[HPforGrownups] Underage wizards

[Jeremiah LaFleur]

No: HPFGUIDX 165065

Why is only some magic used caught by the Ministry of Magic? Didn't
Hermione practice a few spells?

vexingconfection
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Jeremiah:

This is addressed in HBP.

In Wizarding households it is up to the parents to supervise their children
since the MoM can't decipher which spells are cast by adults in the house or
children in the house. In hoseholds where the child it Muggle-born the MoM
monitors magical activity since there is/are only the child/children
performing magic.

I would assume that Hermione performed those spells on the Hogwarts Express.
She was, mostlikely, only reading at home or practicing the words without
using her wand and, therefore, not "performing" magic but "practicing" it.
Hermione is a stickler for rules and knows when she is breaking them (like
in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom making Polyjuice Potion. She most likely knew
and could recite every single rule she was breaking).

You questioin is totally valid and I'd wondered about it, too. I thought
they must have put a homeing device on the wands or something... lol.

But, that's the reason why Harry got in trouble for Dobby's magic at Privet
Drive in PoA. the MoM can't tell that is was House Elf Magic and that means
that the MoM knows there isn't anything in the Dursley's house that can make
magic other than Harry. (I would assume. I'm sure it would be a totlly
different story if Petunia had a House Elf and the MoM knew this, so Harry
would never have been in trouble for Dobby's magic or his own magic when he
blew up Aunt Marge, the horrible sow...).


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