Talk:Improper Use of Magic Office

Head?

I don't think that this service is headed by Mafalda. She's only an employee: she's mentionned in the Deathly Hallows as an assistant. "“She’s Mafalda Hopkirk,” he said, reading a small card that identified their victim as an assistant in the Improper Use of Magic Office." Did I miss something? --{{SUBST:Utilisateur:Famini71/autosig}} 14:41, December 17, 2009 (UTC) User:Famini71

Good catch. Removed. Jayden Matthews 14:43, December 17, 2009 (UTC)

Is it possible that Travers was the head? "Ah, Mafalda! said Umbridge, Travers sent you, did he?" If Mafalda is only assistant, she could have been sent by her own chief to assist Umbridge. --{{SUBST:Utilisateur:Famini71/autosig}} 14:52, December 17, 2009 (UTC) User:Famini71

That's a good point, I'll add it. Jayden Matthews 14:55, December 17, 2009 (UTC)

Thank you. Famini71

Authority and responsibilites?

Okay, I realize in retrospect that my changes to the article might be based on speculation, but I have a few questions regarding the extent to which the Office has authority over others subdivisions?

When Harry and Ron borrowed the Ford Anglia to fly to Hogwarts in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, which were a serious potential breach of the Statute of Secrecy. Arthur Weasley faced an inquiry at work afterwards, and since the Improper Use of Magic Office is the office mainly responsible for investigating and regulating offenses related to the Statues, there is no other office known in the Ministry which possibly could have been tasked with carried out the inquiry. Unless, of course, it has slipped my attention that there is some sort of counsel of staff disciplination mentioned by Rowling that has slipped my mind, that is?

For example, when Arthur Weasley in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was notified that there was a third regurgitating toilet in Bethnal Green, it is not likely that this was intelligence received by Improper Use of Magic Office delegated the task to Arthur Weasley's division because this particular violation of  the International Statutes of Secrecy did not pose a particularly big risk.

From my point of view, it seems plausible that the Improper Use of Magic Office functions both as a headquarters and commando central of law enforcement related to the misuse of magic. The basis for this assumptions lies among other things in the fact that both the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office and the Office for the Detection and Confiscation of Counterfeit Defensive Spells and Protective Objects both is tasked with improper (as in illegal) use of magic, but with particular areas of responsibility. If not directly subdivisions, it seems the two mentioned above is answerable to the Office.

Another reason is also due to the fact that Morfin Gaunt repeatedly (I think?) jinxed Tom Riddle Sr., a Muggle, which is a severe breach of the Statues and the task of summoning him for a hearing would fall to the Improper Use of Magic Office. When Morfin was not present at the date of the hearing, partly due to indifference to the Ministry's authority and since they did not open letters, a member of the Magical Law Enforcement Patrol was sent to make sure he attended after his second summon, and most likely he would be placed in custody if he refused, even if he had not attacked Bob Odgen. This implies that the Improper Use of Magic Office, at least in part, is involved of assigning the Patrol to their daily duties.

Another situation is referred to in 2003, when two Muggle dog-walkers were accidentally transported to a Celestina Warbeck concert. This is yet again another breach of the Statue of Secrecy, and as almost every department is somewhat answerable to the Dep. of Magical Law Enforcement, there is no doubt in my mind that the Improper Use of Magic Office somehow disciplined the Portkey Office for such carelessness. 

They also have the responsibility for maintaining and keeping track of the people listed on the Animagus Registry, which in extension implies that the Improper Use of Magic is responsible for investigating non-registered cases of Animagi, even if it is likely the MLE Patrol is tasked with actual arresting the suspects.

It is reasoned that the Registry of Proscribed Charmable Objects is connected to the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office, based on Barty Crouch requesting Arthur Weasley to look into the matter of a foregin wizard bringing flying carpets into the country, which is defined as a "Muggle Artefact" by the Registry. This, however, implies that the Improper Use of Magic Office is responsibile for this Registry as well, as enchanting or bewitchment something considered to be a Muggle object is actually a violation of the Statues of Secrecy. The fact that flying carpets was defined as a Muggle Artefact does not exclude magical objects from being listed in the Registry, it simply means that Arthur Weasley was assigned to speak with Ali Bashir BECAUSE the object was considered a Muggle object, which was Weasley's cup of tea.

Since the Improper Use of Magic is the first to recive intelligence on breaches regarding to the Decree of Reasonable Restrictions of Underage Sorcery and the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad is tasked with among other things, counter-act the consequenses for the wizarding population  when the Decree, and in extension the Statues of Secrecy is compromized, it seems reasonable to assume that the Improper Use of Magic Office is doing liaison with other divisions and/or departments. All in all, it seems likely that they are in regular contact with the following divisions:

• The Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office
• The Office for the Detection and Confiscation of Counterfeit Defensive Spells and Protective Objects.
• The Magical Law Enforcement Patrol
• The  Wizengamot/Wizengamot Administration Services (In severe cases)
• The Auror Office (Just possibly, mind you, it is not completely unlikely that they recive intelligence regarding a violation of the Statues of Secrecy which bears signs of a Dark Witch or Wizard being involved, in which case the office would send an interdepartemental memo to the personel qualified for such a job)
• The Accidental Magic Reversal Squad

It is therefore my belief, due to all this implied hints from the books, that this information should indeed be included in the article. With regards, Simen Johannes Fagerli (talk) 14:47, March 1, 2015 (UTC)