Magical Law in the Wizarding World: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire pt. 1
Welcome back to Magical Law in the Wizarding World where I analyze Magical Law in the Harry Potter books, this week we will be looking at Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. However, due to the size of this book and the amount of information we learn about Magical Law it will be divided into two parts. We are first introduced to the fact that there wizards sometimes deal with police in the Muggle world. In Chapter 1, The Riddle House, when the police were summoned to investigate the mysterious death of the Riddle family. However, it isn’t until the sixth book, “Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince” that we learn what really happened to the Riddle family that night. This shows us that even Wizards can’t completely hide from the country or society they live in. Such as it is in the United States, societies and groups, such as Indian tribes, Amish and Mennonite communities, etc. are still subject to certain laws within the state and country where they live.
The beginning of the book starts out with the Quidditch World Cup. This is when we are first introduced to the idea that the Wizarding World exists in more places than just in England. An international society necessitates international laws. Across Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (book one), Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (book three), and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (book four), the word ‘international’ is mentioned 16 times. Within those 16 times we learn about the Department of International Magical Cooperation, international law, International Association of Quidditch, International Magical Cooperation and Magical Games and Sports, International Confederation of Wizards, International Ban on Dueling, and the International Code of Wizarding Secrecy.
Finally, I do have an honorable mention when it comes to policies in the Wizarding World…and that would be regarding Cauldron Thickness. We learn that Percy Weasley, one of Ron’s older brothers is working at the Department of International Magical Cooperation in chapter three The Invitation. In Chapter 5 Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, we learn that Percy is working on “A report for the Department of International Magical Cooperation,” Percy goes on to say that they’re “trying to standardize cauldron thickness. Some of these foreign imports are just a shade too thin — leakages have been increasing at a rate of almost three percent a year —” after Ron sneers at him, Percy goes on to continue to express concern “unless some sort of international law is imposed” the market risks being flooded with flimsy, shallow-bottomed unsafe cauldrons. Even in the Wizarding World they have consumer safety concerns.
Join me next week for Magical Law in the Wizarding World in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire pt. 2.