[HPforGrownups] Harry Potter Character Sketch - Part 3 of 3

[Margaret Dean]

No: HPFGUIDX 17142

Amber wrote:

> We don't know if Petunia was upset when Lily died, but I imagine that
> she wasn't. She might've shed tears for appearence sake, but I don't
> think she would've been too distraught. Of course, I'm only basing this
> off of all that Petunia has said about Lily, none of which has been
> positive. For all we know, Petunia could be grieving inside for her
> dead sister and hiding it...

I think that Petunia would have to be even more of a monster than
JKR depicts her as to feel =no= grief at Lily's death.  We all
kind of assume that Lily was a lovable person and it's perfectly
possible to love, hate, and be jealous of a sibling at the same
time.  (I'd be interested to know how Lily felt about Petunia,
myself.)

I can also easily see Petunia being =frightened= by Lily's
murder.  If some evil person murders your sister, might they not
be coming for you next?  Looking at it that way, it's easy to see
why Petunia rejects magic so violently, since in her view that's
what killed Lily.


--Margaret Dean
  <margdean at erols.com>