Living in a Shadow World
The ‘Secret’ Wizarding Context
Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington was one of the unlucky magical people in the fifteenth century who were persecuted for being witches and wizards. The hunting of magical people would continue and would peak in the seventeenth century, until the wizarding world decided to hide from the rest of the world for good. It was through the signing and enactment of the International Statute of Secrecy in 1689 and 1692, respectively, that the said hiding was made possible.
The ‘Secret’ Wizarding World
With the Statute in effect, the whole of the wizarding world lived in what seemed a ‘shadow’ world to the Muggle world. The Ministry of Magic, the new source of power at the time, would try everything to keep and maintain the hidden status of the wizarding community, and it is this context in which wizarding life would continue for hundreds of years, until now. Bathilda Bagshot described witches' and wizards' lives in her book, A History of Magic, with the words “their own small communities within a community.”
A Shadow to the Muggle World
Magical families naturally lived together in small communities, supporting each other in keeping their magical secrets from the Muggles in the same community. In this way, magical cooperation between families in the same area formed networks that, if mapped, would create similar living patterns with the British Muggle population. But like in the Muggle populations, there are some celebrated locations of these half-magical dwelling places. Examples of these are the villages of Upper Flagley in Yorkshire and Godric’s Hollow in West Country.
Similarly as with household communities, wizarding economy and politics reflect their Muggle counterparts. Our economic center lies in Diagon Alley in London with the wizarding bank, Gringotts, as well as different stores offering different magical goods, products, and services. As an economic center, throngs of witches and wizards go to Diagon Alley, mirroring the situation in Muggle London's economic centers .
Our political system works likewise. The British Ministry of Magic administration building is located underground below Whitehall in London. Whitehall is a road on which there are Muggle government bureaus and ministries. Like Whitehall road, the underground British Ministry of Magic is a place where the different departments of the Ministry are located. Thousands go to this place every day.
Good Thing We’re Magical
We live in a shadow world to the Muggle world. Just like a shadow, our secret world has its similarities to the Muggle world. It is interesting that geographically, household and central locations are consistent with their Muggle counterparts, strengthening our position as a shadow world. It does not mean that we are inferior. It only means that we are wise enough to consider complimentarities with the Muggle community, since we share one world.
Throughout the years, we've lived in secret and tried to maintain this secrecy, and the Ministry has devoted its entire existence to the preservation of this secret. Here is a passage from the statute: "When mingling with Muggles, witches and wizards will adopt an entirely Muggle standard of dress, which will conform as closely as possible to the fashion of the day.” It presents the way wizarding folks adjust to the Muggles, all in accord to the statute.
But within the shadows, we found and developed our comfortable existence. Magic is used, harnessed to levels never before imagined just to operate the whole of the wizarding world. Space is wisely utilized to serve the purpose of keeping the wizarding world intact and safe in its shared territory. It is truly great that we are magical because we are the only ones who can do it, and we do it successfully. Shadow or not, living in a wizarding world is one adventure one would not want to miss.
References:
1. http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/International_Statute_of_Wizarding_Secrecy
2. http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/British_Ministry_of_Magic_Headquarters
3. http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Whitehall
