Anti-Muggle Precautions (QA)

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Anti-Muggle Precautions is the fifth chapter of Quidditch through the Ages.

Summary

It was only in the late fourteenth century—1398 to be exact—that the need for anti-Muggle precautions was voiced by Zacharias Mumps. He declared that players should play at night, with Muggle-Repelling Charms on permanent fields, and that the field itself should be deserted.

The directions were not taken, as evinced by the law created by the Wizards' Council in 1362 which stated that there needed to be a fifty-mile distance between any town and Quidditch. Soon, however, even this was not sufficient as the popularity grew evermore. In 1368, the law was reissued, and the distance extended to a hundred miles. When it became clear that even this was not enough, in 1419, the Council decided that Quidditch was not to be played anywhere there was the chance of Muggles viewing the game. The penalty? Chained to a dungeon wall.

It seems, however, that all these laws might be too little too late. As shown by numerous Muggle drawings and illustrations of witches and wizards flying on broomsticks, it is clear that the wizarding world has not guarded this secret very well.

It was in 1692 that sufficient precautions were taken with the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy declaring that every Ministry of Magic was responsible for any illegal games of Quidditch that occurred within their boundaries. Consequently, the Department of Magical Games and Sports was created.

The punishment for Quidditch teams that disregarded the law was forced disbandment. The Scottish team Banchory Bangers flouted the rule—by letting their Bludgers fly away during a match in 1814—and were immediately punished.

These days, any Quidditch matches take place on fields that have already been guarded and charmed with sufficient anti-Muggle precautions.