Blood Wards of Privet Drive Clarification... (was: Re: Why wasn't Harry sent.. )

[amiabledorsai]

No: HPFGUIDX 150236



> bboyminn:
> 
> Well that's exactly what 'wards' means; protection. I first
> encountered the term here in this group when people spoke in
> shorthand referring to the 'wards' that protect Hogwarts. I think
> the use of the term 'Blood Wards' was just another quick shorthand
> all-encompassing term to describe the subject at hand. It seems
> clear enough, and don't see any reason why we should adhere only
> to correct canon terms. 

Amiable Dorsai:
My only problem with the term, is that, for me, it conjurs an image of
a sort of force field around #4.  This may be what JKR has in mind, it
may not.  I think it's more subtle than that.

> > Carol continues:
> >
> > But if the Dementors return, or if the Death Eaters show up ..., 
> > Harry will not be safe.
> 
> bboyminn: 
> 
> Do you really believe that? I know, as previously quoted by others,
> Dumbledore specifically mentions Voldemort when he explains the
> protection of blood to Harry. But Dumbledore also mentions Death
> Eaters and Voldemort supporters in similar conversations about the
> Blood Protection.
> 
> Perhaps, I am reading your statement wrong, you seem to imply that
> Harry is only protected from Voldemort while at the Dursleys. I say,
> or at least I think, that Harry is protected from /anyone/ wanting
> to do him REAL harm.

Amiable Dorsai:
I have the idea that the shield (Dumbledore calls it that) only works
against Lily's murderer--Voldemort, and his agents, and that it
protects Harry pretty much anywhere, so long as he's actually living
in Petunia's house. 

That would explain why the young Harry was not in danger from stray
Death Eaters while attending primary school, or on other occasions
when he was not physically on the Dursley's property.  Stretching a
point, it might still protect him while he was "visiting" the Burrow
over the summer, though I'm less convinced of that. 

That less localized protection would be why, after Voldemort returned,
 Harry was allowed to leave the house until it was clear he was under
physical atack from some other source.

The guards placed on the house, were, I think, intended to prevent him
from doing anything that would give the Ministry an excuse to do what
they did--bring him up on charges.  Mrs. Figg says something of the
sort.  Mundungus Fletcher might be up to that, if he could stay on the
job, but he'd be pretty much useless in the event of an attack by a
group of Death Eaters.  About all he could hope to do would be to call
for help.  By the time it got there, Harry could be dead or Portkeyed
away.

Why could the Dementors attack him?  They weren't sent by Voldemort.

I started thinking this way after Dumbledore asked the Dursleys to
take Harry in one more time.  Why would he bother?  Dumbledore had to
be expecting that Harry would be busy hunting Horcruxes by the next
summer.  Time spent cowering at Privet drive would just be
wasted--unless there was some additional benefit.

If Harry could spend a few days at #4, then be protected wherever he
goes until his birthday, that would be worth losing those few days, I
think.

What do you think?

Amiable Dorsai