Incursions into Privet Drive

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 84760


Thinking again about the protection offered at Privet Drive, and 
whether Harry is really safe there now. Has the protection reached 
critical mass at this point, and the risks are beginning to outweigh 
the benefits? Obviously when Voldemort was Vapormort, and the most 
loyal DE's were incarcerated at Azkaban, the protection held up very 
nicely. But now
.

>From the discussion with Dumbledore at the end of OOTP, it seems 
that Harry must actually be in the house for the protection to work. 
Dumbledore says, "While you can still call home the place where your 
mother's blood dwells, there you cannot be touched or harmed by 
Voldemort
She {Petunia} knows allowing you houseroom may well have 
kept you alive for the past 15 years." (OOTP, US, chap. 37, p. 836). 
That would imply that all the time Harry is cruising around Magnolia 
Crescent he is in danger, yes? I'm not clear on this part, exactly 
how far the "protection" extends. There is additional canon that the 
protection is only in the house, since both Arthur and Sirius insist 
Harry stay in the house after the Dementor attack, and 
Petunia/Vernon then lock Harry in his room.

Regardless of the exact boundaries, we know the protection is *only* 
from Voldemort, given DD's statement above. 

Incursions into Privet Drive are a staple now during Harry's 
summers. Dobby and the Advance Guard were able to enter the home 
with seemingly minimal effort. We don't know Dobby apparated in, but 
do know he apparated out . We don't know for certain the Advance 
Guard apparated either, but it seems likely. Harry asks 
Lupin, "How're we getting—wherever we're going?" and Lupin 
responds, "Brooms. Only Way. You're too young to apparate." (OOTP, 
US, chap. 3, p. 51). Then most ominously, Arthur illegally connects 
the house to the floo network in GOF (that action made me very 
uncomfortable, anyone else?).

Do these incursions imply other protections in place, ones that can 
be lifted for the 'good guys'<g>? Voldemort does say, "But how to 
get to Harry Potter? For he has been better protected than I think 
even he knows, protected in *ways* {emphasis mine} devised by 
Dumbledore long ago, when it fell to him to arrange the boy's 
future." (GOF, US, chap. 33, p. 657).  "Ways" plural implies more 
than one type of protection, but that wouldn't explain how Dobby 
entered Privet Drive. If there were other protections, they wouldn't 
be lifted for Dobby to convince Harry not to go to Hogwarts, or 
incite Harry to use magic (Guilty!Dumbledore proponents aside <g>).

So, that leaves the option that the blood protection is the only 
protection, and Harry must be confined to the house for this 
protection to work. Yet, the house is easily accessible to anyone 
but Voldemort.  Harry apparently sees the flaws inherent in the 
system: 

 "I think he thought you were safest with the Muggles--" Ron began.
"Yeah?" said Harry, raising his eyebrows. Have either of you been 
attacked by dementors this summer?"  (OOTP, chap. 4, p. 63).

Of course, I guess the whole idea is 'no place is safe' when 
Voldemort is around, and Privet Drive is just the latest to join the 
list. Hogwarts seems to be the last remaining bastion, and there's 
been a slow erosion of protection there as well. But that's another 
post ;).