Protection via Charms and Secret-Keeper Approach

[Carol]

No: HPFGUIDX 184451

Joey wrote:
> 
> > 1. The Trio mention the taboo-ed word "Voldemort" even after
moving into 12 GP. Death eaters were outside, all right. But why
didn't the protective charms around 12 GP break like it did just
before the Malfoy Manor chapter began?? If it is because of the
Secret-Keeper thing then why didn't the Trio go for this approach each
time they shifted their tents?
> 
zanooda responded:
> 
> Maybe Hermione didn't learn the Fidelius Charm yet :-), according to
Flitwick it is a very complex spell. Also, HRH didn't know about the
taboo at the beginning, Ron found out about it while he was away, and
Harry and Hermione - only after Ron returned. They wouldn't think of
using the charm (even if Hermione knew how) to protect themselves from
the taboo, because they didn't know about the taboo, if it makes
sense, LOL. And it was probably too complicated to use it every day
for the regular protection. Hmm, not very convincing, but nothing else
comes to mind :-).

Carol responds:
Actually, I think your explanation is exactly right. 12 GP was
protected by the Fidelius Charm, which prevented the DEs from seeing
the building (or even a gap between 12 GP and its neighbors), much
less seeing or hearing what went on inside. Hermione's protective
spells hid their tents (and Muffliato would have caused an indefinable
buzzing in the ears of anyone who came near, covering up their
conversation), but none of those spells was a countercurse to the
Taboo, which, as you say, they didn't know about. Also, I agree that
not even Hermione had learned the Fidelius Charm, which may not have
been in her Hogwarts textbooks. Who would be their Secret Keeper when
all three were part of the secret? In any case, they'd have to repeat
that complex spell every time they moved. How many secrets can one
person hold? the old spell would become invalid each time they moved.
Also, they had the Invisibility Cloak and Polyjuice Potion to use
whenever they went out. I'm sure they thought that they were quite
safe (with the exception of Godric's Hollow). And if they'd known
about and abided by the Taboo, they would have been. (Of course,
they'd also never have gone to Malfoy Manor, in which case, Wormtail
(and Dobby) would still be alive, Luna and Ollivander and Dean and
Griphook would still be prisoners, Draco would still be master of the
Elder Wand, and HRH wouldn't know the whereabouts of the Horcrux in  
Bellatrix's vault. The kidnapping by Snatchers is one of many "good
bad things" in the HP books. The consequences go far beyond what
Greyback and his cronies intended when they kidnapped "Vernon Dudley"
and his friends, and not just for the people I've listed.)   
> 
Joey wrote:
> 
> > 2. In The Silver Doe chapter, how did Harry and Ron find their way
back to the tent if it were protected by their usual charms??
> 
zanooda wrote:
> 
Maybe those protective charms work only against the people that are
outside when the charms are cast? <snip> At the night of the Doe (and
the previous night) Ron couldn't find the tent, because he wasn't in
it when Hermione cast the charms, but he was able to return with
Harry, who could see the tent no problem :-).

Carol responds:
Exactly. Good thing Ron had that Deluminator! (How DD knew that he'd
need it is another question.)
> 
Joey wrote:
>  
> > 3. Why did Xenophilius find his way to the room where Harry was
through the mess when he and the DEs could have just Apparated to 
that room??
> 
> 
> zanooda:
> 
> The DEs wouldn't want to Apparate to that room, they suspected a
trap, remember? As for Xeno, I suspect that he lost his wand during
the explosion, because it sounded like he didn't even try to levitate
the debris, but cleared the stairs by hand. If he didn't have his
wand, he couldn't Apparate. Besides, it's kind of dangerous to
Apparate to a destroyed room, where someone waits to attack you - you
can't see where you are going, see :-)?

Carol responds:

All very good answers, but it could simply be that Xeno, like most
Wizards, had anti-apparition spells on his house. What I wonder si why
the two DEs, Travers and Selwyn, used brooms instead of Apparating to
the neighborhood where Xeno lived. Apparently, they'd been there
before and knew where it was (not that it would be hard to find from
the air!).

Carol, hoping that she's added something new rather than just
seconding zanooda