HP canon question

[alley_skywalker]

Was it ever explained in canon why when they were moving Harry from Little Whinging to the safe house it needed to be...well the way they did it? Why not just Apparate him (side-along) or use a portkey? That seems a lot more sensible to me unless there was an explanation given? Does anyone remember or have the book on hand?

Comments

[nearlyconscious]

I remember them saying Portkeys were out of the question because of the Ministry controlling their use. I *guess* making an illegal Portkey is possible, but I'd say it must be difficult. As for side-along apparition, I have no clue. I don't remember it being mentioned in the book. But since it can go wrong when the person is rushed, stressed, and it can cause serious injuries, maybe they thought it was too risky. It seems bizarre though; flying with Polyjuice seems riskier.

[alley_skywalker]

Making an illegal portkey is certainly possible. IDK who made the tri-wizard tournament cup into a portkey, but Barty Crouch sounds like the most likely option and if Barty could do it, I'm sure someone like Moody probably could. And it's not like the Order is a fully-legal organization anyway. And then there's always side-along apparition, which, as you said, would be a lot safer than...what they did. As for nervousness, I'm sure there's a wizarding equivalent to Xanax lol.

I'd say this is just JkR not being very good at paying attention to detail, but this seems like a pretty big thing to overlook...

[deslea]

I seem to recall something in The Prince's Tale about this. Didn't Dumbledore intimate that it would blow Snape's cover to move Harry without exposing him to the Death Eaters at all (because that would make it seem like Snape knew less, and had less influence than he should) so they came up with a way that would expose him, but also throw lots of misdirection into the mix instead? It's certainly the sort of stupid-smart logic Dumbledore would use, I'll give it that.

[alley_skywalker]

I thought that had to do with Snape telling them the correct date of when the operation was happening and then getting Mundungus to suggest the seven Potters thing. But I guess it could be this too... But the whole thing just seems so strange. I mean, even from the DE side, why would anything think "wizards are going from Point A to Point B. SURELY they'll go on broomstick instead of all the other far less obvious ways to transport." Just, logistically/logically speaking its confusing lol.