Corrected entry: Malfoy used the Imperius curse on Madam Rosmerta to have her deliver the cursed necklace to a Hogwarts student. If Hogsmead is "outside of school" and Malfoy was underaged at the time, shouldn't the Ministry investigate the use of an Unforgivable Curse so close to Hogwarts? And if so, wouldn't they have found out that Rosmerta was cursed?
Cubs Fan
24th Jan 2008
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
23rd Jan 2008
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Corrected entry: It states in the Half-Blood Prince that the ministry can only detect magic, not its perpetrator. Therefore, when Dumbledore visits Harry at the beginning of the book and performs magic, shouldn't the ministry have detected it, knowing that Harry was an underage wizard? (There should have been no magic being performed at the house at all).
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Correction: The way I understand it, the phrase "outside of school" refers to when students are in the Muggle world during the summer. Since Hogsmeade is an entirely wizarding village, I would think that while the Ministry certainly would investigate the matter, it would be difficult for them to ascertain who specifically performed the curse; there are sixteen groups of underage students (3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th years, from four Houses) who are allowed to visit the village.
Cubs Fan ★
True. but in book 2, the ministry knows what type of magic has been performed in the Dursley's house (by Dobby), as all the underaged have the trace on them. Therefore, the ministry MUST know that an Imperius curse (an unforgivable curse!) has been shot in the village at that moment in book 6. Since performing it on a human being can send you to Azkaban for life, the ministry should have investigated the matter thoroughly AND informed the headmaster of Hogwarts. When Draco is explaining things, it seems as if Dumbledore would never have guessed someone in the village was under the Imperius curse.
According to the wiki the trace is lifted whilst the students are attending Hogwarts. They can use magic freely then, this include the Hogwarts express at least so it's not unlikely Hogsmead counts as well. It is put back again during holidays, but not weekends. It is also true that muggle born children like Hermione and Harry are more closely monitored than one with a wizard family like Draco, since magic happens around him a lot more often. Next to that, if they do notice him using magic they might investigate but then find out he is the son of Lucius Malfoy and drop the case anyway because they fear him.
lionhead