Magic and Law

[bboy_mn]

No: HPFGUIDX 42733

This was brought up in the past, and I never got a chance to comment
on it, or at least didn't get to make this comment.

Magic and Law-
Why is it, when Harry performs magic away from school, the Ministry of
Magic freaks out? Yet, Fred and George seem to be performing magic
nonstop for the entire summer holiday. They spent all their time in
their room cooking up magic inventions; most jokes and tricks. So why
don't they get owls from the Ministry warning the that they will be
expelled if they don't stop? Hardly seems fair.

Of course the answer is the difference between a misdemeanor, and a
gross misdemeanor or felony.

Kids performing magic is the magic world is classified as mischief, a
minor misdemeanor; and the Ministry hardly has time to chase every kid
toying with magic. So, while technically illegal, Fred and George do
toy with magic all the time, generally it causes no harm, so the
Ministry doesn't waste any resources on them.

Harry on the other hand lives with muggles, and it seem like the main
job of the Ministry is to keep muggle from finding out about magic
people. So when Harry performs magic, he is violating the 'mischief'
misdemeanor which wouldn't be a big deal, but he is also violating the
gross misdemeanor/felony of performing magic in front of muggles. This
is a big deal. This may require the Ministry to send over a team of
obliviators from the Improper Use of Magic Office to erase peoples
memories, and smooth things over. This is exactly what the Ministry
had to do when Harry blew up his aunt. So this is certainly a more
serious crime; very serious in the eyes of the Ministry.

However, if Harry performed magic while staying at the Weasley's, I
think it would hardly raise an eyebrow anywhere.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

bboy_mn