New Member and question

[Eddie]

No: HPFGUIDX 160602

> Stacey:
> I'm so pleased to have found a forum where I can discuss my obsession
> without feeling embarrassed for not being in the under 15 set.

Eddie:
Welcome.  I've only been active here for a couple of months, and just
because we're over 15 doesn't mean we're not childish.  If I could
figure out how to have a food fight over the internet, it would be
perfect.


> Stacey:
> One thing that has perplexed me for
> some time is the issue of underage wizards performing magic outside of
> Hogwarts.  Doesn't Hermione say she's tried some spells with success
> on the Hogwarts Express in Book 1?

Eddie:
I've wondered about this too and I've come up with 2 theories: (1) Her
practicing "before" was on the train, which seems to have quite a lot
of magic flinging going on.  So I suppose the Hogwarts train is in
bounds; (2) She didn't know.  If I recall, the restriction against the
use of underage magic away from Hogwarts is FIRST mentioned in the
last paragraph of Book 1.  I don't believe it was mentioned in the 1st
year's invitation letters.  So I guess the question is: when, exactly,
did Hermione learn that she wasn't allowed?


> Stacey:
> She performs "Oculus Reparo" on
> the Hogwarts Express and in Diagon Alley.

Eddie:
* Use of magic on the Hogwarts Express seems to be common (see my
comments above)
* In Book 6 (have you read that yet, because HERE COMES A
SPOILER (sort of)) we learn that the Ministry of Magic can't really
tell WHO performs the magic when there is more than one wizard/witch
in the house (or in the alley, I suppose).  So Hermione's spellwork in
Diagon Alley probably escaped detection.


> Stacey:
> And doesn't Harry
> practice "Lumos Maxima" at the Dursley's?

Eddie:
This is "contamination" from the movie, so isn't official canon.  This
didn't happen in the books.


Eddie