[HPforGrownups] Detecting Unforgivable Curses

[jazmyn]

No: HPFGUIDX 68474



Monglane wrote:
> Hi all,
> 
> I'm from Paris, France. I've just joined this group and I'm already very 
> much enjoying a number of the subjects discussed here.
> 
> The one I'd like to bring up today concerns the detection of 
> Unforgivable Curses. If a Patronus Charm (see OoTP), when cast by an 
> underage wizard, triggers an official and highly detailed warning letter 
> from the Ministry, it means that the Ministry is able to permanently 
> keep tabs on several thousand young witches and wizards... although, 
> admittedly, such tabs are not very accurate since Harry got such a 
> letter in PoA even though it was not him, but *Dobby*, who cast a Hover 
> Charm at the Dursleys' house.
> 
> Such amazingly wide-ranging powers could/would surely be used to detect 
> the highly illegal Unforgivable Curses, when cast on a human being, 
> wouldn't they ? And if yes, then how could those Death Eaters cast the 
> Imperius curse on people without being immediately put under arrest and 
> sent off to you-know-where ? How could V. cast Avada Kedavra on Cedric 
> in GoF without the Ministry being alerted to his rebirth and precise 
> location ? And, while we're at it, how come Harry did not find himself 
> in the same predicament after he cast the Cruciatus Curse on Bellatrix 
> in OoTP ?
> 
> What do you think ?
> 
> Monglane
>

Its likely that only certain 'areas' are monitored. Such as anywhere 
around the home of a underaged muggleborn Witch or Wizard who might do 
magic where a Muggle would see it, but they would not bother monitoring 
highly magical areas because it would be a waste of time.  If they can't 
tell Dobby's magic from Harry's, then all they can tell is that there 
were spells cast, not who did them.

Harry didn't manage to do the Cruciatus Curse, lacking the ability to do 
it properly.  Being as the MOM couldn't tell Dobby's magic from Harry's, 
even if they did detect the spell, they would assume Bellatrix cast it.

The place Volde's rebirth was in may not have been monitored as it was 
thought there was noone there to monitor.  Its not like there's any 
magical kids there for the MOM to watch..

Could also be that the MOM is just watching Harry closer then anyone 
else, either because Fudge WANTS to catch him at something he can lock 
him up for or because Harry seems to be a trouble magnet.  I doubt that 
they would even notice kids at the Burrow doing magic, being as its a 
magical household with no muggles to witness the magic.  Other magical 
places like the Forbidden Forest, the Ministry offices, Hoggsmeade, 
Diagon Alley, etc may be places where noone would ever notice a kid 
doing magic, due to the fact that so many people use it there, its not a 
problem.  However, a spell in a place that's KNOWN to only have muggles, 
where noones supposed to be using magic, would certainly draw attention.

Jazmyn