Underage Magic (Re: Hagrid's wand and wand use restrictions)

[makemeatree]

No: HPFGUIDX 89303

"lizvega2" <lizvega2 at y...> wrote:

> (beginning snipped) Which leads me to believe that the MOM doesn't 
know squat about the person/creature casting the spells, nor do they 
know how they're being cast in the first place. They just know that 
magic is being used. 

> My theory has flaws, of course, because the Weasley's use magic to 
connect the Dursley's fireplace to the floo network. NO letter on 
that one, but, perhaps Arthur had permission. Don't know. And, that 
pesky patronous charm in OOP, doesn't help my cause either. Harry 
used his wand, and they knew, but did they really know it was Harry, 
or is it like Amelia Bones said at Harry's trial, "That situation has 
always been closely monitored, given...given past events" (OOP P. 143)
They just use magical radar for Little Whinging? And, if something 
happens, well then it must be Harry doing it. 

> Notice, she uses the word 'situation', I think that's a funny way 
of refering to a geographic location. Hmmmmm


joi:

The Underage Magic Restriction thing has so many holes, and I'm one 
of those readers who just takes the holes (where DID Hagrid go? I 
just shrug it off, even though it is interesting). However, I think 
this has become such an important plot device, I can no longer ignore 
the holes. So I've come up with a few ideas:

1.) We know that Harry has been more closely monitored than others, 
for obvious reasons. And I think that quote from OotP is a key, and 
you're picking up on it perfectly, lizvega2. The quote seems to push 
the idea that it's not a certain witch or wizard that the MoM 
monitors, it's the area (and probably pretty specific areas). And I 
think how closely monitored the area is is based on various factors 
that have been mentioned, things like the presence of non-magical 
people, the power of the magic done, etc. This makes it seem as if 
the Ministry doesn't know squat about the actual cause of the magic, 
just that it was produced in a highly monitored place. 

2.) The Restriction is in place ONLY for currently enrolled Hogwarts 
students. I think that children who are not yet enrolled in Hogwarts 
can practice magic because they aren't seen as a threat just yet. I 
don't think it's a surprise that the age that students are admitted 
to Hogwarts is also the beginning of adolescence, which we all can 
recognize as a significant turning pt in any child's life. Perhaps 
adolescence+puberty is also the time when magical people, along with 
growing taller, become more powerful. And then, by the time they're 
out of school, they are considered to be trained, and no longer need 
to be watched. The Restriction is then in place so students don't 
screw anything up, as they're in the middle of their training. But if 
there is someone supervising them in using magic on the holidays, 
they are less likely to cause trouble. An example would be something 
like driving lessons in the US- most states require that a person 
learning to drive get a permit and take actual lessons, and during 
this period, they aren't allowed to drive without a licensed person.

(If I haven't gotten totally off-track and nonsensical) applying 
these two things to the Restriction, it's more OK for the Weasleys to 
practice magic in their home because their area is not closely 
monitored (no muggles), and because there are two respectable and 
trained magical people in the home. In Harry's case, the area is 
being monitored because of the threat of LV, with the extra added 
bonus of being high-muggle-traffic, and there is no one in the 
immediate area who could be supervising Harry's magic. In a case like 
Hermione's, she could have been practicing magic previous to 
Hogwarts, which, according to this idea, wouldn't count until she 
actually got there.

Does that make sense? That's how I've let my mind rationalize the 
holes in this particular part of the series. 

Oh, a final note: I don't have the book on me, but didn't Arthur 
Weasley say, when he came through the floo to the Dursleys', that 
he'd gotten permission to link their fireplace just this one time so 
he could get Harry? The Dursleys' fireplace wouldn't have been in the 
network, anyways, and something would have had to be done to connect 
it, so I'm guessing that's why no notice was sent then. :)

thanks,

joi.