Apparition and other things before being 17

[Ralph Miller]

No: HPFGUIDX 142804

mercurybluesmng wrote:
Funny, I seem to recall a fair number of not-yet-seventeen-year-olds learning
to Apparate in Hogwarts's Great Hall. Case in point: Harry.

Bruce Alan Wilson: 
In OOTP it is speculated that outside of the British Isles kids may be allowed
to apparate earlier than 17 (never confirmed or denied).  I think that underage
apparation is more a 'malum in prohibendum' than a 'malum in se'.

RM:
Oh yea, that's exactly what I thought, I think. Now where in the hell
did I put that Latin phrasebook :-)

I wonder how many of these things are not so much age sensitive as ability
sensitive. Young witches aren't given time-turners because they can't handle
it, but Hermione is given one to attend classes because they think she can
be trusted. When Harry breaks the rules sometimes it seems like a great
hairy deal and other times it is just brushed off due to who he is, or the
outcome. Kind of like we know those under 17 can't handle this so it is
prohibited, but if you do it successfully it's ok. It seems to me like a
lot of "rules" are pretty flexible. Or do you think it's more like a traffic
signal? If you ignore it and nobody sees it and nobody gets hurt then it's
a minor thing, if you cause a wreck it's a whole different matter.

RM