In the Harry Potter series, there are many rules in the wizarding world about magic. These rules are all about what kind of magic is legal to do and who is allowed to use magic. The Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery sets up the laws that say that underage wizards and witches are not allowed to use magic outside of Hogwarts. However, the exact rules of this decree don't always seem to be consistent or to make a lot of sense. While sometimes wizards and witches are punished for using underage magic, there are other times when they aren’t even given a warning.
Here are ten times the Ministry of Magic didn’t punish underage magic use.
SEVERUS SNAPE SNAPPING A TREE BRANCH
One thing about the wizarding laws around underage magic that’s confusing is how things relate to witches and wizards under the age of eleven. It’s clear that when a student starts going to Hogwarts that they are taught the rules and expected not to use magic when not at school. However, it’s unclear whether there are laws in place for children under the age of eleven.
If they aren’t expected to know these rules until that age, it would make sense that Snape wasn’t punished for accidentally making a tree snap and hit Petunia after she was making fun of him.
ALL THE TIMES HARRY USED MAGIC BEFORE GOING TO HOGWARTS
This is another example of the rules about younger children not being made clear. The rules might also be slightly different for children who are living with Muggle family and that don’t know they are able to use magic.
This must be the case as it wouldn’t make any sense to punish a child who doesn’t even know that they have magic or are using it. So, the fact that Harry used magic without knowing it multiple times is rather a moot point. However, it’s clear from young childhood that he had innate magical ability.
SIRIUS USING A PERMANENT STICKING CHARM
This is one instance where it’s not specifically stated either way if Sirius got a warning for this behavior or not. Because of the fact that his family was all able to use magic, it’s likely that the Ministry didn’t send a warning because it would have been impossible to tell who it was.
However, this does seem pretty unfair since this basically means that Muggle-born students are much more likely to get punished. It’s also probably not hard to imagine that Sirius did a lot of underage magic during the summertime.
HARRY SENDING AN ELECTRIC CHARGE AT VERNON DURSLEY
There are definitely many inconsistencies related to how Harry was treated for using underage magic in the books. Whether or not he got in trouble had a lot to do with whether or not Fudge liked him at the time.
Before he got in trouble for sending the Patronus, he accidentally sent a shock of magic at Uncle Vernon. Although, he was also doing this in self-defense as Vernon was basically choking him. It is interesting, however, that this kind of magic didn’t seem to register with the Ministry.
FRED WEASLEY TURNING RON’S TEDDY BEAR INTO A SPIDER
This is another instance of a young child using magic and not being punished for it. Considering that Fred was under eleven at the time, it would likely have been very difficult to actually legally charge him for anything.
Also, he was in a house that contained adult witches and wizards, so it would have been hard to pint this on him. However, this does seem like quite a powerful bit of magic to be able to do at such a young age.
HERMIONE USING LUMOS AT THE QUIDDITCH WORLD CUP
In Harry Potter, the mayhem at the World Cup after the Death Eaters arrive, there is a lot of commotion and fear. Hermione uses Lumos to light up her wand while they are all stumbling through the forest. This is technically a breach of the Decree, however, there is an exception that would apply here.
Part of the law states that an underage witch or wizard can use magic in a self-defense situation, and this scary time would likely count for that. Also, the Ministry had a lot more to worry about than an underage witch using Lumos during this event.
LILY POTTER USING MAGIC ON FLOWERS FOR HER SISTER
This is another instance of a younger child using magic and not getting in trouble for it likely because this would have revealed to her family that she was a witch.
When a Muggle-born child uses magic, it would be really strange if an owl arrived saying that they were in trouble with the Ministry of Magic. So, this is likely why it wasn’t an issue when Lily did small magic such as showing that she could manipulate flowers to Petunia.
ARIANA DUMBLEDORE USING MAGIC
One case of underage magic that we don’t know all that much about is Ariana Dumbledore. The specifics of the magic she used aren’t really known and what happened after supersedes any need to punish her.
When the Muggle boys saw her using magic, they bullied and attacked her so brutally that she was unable to control her magic ever again.
VOLDEMORT MANIPULATING PEOPLE WITH MAGIC WHEN HE WAS A KID
Of all of the children younger than eleven to use magic, Voldemort, then known as Tom Riddle, was definitely the worst offender. While he might not have known he was a wizard at the time, it’s surprising the Ministry didn’t take notice or try to stop it.
Even before he had official training he was powerful enough to use his magic to manipulate and control people and even cause them pain.
WHEN HARRY BLEW UP AUNT MARGE
The most notable moment in the books where underage magic isn’t punished is when Harry accidentally blows up his Aunt Marge. Even though this is quite a drastic example of magic, even if he didn’t exactly mean to do it, the Ministry doesn’t even send him a warning.
This is all because of the fact that Sirius Black is on the run and the Ministry is worried about Harry’s safety at the time.