Muggles are non-magic folk or simply put, ordinary human beings with zero magical abilities in Harry Potter lore. They are almost always oblivious to the existence of magic and while the likes of Arthur Weasley find them fascinating, there exist prejudiced witches and wizards who look down upon them. Though the Weasleys are among the most prominent pure-blood wizarding families, far be it from them to discriminate or hate on Muggles.

They are nothing like the pure-blood supremacists such as the Malfoys. Ron's father, Arthur is amazed by Muggles' creativity and wants to know how they go about their lives without the aid of magic. At the beginning of the second Harry Potter movie - The Chamber of Secrets, Arthur, who'd returned from office after conducting nine nighttime raids, asks Harry about the function of a rubber duck over breakfast. Though the young wizard doesn't get a chance to reply, it's clear that Arthur is genuinely interested in the Muggle way of life.

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Shortly afterward in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry and the Weasley family travel from the Burrow to Diagon Alley, London to purchase supplies for Hogwarts. Arthur, Molly, and the young wizards take the Floo Network mode of wizarding transportation to reach Diagon Alley. While Ron notes Harry has never used the glittery magical Floo Powder to travel before, Molly asks him to be the demonstrator, and his friend to follow suit. Harry is second in line and since he's nervous, instead of saying "Diagon Alley," he messes up and says "diagonally." He accidentally ends up at 'Borgin and Burkes' antique shop in Knockturn Alley, becoming a witness to a rather odd conversation between an indignant Lucius Malfoy and shopkeeper, Mr. Borgin. Lucius is particularly disgruntled with the rumors about a new Muggle Protection Act.

What Is The Muggle Protection Act?

Harry Potter with the Weasley family in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Within the first few minutes of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets movie, Harry becomes aware of the latest developments in the wizarding world. He hides inside the Vanishing Cabinet at Borgin and Burkes, leaving a small gap to peer through. He can see Lucius selling several dark objects that the dark wizard believes might "embarrass" him if the Ministry were to call. Lucius is angry at meddlesome Ministry of Magic officers and angrier at the raids being conducted on private houses. He mentions he's been hearing rumors about a new Muggle Protection Act, and Borgin exclaims, "Pure-wizard blood is counting for less everywhere."

Lucius finishes his business, and dashes out of the store, leaving Harry befuddled at what just transpired between the two men. Harry knows Lucius refused to sell an unnamed item to Borgin, and hears the latter comment that this unnamed item "has unique qualities" and that "one wouldn't want to see it falling into the wrong hands." After a brief while, Ron, Harry, Weasley Sr., and Hermione run into Lucius and Draco at Gilderoy Lockhart's book signing at Flourish and Blotts.

Arthur Weasley is the brains behind the Muggle Protection Act. The said act is designed to protect non-magic folk from potentially harmful magical artifacts. Examples of such artifacts include "just poisons and the like" that Lucius is seen selling at Borgin and Burkes in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Quite obviously, the snooty pure-blood Lucius takes offense to the Muggle Protection Act because he doesn't want the Ministry going through his questionable possessions. While the Muggle Protection Act might sound like a breach of privacy of paper, it is, as the name suggests, a protectionist law designed in wake of the brewing anti-Muggle sentiment in the wizarding world. The fact that the Ministry is fervently conducting raids on private houses worries dark wizards such as the Malfoys and naturally, Lucius is livid at Arthur who is an honest staffer at the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office.

Arthur Weasley is rigid in rule implementation and his interaction with the Granger family in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets demonstrates he is a friend to everybody. His attitude draws a sharp contrast with the moody and broody, Lucius Malfoy. Down at Flourish and Blotts, Lucius disparages Arthur for associating with Muggles such as the Granger family and complains about the raids the Ministry is conducting. While Arthur does his job well, his honesty and work ethic cause annoyance to shady people like Lucius.

Lucius Malfoy's Sabotage In The Chamber Of Secrets

Lucius Malfoy at Borgin and Burkes in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Arthur stood in the way of the dark wizard, Lucius Malfoy, and the latter did his best to sabotage his career. To that end, Lucius slipped Tom Riddle's diary into Ginny Weasley's cauldron at Flourish and Blotts. While Lucius knew the diary was enchanted, he was unaware that it was a Horcrux, containing a fragment of the Dark Lord, Voldemort's soul. This detail necessitates context into the names Tom Riddle and Voldemort, and the latter is a sobriquet for Tom Marvolo Riddle. The main antagonist in Harry Potter, the Dark Lord gave up his birth name, Tom Riddle, and assumed the alias of Lord Voldemort.

Lucius snuck Tom Riddle's diary into Hogwarts and in doing so, aimed to kill two birds with one stone. Firstly, the diary bewitched and forced Ginny Weasley into reopening the Chamber of Secrets, home to the Basilisk intended to purge Hogwarts of all Muggle-borns. Secondly, Ginny's culpability in the act would bring shame to her father, a man of repute, and discredit his work at the Ministry of Magic. To top it all, Lucius getting rid of the incriminating Dark artefact was the cherry on the cake. Thankfully, Harry Potter rose to the occasion, slayed the Basilisk, and destroyed Tom Riddle's diary. He also confronted Lucius about his evildoing at the end of the second Harry Potter installment and freed the Malfoy Manor house-elf, Dobby of his servitude.

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