Magical Protection

[marephraim]

No: HPFGUIDX 44990

Okay. I'll let this be my final msg on this thread (to the cheers of 
thousands!)

In my last message I tried to contrast what is stated about the 
Fidelius Charm in Chapter 10 of Goblet of Fire with what is stated 
on the Harry Potter Lexicon Website.

In her reply to this message Barb excised my comments to the 
following:

Actually this is not what it says in canon. It is what the Harry 
Potter Lexicon says about it: "Complex and powerful charm that hides 
a person or persons completely; their location is known only to 
their designated 'Secret Keeper.'"
(http://www.i2k.com/~svderark/lexicon/spells_f.html#Fidelius ) 

Note that HPL states that the charm hides "a person or persons".

This is not what Professor Flitwick says about the Charm in Prisoner 
of Azkaban. He manifestly does not say that the Fidelius Charm hides 
people. 

What he says is the following:

"An immensely complex spell," he said squeakily, "involving the 
magical concealment of a secret inside a single, living soul. The 
information is hidden inside the chosen person, or Secret-Keeper, 
and is henceforth impossible to find -- unless, of course, the 
Secret-Keepr chooses to divulge it." (Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 
ten, "The Marauder's Map" page 152.)

This is his definition of the Fidelius Charm. It involves 
concealment of information, not of persons. 

The antecedent of what "is henceforth impossible to find" 
is "information."

In the case of the Potters the information was "James and Lily are 
living at...." 

If the particular use of the Charm in the case of the Potters was 
information as to their location, then as long as they stayed there 
they were safe. 

It says nothing about whether they would remain safe if they left 
the house.

It also says nothing about whether they would remain safe if they 
passed on to others their whereabouts.

In all other issues related to this topic in which I have differed 
with Barb I concede.

But I still am certain Fidelius was one of the charms protecting 
Harry, at least up until he attended Hogwarts. 

MarEprhaim 
(sitting back, with folded arms, in Hargrid-like resolve)