94
votes
Accepted
Why aren't Muggles extinct?
We don't need to argue about reproductive fitness to explain this.
Here in the real world, the fertility rate falls off as the standard of living increases. Until quite recently, the magical ...
- 17.9k
81
votes
Accepted
Are there any circumstances when a Muggle doesn't have to be Obliviated after they find out about the existence of magic?
Parents of Muggle-borns are allowed to retain their memories, and we see Hermione's parents in Diagon Alley.
"So you don't think I'm a match for Lucius Malfoy?" said Mr. Weasley indignantly, but ...
- 39.1k
68
votes
Accepted
Do wizards need Muggles?
It seems likely that wizards could handle total Muggle extinction.
While the total extinction of Muggles may cause wizards some problems, it seems likely that they'll be able to handle any problems it ...
- 106k
53
votes
Are there any circumstances when a Muggle doesn't have to be Obliviated after they find out about the existence of magic?
As we learn from Chapter 1. The Other Minister in the Half Blood Prince, the muggle prime minister of the day is told of the ministry, and magic, with nothing to suggest they're oblivated when they ...
- 529
42
votes
Accepted
What "muggle rights" did Dumbledore promote?
Dumbledore believed Muggles deserved to be considered.
When Dumbledore mentions the disappearance of Frank Bryce, a Muggle, he also says that he regrets that the Ministry doesn’t consider Frank’s ...
- 106k
40
votes
Why aren't Muggles extinct?
It's very possible that a lot of "muggles" just didn't know they were wizards.
The book that admits students to Hogwarts needs concrete evidence of a child using magic before it will write them down ...
- 15.2k
38
votes
Accepted
Have Muggles ever credibly harmed or threatened to harm Wizards & Witches?
Yes, Muggles have harmed wizards.
In his footnote for “The Wizard and the Hopping Pot” in “The Tales of Beedle the Bard”, Albus Dumbledore stated that Muggles were indeed able to kill some wizards in ...
- 106k
36
votes
Would a completely good Muggle be able to use a wand?
No, you've misunderstood the quote.
JKR isn't saying that the result would be violent because violence is what lies inside a Muggle (though it does sound like something the Malfoys might come up with)...
- 17.9k
34
votes
Accepted
Can Polyjuice potion remove magic?
Transforming oneself into a muggle (using Polyjuice Potion) doesn't remove magic.
Harry pretends to be a red-haired Muggle boy at Fleur and Bill's wedding.
Harry was rather uncomfortable. The ...
- 709k
32
votes
Accepted
Do Muggles, squibs or Inferi have souls just like wizards?
Muggles and Squibs can be assumed to have souls.
For evidence, let's consider Lupin's description of what happens to those who lose their souls to the Dementors:
'You can exist without your soul, you ...
- 29.6k
30
votes
Accepted
What is the blood status of a person born to a half-blood and pure-blood?
Children of Pure-bloods and Half-bloods are Half-bloods
JKR has stated on her old website that this was the case, however was quick to establish that this would only be of importance to those who ...
- 77.6k
28
votes
Accepted
What are the children of two Muggle-borns called?
No specific name is ever mentioned.
There doesn’t seem to be any specific name that the pure-bloods use for the children of Mudbloods. When Yaxley, a Death Eater, refers to them, he calls them “brats ...
- 106k
27
votes
Would a completely good Muggle be able to use a wand?
No, Muggles can’t use wands.
Muggles can’t use wands, whatever their moral alignment or personal feelings towards violence. As Dumbledore explains in his notes on “Babbitty Rabbitty and the Cackling ...
- 106k
25
votes
Accepted
How do muggles and wizards differ physiologically?
In the world of Harry Potter, magic manifests itself in physical beings. This is the subtle difference that Scamander is referring to.
Wizards for example are susceptible to magical ailments such as ...
- 2,681
21
votes
Accepted
Are there non-squib wizards/witches who work 100% in muggle world?
Isobel McGonagall, mother of Minerva McGonagall
The Pottermore section on Minerva McGonagall talks at length about her mother, Isobel. After she eloped with a muggle, Isobel kept her magical heritage ...
