[HPforGrownups] Magic and Law

[Laura Ingalls Huntley]

No: HPFGUIDX 42759

>
> --- bboy_mn <bboy_mn at yahoo.com> wrote:
> > 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.

Well, I think that law is something like the don't-tape-rented-movies law
here in the US...or the Speed Limit.  People do it all the time, and they
don't get in trouble unless they're caught (which is pretty rare).  And,
IMO, the reason why Harry gets caught, while the twins don't, is that Privet
Drive is closely monitored for any magical disturbance (or something like
this).  For Harry's *safety*, of course, but it works just as well for
catching him in the act of doing illegal spells. Perhaps this is something
connected to the "old magic" or Arabella Figg.

At any rate, it explains why Lily could do the magic Petunia said she did
when she came home on holidays...there was no way she'd be caught.  Now, I'm
not saying Lily was a rampant law-breaker...but think about it, what decent,
law-abiding citizen *doesn't* break laws like the Speed Limit every now and
then?

laura