underage wizards doing magic, family protection, post-schooling

[alhewison]

No: HPFGUIDX 38064

> > --- In HPforGrownups at y..., "adatole" <adatole at y...> wrote:
> > > First, I think we need to keep in mind that MOM is not exactly 
> > > stating that underage wizards should not perform magic. More to 
> > > the point, they are saying that underage wizards cannot perform 
> > > magic that would give them away to Muggles. 
> I said:
> > > Actually, I disagree with you here. The letters they receive at 
> > the end of PS/SS tell them not to use magic in the holidays. When 
> > Harry receives his reprimand from the MOM for the "pudding 
> > incident" it is because he contravened the law against using 
magic 
> > in front of Muggles - AND because as an underage wizard he was 
not 
> > allowed to use magic outside school.
> --- In HPforGrownups at y..., "blpurdom" <blpurdom at y...> wrote:

> No, he was reprimanded because someone TOLD the MoM that he'd done 
> it (probably Dobby, still trying to find a way to keep Harry from 
> going back to Hogwarts).  The Ministry seems to work on an honor 
> system to a certain extent when it comes to the underage magic law 
> and the laws against letting Muggles see magic, but if someone rats 
> on you you're in big trouble.  If no one tells the Ministry 
> Hermione, Ron, the twins, etc. have been doing magic and they don't 
> hear of it through the Muggle news, no one seems to get in 
trouble.  
> (Remember--when Ron and Harry arrive at Hogwarts after smashing the 
> car into the Willow, it's all over the Evening Prophet that Muggles 
> all over the country spotted a flying car.  This is a blatant 
> violation of the law requiring secrecy, even though they didn't 
> bewitch the car, Arthur did.)  
> 
>Sorry, by trying to respond to one thread, I've inadvertently caused 
another. I know that Dobby was responsible for the hover charm, but 
I  was trying to show that Harry got in trouble for under-age 
wizardry - as well as doing magic in front of Muggles - the fact that 
he didn't actually do it, wasn't my issue. Whilst it is possible that 
Dobby might have told the MOM, and that's how Harry "got found out", 
I personally think there's more to it then that. Who spilled the 
beans on Harry blowing up Aunt Marge, for instance? I imagine that to 
some extent the issue of Harry getting caught is a plot devise, and 
we shouldn't worry too much about the inconsistencies, but heh! it's 
been nearly 2 years now!

ALi