Harry's Summer Holidays Post Voldy

[Jim Ferer]

No: HPFGUIDX 866

Peg,

I don't see the Durselys treating Harry any better this summer than 
last, when they at least left him alone for fear of Sirius Black.

I get  bothered sometimes by how, in the wizarding world, some bad 
things are allowed to happen.  A lot of schools wouldn't tolerate 
Snape's behavior towards some students, nor would they tolerate 
teaching as poor as Gilderoy Lockhart's was.  Back on the point, 
though, I'd have to guess Dumbledore wouldn't have contacted the 
Dursleys and attempted to change their behavior.

Peg Kerr wrote,
> What also has really struck me is how different Draco's summer 
holiday might  be.  I think Draco might really be at a similar
turning point.  Cornelius Fudge might not believe it, but Lucius 
Malfoy has really gone back to Voldemort, now.  Draco might have 
sneered at H, R and Hr about Cedric's  death, but when he goes back 
home, he's going to be facing parents (or at least a father) who are 
working actively to promote the dark powers.  Will what he sees this 
summer shake him up a little?  Will he start having second thoughts 
about his loyalties?  Will Daddy maybe have a little less time to  pay
attention to Dudley [you meant Draco, I'm sure] because he's started 
murdering people?  How will that make Draco feel? And what will Draco 
be like when HE comes back to Hogworts?  Even more  swaggering and 
sneering?Or . . . maybe, a bit thoughtful and quieter, and not so 
quick to sneer?
>

Good thoughts.  It ties in with my notions of of one of the things
JKR is trying to do in these books.  Among other things, she wants
her 
young readers to realize that bad is *bad*. 

I don't know how many messages I've seen on boards frequented by 
younger readers that say "wouldn't it be cool if Harry went to the 
Dark Side?" "I think the Dark stuff is cool!"  That kind of thing. 
These kids have grown up on cartoon-funny Scooby-Doo villains and 
moved on to the cooler than the good guy Disney villains and the
World 
Wrestling Federation [their HQ is about 600 feet from where I'm 
sitting].  Heck, a lot of us grew up watching the bumbling funny Nazi 
guards on Hogan's Heroes, a program I found offensive.  

Your point is that Draco is going to have to come to grips with what 
it means to be Dark, the same journey I hope some of the readers
take. 
It's the same journey Snape made and still struggles with. Will it 
come out the same way?