Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
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How come they could and they could not see it ?
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Maybe they can see it, because they know it is there to see? Much like I imagine that should a muggle lean against the entry point to platform 9 3/4, they wouldn't fall through, even if it was open, because they don't know it is there.Really, you could ask how all the thousands of people in the station don't notice odd bunches of people running into a column and disappearing - I think that that is also very much part of the Muggles don't see magic, because they don't believe it exists argument.
Yeah, but the platform is open for a limited time only and I don't think muggles can go through it.....and regarding how they don't see people disappearing, maybe it is because in such a crowd there and everyone busy with oneself, the may not notice.But up in the sky, there view is clear and no crowd as well!! How come they ignore it completely?(if they see it)
There can just one more thing to it, that the train is kept hidden from people by some magic spells or something like that....
I think the Hogwart's train travels in a bit of a different dimension. Because the Anglia is magical, it can also be in that magic dimension with the train.As for muggles-they really don't see magic. The school looks like a crumbling castle with "keep out" signs all over, so they won't see the train from the air-or if they do, they'll think it's just a train.
Exactly, Jeni. I was just going to say that about Hogwarts.No hope for me to see either Hogwarts or the Express, then. *sigh* ;)
Alas, the plight of the muggles, Eliza!I'm pretty sure that if a muggle knew about and accepted magic, they would be granted access. After all, Hermione's parents were allowed into Diagon Alley. I'm sure they could get onto platform 9 3/4, as well.
Yes,that might be because they know about magic,as you already said. But what my question was,however,was that how couldn't they see it. As for Hogwarts,they COULD still see it,though not as it was. So couldn't they possibly see the Hogwarts Express as well? Though,maybe,again,not as it is?
Sure, it would just look like a train. Trains are used much more in Europe than the US. It would just be a train puffing its way across Scotland.
Hmm.....but I was just curious.....anyway,thank you people for your responses.
Is that kind of train still used?
I Googled "Steam trains in Scotland" and got a website that does tours all over the country with steam trains. In fact, the search page is pretty full, so yes, I would say that kind of train is still used, and enough that it wouldn't be out of place if you saw one.
Jeni wrote: "I Googled "Steam trains in Scotland" and got a website that does tours all over the country with steam trains. In fact, the search page is pretty full, so yes, I would say that kind of train is st..."Thanks Jeni.
I've often thought about the train. If Hogwart's has been around for 1,000+ years, how did folks get there before steam technology? How will they get there 200 years in the future?Scotland's rail system was well in place by 1850 (the steam engine was patented by a Scot in 1784 by the name of James Watt), so the Hogwart's Express was likely in operation around that time. Prior to that, maybe those "out of style" flying carpets? Horse and buggy? Maybe students arrived on their Nimbus 1500?
In the future, I imagine Hogwart's train will be electrified, then magnetic. I personally would love to see the Hogwart's Express look a bit like this:
Jeni, I think any train that looks like that would be cool! But, you're right it would be amazing if its passengers had wands and knowledge of magic :)
Jeni wrote: "I've often thought about the train. If Hogwart's has been around for 1,000+ years, how did folks get there before steam technology? How will they get there 200 years in the future?Scotland's rail..."
I don't actually remember,but wasn't there something about "how students got to Hogwarts before the train" in Pottermore??
Casey wrote: "Jeni, I think any train that looks like that would be cool! But, you're right it would be amazing if its passengers had wands and knowledge of magic :)"Yeah! You are absolutely right ..
Farheen, you are right! I didn't even look at the HP Wiki, I just surmised through some quick Google searches. I just didn't Google the Wiki! hahaha. Here's the Hogwart's Express Link:http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Hog...
Jeni wrote: "Farheen, you are right! I didn't even look at the HP Wiki, I just surmised through some quick Google searches. I just didn't Google the Wiki! hahaha. Here's the Hogwart's Express Link:http://ha..."
Yeah, I thought I had read about it somewhere..
Yeah,it might be..
Yes, things are hidden from Muggles all the time. They probably just can't see it.
Echo wrote: "Is that kind of train still used?"Yes, I have been on one several times. There is one near where I live in the US that runs twice a week.
Ohhhh, I don't know. Bad writing? Just a wild guess.
I don't think any invisibility or muggle filtering spells would be necessary. I think it would take a lot of coincidence for a muggle to both see the train and recognize that it's strange. And if all the coincidence happened, it wouldn't matter.1) Remember that King's Cross station is in London - which has many cloudy days. So there's a good chance that anybody flying overhead won't be able to see a thing.
2) There are trains all over Europe. So if somebody does see a train they will just think it's a train.
3) The only way somebody will know there's something strange about it is if they note that it's in a strange location. Like the OP mentioned somebody who works at King's Cross and knows the layout well might recognize that the train is pulling out of a place that trains don't normally leave from. But that requires that a King's Cross employee be on a plane, flying over London, on a clear day, and looking out the window at just the right moment.
4) Somebody who knows the train networks very well might recognize that the train is travelling through the country on a route that most trains don't travel on. But that requires that such a person be on a plane, on a clear day, looking out the window at just the right moment, and actually know where they are located in that moment. I generally don't know where I am when I'm 10,000 feet in the air, do you?
5) People who live near the route the train takes would never think twice about it because they would be used to it. They might think it strange that the train only runs at the beginning and end of the school holidays, but they wouldn't dedicate much brain space to it. Most people live 90% in their own worlds, and don't pay much attention to anything else. I grew up near trains and never thought twice about where they were going or where they were coming from.
6) Given all the coincidence that has to happen for a person to both see the Hogwarts Express and recognize that it's strange: if all the pieces fell into place and somebody figured it out, what would they do about it? Go to the authorities and ask about a mysterious train? Nobody would take them seriously.
People often see only what they expect to see. The human brain very quickly identifies the most likely explanation for anything we experience and it takes a real force of will to think about it any further. So wizards don't have to completely hide something as common as a train. They just have to avoid catching enough attention to inspire a muggle to exert that extra force of will to investigate it.
To understand how easy it is for wizards to hide magic from muggles, re-read the 1st chapter of Harry Potter and Sorcerer's Stone. On a day when wizards all over were completely ignoring their secrecy protocols, Vernon Dursley (who already knew about magic) made all kinds of explanations for the things he witnessed.
On one of the back pages of the newer redesigned Harry Potter books, it says that witches and wizards arrived at Hogwarts using their brooms
I think that they can't see it just because they are Muggles. There are spells that specifically target Muggles, like the one hiding Hogwarts from view, so maybe they used those? Otherwise, like Farheen said, they don't notice hundreds of people disappearing, so they probably wouldn't notice a train.
I think the muggles dont see because it has to do with magic but then that leads to ask how can hermoine see it she is a muggle
Hermione is Muggle-born but still a witch
Yes she is half and half
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Alright.So, when Ron and Harry are not able to go through to platform 9/3,they decide to use the car.And when they rise up in the sky,there is where my question comes in.It is stated in the book that they spot the Hogwarts Express and decide to follow it.That is my question.If they were able to see the train when up in the sky,how come Muggles are not able to see it when,say,in are in the aeroplane or something??And if they do see it,why wouldn't they think that "How can a train be moving on the other side of the station".
And even if they don't,say(I know this is stupid),a guard or someone working in the station is up in the sky and spots it, wouldn't he think strange about it? Because he definitely knows there is no train which moves in that direction?
And if you ask whether any plane is up there or not at precisely at the same time when the Hogwarts Express comes or leaves,I would ask "What if it is"?