting your head inside a Floo powdered fire to talk to someone. Now, if you don’t know where you’re going or don’t say the name of the place clearly, you may find yourself lost. The Floo Network is also monitored by the government, which can and does lead to systematic abuse. Because of its shortcomings—not being able to go somewhere without fireplaces and possibly being spied on—I wouldn’t make Floo a preferred method of travel.
Portkey: Like an airplane, train or bus, a Portkey is a helpful way to transfer a lot of people to the same place at the same time using a single shared object. Anyone can travel by Portkey, even a kid, and as we see in the book, it’s an easy way to get people to special events or places. The issues? Muggles might accidentally pick up the objects used as Portkeys, even if they’re made to look as mundane as possible. Portkey use can also cause nausea, so much so that it would disrupt the first few days of term back when that was how kids got to Hogwarts. Portkeys are also undetectable, apparently, because unlike Floo, the government doesn’t monitor them. This creates possible danger: bad people making Portkeys to bad places and then just leaving them for people to touch. Portkeys have their uses, though.
Flying: Flying is fast, but not instantaneous, and broom flying is probably more fun if you enjoy it (like if you’re Harry, not Hermione). Comfort can be an issue during flight, especially if it’s hot or cold where you are flying, and there are the dangers of falling, loss of control, being spotted by Muggles, brooms breaking, et cetera. There’s also the issue of cargo and family transportation. However, flying isn’t tracked by the government. I think flying would be better suited for short recreational trips when you really want to feel the rush of flying, but it might not be good otherwise.
Let’s add trains to this list of transportation options. Originally the train was a Muggle form of transport, but became suitable for the magical community as well and is an especially good way to collect lots of people in one place and take them to another. It does take a while to take the trip, though, but does leave the travelers feeling a lot healthier than, say, Portkey travel. However, it can be harder to conceal and creating the Hogwarts Express did require a large-scale Muggle concealment mission.
- Patricia Cleary, pa978, Hufflepuff
The many modes of Magical transportation vary in their efficiency. In my opinion, efficiency is measured by combining different factors such as speed, comfort, secrecy, safety, and availability. For example apparition ranks highly in both speed and secrecy, but its dangerous nature severely diminishes its efficiency score. The risks associated with splinching (which can be severe and cause death), as well the general malaise felt by individuals during side-along apparition, makes this method unpractical for most families and groups.
The floo network and portkeys are both practical in the sense that most people can use them with little risk to their safety, and both of them are rather quick and painless. However both of these methods require additional support and planning. The floo network is only possible between two areas linked to the system, whereas portkeys require advance planning and timing in order to operate them.
Flying used to be a very efficient mode of transportation as it is quick, available to most, and relatively safe. Furthermore with the addition of comfort charms, wizards with sensitive bottoms can fly in style and comfort. The problem with flying is that secrecy is not a major concern, especially near Muggle settlements.
As far as other methods of transportation, I’ve always been a fan of the knight-bus. A magicked bus that can squeeze itself in tight spaces (or even drive on the roof of a tunnel), yet can also move around busy Muggle cities makes for a very good addition to Magical transportation. In this day and age, with more and more Muggles everywhere, it is very convenient to have a mode that doesn’t necessarily stand out of their ordinary and thus blends in to a certain degree. As such, the knight-bus ranks highly in terms of safety, availability (I’ve never had to wait very long for it), and comfort (there are numerous charms to adjust the seat cushions). It loses points for speed, as most routes are rather circuitous, and I’m not sure secrecy even matters since it’s in plain sight of Muggles.
- Rosanna Gullveig, ro837, Ravenclaw
Apparition - This is an excellent method of transportation for many witches. Remember when they had the Quidditch match between Bulgaria and Ireland? While Harry, Hermione, Ron, Cedric, Amos and Arthur used that old boot, the rest of the Weasley family apparated. The difficulty with apparation, though, is that you really need to be sure you arrive with all of your body parts intact. That means all fingernails, skin, blood, legs, etc. It's fast, efficient and secret. If you are highly proficient with apparation, you can even take someone else along with you - with side-along apparition. A major flaw of apparition, even considering you arrive with all your body parts, is that it is exceedingly uncomfortable. Apparition is not controlled by the Ministry of Magic, although they would probably like to do so, but that's tough.
Portkey - Portkeys will work for everybody. That is about their best quality. The set-up of where to go 'from' and 'to' all has to be independently done and artifacts must be found to use. These artifacts need to be something that a Muggle won't look at twice unless they are of the habit of cleaning up trash. Portkeys are efficient, speedy, more comfortable than apparation, but not as secret because, as said before, someone has to set up the sending and receiving ends. This is usually controlled by the Ministry of Magic, the Transportation Department.
