[HPforGrownups] Re:Harry and the Dursleys' abusive behaviour

[Firebolt]

No: HPFGUIDX 1648

> I did enjoy Heidi's parenting attachment theories that she posted awhile
> back (that the love he received early on from James & Lily would have
> given him some measure of protection and self-worth during his years
> with the Dursleys), but I do think any child who had lived through what
> the Dursleys have done to him (especially since he also has no outside
> friends or family) would be considerably less sociable, moral & centered
> than Harry is.  Harry has no siblings, no friends & no family members
> other than the Dursleys.  His only contact with the outside world is to
> go to school (where he has no friends) or to Mrs. Figg (which he
> dislikes).  Where on earth would he learn to interact socially & what it
> means to make the "right" choices (Ron over Malfoy, etc.)?  He didn't
> even have a library card we're told -- so it's not as though he escaped
> with books & learned about life through reading.

I agree with you on this count, but I thought I'd point out that we know
Harry is quite observant - it wouldn't surprise me at all if he's managed to
glean what he knows about being social and friendship from watching the soap
operas Petunia was staring mindlessly at, or the books they read in school,
or just watching what how the other kids act in school. That still doesn't
explain how he can still be pretty well adjusted, but it does sort of
explain how he can compare Draco to Dudley early on and see his offer for
what it really is.

<It has been sugested that Voldy may be Lily's father, but what if he
is actually her brother or half-brother? That would make a little
sense because he said she didn't have to die.  But he had killed a
lot of people so why bother telling her she didn't have to die?
Voldy's mom died during his birth, but what if Lily was born before
Voldy........>

Um, in 1942, Voldemort was in his 5th year, making him 15 or 16, so he was
born back in 1926 or 27 (Hagrid being born in 1929). That would make him 68
years old by GoF...if Lily were his half-sibling, the only possible way
would be if Tom Riddle Sr. had another child somewhere around 30 years or
more after he got Voldie's mother pregnant. And of course, by then, Tom Sr.
would be dead, because we know from GoF chapter 1 that Voldemort killed the
Riddles as a teenager.

<There's been precious little mention of Lily in the books, as compared to
James. I think there's something special about her that's not been covered
yet. I've been wondering why Tom Riddle looked a bit like Harry. There's
some connection there---why did Dumbledore have a flash of triumph in his
eyes after finding out Voldemort had been raised via Harry's blood?>

The rumor mills say that JK Rowling is going to reveal a big secret about
Lily later in the series.

~Firebolt