[HPforGrownups] Contradiction?

[Margaret Dean]

No: HPFGUIDX 176107

Barry wrote:
> 
> Around page 45 of DH, Mad-Eye says that they can't do a spell to get
> Harry out of Privet Drive. Then 6 people take polyjuice. Isn't this a
> spell and hence a contradiction?
> 
> They can leave on brooms, flying motorbike (isn't this a spell?) or
> Thestral. Why then, doesn't Harry use his invisibility cloak and a
> whole different plan?

An interesting question.  I suspect that what would attract
unwanted attention would be (for lack of a better term) the
release of magical energy used in casting a spell.  Something
like a potion, or an enchanted item like a broom or the flying
motorbike, =already= had the energy imbued in it when it was made
or enchanted, so there is no additional release of energy when it
is used.  Ditto the Thestral, which has presumably been magical
(or had abilities which we would classify as magical) from birth.

Which may give us a certain amount of insight on the way magic
works in the WW.


--Margaret Dean
  <margdean at erols.com>