Floo network - The floo network also works for everyone. You need to be careful when you articulate the destination, or else you might end up someplace you really don't want to be. The Floor network is just that; you might end up in any fireplace which is set up on the Network. It is fast, reliable if you say the destination correctly, anyone can use it, fairly comfortable (but you might get a lot of ash on you if you are using a wood-based fire) but it is not necessarily secret. Again, like Portkeys, the Floo Network is controlled by the Ministry of Magic.
Flying - there are many different methods of flying, from using broomsticks to thestrals, to flying cars and motorcycles, to hippogriffs, to what Severus Snape and Moldy Voldy did - fly on their own. Flying is fun and exciting. Flying can be fast but is not an instant mode of transportation, no matter what method you use. Flying can be dangerous and uncomfortable. It is not very secret, even though it is not controlled by the Ministry of Magic (although an exception to that is flying carpets, which are banned in Britain) because usually all you need to do is look and you can see whoever is flying, no matter what the method used. It is also probably the most used method of transportation amongst witches. Almost every witch has a broomstick, and some have more than one, for different uses. Flying does not make your insides feel as though they were being squeezed inside a giant tube, nor does it whirl you around and make you totally dizzy. Flying is fun -- it is my favorite mode of transportation (aside from apparition for when I want to get somewhere in a hurry).
Another method of transportation that I propose to add to the ones already here? A non-magical method of transportation is the bicycle. You could always magic it up and zoom along quite nicely on the roads, pretending to pedal madly if a Muggle notices you passing their car. Another non-magical method of transportation is horse-riding, but that means that you must maintain, feed, stable, clean up after and all sorts of things, to keep a horse. If you are caught using someone else's horse, you can get in big trouble, even if you apparate away before you are caught.
Another method of transportation, one that was not mentioned in the lesson, is the flying coach of Beauxbatons. What a wonderful thing! I imagine an undetectable extension charm was applied to the coach so that all the students and the Headmistress were comfortable within their home-away-from-home. There, too, you have the use of the giant palomino horses, which just adds to the overall glamour of the school.
- Prof. Tarma Amelia Black, pr_tar, Hufflepuff
Apparition:
Effectiveness- This method is pretty effective at getting from A to B, but it is somewhat limited by needing to know and visualise the place. If you’ve not been before, it’s not impossible but very difficult to do so. But, it’s not very effective for long-distance travel so no continental hopping. May also result in serious injury through splinching. Limited to one or two people and needs a license. (Score: 15/25)
Speed- This method is ridiculously quick. You get from A to B within seconds (Score: 25/25)
Comfort- This method isn’t known for being comfortable, but with the speed of it, one isn’t in discomfort for too long unless they get splinched (which I don’t count towards comfort) (Score: 20/25)
Secrecy- Secrecy is both easy and hard with this one as you never know who will be in the area you’re going to (unless it’s within sight). Even if one apparates to an area with nobody around, the sound that accompanies it may be loud enough to draw someone into the area. (Score: 20/25)
Total: 80/100
Floo Network:
Effectiveness- Another good method to get from A to B quickly, but it is limited to places that are on the network. If nowhere is close enough, then other means of transportation will be needed. One also needs to have floo powder so it requires a cost. And one ends up dusty on the other side if the fireplace isn’t cleaned. Oh, if one also says the destination incorrectly, they could end up anywhere. (Score: 20/25)
Speed- As long as you end up at the right place, it’s very quick (Score: 25/25)
Comfort- Same as Apparition. Not the most comfortable experience, but it’s over before you know it. (Score: 20/25)
Secrecy- This one is fairly straightforward to keep a secret as one needs to be on the network. This means that it can be limited to wizarding locations only. (Score: 25/25)
Total: 90/100
Portkey:
Effectiveness- Great at transporting long distances with any number of people who are touching the object. The only issue is timing in that if you’re late or not touching the object, you’ll get left behind. (Score: 23/25)
Speed- Same as the previous two, this method is also speedy and can’t be faulted. (Score: 25/25)
Comfort- Again, same as the previous two. If there are loads of people, then your personal space will be invaded. (Score: 18/25)
Secrecy- Usually pretty secret but because the objects tend to be random things, a muggle could accidentally come across it and be transported to who knows where. (Score: 20/25).
