how come in book 7,there was so much fuss about harry having the "trace" of underage magic?

Question

how come in book 7,there was so much fuss about harry having the "trace" of underage magic? there was an instance when dumbledore explained to harry that underage magic cannot be really detected if done in a home with adult wizards... when doby used magic in privet drive, harry was accused of doing it. but when the Order fetched harry, tonks used magic but harry did not receive any letter from the ministry. nor when dumbledore came to fetch him, when he used magic in front of the dursleys. so,is there really a trace??

Answer 1

Yes there is a trace of sorts. Part of it was Voldemort and his deatheaters could trace it and the teachers and Phoenix members wanted Harry to remain safe, so they adviced him not to use magic.

Answer 2

hmmm good point, but being that both Dumbledore and Tonks's wands would have been registered by the ministry it would have show who was performing the magic, because Dobby did not use a wand it came up as unidentified, which could have been anyone including Harry.

Answer 3

I think that the ministry just really focused on tracing people b/c it was being watched and influenced by Death Eaters!

Answer 4

when the movie comes out in 2010, ask me again.



otherwise, post in Book section. :P