Leaving Harry unprotected

[sofdog_2000]

No: HPFGUIDX 86261

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "snapesmate" <snapesmate at h...> 
wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, > "Robert Jones" 
> <jones.r.h.j at w...> wrote:
> > > At the end of OOTP, the members of the Order let Harry go off 
> with 
> > > the Dursleys unprotected.  Earlier in the book, JKR makes a big 
> > deal about people watching over Harry and always having an 
> elaborate guard any time he goes anywhere -- from Privet Drive to 
> Grimmauld Place and later movements anywhere.  But after warning 
> Vernon to be nice to Harry, the Order just lets him go without anyone 
> to protect him.  Is he safe anytime he's around Petunia (because of 
> that blood charm)? <snip>.
> > > Boris the Bewildered
> 
> I assumed all the "guard" hooplah was due to the prophesy orb at the 
> MoM.  At the start of OotP the Order knew Voldemort wanted that 
> crystal orb and that he or Harry were the only two people who could 
> lift it.  At the end of OotP the "prophesy orb" had been destroyed. I 
> do not think it had/has anything to do with Petunia/Lily's "blood", 
> especially since when Voldemort had been "restored" in the graveyard, 
> he WAS able to physically touch Harry and was no longer bothered by 
> Lily's "old magic" type protection. 


Sof: 

You're mixing up two different charms here. Lily's protection is what resides 
within Harry. (And you're right, Voldemort does have that same protection. It's 
interesting that when he touches Harry, it is Harry who is hurt by the contact.) 
However, the blood charm that protects Harry in Petunia's care is a separate 
spell which Dumbledore chose because of the strength of Lily's sacrifice. 
Remember, the Avada Kedavra is an unblockable curse. The countercharm 
cast by Lily's death is the only known instance of the AK being thwarted. 

Voldemort himself says in Goblet of Fire that he still can't touch Harry in the 
muggle world because of the second charm. 

I thought the initial protection was due to the mysterious Dementor attack in 
Little Whinging. No one knew what prompted the Dementors to come after 
Harry so they had to be careful. There's no coming back from that Kiss.