Underage wizards

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 165070

---  "vexingconfection" <Vexingconfection at ...> wrote:
>
> Why is only some magic use caught by the Ministry of
> Magic? Didn't Hermione practice a few spells?
> 
> vexingconfection
>

bboyminn:

I think the thing people are forgetting is that Harry
is not an ordinary wizard. I suspect his situation at
Privet Drive is monitored much more closely that the
rest of the wizard world. 

I think the Ministry knows more than it is letting on
I think they know, to some extent, the Prophecy; maybe
not word-for-word, but Dumbledore has given them the
gist of it. Consequently, they are aware that Harry
is important to the wizard world and that he needs to
be protected. Consequently, they are monitoring 
Privet Drive very closely.

Note Madame Bone's own words at the hearing when
Mrs. Figg tell him she lives in Little Whinging -

---- Quote - OotP, Am Ed, PB, pg 143 ---

"Full name?" said Fudge loudly, ....

"Arabella Doreen Figg," said Mrs. Figg in her quavery
voice.

"And who exactly are you?" said Fudge in a bored and
lofy voice.

"I'm a resident of Little Whinging, close to where
Harry Potter lives," said Mrs. Figg.

"We have no record of any witch or wizard living in
Little Whinging othe that Harry Potter," said Madam
Bones at once. "THAT SITUATION HAS ALWAYS BEEN
CLOSELY MONITORED, given...given past events."

- - - end quote - - -

Given that an owl arrive almost immediately after the
voilet pudding was smashed, it seems they are very 
closely monitoring, but that pudding scene also brings
up a flaw. Yes, a spell was cast in front of a muggle, 
but it was cast by Dobby, not Harry. The Ministry knows
WHAT but not WHO. 

All that confirms what JKR said, though I think Jeremiah's
version is more paraphrased than literal. 

Note that Fred and George are deeply engage in magical
inventions and they aren't caught or even warned. I that
again that confirms the Ministry knows what but not who.

Harry is a different case from Ron or Hermione. He is
the one that the Dark Lord and his DE's are after. 
Considering the level of threat as measured by Dumbledore's
protection on Privet Drive immediately after the the
Godrics Hollow incident. Everyone must think the threat
to Harry is very real and very likely, so they monitor
Harry much more closely than they monitor the rest of the
wizard world. If there is a surge of magic in the area of
Privet Drive, they Ministry can be sure it is an attempt
on Harry's life.

Now, I anticipate the objection, but The Rescue Squad
headed by Remus and Mad-Eye performed magic at Privet
Drive, why didn't that bring a warning or a squad of
Auror's to Harry's place? Mr. Weasley when he picked 
Harry up for the Quiddicth World Cup, performed magic,
why didn't that cause problems.

Well, in Mr. Weasley's case, he had the Dursley's 
fireplace hooked up to the Floo Network. That means
the Ministry was aware of his actions, and knew he 
was going to pick up Harry.

Though, I don't think any details were given out, I
think Dumbledore may have warned the Ministry, or
perhaps just the people who monitor magic, that he
was going to pick up Harry sometime soon. So, they
wouldn't have been concerned about magic occurring 
there at that time. 

That brings up the question whether the Minstry can
distinguish between underage magic and adult magic.
It is not clear, but I think the /most/ evidence 
indicates that they can not. 

Also, keep in mind that Fred and George performing
magic in the secure and secluded area of the Burrow,
is quite different than Harry performing magic on 
his muggle Aunt Marge or in front of muggle house
guests. Underage magic in a magically secure space
would be a very minor infraction. Magic in front of
Muggles, would be a very major infraction.

Hermione practicing magic in the confines of her 
bedroom would have been an extremely minor infraction
since her parents at that time are aware of the magical
world. There is no breach of the Statue of Secrecy, 
only of the Restriction of Underage Magic and by a 
PRE-Hogwarts individual. I think the Ministry would
let such a minor event slide, especially when it 
required no damage control. That is, the obliviator
squads or the accidental magic reversal squad did
not have to be called out to deal with any problems.
So, a very minor infraction. 

Just a few thoughts.

Steve/bboyminn