Foolery (was Re: [HPforGrownups] obstruction of justice)

[heiditandy]

No: HPFGUIDX 44854

Far be it for me to disagree with the LOONiest of LOONs (and I mean 
that in an endearing and praiseworthy way) but... 

This isn't a FLINT. Perhaps

Here's why it might be. In CoS, we're told that the "reasonable 
restrictions on underage sorcery" date from 1895 (yes, let's trust 
Mafalda is right on that)... however

Here's why it isn't a FLINT. In PS/SS, Petunia says that Lily came 
home in summers and turned teacups into rats. If she did that and 
wasn't punished by the Ministry (and we have no indication from 
canon that she was) then while there may not be canon support for a 
<<post-Riddle-time creation of the Restriction on Underage 
Wizardry>>, as requested by Amanda, there certainly is canon support 
for nonenforcement of said statute even where such magic is done in 
the "Muggle" world. 

Hence, possibly a minor mystery. Not a FLINT, as it's internally 
consistent with other things in the books. 

It's also not a new topic, per se, as Eloise and Amy, among others, 
have mentioned Riddle's use of AK and his seeming lack of punishment 
by the wizarding authorities therefor - I mean, AK equals a life 
term in Azkaban, so if he had been arrested and convicted, *someone* 
would've known about it, so the only reasonable conclusion is that 
he was never convicted. 

There has been much talk on this list over the past two-plus years 
as to whether it's easy for the Ministry to find wizards who perform 
magic but are underaged, and a lot of people have proposed that as 
the Dursleys' house is somehow "looked after" because of Harry, it's 
easy for them to see what is going on over there. However, it is 
implied that Fred and George are performing magic all the time at 
the Burrow, and we've seen nothing happen to them. JKR has even said 
that Harry doesn't quite realise how well protected he is at the 
Privet Drive, so it's logical to conclude that there's something 
monitering the house for the performance of spells. 



Heidi
http://www.fictionalley.org


--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Amanda Geist" <editor at t...> wrote:
> Let said listmembers also take note
> that, unless one invents explanations such as a post-Riddle-time 
creation of
> the Restriction on Underage Wizardry, brainattic has also found a 
minor
> Flint (again, in my own opinion)." Amanda pauses for breath.
> 
> "Therefore, I call the attention of the other L.O.O.N.s on the 
list (you
> know who you are), to keep an eye on this one. And to consider 
this for
> entry into the rolls of Flints (or at least minor mysteries). 
Thank you and
> goodnight."

> From: "brainattic" <brainattic at y...>
> To: <HPforGrownups at y...>
> Sent: Wednesday, October 02, 2002 4:27 AM
> Subject: [HPforGrownups] obstruction of justice
> 
> 
> > According to the Lexicon, Riddle murdered his father's family 
during
> > the summer vacation before his seventh year. Why wasn't he 
caught by
> > the Ministry for violating the Decree for the Restriction of 
Underage
> > Wizardry? Also, since they seem to be able to pinpoint your exact
> > location and what kind of spell you did, shouldn't they have 
known
> > that he perfomed the Avada Kedavra Curse?
> > Of course, the whole thing having happened during WWII(early 
1940's),
> > it's possible they were quite distracted at the time.
> >
> > "Brain attic"