Total: 86/100
Flying:
Effectiveness- One has to know how to fly, but no license needed. Don’t need to rely on anything or anyone else as long as a broomstick is on hand. You also need to know where you’re going so planning is required (Score: 20/25)
Speed- Quite slow, but if one wants a leisurely flight, they can do so. (Score: 15/25)
Comfort- Not the most comfortable sitting on a broomstick for potentially hours on end, even with the cushioning charm. (Score: 15/25)
Secrecy- Most likely to be seen by muggles as if someone is flying across the sky, they will be spotted unless behind clouds or so high up, they’re unidentifiable. One needs to be hyper-aware using this method. (Score: 12/25)
Total: 62/100
Although we do have the ones mentioned above, there hasn’t been much exploration of sea travel within the wizarding world. The closest we’ve seen is the ship that travels to and from Durmstrang. I think this is a good one as it allows the leisurely time that flying requires but doesn’t need any of the skill required to do that.
- Ereshkigal Csintalan, Slytherin
There are a lot of dangers when it comes to apparition, especially when it involves unerage witches and wizards. Not just with them, splinching is always a risk which can be severe. It's the fastest way to travel, but also probably the mist dangerous. Apparition is effective for those more experienced, it's the fastest way to travel, not much comfort in the way you feel afterward especially if you're new to it. You can do it in secrecy as long as you don't apparate to a place inhabited by muggles. Floo Powder is ok, but it is traceable and could get first time users lost if they mispronounce the place they want to go. So floo powder is effective as long as you speak very clearly, it is super fast, not much comfort. You can use Floo Powder is secrecy because I don't think many muggle fireplaces would be hooked up to the floo network. Portkey is like Apparition, except more for a group and it is a lot safer. The only issue with Portkeys is you have to prepare them first. Portkeys are very effective, fast, and offer secrecy as long as there are no muggles around. None of these methods I mentioned so far give much in the way of comfort. They can leave you feeling a bit sick afterward, especially for first timers.
I think the Nightbus would be a good addition for transport. We don't want to take away from those who are stranded, so we would need a second one. It could even potentially take students to Hogwarts. It should be more secure for those traveling, so no injuries. It's untraceable, effective, fast, hidden from muggles, and has comfort (as long as the seating is more secure).
- Skylar Peyton, Hufflepuff
Which way of transportation you want to use all depends on your age, location etc. If I would go to a huge event with a large group I probably would take a portkey. A portkey is a way which transports you to a specific location and can be used in a group. It can also be used when you need to travel a long distance which can’t be covered by apparition.
Now that I mentioned apparition. This one would probably the fastest way to move around. It will pop me to the location I would like to go, as long as it’s in a decent distance. It’s fast and not that uncomfortable when you get used to it. But you would have to be really focused when doing this. You wouldn’t want to flinch parts of yourself.
The floo network is probably one of the ways of transportation I wouldn’t like. The chance of me arriving somewhere I shouldn’t be because I spoke the destination wrong, is very highly. Beside having to travel through fireplaces, not my thing And you would have just have to be sure that your destination is on the floonetwork.
And then the way of transportation that would be the most fun is flying. It wouldn’t be that fast on long distances but it would be really fun. But the change that people will see me is of course higher than using one of the other ways. Also it can be very uncomfortable on long distances. I don’t want a saddle butt.
Another option of transportation is of course the Knight Bus. A nice way to move around, as long as you’re asleep. Otherwise I will probably end up car sick. With the speed and the way it drives around.
- Fumei Shirokuro, fu802, Gryffindor
Apparition: This is a very effective option for magical travel because it seems to work really well in terms of both accuracy and speed. It is accompanied by a loud noise, so you can’t really expect to Apparate in total secrecy. That being said, it is physically taxing—people can become sick from doing it and if it’s not done with full concentration, intense bodily harm can result (like when Ron is splinched in Deathly Hallows). It requires training, somewhat akin to Muggles learning how to drive, and someone who is better at it can assist someone who isn’t by holding their hand. (This can also be done so forcefully that the person who is being assisted is not able to break free of the hold.) So, in summary, this is really a form of transportation that is just like driving a car in basically every way.
Floo: Floo powder is fairly effective for long-distance travel, provided you have fireplaces at both ends of the trip. From what we have seen, it looks pretty speedy and you can also have real-time “telephone calls” of sorts by just putting your head inside a Floo powdered fire to talk to someone. Now, if you don’t know where you’re going or don’t say the name of the place clearly, you may find yourself lost. The Floo Network is also monitored by the government, which can and does lead to systematic abuse. Because of its shortcomings—not being able to go somewhere without fireplaces and possibly being spied on—I wouldn’t make Floo a preferred method of travel.
