The Ministry knew Harry blew up his aunt, so why didn't they know he was defending himself from Dementors?

Question

This has always confused me. When Harry escaped from the Dursley's and met the Minister he knew that Harry had blown up his aunt without any other wizards being present, so how come no-one knew that Harry was being attacked by Dementors when he used the Patronus charm?

Answer 1

They probably did know but admitting that Harry was protecting himself and Dudley from dementors would mean admitting that the dementors were no longer under the control of the ministry and that voldemort was at large again. However as it turns out Delorus Umbridge set the dementors on Harry in the hopes of them performing the dementors kiss on him meaning he could no longer spread the word that voldemort was back again.

Answer 2

As others have said, the Ministry keeps a trace on all underage wizards so they can control underaged wizardry. As we all know, they can't perform magic outside of school until they're 17.



So the Ministry knew he blew up his aunt both because of the trace and because of the countless witnesses- they didn't do anything because it would have been politically insensitive. Sirius Black was at large and they wanted to protect Harry at that time. Plus it was the type of magic that wizards can't necessarily control. Harry was angry.



They knew he performed the Patronus Charm in book 5 because of the trace- but this time, politics had changed. They didn't want panic to spread and they didn't want to believe that Voldemort had returned, so all summer they had been printing aricles in the Daily Prophet about how Dumbledore and Potter are both insane and such. This was the perfect opportunity to prove that Harry was unstable and unreliable. Everyone knows the Ministry *should* have control over Dementors, and since they didn't know of any witnesses who could prove that Harry was telling the truth, they took it to the extreme and held court. And as others have said, Umbridge has great influence over Fudge. Because she was the one who sent the Dementors, she probably further influenced Fudge and persuaded him that court was necessary and that this was perfect proof that Harry was unreliable and dangerous.



Basically, it's all about politics.

Answer 3

I'm not too sure about that either. Here's my opinion of it:

When the Minister of Magic is talking to Harry about blowing up his aunt, he says, (at least in the film anyway), "They say she has been properly punctured and her memory modified. She will have no recollection of the incident whatsoever so that's that... and no harm done!"

Therefore, the Ministry didn't really mind this incident and were able to turn a blind eye to it.

However, Harry still broke the law and so says that to him. The Minister replies, "Oh come now Harry the Ministry doesn't send people to Azkaban for blowing up their Aunts!" So once again, they didn't seem to mind it as it was only a little thing - whereas attacking Dementors, who are controlled and belong to the Ministry, is a whole other matter. (If you are still confused, think of it this way: Attacking a Dememtor would be the same thing as attacking a police officer - and you know the results of doing that. Now think of attacking a police officer compared to blowing up your Aunt...).

Answer 4

Being under age he had the trace on him so they detected any magic he used outside of Hogwarts (the blowing up aunt thing). But not what was around him, plus, they don't believe Dementors would act without Ministry permission. They saw it as unnecessary use of the Patronus charm.

Answer 5

They knew he blew up his aunt because there were other people and witnesses. Also, they always know what spell you are using. When officials got to the house, they saw Aunt Petunia freaking out, so they can figure out what happened.

With the dementors, no one else could give proof so all they knew was the spell he used. And since Umbridge had the whole thing rigged, she probably withheld information.

Answer 6

Well, I simply thought it was because he didn't use his wand.

He used one to create the Patronus Charm, but he didn't to blow up his aunt. In the first book he didn't get in trouble for letting out the snake, or shrinking Dudley's sweater, or his hair growing unnaturally fast. So I just sort of figured magic without a wand, wouldn't get him into trouble.



As for the knowing, I honestly have no idea. I guess I just didn't read too much into it and took it at a face value.

Answer 7

It has something to do with Harry telling people Voldemort was back and that the Ministry didn't want people thinking the Ministry didn't have absolutely everything under control. The Minister was cool with Harry and didn't want him in trouble because of who he is in PoA, but the government was angry with him in OotP so they decided to have this one count even though there was just cause.

Answer 8

I'm trying to remember this one. If I remember correctly, the Dementors found him after they left the station for Hogworts. The attack on his aunt was in the Muggle world. That could have had something to do with it.



It could have something to do with the Patronus itself, as that wasn't a standard spell taught at Hogworts.



It could have something to do with the Dementors as they were behaving, in someways, outsides their normal duties.

Answer 9

I would have said that the trace on harry could not detect the dementors magic because they are not human. and when the ministry caught Dobby's lil cake trick it was because house elves' magic is similar to witch/wizard magic



pure speculation, of course

Answer 10

Think about the way any government works and you'll have your answer. Any government will cover up facts or only state some of it in order to get what they want out of a situation. Combine that with Fudge's paranoia and Umbridge's control and you have your answer.

Answer 11

Just one of the many questions in the Harry Potter series that don't quite add up. Don't get me wrong I like the books but there are a lot of things in the books that just don't make sense.

Answer 12

Because they where sent by someone in the ministry who covered up there tracks and it was under voldemorts orders that they where sent.

Answer 13

Maybe they did know, but they were obstructing the truth because of the Minister's paranoia.

Answer 14

That's a question that's been bugging me too. I've thought and thought and thought. But I still have nothing.