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Imho its a spell put on them via the sorting hat.

Here is another idea, it is the hat that puts the trace on the kids.

11:40 I’d actually say, that they do have the trace from birth and the accidental child magic is how the ministry knows which muggleborns are wizards and should be invited into wizarding schools. Not getting informed about mishaps like the one with the glass in the zoo would also create a huge plot whole how magic can be kept a secret, when every underage wizard has something along those lines happen around them at some point. My guess is, that an important part of the ministry’s job is to respond to those things, fix the magical changes and erase memories. They just don’t blame the children for it and therefore enforce no consequences.

I have another theory: The trace can be jammed, just like a GPS jammer would make the location reading either unreliable or be lost altogether. Dobby managed to obfuscate his presence and the exact origin of the spell. Voldemort might have managed to blind the trace for himself and for Harry on the graveyard. Or it could be a combination of both.

Dobby could also deliberately pose his magic use as being performed by Harry, in order to get him into trouble with the Ministry

I always assumed witches and wizards recieved the trace upon theor sorting via the hat

I kind of like to think of the idea that there are so many kids doing magic outside of school and breaking the rules that they can't get to them all that they prioritize big time offenders. Think of like a police force upholding the law. Cops will investigate disturbances and uphold the law, but if there is too much happening at once, they will prioritize more violent crimes. And sometimes, the police just don't want to deal with the paperwork, so they'll just issue warning. Like, someone speeding, but not by much, we won't make a big deal out of it.

Small aspect you are overlooking: the ministry is corrupt. Arthur Weasley an upstanding man let a Muggle Baiter off in exchange for world cup tickets. Luscious Malfoy has an all access pass without having a position in the ministry. Fudge ignored Voldemort coming back and all that followed. The ministry could just ignore a great many alerts or over prosecute infractions as suits their agenda

Remember - when Harry released the snake at the zoo by making the glass disappear/reappear nothing happened because of the trace. Also, when Hagrid first went and picked up Harry for the first year at Hogwarts he used magic. As Hagrid wasn't allowed to use magic, there wasn't any authorised magic users near Harry at the time but the trace didn't go off. You would have thought that is you can set a trace on under aged magic, you could set a trace on a person prohibited from doing magic, but nothing seems to have been done to Hagrid in that regard - perhaps the fact that he lived at Hogwarts would have meant his trace going off hundreds of times a day triggered by any spell within his sphere of detection would explain why no such trace was put on him.

The other fucking problem, is that apparently, muggles are allowed to know they have family going to magic school, but they can't see magic performed?? Where is the line??

doesn't Dumbledore exactly explain the Trace to Harry? Not to mention Tom Riddle killed his grandparents with no wizard in sight... isn't a more plausible explanation that JK is simply stupid and doesn't know what she writes? based on the Fantastic beasts movies, i would think so

She might have used it 7 times a day for every class

I'm sorry & I mean absolutely no offense or disrespect towards the actor Paapa Essiedu but in the books Professor Snape is extremely pale white...meaning caucasian. He's very clearly a man of colour, & thus he shouldn't have been cast in that particular role. I HOPE that they haven't begun filming & can recast the role to someone who fits the written description in the book that J.K. Rowling had created & describes in her books. I'm SO sick & tired of "Hollywood" changing long established characters from what they were originally written/described as & portrayed as on screen to something that is nothing more than "virtue signaling" to the woke minority who don't even make up a single percentage % of the viewing audience in the vast majority of cases. They've (referring to Hollywood writers & producers) have even taken away roles that were meant specifically for "little people" in the upcoming rendition of Snow White. They've changed Doctor Who from being a caucasian heterosexual male for the 1st 50 years of the character's portrayal to then at least bi curious or possibly bisexual with the introduction of Captain Jack Harkness during Christopher Eccleston's tenure as the Doctor, then changed to a (caucasian) woman, then back to a man BUT a man of colour who comes across as a fully Gay man. I get it's a fictional TV series BUT the character was fully established for over 50 years when they "tweaked" the character & made him possibly bisexual. Then after another decade they not only changed gender from male to female back to male, but they have made the ne iteration of the Doctor not only a gay man but a man of colour. What's next are they going to change James Bond to a man of colour and possibly from anywhere else other then he UK? While it's all well and good for the actor's of colour who are getting the roles like historical figures that were caucasian being played by actresses of colour. BUT what would happen if they had a caucasian actor take the role to the Black Panther...for example. There would absolutely unequivocally be an uproar over the rumor of it let alone if it actually happened. It's not right & needs to stop in my opinion.

Lupin best teacher Umbridge worst teacher

i always assumed that Tom Riddle quickly figured out "hacker-like" methods to "beat the system" and do whatever he wanted without getting caught. It was a part of his way of life from early on, when he often bullied other children in the orphanage without getting caught. it's worth noting that in the deathly hallows, after he takes over the ministry of magic, a trace-like curse is put on the name "voldemort" that allows him to find DA/order of the phoenix/resistance members just from them saying the name, without doing any magic. I think this implies that the ministry has control over a specific magical technology that can "cover" all of britain to detect arbitrary "stuff", and it was only after taking over the ministry that voldemort was able to "reprogram" it to do whatever he wanted. I agree with your theory that when he was a teenager, he probably imperiused his uncle and made him come along to murder his father and grandparents, before obliviating him, as a method to avoid triggering the trace, and after he figured that out he probably used the same technique to do many other illegal and nefarious things undetected while underage.

Dumbledore actually explains it nicely IN THE BOOKS that magic used in a wizarding home does set off the trace, but the ministry cant tell whos doing it so they rely on the parents to enforce the rules. For muggle borns and Harry, however, they know that there arent supposed to be any adult wizards in the area and so any magic used must be the under age witch or wizsard. This is also how Tom Riddle was able to get away with killing his father and grandparents, because he used Morphin Gaunts wand and Morphin lived close enough for the magic to register as possibly his. This is explained, again, by Dumbledore in Half Blood Prince.

I like your theory and it might well be true, but I think there is a much simpler explanation. Bureaucracy. The Trace is placed by the Book (forgot its actual name). Whenever a witch or wizard is near any magic it sends a flare to the Ministry. However it doesn’t let them know who actually activated it. They ignore any flares from know wizards locations, such as wizard homes and areas where wizards are known to gather. All instances where magic was performed by adults near Pivot Drive this was most likely mentioned by said Wizard to the ministry and thus the flare that was sent up by the Trace would be ignored by the ministry. If the presence of an adult wizard was enough to counteract it. Then in both the case with the knight bus (Sirius nearby) and the Dementors for which he gets in trouble (Arabella Fig was nearby, one of Harry’s neighbours) would have cancelled the Trace from sending up a flare to the Ministry

1 major problem with your theory "as stated". Tom using the imperius curse on Morphin would set off the trace... ok, even if i give you the "around an adult" they still know WHAT spell was used, I.E. Dobby and the hover charm. Therfore they would KNOW that the unforgivable curse was used near a underage. Same issue at the graveyard, cruciatus curse and killing curses were used. Atleast 1 killing curse would have set off 2 traces when worm tail used it on Diggory. Plus what has already been said about the battle of the seven potters, with moody stating he's got the trace on him.

Interesting theory. We all know deep down that the real reason in "plot". If the plot demands it (for drama) it will activate, if the plot doesn't require it it may or may not activate based on the author's current mindset and if she remembered about it while writing that scene. Also Harry was able to use magic with Hermione's wand without setting off the Trace during the last movies (and probably book), suggesting there's a connection to the wand, otherwise the wand used would be of not importance (or maybe his wand was taken? I think he got it back for the Last Battle at least so it can't have been destroyed). At least it tells us the Trace is definitely not impossible to fool, otherwise Harry's every spell in the last book would have been traced whenever the rule applied. Unless Hermione is considered as an adult witch and then the whole Trace part of the movies is moot since in her presence Harry would never have to worry about the Trace at all.

Could do with a pop filter on the mic maybe? There's a strong "s, s" on the audio.

I used to think that the trace is put on, when you buy your first wand. As in the transaction that occurs before you leave the store. Now, you might say that Ron didn't buy his, to which I say: Exactly. When you come from a magic family that has spares, you most likely, have adult wizards supervising and the place you stay must be somewhat concealed from muggles. Of course, having magical things happening around an underage witch/wizard, when not in the presence of an adult 🪄 and in muggle inhabitants, even without the use of the wand you purchased, still can activate the spell, just like you explained. 😊

Great video . I like the angle of looking at them all having secrets revealed, I've never looked at it like that. You should do a video on all the DADA teachers between the curse and Harry's first year.

Well, I think your theory Is mostly correct.You're forgetting that Harry used, the Loomis spell multiple times when he was reading a book. And therefore your theory is technically wrong. It's more complicated than that.

Your theory is very well thought. Placing the trace upon students in that chamber next to the grest hall sounds absolutely logical to me. But i see one flaw: as Harry leaves PrivetDrive nr. 4 for good there were quite a lot adult wizards around Harry. So why would the trace be a problem there ?

I think trace is placed upon birth or some time after it - otherwise how would they know who is muggleborn wizard? They just ignore all magic usage before age of 11, or before admittance to schools (since Hermione used some spells by herself before even going to school)

Good try but the trace is placed on a town and records all spells and its location, including spells from adult wizards. The laws against unsupervised underage magic is separate from the trace. It's because of Tom Riddle that flags were added for wizards living in muggle houses. Otherwise it does its main job of flagging illegal spells. When Dumbledor visited Harry he registered his visit to the muggle world, which is why the spells he cast didn't get flagged.

If the trace is a dedicated charm spell it might be possible to dispell the trace, given the amount of forbidden learning Tom got up too he might have learned a counterspell to the trace, and potentially learn how to cast the trace back on himself if necessary.

If they had the trace put on them at the same time, how would it remove on their individual birthdays rather than also collectively at the same time? I believe there's an ancient magic that just registers and stores new wizards births, and automatically applies the trace. Then they don't enforce it until a certain age, specifically 11, when they are allowed to start learning magic.

Aren’t you maybe overthinking things?

See one big difference between the dursleys and everywhere else, is the dursleys are muggles, so obviously if magic is used it's assumed to be Harry. But if you're surrounded by witches and wizards they can't tell who did it.

The charm could be placed at the time they were sold their wand. Wandless magic would be dismissed, as with aunt marge, while wanded magic would be a more serious offense. The hover charm would qualify as a wanded spell because it normally is, but the ministry doesn’t recognize the presence of a house elf as Voldemort’s spells don’t take them into account either. They know a wanded spell was cast without any substantive evidence to eliminate Harry as the caster. Being the first offense, they didn’t send an officer to cast priori encantatum to verify that he hasn’t cast all holiday. The world cup would be dismissed as exigent casting. The dark mark however required immediate intervention and was not identified by trace but by the mark’s visible location. Crouch Jr would have already inhibited the trace’s activation. The port key is like a 3d printed gun, the government only knows it exists if they find it or you tell them about it. Hence why fudge was mad about the unregistered statue head port key being made right in front of him. The graveyard was 1. in the presence of many grown wizards and 2. prepared by Voldemort. Yes, the patronus, skip. Grimold place, covered as a wizarding dwelling, with supervision, under various charms, unplotted… The flight of the seven potters: at this point, as with the patronus, the government was politically motivated to pursue harry by any measure available. Basically putting him under house arrest with burdensome restrictions on port keys, apparition, floo flames, etc. as moody said, they would use any excuse to take him into “protective custody.” Not until exigency overruled the prohibition could he cast safely.

15:37 the only theory that I differ with is that I think the trace is placed on them by the hat when they’re sorted into the house. Therefore, the intention of the spell that’s cast can actually be detected.

Even if they had the trace as a young child, they could just ignore a 9 year old doing accidental magic and not send an owl.

Or she had a plot hole

The trace was on Tom Riddle’s uncle, what was his name? I’m pretty sure he wasn’t going to school.

This would also explain how the Ministry knows the magic was 'in the presence of a muggle.' 🙂 Perhaps the Ministry also has a book recording the names of wizard children (similar to Hogwarts) that, as a result, initiates & dispels the trace (rather than actual wizard legwork.)

I think it's likely that the trace was placed upon the young wizards when they were handed the flier regarding the use of underage magic outside of school according to Fred and George, this is passed out every year and is likely that upon contact this places a charm on the students that either fortify existing traces for another year or place the trace on them

The trace is not placed upon the witch or wizard at Hogwarts. Remember not every witch or wizard goes to hogwarts. While we cannot ascertain if other countries implement it, or if the trace is even administered when the witch or wizard even enters education i believe the best theory is: The trace is placed upon the witch or wizard when they receive their first wand. While it isnt attached to the wizard's wand specifically it makes the most sense that a new and upcoming witch or wizard would have it applied then. You just handed them essentially a loaded gun. Something they can channel their magic through. The ministry also expects the parents to discipline their children when using magic at home, thus fresh 11 year olds would not trigger the trace. Also at hogwarts there is too much magic going on in the corridors and grounds the trace cant properly detect the student using a spell. Theres also Hogsmede. So more than likely the spell is placed upon them when they finally have a wand choose them. Likely forming a contract that only ends when the witch or wizard turns 17 or gets expelled and has their wand snapped. Otherwise how would a young Hagrid been able to keep part of his wand in his umbrella? They surely would have detected him using magic after he was expelled and known for breaking their laws (i mean he was falsely charged but still) he wasnt a qualified wizard and he clearly still was able to perform magic. I would think the Ministry would keep an eye out for anyone with their wand snapped as punishment.

This is a very ineffective way of setting up the trace and sounds like it's really about lending an unfair advantage towards pureblood students who would be able to practice magic during the holidays.

Maybe if Michael Gambon had read the books he would have done a better job as Dumbledore. Richard Harris was perfect

They might have placed it upon wands at first that’s why Tom used someone else’s wand, but after that incident they changed it to your theory to avoid that happening again

Very interesting interpretation

The note at the end of the school year was enchanted with the trace

ad hoc, not mentioned in the books

I like that. I have something I have wondered about: How does the Hogwarts Express work? It seems to be a muggle train magically modified, rather than a magically created train. In either case the train clearly operates on rails, are these railroads independent of the British rail system, or are they a part of it? It makes no sense for it to operate on it's own system, as it would need to interact with muggles roads, and having unofficial level crossings would be noticed. It also operates from a muggle train station, King's Cross. For these reasons I think the Hogwarts Express uses the British Railways system. This means that it would need to be dispatched from a central location so as not to interfere with muggle trains. It would be a simple thing to install a wizard in the dispatching center where he dispatches muggle trains most of the time, adding in the Hogwarts Express when it is needed. Hell, they don't even need that much. They only need the ability to dispatch the train when needed.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAND you've earned a sub

True Dumbledore may know how to place the charm but it's also true he may not know the specifics on how it works not everyone knows everything

Your theory does make sense in the end a bit but the trace is always active it's merely whether or not it alerts them based on these I would think

During the incident was Cedric diggory it would show where he is when he used magic and what magic he used along with other unknown magic but they would ignore it because he should be at school

The trace is constantly active it's simply alerts them when and where magic for a particular underage which are wizard is used and what it is