Portkey: Like an airplane, train or bus, a Portkey is a helpful way to transfer a lot of people to the same place at the same time using a single shared object. Anyone can travel by Portkey, even a kid, and as we see in the book, it’s an easy way to get people to special events or places. The issues? Muggles might accidentally pick up the objects used as Portkeys, even if they’re made to look as mundane as possible. Portkey use can also cause nausea, so much so that it would disrupt the first few days of term back when that was how kids got to Hogwarts. Portkeys are also undetectable, apparently, because unlike Floo, the government doesn’t monitor them. This creates possible danger: bad people making Portkeys to bad places and then just leaving them for people to touch. Portkeys have their uses, though.
Flying: Flying is fast, but not instantaneous, and broom flying is probably more fun if you enjoy it (like if you’re Harry, not Hermione). Comfort can be an issue during flight, especially if it’s hot or cold where you are flying, and there are the dangers of falling, loss of control, being spotted by Muggles, brooms breaking, et cetera. There’s also the issue of cargo and family transportation. However, flying isn’t tracked by the government. I think flying would be better suited for short recreational trips when you really want to feel the rush of flying, but it might not be good otherwise.
Let’s add trains to this list of transportation options. Originally the train was a Muggle form of transport, but became suitable for the magical community as well and is an especially good way to collect lots of people in one place and take them to another. It does take a while to take the trip, though, but does leave the travelers feeling a lot healthier than, say, Portkey travel. However, it can be harder to conceal and creating the Hogwarts Express did require a large-scale Muggle concealment mission.
- Patricia Cleary, pa978, Hufflepuff
The many modes of Magical transportation vary in their efficiency. In my opinion, efficiency is measured by combining different factors such as speed, comfort, secrecy, safety, and availability. For example apparition ranks highly in both speed and secrecy, but its dangerous nature severely diminishes its efficiency score. The risks associated with splinching (which can be severe and cause death), as well the general malaise felt by individuals during side-along apparition, makes this method unpractical for most families and groups.
The floo network and portkeys are both practical in the sense that most people can use them with little risk to their safety, and both of them are rather quick and painless. However both of these methods require additional support and planning. The floo network is only possible between two areas linked to the system, whereas portkeys require advance planning and timing in order to operate them.
Flying used to be a very efficient mode of transportation as it is quick, available to most, and relatively safe. Furthermore with the addition of comfort charms, wizards with sensitive bottoms can fly in style and comfort. The problem with flying is that secrecy is not a major concern, especially near Muggle settlements.
As far as other methods of transportation, I’ve always been a fan of the knight-bus. A magicked bus that can squeeze itself in tight spaces (or even drive on the roof of a tunnel), yet can also move around busy Muggle cities makes for a very good addition to Magical transportation. In this day and age, with more and more Muggles everywhere, it is very convenient to have a mode that doesn’t necessarily stand out of their ordinary and thus blends in to a certain degree. As such, the knight-bus ranks highly in terms of safety, availability (I’ve never had to wait very long for it), and comfort (there are numerous charms to adjust the seat cushions). It loses points for speed, as most routes are rather circuitous, and I’m not sure secrecy even matters since it’s in plain sight of Muggles.
- Rosanna Gullveig, ro837, Ravenclaw
Apparition - This is an excellent method of transportation for many witches. Remember when they had the Quidditch match between Bulgaria and Ireland? While Harry, Hermione, Ron, Cedric, Amos and Arthur used that old boot, the rest of the Weasley family apparated. The difficulty with apparation, though, is that you really need to be sure you arrive with all of your body parts intact. That means all fingernails, skin, blood, legs, etc. It's fast, efficient and secret. If you are highly proficient with apparation, you can even take someone else along with you - with side-along apparition. A major flaw of apparition, even considering you arrive with all your body parts, is that it is exceedingly uncomfortable. Apparition is not controlled by the Ministry of Magic, although they would probably like to do so, but that's tough.
Portkey - Portkeys will work for everybody. That is about their best quality. The set-up of where to go 'from' and 'to' all has to be independently done and artifacts must be found to use. These artifacts need to be something that a Muggle won't look at twice unless they are of the habit of cleaning up trash. Portkeys are efficient, speedy, more comfortable than apparation, but not as secret because, as said before, someone has to set up the sending and receiving ends. This is usually controlled by the Ministry of Magic, the Transportation Department.
Floo network - The floo network also works for everyone. You need to be careful when you articulate the destination, or else you might end up someplace you really don't want to be. The Floor network is just that; you might end up in any fireplace which is set up on the Network. It is fast, reliable if you say the destination correctly, anyone can use it, fairly comfortable (but you might get a lot of ash on you if you are using a wood-based fire) but it is not necessarily secret. Again, like Portkeys, the Floo Network is controlled by the Ministry of Magic.
