Chapters 131–140
History of Magic
A detail I can explain at this point of the story is the witches and wizards in the royal family of Britain. I assume that Anne Boleyn was a witch and that Henry VIII. wanted her, because he assumed that a witch woud be able to provide him with a male heir. Since that time the attitude of the Muggle government towards the wizarding world has been more lenient in Britain than in other countries, up to the point where the royal family founded the development of the spells and charms that allowed witches and wizards to enjoy a pleasant tickling sensation while being burned at the stake (an effect which is history of magic HP canon).
Cucurbita!
The Latin insults in this chapter are mainly based on the website “Ludi Latini” of the University of Oklahoma. Please note that if you want to make up Latin insults of your own, it’s not enough to simply find the correct word. You also need to use the correct grammatical case – the vocative case.
Cucurbita – pumpkin
Asine – ass
Stulte – idiot
Puga – arse
Fatue – fool
Caudex – blockhead
Nugator – pipsqueak
Stolide – dummy
Frutices – blockheads
Vappa – scum
Ructabunde – burper
Spurcissime – totally filthy
Os putidum – stinker/bad breath
Nugae, gerrae, fabulae – nonsense, poppycock, fiddlesticks
Blitea belua es – You are a silly beast.
A Dangerous Gift
Pacta Maleficarum Segregandarum – treaties for the segregation of witches
Secrets of the Muggle and the Magical Kind
The content of the treaties is really quite simple. If the wizarding world is kept secret from the Muggles and if the wizards make sure that magic does not spread (by not marrying Muggles, by refraining from actively recruiting Muggle-born witches and wizards etc.), the Inquisition will cease to hunt and kill witches and wizards. If the treaties are broken, the Inquisition will resume the witch-hunts.
The only historical fact in this chapter is that 1908 the Inquisition was really renamed. If you want to learn more about the Catholic Inquisition, the Catholic Encyclopedia is a good place to start.
Beautiful
The heron is meaningful in Egyptian, Ancient Greek and Christian mythology. It symbolizes, among other things the knowledge of the right time and the souls of the Chosen whose aims transcend earthly bounds. In Chines art the heron (lu) is often depicted with the lotus flower (lien) because of the similar sound of the syllables which mean “way” and “ascent” thus expressing the wish “always ascend on your way”. The lotus flower is a part of the Egyptian myth of creation. Wreaths of lotus flowers were placed in tombs. In India lotus symbolises spirituality and art. Water lilies were sacred to Nymphs in Ancient Greek mythology.
Those Who See
“Mona” is of course a descendant of none other than the painter and wizard Leonardo da Vinci, who is also quoted in the last paragraph of this chapter.
Cullen Skink and Portrait-Kinks
The “kinks” of portrait-lore mentioned in this chapter are not canon, but only the figments of my own imagination. I hope they make sense.
“Cullen Skink” is a fish soup which may (at least my research indicates that) be served at the beginning of a formal Scottish dinner.
The Colour of Magic
“Vim Magicam” means “magical power”; “revelio” is part of a canon spell. The motif of magic showing up as a colourful aura is probably as old as time; I can’t count the books and stories in which I’ve seen this idea used.