[HPforGrownups] When did the "trace" come about?

[Random832]

No: HPFGUIDX 176143

abeandamandabustos wrote:
> In the previous books the decree for the restriction of underage magic 
> is only referred to as such and is never said to be a "trace."

That's because the decree is the law, the Trace is the enforcement 
mechanism.

> DD even 
> states in HBP that the MOM cannot even differentiate between who is 
> performing magic in any given place. Harry was blamed for Dobby's 
> hover charm because the MOM did not know who cast the spell, simply 
> that a spell had been cast.  Now in DH, there is a trace that knows who 
> does what

Not quite. It knows what magic is done WHERE, with the "where" being 
"around Harry" (or whatever other underage kids). There were no adult 
wizards present when Dobby did his thing, therefore it Couldn't Possibly 
have been anyone but Harry.

The fact that it traces magic _around_ Harry rather than just 
specifically what is cast BY Harry is why none of the adults rescuing 
him can cast spells either.

> and Harry cannot perform magic at the Burrow- even though 
> previous canon (via DD) states that the MOM relies on wizarding 
> parents to restrict thier children.

NO-ONE can do magic around Harry wherever he is until the Trace is gone, 
or his location will be revealed. If he weren't being targeted, I'm sure 
it'd be just fine because the ministry would just assume "oh, there's 
adult wizards around" - the problem is that the trace would still be 
triggered in the first place, revealing the location.

> Any thoughts?