Flying - there are many different methods of flying, from using broomsticks to thestrals, to flying cars and motorcycles, to hippogriffs, to what Severus Snape and Moldy Voldy did - fly on their own. Flying is fun and exciting. Flying can be fast but is not an instant mode of transportation, no matter what method you use. Flying can be dangerous and uncomfortable. It is not very secret, even though it is not controlled by the Ministry of Magic (although an exception to that is flying carpets, which are banned in Britain) because usually all you need to do is look and you can see whoever is flying, no matter what the method used. It is also probably the most used method of transportation amongst witches. Almost every witch has a broomstick, and some have more than one, for different uses. Flying does not make your insides feel as though they were being squeezed inside a giant tube, nor does it whirl you around and make you totally dizzy. Flying is fun -- it is my favorite mode of transportation (aside from apparition for when I want to get somewhere in a hurry).
Another method of transportation that I propose to add to the ones already here? A non-magical method of transportation is the bicycle. You could always magic it up and zoom along quite nicely on the roads, pretending to pedal madly if a Muggle notices you passing their car. Another non-magical method of transportation is horse-riding, but that means that you must maintain, feed, stable, clean up after and all sorts of things, to keep a horse. If you are caught using someone else's horse, you can get in big trouble, even if you apparate away before you are caught.
Another method of transportation, one that was not mentioned in the lesson, is the flying coach of Beauxbatons. What a wonderful thing! I imagine an undetectable extension charm was applied to the coach so that all the students and the Headmistress were comfortable within their home-away-from-home. There, too, you have the use of the giant palomino horses, which just adds to the overall glamour of the school.
- Prof. Tarma Amelia Black, pr_tar, Hufflepuff
It's Your Turn
The Hogwarts Express did solve the major issue of transporting Hogwarts students from their homes to Hogsmeade, but Hogwarts grounds are gigantic! Luckily, concealing magic is no longer an issue once the students reach Hogsmeade. The new, first year students are escorted across the Great Black Lake in magically powered boats as they get their first glimpses of Hogwarts castle. It is a tradition and a rite of passage for new students.
The older, returning students are shuttled to the castle in carriages pulled by Thestrals. Magical creatures are not the easiest to domesticate, though most winged horses seem to have been tamed by witches and wizards. For example, Beauxbatons has a fleet of Abraxan horses used for transport as well. Rubeus Hagrid, the Hogwarts gamekeeper, is on good terms with a herd of Thestrals living in the Forbidden Forest, so they choose to obey him.
In times of danger, other means of transportation are employed to ensure students get to or from Hogwarts safely. The Floo Network was open after the holidays one year. All students went through the fire in Professor McGonagall's office.
- Prof. Scarlet Leslie-Lewis, pr_sca, Slytherin
Diagon Alley is unplottable for Muggles, because Diagon Alley is up until now the biggest wizarding alley and shopping area known in Great Britain. The entrance of Diagon Alley is located in London, England behind a pub called the Leaky Cauldron. When you go behind the Leaky Cauldron, you only see a dead end, but when you are a witch or a wizard you’re able to enter Diagon Alley by tapping some bricks in a specific pattern. Inside Diagon Alley shops, restaurants and other things are located. It’s the place for the wizarding community to be and do all their shopping Especially when you need supplies to go to Hogwarts.
Another one is St. Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. St. Mungo’s is the wizardings communities very own hospital. To enter St. Mungo you will have to step through the window of what appears to be a red-bricked condemned department store called Purge and Dowse, Ltd. This red-bricked condemned acts like a magical gateway to the main building. You can see it as the same system or way of entering like there is the barrier at King’s Cross Station which let you enter Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. The Ministry of Magic decided to put St. Mungo’s on this location, because there was no better place for it. Diagon Alley is too small and the decision was made that it’s unhealthy to build St. Mungo’s underground like the Ministry of Magic. Therefor they chose to purchase a normal Muggle building so that patients can come and go as they see fit.
- Fumei Shirokuro, fu802, Gryffindor
- Patricia Cleary, pa978, Hufflepuff
Diagon Alley, the popular wizarding shopping district, is hidden within the busy city of London. This area houses many shops and restaurants, as well as Gringotts Bank, the primary wizarding financial institution. Such a high concentration of Wizarding venues attracts throngs of Wizards, especially at certain times of year, and as such must be well hidden from Muggle eyes in order to preserve the magical way of life and also protect those who work or frequent the area. Diagon Alley is hidden in a similar way as Platform 9 and three quarters. It exists as an extra dimension in wizarding space.