- 51.9k
19
votes
Accepted
Can a Muggle get through to Platform 9 & 3/4?
Sure, absolutely.
Here's Lily's parents on platform nine and three-quarters.
And the scene refomed. Harry looked around: he was on platform nine and three-quarters, and Snape stood beside him, ...
- 29.6k
19
votes
Do wizards need Muggles?
For one, wizards might go extinct if they did that. There aren't enough wizards for them to survive without Muggles:
“Most wizards these days are half-blood anyway. If we hadn’t married Muggles we'...
- 39.1k
19
votes
What is the in-universe term for Muggles in other countries?
As far as the information from the HP books (and movies), Fantastic Beasts first movie, and as you mentioned in your question, the non-wizarding world people are addressed as:
MUGGLES by the British ...
- 26.9k
17
votes
Accepted
Did Umbridge hold prejudices towards muggle-borns before the fall of the Ministry?
Absolutely
Though she wasn't quite as open about it as the Death Eaters were, she definitely had some...strong opinions on the matter. There's a rather long bit of writing on Pottermore about Umbridge,...
- 164k
17
votes
Magic in front of Muggles
Yes, it seems like it would be allowed.
Muggles who marry wizards are allowed to know about the wizarding world. Seamus’s mother told his father after they married.
“I’m half and half,’ said Seamus. ‘...
- 106k
16
votes
Are there any circumstances when a Muggle doesn't have to be Obliviated after they find out about the existence of magic?
Apparently, marriage is a circumstance. As Seamus Finnigan points out in the first movie, it was a "bit of a nasty shock" for his Muggle father when he found out his wife was a witch.
- 260
15
votes
Why aren't Muggles extinct?
Disclaimer, I am not that familiar with Harry Potter nor a evolutionary biologist, but I would suspect that characters reproduce via sex like real humans, so a out-of-verse explanation would be a in-...
- 449
14
votes
How do muggles and wizards differ physiologically?
According to one Wizarding theory, Muggles and Wizards are entirely different species.
Hambledon Quince
1936 - present
Author of controversial theory that wizards originate from Mars, Muggles ...
- 95.7k
14
votes
Accepted
What species are treated at St. Mungo's?
Magically-caused injuries (in Muggles) are treated at St Mungo's. It seems to be very much unusual, at least according to Mr Weasley who's something of an expert in Muggles and would be expected to ...
- 709k
14
votes
How long do you have to wait before the Ministry of Magic will let you disclose you're a witch or wizard without consequence?
It’s unclear - but they might have to wait until intending to marry.
We see a few Muggle-wizard couples in the books, like Seamus’s parents. We know in their case, he was only informed about magic ...
- 106k
14
votes
Accepted
Are wizards able to tell magical people from non-magical?
No they can't.
Tom Riddle, an exceptional wizard, did not recognize that Dumbledore was a wizard when the latter came to meet him.
“You can’t kid me! The asylum, that’s where you’re from, isn’t ...
- 48.4k
14
votes
How do muggle-born students have enough money to go to Hogwarts?
Tuition is never mentioned, just supplies.
Harry's only costs are his trips to Diagon Alley. The school does not charge him to attend. Needless to say, books, supplies, and especially wands are not ...
- 36.6k
14
votes
What is the in-universe term for Muggles in other countries?
Even though only two words have been officially disclosed, we could assume other countries would use the words introduced in official translations of HP books. There's a list of translations for "...
- 157
14
votes
Can a Muggle inadvertently create a horcrux-like object?
It seems that there are two distinct stages of damaging the soul. The mere act of murder is said to rip apart the soul. This is what Slughorn tells Tom Riddle in Chapter Twenty Three of Half-Blood ...
- 45k
14
votes
How do "Muggles in Laws" or "associated Muggles", such as Hermione's parents, keep the Wizarding world secret so well?
The books touch on this indirectly, yes.
At this, Fudge had actually laughed.
'My dear Prime Minister, are you ever going to tell anybody?'
Still chortling, Fudge had thrown some powder into the ...
- 17.9k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible