Editing Ministry of Magic (section)

====Improper Use of Magic Office====
The '''Improper Use of Magic Office''' is responsible for investigating offences under the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery and the International Confederation of Wizards' Statute of Secrecy. They regulate an underage wizard's or witch's use of magic and prohibit wizards and witches from performing magic in the presence of Muggles or in a Muggle-inhabited area in the ''Harry Potter'' universe. An enchantment called "the Trace" is placed upon children and helps the department detect offences; it ends when they reach the age of 17.<ref name="HP7" /> However, Dumbledore explains to Harry that the Ministry cannot tell who exactly uses magic in a given area, only that it ''has'' been used. This can be seen as unfair to young witches and wizards who grew up in the Muggle world (such as Muggle-born wizards, or those with one magical and one Muggle parent) as they are more likely to be caught using magic than those who grow up in the wizarding world. Those living in the Muggle world generally have no contact with other witches or wizards away from school, and the Ministry simply presumes that any magic performed where they are is an act of underage wizardry, while at the same time presuming that any magic performed in a wizard home that has minors present was performed by those aged 17 and over. This means that minors living in the wizard world have a much greater chance of escaping punishment for the use of underage magic. The Ministry has to rely on wizard and witch parents to enforce the ban on under-age magic within their homes.<ref name="HP6" />

It is not known how or when the Trace is placed upon a child, though it may be assumed that it begins either when the child begins to show magical talent or when they first go through the barrier to Platform 9¾. A number of witches and wizards, including Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, [[Lily Evans]], and [[Severus Snape]] all known to have performed some underage magic while growing up in the Muggle world that went unpunished.

After Harry's first minor violation – a Hover charm that was actually performed by Dobby the House-elf – he is merely warned.<ref name="HP2">{{HPref|book=2}}</ref> His second violation, inflating Aunt Marge, is forgiven by Fudge because the Minister fears that Sirius Black is after Harry, and feels that his safety after running away from the Dursleys takes precedence.<ref name="HP3">{{HPref|book=3}}</ref> After his third offence (creating a Patronus to protect himself and Dudley from two Dementors), the letter sent to him states that he is expelled from school; that representatives will arrive at his home to destroy his wand; and that he is required to appear at a disciplinary hearing given that the offence occurred after he had already received one warning.<ref name="HP5" /> Dumbledore reminds Fudge that the Ministry doesn't have the power to expel students from Hogwarts, or to confiscate wands without benefit of a hearing.<ref name="HP5" />

At Harry's hearing, he is tried by the entire [[Wizengamot]] court and cleared of all charges thanks to Dumbledore's intervention. Such proceedings are highly unusual, however. For a simple case of underage use of magic, Harry was originally supposed to be interviewed solely by Amelia Bones, head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.<ref name="HP5" />