It reads like a very forced solution—there would be significant gains to one noble house going against the tradition, so their heir could have several years of Hogwarts students rally behind them—and also kind of impossible to implement, given that we don’t know much about their birth control methods, and the Noble Houses are unlikely to all marry at the same time etc.
That said, the HP universe which Eliezer took on as his setting is full of such bugs, and this is a reasonable patch.
For most people, probably not, but having the support of the masses might be more valuable for a house that is either not a major player among the existing alliances, or not going to win any friends anyway (such as Malfoy).
It reads like a very forced solution—there would be significant gains to one noble house going against the tradition, so their heir could have several years of Hogwarts students rally behind them—and also kind of impossible to implement, given that we don’t know much about their birth control methods
That doesn’t make it impossible to implement, it just means it draws on implicit background information we don’t have access to.
Considering the edges that wizards appear to have on muggles in terms of medical care, I suspect that not only do they have access to effective magical contraception, they also have access to magical methods of conception promotion.
Thus it had been with some trepidation that Mr. and Mrs. Davis had insisted on an audience with Deputy Headmistress McGonagall. It was hard to muster a proper sense of indignation when you were confronting the same dignified witch who, twelve years and four months earlier, had given both of you two weeks’ detention after catching you in the act of conceiving Tracey.
Apparently, contraception isn’t always used 7th year students. I count that as mild evidence that contraception, magical or otherwise, isn’t widespread in the magical world. Methods of conception promotion are probably just as rare —though if they exist at all, Great Houses are likely to use them.
If contraception is significantly less widespread among wizards than among muggles, then considering their quality of medical care, their population seems anomalously low.
Maybe we could explain it by magical risks, and violence. I wouldn’t be surprised if wizard kill each other more than muggles. With old-fashioned manners, may come old fashioned violence. The last two wars (Grindelwald and Voldemort), were awfully close, and it looks like the next one is coming.
If all times and all countries are the same, with a major conflict every other generation, it could easily explain such a low population.
I wouldn’t be surprised if wizard kill each other more than muggles.
I think this point merits more extensive discussion. A few observations:
Wizards can learn shielding spells fairly freely, whereas the average muggle has no counter to a gun, and little they can do even against melee weapons unless they have sufficient self-defense training.
Underage magical violence is restricted by the Trace—it is considerably harder for magically-powered youth gangs to exist within magical Britain if powerful and merciless authorities (cf. Harry’s treatment during the Dementor incident) are instantly alerted whenever they cast a spell.
While wizard forensics are generally laughable, a simple spell will reveal the last spells cast by a person’s wand, and few people have multiple wands (since the things are apparently horribly expensive, among other reasons). This is a significant deterrent to the use of magic for illegal purposes that are likely to draw attention, such as murder. (I assume that it reveals more than the single most recent spell, since that would make it useless against anyone smart enough to cast a quick breath-freshening charm after their misdemeanours).
The last war at least was allegedly marked by most of the population of magical Britain cowering in their homes while a few brave champions fought on their behalf. The Death Eaters, meanwhile, only numbered fifty or so. That doesn’t sound like it should result in a high casualty level relative to the total magical population.
Wizards are exceptionally resilient, and can survive all manner of injuries that would kill a muggle ten times over (cf. Neville Longbottom). In addition, magical healing is outstanding.
and also kind of impossible to implement, given that we don’t know much about their birth control methods, and the Noble Houses are unlikely to all marry at the same time etc.
I guess there should be spells for that purpose ;)
It reads like a very forced solution—there would be significant gains to one noble house going against the tradition, so their heir could have several years of Hogwarts students rally behind them—and also kind of impossible to implement, given that we don’t know much about their birth control methods, and the Noble Houses are unlikely to all marry at the same time etc.
That said, the HP universe which Eliezer took on as his setting is full of such bugs, and this is a reasonable patch.
Several years of poor commoners are not worth weakening alliances with great houses
For most people, probably not, but having the support of the masses might be more valuable for a house that is either not a major player among the existing alliances, or not going to win any friends anyway (such as Malfoy).
The House of Malfoy seems to win friends among Slytherin very easily.
That doesn’t make it impossible to implement, it just means it draws on implicit background information we don’t have access to.
Considering the edges that wizards appear to have on muggles in terms of medical care, I suspect that not only do they have access to effective magical contraception, they also have access to magical methods of conception promotion.
Chapter 78
Apparently, contraception isn’t always used 7th year students. I count that as mild evidence that contraception, magical or otherwise, isn’t widespread in the magical world. Methods of conception promotion are probably just as rare —though if they exist at all, Great Houses are likely to use them.
If contraception is significantly less widespread among wizards than among muggles, then considering their quality of medical care, their population seems anomalously low.
Maybe we could explain it by magical risks, and violence. I wouldn’t be surprised if wizard kill each other more than muggles. With old-fashioned manners, may come old fashioned violence. The last two wars (Grindelwald and Voldemort), were awfully close, and it looks like the next one is coming.
If all times and all countries are the same, with a major conflict every other generation, it could easily explain such a low population.
I think this point merits more extensive discussion. A few observations:
Wizards can learn shielding spells fairly freely, whereas the average muggle has no counter to a gun, and little they can do even against melee weapons unless they have sufficient self-defense training.
Underage magical violence is restricted by the Trace—it is considerably harder for magically-powered youth gangs to exist within magical Britain if powerful and merciless authorities (cf. Harry’s treatment during the Dementor incident) are instantly alerted whenever they cast a spell.
While wizard forensics are generally laughable, a simple spell will reveal the last spells cast by a person’s wand, and few people have multiple wands (since the things are apparently horribly expensive, among other reasons). This is a significant deterrent to the use of magic for illegal purposes that are likely to draw attention, such as murder. (I assume that it reveals more than the single most recent spell, since that would make it useless against anyone smart enough to cast a quick breath-freshening charm after their misdemeanours).
The last war at least was allegedly marked by most of the population of magical Britain cowering in their homes while a few brave champions fought on their behalf. The Death Eaters, meanwhile, only numbered fifty or so. That doesn’t sound like it should result in a high casualty level relative to the total magical population.
Wizards are exceptionally resilient, and can survive all manner of injuries that would kill a muggle ten times over (cf. Neville Longbottom). In addition, magical healing is outstanding.
That depends on how often they have sex, which depends on the relevant culture.
I guess there should be spells for that purpose ;)