[HPforGrownups] Re: Harry's Protection

[Barb]

No: HPFGUIDX 48558


 "Bill Corey Jr." <wcoreyjr at wi.rr.com> wrote:
LV says in canon: "Dumbledore invoked an ancient magic, to ensure the boy's protection *as long as he is in his relations' care.*  Not even I can touch him there..."  (GoF p657, emphasis mine)  This pretty clearly indicates that the protection being discussed can only apply to Privet Drive, because that's the only place where he has relations.  

 

Me: Not quite.  He seems to be safe anywhere his relations are.  Thus, even when he was being chased by Dudley and his gang at the village school, Harry was safer than when he was in the graveyard at Little Hangleton, as Dudley is his blood relation.  He may not have thought he was very safe ;), but inasmuch as his magical abilities (winding up on the roof of the school) protected him from Dudley and company to a certain extent, it seems that by giving him grief and therefore being nearby, Dudley was in his own (ironic) way preventing any dark wizards from being able to sweep into the school and hurt Harry (if any of them were feeling so inclined).  For this same reason, even though he was venturing away from Privet Drive when he went to the zoo, and later, when the family was fleeing the Hogwarts letters, even though he was not in the actual house, Voldemort's words imply that Harry was also perfectly safe from the evil intentions of dark wizards at those times, because of the proximity of his family members (specifically Petunia and Dudley, I should think, as he is only related to Vernon by his aunt's marriage).  The only possible indication that the protection may also come from Vernon is that his uncle seems to be in the habit of driving Harry to King's Cross by himself--without Petunia and Dudley.  So either Harry was also vulnerable during those drives (and later, on the Hogwarts Express--which may also be enchanted to make all of the riders safe) or Vernon's presence also gives Harry protection.

 

Times he was NOT in close proximity to his family members include when he is riding on the Knight Bus to London and when he is flying in the Ford Anglia each time (first with Ron and the twins, going to the Burrow, and then just with Ron, on the way to Hogwarts).  He also did not have his relatives' protection when he was with the Weasleys during any of his summer holidays and especially at the World Cup.  However, as Dumbledore seems to have considered Mrs. Figg adequate protection for times when his relatives were not available, he may also have considered the Weasleys adequate protection for Harry at these times.  

 

It seems fairly clear that Dumbledore has some way of knowing when Harry is far enough away from his relatives that the protection will no longer be effective.  Whether this is part of the protection or an additional security measure is unclear.  What IS clear is that Fudge was waiting for Harry at the Leaky Cauldron for a good reason: someone informed him that Harry had left Privet Drive.  It seems, in fact, that where he was heading was very precisely known, as well, or Fudge wouldn't have been there ahead of him.  Dumbledore seems the most likely person for this monitoring, since he put the protection in place to begin with.  Something else in canon supporting this theory is Harry receiving his Hogwarts letter at the Weasleys after Ron and the twins rescue him; Dumbledore obviously felt that he would be adequately protected there and did not upbraid him.  It is also obvious that he KNEW where Harry was.  And this time, it was not necessary to call out the Ministry, as a brief investigation of Privet Drive would reveal that no magic needed to be reversed there (as later happened with Aunt Marge).  

 

 "Bill Corey Jr." <wcoreyjr at wi.rr.com> wrote:

It also pretty clearly implies that LV *does* know where Harry's been staying, because he knows he's been with his relations and is therefore safe... and since LV took pretty drastic steps to shorten Harry's family tree a few years back, that leaves the Dursleys (and, if you count godfathers, Sirius).  Which brings up an interesting point all its own: would the ancient magic cover Harry going to stay with Sirius?  Hmmmm...

 

Me:

I would guess that your are right about Voldemort knowing exactly where Harry was; his words don't lead one to believe otherwise.  I would guess, however, that Sirius would not count as a relative for protection purposes, but OTOH, he is magical, like Arabella Figg and the Weasleys, and if Harry ever did go to live with Sirius, there is no reason to believe that Dumbledore couldn't devise security of a different nature to protect him, in addition to whatever direct protection Sirius could give Harry by dint of being a talented and powerful wizard.

 

 "Bill Corey Jr." <wcoreyjr at wi.rr.com> wrote:

It's also repeatedly mentioned throughout the series that the only person LV truly fears is DD... so why would extra precautions need to be taken at Hogwarts unless DD isn't there?


Me:
Well, perhaps after GoF, Dumbledore will be even more cautious about what goes on at the school.  After all, Barty Crouch, Jr. was masquerading as an Auror for almost a year and he almost managed to get Harry killed right under Dumbledore's nose.  Of course, that annoying gleam in his eye <snerk> could mean that he will allow Harry to do something that seems dangerous on the surface, until we find out that Dumbledore knew that Harry was perfectly safe, having given his blood unwillingly to help reembody Voldemort....
 
--Barb
 


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