Mafalda Hopkirk's Letter of 1995 warning Harry Potter about his breach of the Decree.
- "Dear Mr. Potter, We have received intelligence that you performed the Patronus Charm at twenty-three minutes past nine this evening in a Muggle-inhabited area and in the presence of a Muggle. The severity of this breach of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery has resulted in your expulsion from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Ministry representatives will be calling at your place of residence shortly to destroy your wand. As you have already received an official warning for a previous offense under section 13 of the International Confederation of Wizards’ Statute of Secrecy, we regret to inform you that your presence is required at a disciplinary hearing at the Ministry of Magic at 9 a.m. on August 12th. Hoping you are well. Yours sincerely, Mafalda Hopkirk, Improper Use of Magic Office."
- — Mafalda Hopkirk's letter adressed to Harry Potter on August 2, 1995[src]
The Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery is a bylaw of the Ministry of Magic, written in 1875, which bans the use of underage magic outside of school. The Decree is enforced by the Ministry's Improper Use of Magic Office. The restriction is for wizards and witches who are under the age of seventeen, and who still have The Trace on them. Although young wizards and witches are not allowed to use magic outside of school, the Ministry does recognise that they may have to use magic in certain situations such as self-defence. In addition, young children of below school age are technically exempt from the rule since they usually have little or no control over the magic they perform.
- "In the matter of Harry Potter, the law cleary states that magic can be used before Muggles in life-threatening situations."
- — Albus Dumbledore at Harry's Hearing[src]
Paragraph C of the cause states that it is a crime to knowingly perform magic in a Muggle-inhabited area and in the presence of a Muggle. However, Clause 7 states that magic can be used in front of Muggles in exceptional circumstances, including situations when the life of the witch or wizard is threatened, or the lives of other witches, wizards and Muggles are threatened.[1]
Also, it seems that a certain high-authority person may give permission for an underage student to perform magic under circumstances, as Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore gave 16-years old Harry Potter such under the chance of an attack.[2]
Known breaches of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery
| Offender | Crime | Date | Action taken | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hermione Granger | "A few simple spells" | Summer of 1991 | No action taken | Hermione told Harry Potter and Ron Weasley just prior to their first year at Hogwarts that she had successfully cast a few spells[3], but apparently, she received no notice or warning about this being banned. |
| Harry Potter | Illegal use of a Hover Charm | July, 1992 | Official warning | The Hover Charm was actually produced by the House-elf Dobby.[4] |
| Harry Potter | Illegal use of the Inflating Charm on his "Aunt" Marge | July, 1993 | No action taken | Action not taken due to the recent escape of Sirius Black from Azkaban, and the need to keep Harry safe. Additionally, this was considered "accidental magic."[5] |
| Harry Potter | Illegal use of the Patronus Charm in front of a Muggle | August 2, 1995 | Expulsion from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, later rescinded and given a hearing | Acquitted of all charges due to the fact that he technically did not break any rules. Dolores Umbridge was the one who secretly orchestrated this incident as part of the smear campaign against Harry.[1] |
| Lily Evans | Magic | Unknown | Received a few warning letters |
None of her warning letters were “too serious” |
Appearances
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (First appearance)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film) (Mentioned only)
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Mentioned only)
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film) (Mentioned only)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)
Behind the scenes
- In the film version of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone on the Hogwarts Express, Hermione casts the Oculus Reparo spell to fix Harry's glasses - and she does it again in public in Diagon Alley in the film version of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. There is no indication that she got into trouble for either non-school use; it is possible the Reparo spell was considered too mundane or harmless to violate the so-called "Reasonable Restriction." And the first use of the spell might have been ignored if the train is considered an extension of the school. This latter point is supported by Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in which Ginny Weasley casts the Scouring Charm aboard the Express without penalty.
- In the film version of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Harry did not receive a warning for the illegal use of a Hover Charm which caused a continuity error with the following films due to the fact that the book version caused the Dursley family to learn that Harry cannot use magic outside of school.
- The film version of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban has Harry using the spell Lumos Maxima which was invented for the films despite his using it at the time would had a warning sent to him since he used it while at the Dursley's house.