Grimmauld Place is another example of a geographic location, in this case a large house, that is hidden from view. Number 12 Grimmauld Place, the ancestral home of the Black family, is hidden from Muggle view by a powerful Fidelius Charm. This charm allows the creation of a pocket of Wizarding space that essentially makes house number 12 disappear between numbers 11 and 13.
- Rosanna Gullveig, ro837, Ravenclaw
One of the places that I'd definitely make unplottable is the home of James and Lily Potter in Godric's Hollow. Why would I choose this to be unplottable? It is because their defiance was the turn of the tide against Lord Voldemort. Their home is like one of those places that you keep as it is because it is a symbol of defiance, of strength, of love and of hope. If it was made unplottable, it would not be used by Muggles as a place to hang out, to rip off from, or to tear up or paint/trash or otherwise desecrate. I think, also, that a preserving charm would be good to have there, to be renewed every year or so.
Another place I'd make unplottable, even though it is probably too late, is Loch Ness in Scotland. Loch Ness is the home of one of the most famous Kelpies in the world and lately more and more Muggles have gone there trying to 'disprove' her existence. I've heard stories that they have even tried to catch her, and if not catch her, drive her (or blow her up?) with underwater explosives. This is definitely not acceptable. Our magical creatures need to stay unbothered by Muggles and since she is definitely a drawing point for most witch schoolchildren on their summer vacations, it would be even better if there weren't a lot of Muggles hanging around seeing people pop in from, apparently, thin air.
- Prof. Tarma Amelia Black, pr_tar, Hufflepuff
The older, returning students are shuttled to the castle in carriages pulled by Thestrals. Magical creatures are not the easiest to domesticate, though most winged horses seem to have been tamed by witches and wizards. For example, Beauxbatons has a fleet of Abraxan horses used for transport as well. Rubeus Hagrid, the Hogwarts gamekeeper, is on good terms with a herd of Thestrals living in the Forbidden Forest, so they choose to obey him.
In times of danger, other means of transportation are employed to ensure students get to or from Hogwarts safely. The Floo Network was open after the holidays one year. All students went through the fire in Professor McGonagall's office.
- Prof. Scarlet Leslie-Lewis, pr_sca, Slytherin
Diagon Alley is unplottable for Muggles, because Diagon Alley is up until now the biggest wizarding alley and shopping area known in Great Britain. The entrance of Diagon Alley is located in London, England behind a pub called the Leaky Cauldron. When you go behind the Leaky Cauldron, you only see a dead end, but when you are a witch or a wizard you’re able to enter Diagon Alley by tapping some bricks in a specific pattern. Inside Diagon Alley shops, restaurants and other things are located. It’s the place for the wizarding community to be and do all their shopping Especially when you need supplies to go to Hogwarts.
Another one is St. Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. St. Mungo’s is the wizardings communities very own hospital. To enter St. Mungo you will have to step through the window of what appears to be a red-bricked condemned department store called Purge and Dowse, Ltd. This red-bricked condemned acts like a magical gateway to the main building. You can see it as the same system or way of entering like there is the barrier at King’s Cross Station which let you enter Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. The Ministry of Magic decided to put St. Mungo’s on this location, because there was no better place for it. Diagon Alley is too small and the decision was made that it’s unhealthy to build St. Mungo’s underground like the Ministry of Magic. Therefor they chose to purchase a normal Muggle building so that patients can come and go as they see fit.
- Fumei Shirokuro, fu802, Gryffindor
- 12 Grimmauld Place has been made Unplottable. Originally that’s because it was the family home for the Black family—I can’t imagine the more strident pureblood mania believers in the family enjoying the fact that Muggles live around them, though—but later 12 Grimmauld Place needed to be Unplottable and its location especially concealed because it was the headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix and security was of the utmost importance. I wonder what happened to 12 Grimmauld Place after it was accidentally exposed when Hermione tried to take Harry and Ron there via Apparition. Was it ransacked? Left alone? Were they able to go back after the war ended and pick up the pieces or pick up where they left off? This is one of many things I want to know from JK Rowling.
- There is supposedly a way to make yourself unplottable, according to JK Rowling. She explains that it can be done so people can’t be found just by having an owl sent to them. The method of doing this is unclear, but presumably can be done by anyone, so you don’t need to have an invisibility cloak (which is good since there aren’t too many). This can be a good thing for people who need to go into hiding for legitimate reasons such as escaping an abusive home situation or temporarily hiding from someone. However, it can also be abused by people with bad intentions. Still, the concept is interesting.
