Harry's upbringing

[nancyaw2001 at yahoo.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 30540

I am new to this list, so forgive me if this topic has come up 
before...
It's amazing to me that Harry is able, despite his childhood with the 
Dursley's, to love and to trust. I would argue that his treatment by 
the Dursleys borders on child abuse--psychological, emotional, and 
physical (when Dursley grabs Harry and is yelling at him). Certainly 
Harry is reticent when it comes to showing emotion (seems like I read 
somewhere that that is a hallmark of abused childen) but has JKR ever 
commented on the fact of Harry's abuse? (I'm only halfway through 
PofA here). Harry is an amazing kid. There's one bit in PofA, when 
Harry tells Lupin that he hears V. murdering his mother, that makes 
me just want to grab him, hold him tight, and let him know that 
someone cares about him, and that he's deserving of love.

Or maybe it just hit a nerve with me. 

Nancy