10 Niggling Harry Potter Questions JK Rowling Must Answer
4. Why Are the Laws About Magic So Selective?
While it's made quite clear to readers from The Philosophers Stone that magic is only to be used within the school while underage, this doesn't always seem to be the case. Magic use around muggles appears to be monitored unless you are still a kid who hasn't started Hogwarts, or Dumbledore. Young Tom Riddle uses some form of his magic to ensure he and the other two muggle children reach that cave in the Half-blood Prince. Something happens and they are frightened to death - but there is no law action. Likewise, Dumbledore goes ahead and apparently uses an Imperius Curse on a muggle and nothing happens. Plus he gets a muggle drunk. And that's fine again. While we understand that loopholes are often necessary in order to move a plot along, the uses of magic seem to happen as and when needed with little thought for the law. If Harry was to be charged for all of his improper uses of magic, he'd be jailed for life.
I love Stephen King and music festivals; I eat my toast upside down; I daydream about getting married probably a bit too much; and I wish every day for a pet sausage dog puppy (who never materialises – sob).
While it's made quite clear to readers from The Philosophers Stone that magic is only to be used within the school while underage, this doesn't always seem to be the case. Magic use around muggles appears to be monitored unless you are still a kid who hasn't started Hogwarts, or Dumbledore. Young Tom Riddle uses some form of his magic to ensure he and the other two muggle children reach that cave in the Half-blood Prince. Something happens and they are frightened to death - but there is no law action. Likewise, Dumbledore goes ahead and apparently uses an Imperius Curse on a muggle and nothing happens. Plus he gets a muggle drunk. And that's fine again. While we understand that loopholes are often necessary in order to move a plot along, the uses of magic seem to happen as and when needed with little thought for the law. If Harry was to be charged for all of his improper uses of magic, he'd be jailed for life.