- Patricia Cleary, pa978, Hufflepuff
Diagon Alley, the popular wizarding shopping district, is hidden within the busy city of London. This area houses many shops and restaurants, as well as Gringotts Bank, the primary wizarding financial institution. Such a high concentration of Wizarding venues attracts throngs of Wizards, especially at certain times of year, and as such must be well hidden from Muggle eyes in order to preserve the magical way of life and also protect those who work or frequent the area. Diagon Alley is hidden in a similar way as Platform 9 and three quarters. It exists as an extra dimension in wizarding space.
Grimmauld Place is another example of a geographic location, in this case a large house, that is hidden from view. Number 12 Grimmauld Place, the ancestral home of the Black family, is hidden from Muggle view by a powerful Fidelius Charm. This charm allows the creation of a pocket of Wizarding space that essentially makes house number 12 disappear between numbers 11 and 13.
- Rosanna Gullveig, ro837, Ravenclaw
One of the places that I'd definitely make unplottable is the home of James and Lily Potter in Godric's Hollow. Why would I choose this to be unplottable? It is because their defiance was the turn of the tide against Lord Voldemort. Their home is like one of those places that you keep as it is because it is a symbol of defiance, of strength, of love and of hope. If it was made unplottable, it would not be used by Muggles as a place to hang out, to rip off from, or to tear up or paint/trash or otherwise desecrate. I think, also, that a preserving charm would be good to have there, to be renewed every year or so.
Another place I'd make unplottable, even though it is probably too late, is Loch Ness in Scotland. Loch Ness is the home of one of the most famous Kelpies in the world and lately more and more Muggles have gone there trying to 'disprove' her existence. I've heard stories that they have even tried to catch her, and if not catch her, drive her (or blow her up?) with underwater explosives. This is definitely not acceptable. Our magical creatures need to stay unbothered by Muggles and since she is definitely a drawing point for most witch schoolchildren on their summer vacations, it would be even better if there weren't a lot of Muggles hanging around seeing people pop in from, apparently, thin air.
- Prof. Tarma Amelia Black, pr_tar, Hufflepuff
Map Activity
The 5 unplottable locations I chose are Hogwarts, Durmstrang, Beauxbatons, a Romanian dragon preserve and the arena of the Vratsa Vultures in Bulgaria.
- Patricia Cleary, pa978, Hufflepuff
- Hogwarts: Located in the remoter parts of northern Scotland, it should be near enough to the ocean that the ship Durmstrang’s delegation uses to arrive for the World Cup can get into the lake somehow (I imagine it connects to the North Sea somehow). But it can also be tucked away in mountainous terrain and definitely in a part of the world that gets snow.
- Beauxbatons: The stated location of Beauxbatons is within the Pyrenees mountains in southern France. This makes the school easy to hide in the sloping terrain, but also places it near the seaside so that the school’s seafood-heavy cuisine can be locally supplied (and so students can enjoy time swimming in the ocean during weekends). The fact that the Pyrenees are so close to Spain makes it a great way for French and Spanish wizards and witches to meet.
- Durmstrang: Durmstrang needs to be in an extremely northerly spot since their students wear such heavy clothing. The fact that Norway has its own Ministry of Magic makes it a good candidate for hosting a school of magic. Therefore I placed Durmstrang way up north, right by the sea, so their ship can gain access and sail to Hogwarts. It’s hard to see because of where I wrote the word, but Durmstrang is also protected by a cluster of little islands, some of which I imagine contain Norwegian Ridgeback dragons so as to protect Durmstrang from intruders.
- Romanian dragon preserve: This is a hidden nook of land deep in the Carpathian mountain range, made Unplottable by the Romanian Ministry of Magic due to the security risk. To access it, you must be a qualified dragon handler or apprenticing to be one, such as Charlie Weasley. Some pretty dangerous dragons call this preserve their home.
- Vratsa Vultures Quidditch arena: As seven-time European Cup winners, the Vratsa Vultures are one of the most popular and well-known teams in the continent. Their arena is hallowed ground to Vultures fans and is located outside the Bulgarian city of Vratsa in a place that just kind of looks like a rundown old housing estate to Muggles. If they only knew the dazzling feats of sport that happened within!
- Patricia Cleary, pa978, Hufflepuff
The Unplottable locations that I chose are as follows:
1- Hogwarts – located in the Scottish highlands.
2- Azkaban prison – located in the North Sea beyond Scotland (where the water would be most cold)
3- Grimmauld Place – Located in the northern part of London.
