I have a question that I am hoping someone out there can answer for me. I have read through the Harry Potter series numerous times and I always seem to catch new things each time, which I love. But, this time I am a little confused.
In the last book, Harry's invisibility cloak is described as being impenetrable (I don't have the book in front of me so don't quote me on that). It is supposed to be this amazing cloak that even magic can't see through. Is that right?
If so, then why can so-called Moody see through it in The Goblet of Fire?
I am re-reading the 4th book right now and it has been driving me crazy! Any insights from my fellow Harry Potter obsessed friends?
4 comments:
Quite a few theories out there Jen:
Here are a couple...
Here is the paragraph from page 410-411 (American hardcover) that the cloak quote, by Mr. Lovegood, appears in:
Ah, but the Third Hallow is a true Cloak of Invisibility,
Miss Granger! I mean to say, it is not a traveling cloak imbued
with a Disillusionment Charm, or carrying a Bedazzling Hex, or
else woven from Demiguise hair, which will hide one initially
but fade with the years until it turns opaque. We are talking
about a cloak that really and truly renders the wearer completely
invisible, and endures eternally, giving constant and impenetrable
concealment, no matter what spells are cast at it. How many cloaks
have you ever seen like that, Miss Granger?
We learned in the first book right after Harry got the cloak that Dumbledore could see through it (think Mirror of Erised). I don't know if this counts against the legend of the cloak though. The whole "constant and impenetrable concealment, no matter what spells are cast at it" part goes in a different direction, I think, then the direction you are going with it (the Mad-Eye route). I think what they are trying to say, with all that "eternal" lingo, is that the cloak of legend will never depreciate in quality. You cannot degrade the effectiveness, quality, or existence of the cloak by casting spells at it. It does not mean that people with exceptional magical power, ability, or objects can't see through it, but that whatever those people try to do to the cloak it will not damage it or keep it from working. I also believe that the ability to see through invisibility cloaks is rare. Some of the other kinds of cloaks that he mentions don't actually turn the wearer "invisible", like the Disillusionment Charm cloaks work the same as the charm which basically allows the wearer, or Charm recipient, to blend in with their environment (see "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" when Moody puts a Dissillusionment Charm on Harry at the Dursleys').
from: here
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I don't think Moody could see through the cloak! I only remember two instances of Moody 'seemingly' being able to see Harry under the cloak, in the Pub and well trapped in the trick stair. In the pub he saw Hermione sitting by herself, new from watching Harry that he hung out with her and Ron. Moody might have been suspicious and been watching Hermione and saw Harry's hand during the brief second they would have been visible when Hermione passed Harry a butterbeer under the table. It wouldn't have been to hard to deduce who would have been under the cloak. Then when Harry was caught in the trick stair his foot and leg sticking down past the stair would have been visible to Moody's eye. That or Moody's eye could indeed see Harry by other than normal sight, see my answer below.
from there
It's probably some combination of the two. :-)
Al, you are awesome, I knew you'd come through! Thanks for giving me something to ponder!
I do what I can. :-) Found your passport yet? I pray so.
well i was going to try and help you out with this question but it looks like there is already a ton of information on here...so ya i don't know if you've checked out my blog. i haven't had it that long but i have a couple of my designs on there.
it's brookecommons.blogspot.com
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