Detecting the Underage use of Magic - You Asked!

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 97367

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, natti_shafer at y... wrote:

-Nathaniel:
> This incident in CoS reveals how woeful their detection is because 
> Harry does not perform the Hover Charm; Dobby performs it.  So 
> although the Ministry knows it was performed, they cannot pinpoint 
> the source and are left to assume Harry performed it.  Why they 
make 
> that assumption we are not sure.  I see two possible 
explanations:   
> 
> 1) They might have assumed that the only wizard in residence at 4 
> Privet MUST have performed it. 2) They were able to tell that Harry 
> was in close proximity to the Hover Charm and investigated no 
> further to see if another magic user was present.  
 

Geoff:
But did they stop investigating at this point?

This posits the question as to whether the Ministry can actually 
detect a piece of magic as being performed by a House Elf.

As we know, House Elves can perform wandless magic which, in fact, 
seems to be their only method. So, can the ministry specifically 
pinpoint it or does it "jam their radar"?