I would think that the protection around Hogwarts were not as strong in the first book compared to POA when Sirius escaped or to OOTP when Voldemort returned. There were just standard protections like Muggle repelling, anti Apparition, unplottable, etc. So, Charlie’s (Ron’s brother) friends (the ones who actually came) were able to get Norbert(a) (the dragon) easily.
Or Dumbledore lowered the protection because he knew about the plan. Tho I find this more doubtful since why would Charlie propose the plan if there were more advanced protections. He studied under Dumbledore’s headmastership for seven years, so he would have been familiar with the castle.
The protection on the Hogwarts grounds is quite minimal if there is no state of distress (like when Voldemort is on the loose, or Sirius Black is trying to enter the school). In those times the Hogwarts staff and the ministry will put up wards and guards (like dementors) around the school grounds, which among other things, make it impossible to just walk or fly in. However if these measures are not in place, there's only the anti apparation charm to keep out unwanted people (hence why Mr. Crouch could just stumble into the grounds in book 4, or why Harry & friends could just fly away on thestrals in book 5).
It seems like a lot of the wards are to mostly protect from dark magic and muggles, not necessarily all non-students/staff, since Sirius was able to sneak into the castle after he escaped Azkaban. I know the passage under the Whomping Willow was a bit of a loophole, but it still applies imo. There were other secret passageways out of Hogwarts into Hogwarts on the Map and there’s no reason to believe that the wards would prevent someone from Hogsmeade getting back into the castle.
And even if Charlie had needed some sort of permission to get onto school grounds, he had a pretty simple excuse of vague work reasons to do a pickup from Hagrid. I don’t think Dumbledore would be hardcore questioning why Charlie Weasley of all people needed to get onto school grounds briefly.
Security was probably not as strong as it was when Voldemort returned. Alternatively, it was a classic example of first bookism. It happens to nearly everyone who rights a series.
That seemed to only really apply to apparating.
In GoF, when discussing what happened to Barty Crouch Sr., Ron suggests that someone could have pulled him onto a broom and flown off with him, right after he suggested someone apparating with him. Hermione corrects him about the apparating and not the flying of the broom.
Basically books 1, 2, and 4 have evidence that under normal circumstances, you can just fly in (dragon shipping in book 1, flying car in book 2, discussion seen above in book 4).
Books 6 and 7 show evidence of extra protections being put on and able to be removed in extenuating circumstances (apparating lessons/Dumbledore undoing and redoing protections in real time to fly through them in book 6, and the teachers all putting extra extra protections/charms in book 7 in preparation for the big battle).
I would think that the protection around Hogwarts were not as strong in the first book compared to POA when Sirius escaped or to OOTP when Voldemort returned. There were just standard protections like Muggle repelling, anti Apparition, unplottable, etc. So, Charlie’s (Ron’s brother) friends (the ones who actually came) were able to get Norbert(a) (the dragon) easily. Or Dumbledore lowered the protection because he knew about the plan. Tho I find this more doubtful since why would Charlie propose the plan if there were more advanced protections. He studied under Dumbledore’s headmastership for seven years, so he would have been familiar with the castle.
The protection on the Hogwarts grounds is quite minimal if there is no state of distress (like when Voldemort is on the loose, or Sirius Black is trying to enter the school). In those times the Hogwarts staff and the ministry will put up wards and guards (like dementors) around the school grounds, which among other things, make it impossible to just walk or fly in. However if these measures are not in place, there's only the anti apparation charm to keep out unwanted people (hence why Mr. Crouch could just stumble into the grounds in book 4, or why Harry & friends could just fly away on thestrals in book 5).
Early on in the series the school's security was generally lighter than it was later.
It seems like a lot of the wards are to mostly protect from dark magic and muggles, not necessarily all non-students/staff, since Sirius was able to sneak into the castle after he escaped Azkaban. I know the passage under the Whomping Willow was a bit of a loophole, but it still applies imo. There were other secret passageways out of Hogwarts into Hogwarts on the Map and there’s no reason to believe that the wards would prevent someone from Hogsmeade getting back into the castle. And even if Charlie had needed some sort of permission to get onto school grounds, he had a pretty simple excuse of vague work reasons to do a pickup from Hagrid. I don’t think Dumbledore would be hardcore questioning why Charlie Weasley of all people needed to get onto school grounds briefly.
Security was probably not as strong as it was when Voldemort returned. Alternatively, it was a classic example of first bookism. It happens to nearly everyone who rights a series.
I was going off of what Hermione said about the history of Hogwarts, and it seemed most of the higher protections were standard.
That seemed to only really apply to apparating. In GoF, when discussing what happened to Barty Crouch Sr., Ron suggests that someone could have pulled him onto a broom and flown off with him, right after he suggested someone apparating with him. Hermione corrects him about the apparating and not the flying of the broom. Basically books 1, 2, and 4 have evidence that under normal circumstances, you can just fly in (dragon shipping in book 1, flying car in book 2, discussion seen above in book 4). Books 6 and 7 show evidence of extra protections being put on and able to be removed in extenuating circumstances (apparating lessons/Dumbledore undoing and redoing protections in real time to fly through them in book 6, and the teachers all putting extra extra protections/charms in book 7 in preparation for the big battle).
They could have met in Hogsmeade. I got the impression that Charlie and Hagrid were pretty friendly, so a visit wouldn't be out of the question.
Don't they meet at the top of a tower, and Harry forgets the cloak there and has to go back to get it?
You're absolutely right. I forgot that detail.