Ministry Inaction?

[amiabledorsai]

No: HPFGUIDX 146711

> Birgit says:

> One thing I have wondered about is spell detection - the ministry 
> discovers Harry's Patronus use within minutes, but seems unable to 
> detect illegal magic done by Death Eaters - neither the Avada 
> Kedavra, unauthorized Portkey use, or duels going on in graveyards 
> seem to draw any Ministry attention at all. Are known wizard 
> residences and their surrounding areas watched, and the rest of the 
> country isn't? 

Amiable Dorsai:
>From Dumbledore's comments, I'd guess that the Ministry uses whatever
resources it has for this sort of thing to monitor the homes and
neighborhoods of muggleborn (or raised) minors.  That would seem to be
an easier job than monitoring all of Britain.  

Probably, they would be monitoring for not simply for violations of
the Underage Magic laws, but also for bursts of accidental magic--they
were right on top of things when Marge got herself inflated, for
example.  It would be a lot more important to watch for this sort of
thing with muggleborns, since their parents would have no way to
repair magical damage.

It's also possible, given Fudge's comments at Harry's trial, that
Harry has been watched (for his own protection) more  carefully than
other underage wizards.  Petunia said that Lily used to do magic at
home; if Lily got gigged for doing so, Petunia must have been unaware
of it, else she would have known that Harry wasn't allowed.

Amiable Dorsai