Petunia WAS Re: New title, Mark Evans, Lily and Petunia

[bluesqueak]

>--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, kemper mentor wrote:
 Petunia is abusive as well, though more emotionally and 
neglectfully, but we see a trace of possible physical abuse in CoS 
when she nearly hits Harry in the head with a frying pan.
>
>
  
Pip!Squeak:
Let's be fair to Petunia about this [uh, did I just say that?]. 
Anyway, the frying pan comes just after Dudders has run in screaming 
that Harry has tried to do magic on him. I think it is the only time 
mentioned that Petunia is angry enought to try and hit Harry.

And what does Petunia do immediately after? She gives Harry a load 
of chores. *All of which are outside*.

In other words, the one time she nearly hits her nephew, she appears 
to take care that the boy is then out of her way until her temper 
has had time to cool.

Petunia's more the 'enabling' partner than the abusive one. It's 
always Petunia who makes sure Harry has food (even if inadequate). 
She makes sure he has clothes (even if Dudley's cast offs). She 
makes sure he goes to school. And she worries about leaving an 
eleven-year old Harry in the house alone. Harry thinks that's 
because she's worried *he'll* destroy the house; later on the 
readers discover that Harry's parents were murdered *and their house 
destroyed.*

I suspect that Petunia will turn out to be like Quirrelmort's 
description of Snape - she hates her nephew, but has never wanted 
him dead. 

Harry could find that there were no real bribes offered in that 
original letter from Dumbledore. The 'bribe' was the information 
that only Petunia taking him in could save Harry's life.

Pip!Squeak

You have been summoned - Accio 2005, the first Harry Potter 
conference in the UK. 
http://www.accio.org.uk/