Protecting Harry - SPOILER

[mikesusangray]

Original Yahoo! HPFG Header:
No: HPFGUIDX C4225
From: mikesusangray
Subject: RE: Protecting Harry - SPOILER
Date: 7/14/00 4:51 am  (ET)

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Are the Dursley's neighbors actually wizards?Could be. But the big
V. says something about "ancient magic"--and I suspect that'll be more
than a bunch of geriatric bodyguards. My theory is that it's connected
to something I'll call "bonding magic."

In JKR's world, magic seems to be heavily influenced by relationships
that create an inviolabe bond between persons. For instance, saving
someone's life (as Harry's father saved Snapes--or as Harry saved
Wormtails) creates a bond. Or having the same bird's feather in your
wand. Or (apparently) having another wizard's blood in your veins
(hence Dunbledore's "triumphant look"). Or the hiding spell mentioned
in PoA creates an impenetrable secret on the basis of the bond between
the hidden person and his or her secret bearer.

Appanrently, "bonding magic" does not have to be desired or even
voluntary. But once the bond is preasant, it creates a powerful magical
state. I think we're seeing some more of this bonding magic with the
Dursleys. Why the bond is preasant we don't yet know (I believe JKR said
we would find out more aboutthis in HP5), but it creates a state such that
no harmful magic can reach Harry when he is connected to the Dursleys.

Pax,

Mike