No magic outside school

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 57075

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "mmemalkin" <mmemalkin at y...> wrote:
> Sorry if this has already been discussed...
> Petunia Dursley grew up with Lily, and presumably knew that she 
> wasn't allowed to do magic outside of school.  ....edited...
> It's possible she thinks the ban isn't important because she's so 
> afraid Harry will use magic anyway, ...edited....
> Any ideas?
> 
> ~Diane  

>Kathy:
> Well, this is just further proof of the theory that the magical 
> restriction of underage wizards is, indeed, a crock ...edited...


bboy_mn:

Another one of my favorite topics, mainly because I have it all
figured out. If you don't believe me, then just ask me ;).

First let me point out the it is the 'Decree for the REASONABLE
Restriction of Underage Sorcery' no the ABSOLUTE Restiction of
Underage Socery.

That means students are able to do reasonable magic.

Fred and George must be doing magic all the time at home during the
summer in order to be able to invent all those tricks and magic jokes.

At the World Cup, Ron, Hermione, and Harry do Lumos wand illumination
charms. Kids do magic on the Hogwart's train. 

So here is my theory-
We are really dealing with two law here 'Decree for the Reasonable
Restriction of Underage Sorcery' and 'International Code of Wizarding
Secrecy'. The most important law, one that encompasses the mission of
every Ministry of magic in the world, is the International Code of
Secrey that establishes that all wizard must activitely try to prevent
the muggles from finding out about the wizard world, and establishes
the the working mandate of the Ministry of Magic.

Breaking this law is a serious crime.

The other law says that students aren't suppose to use magic outside
of school except under certain reasonable circumstances like
emergencies, when they are in supervised and/or controlled
environment, etc.... Violation of this law in a way that doesn't cause
a public nuisance and isn't detected by muggles is considered a very
minor misdemeanor along of mischief, and isn't worth the Ministries
bother. 

Most juvenile magic in the magic world would only bring a warning if
it got out of hand, otherwise, it's ignored.

Juvenile magic that is detected by the muggle world would be dealt
with more severly.

If that's true then why did Harry get a warning for the Levitation
spell that Dobby performed?

First, I think the Ministry is specifically monitoring Harry's place.
Partly so the have instant notification if any Death Eaters or
Voldemort try anything at Privite Drive. Harry is a very important
person in the wizarding world; important in their past, and more
important in their future, so the Ministry of Magic would want to
protect him. Plus, Harry lives with muggles and in the muggle world.
Not everyone in the Ministry may be aware to what extent the Dursleys
know about the wizard world, and then there are other who do know how
much the Dursleys know about and hate the wizard world. In either
case, the Ministry would not want any magic going on in the Dursleys
house. 

Fred and George on the other hand live with wizards in an isolated
area, and are mostly performing magic in their room. Not much risk of
exposure under those circumstances. So while the Ministry may know
about it, they have better things to do then police the bedroom of
every kid in the wizard world.

So juvenile magic that risks exposure of the wizard world is a serious
crime; juvenile magic that is contain and out of sight is just mischief.

Just a thought.

bboy_mn