Detecting magic

[pippin_999]

--- In the_old_crowd at yahoogroups.com, "Judy" <judy at j...> wrote:
> Kirstini mentioned magic that the Ministry should have detected,
but 
> didn't: 
> > Not to mention the use of (at least) Alohomora, Scourgify, the 
> > Packing  Charm(!) and yet another Hover (Locomoter Trunk) by 
> > Tonks/other members of the Order at Privet Drive in OoP. Surely
in 
> > the wake of a breach of the Reasonable Restriction of Underage 
> > Sorcery decree, the Ministry sensors would be charged and pointed 
> > on young delinquent Potter. 
> > You know, scratching around for flints always leaves me feeling 
> > slightly sordid.
> 
Judy:
> Yes, I fear this is one of those areas where JKR has painted
herself 
> into a corner by making magic too strong.  
> 
> About the only non-flint explanation I can see is if the ministry 
> doesn't have nearly enough resources to detect all magic, and 
most  just does random spot-checking to deter underage wizards. 

Pippin:
Not to mention Mundungus's disapparation.
Privet Drive is supposed to be closely watched, too, which means
Judy is probably right about magic done elsewhere.

I haven't got all my books with me  but weren't all the charms 
Kirstini mentioned  done by the auror Tonks or ex- auror Moody? 
Jo has said that no magic is foolproof, and I suppose if anybody 
knows how to defeat the Ministry's magic detection, it would be 
aurors, like Moody and Tonks, and career criminals like Dung, 
not to mention Voldemort and his DE's. Just like in the real world 
both cops and criminals know how to defeat burglar alarms.
 
Pippin