Unanswered Dursley Questions

[Joe Bento]

Doddie,

Thanks so much for your explanation.  I've read and read the books 
numerous times, and am rereading the HBP for a second time. Having 
someone else's insight realy opens up different areas of 
understanding.

I hadn't considered the importance of Harry returning once more to 
the Dursley household - I hadn't even considered the thought that it 
was as much for protection of the Dursley family as for Harry.  It 
certainly makes one wonder how he might be treated when he does 
return for a final time.

The possibility of the final interaction with Harry and Lord 
Voldermort occuring in the muggle world is most interesting. I had 
always  made an assumption that the final war would occur back in 
Godric's Hollow.  Your message opens new possibilities to ponder.

Dudley / Snape interactions?  I like Snape as a character, but 
rather dislike Dudley.  I do think the two might actually grow to 
like each other in time.  However, I have no doubt that Dudley would 
be in Slytherin if he were a wizard.  Cure the boy of his sniveling -
 which I'm sure Snape would detest - and Dudley would then have 
found the perfect mentor.  And if Dudders were a wizard, he'd 
probably even find the power the Death Eaters have attractive.

Joe


--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "doddiemoemoe" 
<doddiemoemoe at y...> wrote:
> --- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "Joe Bento" <joseph at k...> 
> wrote:
> > The Half-Blood Prince was certainly a shocker, adding as many 
> > questions to the queue as were answered.
> > 
> > Am I the only one that wished there was a bit more dialog about 
the 
> > Dursleys - Petunia in particular.  Back in OotP, when Harry 
arrives 
> > home with Dudley following the Dementor attack, Petunia dropped 
the 
> > bomb when Vernon asked what the ruddy hell dememtors were.  
Petunia 
> > blurts out that they guard the wizard prison, Azkaban.  Harry 
was 
> > obviously as shocked by this statement as learning Mrs Figg was 
a 
> > witch.
> > 
> > For someone who hates the wizarding world as much as the 
Dursleys, 
> > that's a rather trivial piece of information to retain for so 
many 
> > years.
> > 
> > Do we just accept the fact that Petunia has some basic 
> understanding 
> > of the wizarding world because her sister was a witch, or is 
there 
> > more to this woman than we've been led to believe?
> > 
> > I'm also trying to understand Dumbledore's statement of how 
> > important it is that Harry return to Number 4 Privet drive 
before 
> he comes of age.  Is this to protect Harry, or the Dursleys?  When 
> > Harry does come of age, the protection spell apparently no 
longer 
> > works.  What danger does this put the Dursleys in?
> > 
> snip
> > 
> > Joe
> 
> Doddie here:
> 
>   I wish there had been more dialog but the fact that there was 
not 
> and what was spoken speaks more than not...
> 
> Petunia was not only the hope for not only Dudley, but for Harry 
too..
> 
> If she could not raise Harry with love then neither could she 
raise 
> Dudley as such(something Dumbledore did not count on)...and she 
does 
> a grave disservice to both with this inability. However Harry 
obtains 
> his love from other sources--the memories of his mother that DD 
give 
> him...the memories of his father Sirius gives him--and the memory 
of 
> both that Lupin gives him...and his friendships over the years.
> 
> Dudley has no future. I do not even see him succeeding in his 
> father's shoes..(which by this point Harry has already surpassed 
his 
> own father's shoes--evidence is Harry's reactions to his father's 
> behavior--Harry sees it and chooses to do otherwise!)
> 
> The only people who have set boundaries for Dudley thus far have 
been 
> Hagrid, Harry, and George and Fred!
> 
> The fact that Petunia didn't ignore it, lent the fact that; 
Petunia 
> does indeed believe that the magical world exists(she fears her 
son 
> will be a wizard)...All these years she's probably given Harry 
house 
> room so Vernon, Dudders, and herself can be safe, yet she treats 
> Harry like Poo on her shoe..(why would she decide otherwise after 
all 
> these years--and given what sort of folks they are why would they 
> even take Harry in if not for their own best intrests...I oft 
wonder 
> if DD gave them Harry's scholarship money!)
> 
> I hope Harry makes pig tails grow out of all of them before he 
> leaves....ones that could be surgically removed--but grow back 
again 
> and again and again!!
> 
> To put the Dursley protections question into play---one must 
parallel 
> Dudley's and Harry's experience...then make them swap places 
numerous 
> times to imagine how they would act/react...
> 
> Harry come out ahead every time IMO.
> 
> DD says Harry must return one last time..Dd says to protect 
Harry..I 
> say to protect Harry's blood line..
> 
> I really hope Hermione and Ron show up there...I'm sure they'd 
give 
> the Dursleys a run for their money just normal folk having a good 
> time.
> 
> My guess is that Voly will kill the durseleys if they don't listen 
to 
> Harry and he will try to save them..
> 
> OMG--horribe thought....final battle at the Dursleys! (Is this why 
DD 
> was so kind to them?!??)
> 
> I dunno just my thoughts on the matter,
> Doddie
> 
> (who would like to see a page or two of Dudley and Snape 
> interactions.)