Hogwarts protections (was Fidelius &Chapter 4 discussion)

[abigailnus]

No: HPFGUIDX 83833

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "a_reader2003" <carolynwhite2 at a...> wrote:
> A further query on the protections Dumbledore puts in place. I was 
> just reading PS again, and was suddenly struck by the ease with which 
> Charlie's friends just flew in on broomsticks to collect Norbert and 
> take him off to Romania. What's the point of the no-
> apparate/disapparate rule if people can just whiz in on a 
> broomstick ? And what about the ease with which Crouch Sr, Rita 
> Skeeter and Sirius enter the Hogwarts grounds ? There seems to be no 
> magical sort of electric fence in place...I'm terribly 
> afraid that the truth is [Dumbledore]'s not really on the case, 

In the past, I've expressed critcism of Hogwarts' defenses.  I'm of the opinion 
that the school's greatest (possibly its only) defense is psychological - 
everyone knows that Hogwarts is impregnable, so no one tries to break in.  
This, you might remember, was the opinion Hagrid voiced about Gringotts in 
PS, right before a successful break-in took place (the only reason Voldemort 
didn't get the stone was Dumbledore had thought to remove it.  In reality, I 
suspect Hogwarts is protected by antiquated spells that probably haven't been 
significantly revamped in all of the castle's thousand-year history - something 
like fighting a battle with cavalry in the age of tanks, airplanes and machine 
guns.

I also believe that this inadequacy will become apparent - and pivotal - in book 
6.  In book 7, Harry will have to defeat Voldemort, and I assume that he will end 
up taking the battle to LV.  In book 5, we already had a period of calm while 
Voldemort gathered his forces and attempted to gain a tactical advantage.  
Having failed, he will no doubt go on the offensive.  I believe that in book 6 we 
will see an attack on Hogwarts, one that the students and the staff themselves 
will have to repel.  This will give us a full view of the castle's defenses - their 
strengths and weaknesses - and will test Harry's mettle as a leader and a team 
player (I expect the DA to play a major part in the defense of Hogwarts).

The thing is, I'm not certain they'll succeed.  While I believe that the student body 
won't be overrun, I wouldn't be surprised if book 6 ended with the Hogwarts castle 
in ruins.

Abigail