[HPforGrownups] Re: Lilly's touch was:Magical protection

[Barb P]

No: HPFGUIDX 45040


GulPlum wrote:


Indeed, let's look at the specific phrase: "In his relations' care". More particularly, the word "care". I take that to mean just a little more than "in the presence of an adult who has care of him". What I take that to mean is periods of time for which the people assuming a legal duty of care (regardless of legal system), are those to whom Harry is related.  [snip] 
 

With just a couple of exceptions, other than when at Hogwarts, Harry's care is always technically passed on from one known adult (known to Dumbledore & the WW authorities, that is) to another with no gaps. Vernon picks him up 
at Kings Cross at the end of every school year stright off the Hogwarts Express, and also delivers him there at the beginning of PS/SS. [snip]

 
The few exceptions of Harry being in the care of a named adult (such as when the Weasleys rescue Harry at the beginning of CoS, or when Harry runs away at the beginning of PoA), cause significant consternation to all 
adults concerned. The sequence at the beginning of PoA is telling for me: Fudge makes sure that "care" for Harry is passed on to a named individual -Tom the Barkeep - and both Tom and Harry are aware of it. Harry is specifically enjoined not to venture out into Muggle London, inferring for me at least, that Tom's (temporary) protection doesn't extend that far.

 

Me: 

At that time, everyone was worried about Sirius Black coming after Harry.  Arthur Weasley, among others, is convinced that Harry is Sirius' target because he kept repeating, "He's at Hogwarts," in his sleep, when he was still in prison.  Everyone assumes, of course, that he's referring to Harry, not Peter.  Prior to that, when Harry was ignorant of being a wizard and then during the summer between first and second year, no specific threat was considered to exist for Harry as Voldemort had not risen again and no escaped murderers were after him.  

 

No adult took over his care when he was rescued from Privet Drive by Ron and the twins, as you note, but I don't believe this caused "consternation" to all concerned; Molly seemed most upset that the twins had stolen the car, and then that Arthur had charmed the car.  Harry being at the Burrow did not seem to concern her.  He was very likely not as safe at the Burrow during that summer as he would have been on Privet Drive, but a specific threat wasn't feared at the time, either.  Of course, Dumbledore must have feared that Voldemort would rise again at some point or he wouldn't have devised the "ancient magic" on Privet Drive to protect Harry in the first place.  Evidently, his staying at the Burrow between first and second year was deemed to be an acceptable risk.

 

GulPlum wrote:


None of all that, of course, explains why Harry is allowed to be in *anyone else's* care at any time, considering not only Dumbledore, but even Voldemort, attach such importance to the care he receives from his relations. The question therefore arises, why Voldemort doesn't choose to get to Harry when he's in the care of the Weasleys.


Me:

 

Because he wasn't strong enough to do anything until the end of the fourth book.  He was a mess during the summer between third and fourth year.  There is no reason to infer from this that Harry must be related to the Weasleys.

 

As for Harry having to wait to go to the Burrow after fourth year, I believe that Dumbledore needs time to devise a protection for him there that would be as effective as what is being used on Privet Drive.  He's probably very glad he put that protection in place now that Voldemort is back.  And, as that is the only place where such thorough protection exists for Harry as yet, that is the only acceptable place for him to go at the end of the term.

 

--Barb

 


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