Underage Magic at the Weasley's (and in general)

[Juliet]

No: HPFGUIDX 53352

Aesob:
>>Harry's 
encounter with the snake at the zoo, there's a child blowing up a 
slug in the 
campground in GoF,and how does Hermione know how to repair Harry's 
glasses on the train in SS/PS if she hasn't practiced magic ever 
before, and 
therefore broken the ban on underage magic?>>

Ah, I believe you are getting canon confused with the FTMNBN.  
Hermione *never* fixed Harry's glasses(atleast, not in that way).  
Harry's glasses were fixed by Mr. Weasly in CoS, after Harry had 
broken them by falling into Derbish and Banges.

Also, your first point:  My assumption has been, that since Harry was 
ingorant he was a Wizard, and since he didn't even know that what he 
was doing was Magic, he wasn't punished.  Plus, if an Owl had 
suddenly swooped into the Zoo, and deposited Harry a letter, that 
would have required a lot of explanation.  Once they've started 
studying magic, then they are restricted.  I've often wondered if 
Harry would have been punished for losing control in PoA.  That was 
the kind of magic a Wizard who never knew he was a Wizard would do.

Aesob:
>>Indeed, wouldn't underage wizards in non-muggle households and 
areas 
have to learn a little about magic before they start school at 
Hogwarts? >>

Well, apparently they don't, b/c Harry obviously wasn't pre-
informed.  Unless that was all in that letter Dumbledore wrote to the 
Dursley's.   Who knows...(Well, JKR, of course.. ;)

Aesob:
>>Don't these children have to do homework, though, and 
wouldn't this violate the edict?>>

All of the summer homework we've learned of so far has been essays.

~Aldrea, who really should go to sleep, but really wants to get 
caught up with the group....she's still about a page behind!