Hagrid's wand and wand use restrictions

[capehoneysuckle]

No: HPFGUIDX 89096

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Karen" <ktd7 at y...> wrote:

> Since we know the Weazly kids have used magic at home before 
> reaching the age of 17 and haven't been arrested, warned, or 
> otherwise "caught", I think it is clear that Harry has been 
> carefully watched from the beginning for any misdeed that could lead 
> to him being expelled or sent to Azkaban (back to the evil Fudge 
> idea, again!)  Ginny has used her "Bat-Bogey Cursey" on the twins, 
> they all have flown brooms and enchanted cars, Gred and Forge have 
> been working on their novelty magic items at home for a while. I 
> expect that so much magic (including that from the older Weaslys) 
> would make it difficult for the MoM to monitor their household.
> 
> Since Filch is taking a "Quick Spell" course, it is probable that it 
> is not illegal for him to do so, even though he hasn't graduated 
> from Hogwarts or any other Wizarding school. This may be an 
> inconsistency, or else there are those who have to use magic in 
> secret, like Hagrid. I can't believe that Dumbledore isn't aware of 
> Hagrid's wand in the umbrella. What's more, did the MoM not notice 
> the use of magic when Hagrid went to get Harry? 


How the MoM monitors legal and illegal magic is obscure to me (maybe
even to them, since they don't always get it right). Here's my little
theory about what does and doesn't get one in trouble with the MoM:

1) Non-magical people (Muggles and Squibs) can do anything they want,
because they can't do any magic with a wand or without. For example,
Filch is able to use things charmed by others (e.g. Mrs. Skower's
All-Purpose Magical Mess-Remover). No one cares if he takes a
Kwikspell course, because it will have no effect on him except to thin
his wallet. I propose that Squibs can travel by Floo powder as well as
see Dementors, but I base this on nothing but opinion.

2) Wizard children under eleven years of age are subject to monitoring
    just in case a Muggle might see something untoward and need a
visit from the Obliviators, but the child would not be warned or
otherwise in trouble with the MoM. For example, Kevin's mother at the
Quidditch World Cup campground is apparently upset with him for
engorging slugs with Daddy's wand, but only because it is disgusting,
not because he is about to be arrested. Wizard children can apparently
use objects charmed by others, such as Floo powder and broomsticks
(e.g. six-year-old Ginny borrowing from the broomshed).

3) School age wizards may use magic which doesn't normally require a
wand. This may be because the MoM can only detect magic which would
normally require a wand. George and Fred fly the car, but don't get
into trouble because they didn't enchant it (the wand requiring part).
Flying a broomstick doesn't require a wand, thus the Weasleys are able
to practice Quidditch at home in the summer (but they couldn't charm a
broom to fly themselves). The bat-bogey hex undoubtedly requires a
wand, but Fred doesn't specify exactly when he experienced Ginny's
version of it. Fred and George's headless hats seem to require charms
(wand magic), but they may have made those while at school. The
Skiving Snackboxes are probably potions, and would not have required
wand magic.

The hover charm for which Harry is warned in CoS would probably have
required a wand if it had been done by a wizard, although not if done
by a house elf. The MoM's alarm went off because, as far they they
knew, there could not have been a house elf in Little Whinging. Aunt
Marge seems to have been the object of an unintentional engorgement
charm, which was detected by the MoM because it is a charm that would
normally require a wand. Harry escaped a warning only because it was
clearly accidental.

4) Wizards expelled from school without completing their training are
not generally allowed to do magic, except under special conditions.
Hagrid requests permission from Dumbledore to put a charm around the
chicken coop in CoS, implying that Dumbledore was his "probation
officer" in some sense, and could allow Hagrid to do magic under
specific circumstances. The MoM can probably detect Hagrid's magic, at
least when he is away from Hogwarts, but since Hagrid's magic is
apparently regulated by Dumbledore, the MoM doesn't send him warnings.

Undoubtedly I am missing some important examples and other cases,
please feel free to amend (or debunk) as you wish! Once I've got the
rules down, I mean to apply for that opening in the Improper Use of
Magic Office advertized in the Daily Prophet yesterday. Do you think I
can convince them I'm a Squib?

Honey