harry potter - Can Muggles ride broomsticks?

It doesn't seem like riding a broom requires a wand, though IIRC they do have to say "Up!" to ...animate (right word?) the broom. Does this qualify as magic that only wizards can do? If so, could a Muggle ride a broom after it was animated?

I guess this would apply to most magical transit; Floo powder, Apparition (at least side-along Apparition), Thestrals, magic carpets, etc do not seem to require a wand to work. If a Muggle had access to a broomstick (it doesn't seem as if any old broom will do) or Floo powder, could they use these methods despite being Muggles? Is there any canon evidence for either answer out there?

(This is my first question on here, so I hope it's appropriate and ok to ask this. Thanks!)

Answer

There seems to be a certain amount of magical ability required to control a broomstick, including getting it to raise off of the floor.

The Wikia page on Broomsticks has this to say:

Long before the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy came into force, wizards were savvy enough to realise that Muggle neighbours would seek to exploit their abilities. Therefore, if they were to keep a method of flight in their homes, it would have to be unobtrusive and easy to hide. The broomstick was ideal - portable, cheap, and it required no explanation.

I suspect, then, that a broomstick would only react in a magical way to the touch of somebody who has some magical ability; you wouldn't want any Muggles who handled your broom to sense that it was anything else.

If that is the case I don't think a Muggle could fly a broomstick, but they could certainly ride one. In the same way that not knowing how to drive a car doesn't prevent you from being a passenger in one, not having the magical ability required to fly a broomstick wouldn't prevent you from being on the back of one that's flown by a witch or wizard (though it may not be that comfortable).

Comments

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