Harry's childhood/V war/trailer

[Milz]

No: HPFGUIDX 16930

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Amy Gourley" <amy at p...> wrote:
> Hello! I don't post much but have been on the list since December 
and still feel like a newbie. I enjoy all the conversation but am only 
my second readings of the books and don't feel as if I know enough 
information to post on some topics. I have learned a lot from the list 
though! I have been thinking about a few things lately though.

I've been a member since September or October 2000. I read some of the 
messages here and think "wow...I completely missed that!" and I've 
read and re-read these books more than 4 times. lol

>  I was thinking of Harry's childhood with the Dursley's. We know how 
awful he's treated at age 10, 11-living under the stairs, wearing 
Dudley's hand-me-downs but how was he treated when he was a toddler, 
3, 4, 5 years old? Could they have treated him as badly then? It seems 
like he would be more messed up mentally if the Dursleys treated him 
awful as a small child. Did he have any toys to play with or did 
Dudley have all the toys? Maybe it's all just part of the story but I 
think he wouldn't be as normal as he is if he was treated awful as a 
small child-if that sentence makes sense!

This got me thinking. Did the Dursleys adopt Harry or do they maintain 
legal guardianship? I would imagine, at least in the US, that the 
Dursley's were getting visits from social workers, considering how 
Harry was found. Usually, the police would be informed (unless the 
Dursleys decided to keep that quiet) and that starts the ball rolling 
with child social services.

I think the Dursley's gave him just enough care so that the neighbors 
wouldn't gossip. In their neighborhood, at least Mrs. Figg knows 
Harry's relatives are the Dursleys and the school system knows that 
too. Like I said, I don't think the Dursleys wanted gossip about how 
poorly Petunia takes care of her nephew.

>   We have been talking about the upcoming "war" with Voldemort. Do 
you really see it as a war? What happened during V's first rise of 
power? I've thought of V and the DEs as more of a cult like or similar 
to Hitler, as mentions have been made. Was V a dicatator? I tend to 
think he wasn't a ruler but wizards were just afraid of his powers. Is 
there any evidence of all this? I don't think of what will happen in 
book 5 and beyond as a war but something else but I don't know what!
>    I was listening to the radio this morning and they were talking 
about people going to the movies and just seeing the HP trailer and 
leaving. Now, I don't think that's bad if that's what you want to do. 
They said, though, that people were then asking for their money back 
saying they changed their mind about seeing the movie. IMO, that's 
awful. Stay and watch the movie or leave after the trailer but don't 
ask for your money back. I hope I don't get flamed for this!
>    Well, that's my post. Thanks for reading it!
> 
I see a conflict evolving. There's three more books left in this 
series. At the end of the last book. Voldemort came back. The next 
book could center around Voldemort building up his following again. 
The sixth book could center around Voldemort taking power. Which will 
leave the seventh and final book to remove Voldemort from power and 
the beginnings to rebuild the world. But the only one who really knows 
is Rowling.

:-)Milz