4- Quidditch Trillenium Stadium – also known as the location of the 422nd Quidditch World Cup (held in 1994). It is located in the middle of a large desert moor in Dartmoor England.
5- Queerditch Marsh – thought to be located near Puddlemere, which is believed to be near Salisbury plains.
- Rosanna Gullveig, ro837, Ravenclaw
1- Hogwarts – located in the Scottish highlands.
2- Azkaban prison – located in the North Sea beyond Scotland (where the water would be most cold)
3- Grimmauld Place – Located in the northern part of London.
4- Quidditch Trillenium Stadium – also known as the location of the 422nd Quidditch World Cup (held in 1994). It is located in the middle of a large desert moor in Dartmoor England.
5- Queerditch Marsh – thought to be located near Puddlemere, which is believed to be near Salisbury plains.
- Rosanna Gullveig, ro837, Ravenclaw
Unfortunately, I do not have the access to the image. The writeup of the image is below:
The five unplottable locations on the map, from north to south, are Durmstrang, the Isle of Drear, Azkaban, Beauxbatons, and forests inhabited by runespoors. Since students at Durmstrang have fur as part of their school uniforms, Durmstrang is likely located somewhere in northern Scandinavia, such as Norway or Sweden. The Isle of Drear, the home of the dangerous five-legged Quintapeds, is a small island off the northernmost tip of Scotland. The wizard prison Azkaban is located in the middle of the North Sea to keep dementors away from most of the population. Beauxbatons is hidden in the Pyrenees mountains near the border of France and Spain. The natural habitat of runespoors are forests in Burkina Faso.
- Prof. Scarlet Leslie-Lewis, pr_sca, Slytherin
The five unplottable locations on the map, from north to south, are Durmstrang, the Isle of Drear, Azkaban, Beauxbatons, and forests inhabited by runespoors. Since students at Durmstrang have fur as part of their school uniforms, Durmstrang is likely located somewhere in northern Scandinavia, such as Norway or Sweden. The Isle of Drear, the home of the dangerous five-legged Quintapeds, is a small island off the northernmost tip of Scotland. The wizard prison Azkaban is located in the middle of the North Sea to keep dementors away from most of the population. Beauxbatons is hidden in the Pyrenees mountains near the border of France and Spain. The natural habitat of runespoors are forests in Burkina Faso.
- Prof. Scarlet Leslie-Lewis, pr_sca, Slytherin
LINK: https://postimg.cc/hf5KSgV5
This map only covers England, Wales, Island, and Scotland. So I could only cover the Unplottables in these locations. I had to add one that wasn't in the lesson.
Let's start at the top of the map. I put the Isle of Drear here to the north of Scotland because I read that it is located in the Northernmost point of Scotland. It's unplottable and an island, so I labelled it above the other islands in the location.
I put Azkaban in the middle of the North Sea because that's about where it's located, away from the mainland.
Hogwarts I put on the west side of Scotland. I put it there because I picture it having water around it but also connected to the mainland and at least somewhat close to England. Of course that water is the Atlantic Ocean. You can't see the Black Lake.
I was trying to find where Queerditch Marsh is. From my reading, it's just somewhere in Great Britain. I put it near Canterbury. There is a small piece of land in the water. It seems like it could be there.
The 5th place I located is 12 Grimmauld Place. I found that 12 Grimmauld Place is located in the Borough of Islington in London, the building itself is unplottable. So I saw that the Borough of Islington is located right in London, right on top of the London label, starting around the n or d.
- Skylar Peyton, Hufflepuff
This map only covers England, Wales, Island, and Scotland. So I could only cover the Unplottables in these locations. I had to add one that wasn't in the lesson.
Let's start at the top of the map. I put the Isle of Drear here to the north of Scotland because I read that it is located in the Northernmost point of Scotland. It's unplottable and an island, so I labelled it above the other islands in the location.
I put Azkaban in the middle of the North Sea because that's about where it's located, away from the mainland.
Hogwarts I put on the west side of Scotland. I put it there because I picture it having water around it but also connected to the mainland and at least somewhat close to England. Of course that water is the Atlantic Ocean. You can't see the Black Lake.
I was trying to find where Queerditch Marsh is. From my reading, it's just somewhere in Great Britain. I put it near Canterbury. There is a small piece of land in the water. It seems like it could be there.
The 5th place I located is 12 Grimmauld Place. I found that 12 Grimmauld Place is located in the Borough of Islington in London, the building itself is unplottable. So I saw that the Borough of Islington is located right in London, right on top of the London label, starting around the n or d.
- Skylar Peyton, Hufflepuff