Magical protection

[marephraim]

No: HPFGUIDX 44930

Sue writes:

> I've always wondered about the special magic that keeps Harry safe 
when he is with the Dursleys.  Is it perhaps that they are so 
unmagical that this, oddly enough, gives them special powers, or 
makes them impervious to seriously damaging magic?  After all, Harry 
is delivered to the Dursleys because he will be safe there according 
to Dumbledore.  If anyone has read the "Scent of Magic" books by 
Cliff McNish, the most magical child of all the children has no 
magical powers whatsoever and accordingly is impervious to magic.

MarEphraim writes:

I believe it has been noted before on this list (perhaps even by me) 
that the Secret Keeper for Harry at the Dursleys would more likely 
be Ms Figg. I mention this in relation to the above speculation 
because if Ms Figg of the stale cake and cats (SCAC) is the same 
Arabella Figg of the Order of Phoenix (OOP) then we already have at 
least a partial answer to what some of the protections around Harry 
in the muggle world might be. 

I would rather consider the role played by the Dursleys this way. 
Being so adamantly unmagical, Dumbledore can be certain that without 
any further prompting they'll do everything in their power to 
prevent Harry from manifesting any magical abilities until he's 
ready for Hogwarts.  Their outrage at "any funny business" and open 
condemnation of anything unusual being because Harry is 'incurably 
criminal' would have a tendencey to put onlookers off the scent, if 
you will.

(Where it the FILK to the tune of "Momma Don't Allow No Banjo 
Playing Here" ?)

On your thoughts of Snape and Dumbledore, I just have a feeling that 
while it won't be Secret Keeper it will be something profound.  That 
it's not SK, consider, Dumbledore sends Snape out on a mission. From 
my understanding, the SK has to do with a location occupied by the 
subjects more than the subjects and their day to day movements. 
Also, all the SK charms in the world couldn't stop all them Hogwarts 
students mouthing off about that mean ole Potions Master while on 
holiday.

Just my reflections.

ME