Ancient vs. Old Magic (WAS:Theory on why harry had to go home)

[erisedstraeh2002 <erisedstraeh2002@yahoo.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 48555

Snuffles (srsiriusblack) wrote:

>  Voldemort also explains earlier on that he had not anticipated the 
>  ancient magic which protected Harry when his mother sacrificed his 
>  life to save him, Harry....
>  
>  So, it would seem Voldemort isn't up to par in his ancient magic.
>  
>  THIS would explain why Dumbledore insists Harry return to Privet 
>  drive first before travelling on to the Burrow-- i.e. Dumbledore 
>  needs time to Voldemort-proof the Burrow. 

Now me:

Not to be a nit-pick, but in Ch. 33 of GoF, Voldemort refers to 
Lily's sacrifice as "old magic" and to the protection Harry enjoys 
<grin> with the Dursleys as "ancient magic."  I don't see "old" 
and "ancient" as necessarily meaning the same thing.  I did a post 
on "ancient magic" earlier today, so I won't repeat myself here (even 
though I'm seriously starting to wonder whether anyone reads my 
posts, since points I've raised get raised again by others in later 
posts!).  With regard to the "old magic," there's a great essay on 
the Lexicon about this which I think explains it very well (in a 
nutshell, it has to do with the power of a mother's love, which Voldy 
can't understand).

I agree that Voldy forgot about the power of a mother's love when his 
AK rebounded on Baby!Harry.  However, Voldy seems to know all too 
well about the ancient magic protecting Harry when he is in his 
relations' care.

I do agree that Dumbledore sent Harry home to the Dursleys at the end 
of Book 4 because he's well protected there and it's the safest place 
for Harry to be, outside of Hogwarts.

~Phyllis