Sudden Thought re: the Dursleys

[Penny & Bryce Linsenmayer]

No: HPFGUIDX 10995

Hi --

I don't know why this just hit me, but I'm wondering if the very fact
that Harry got placed with the Dursleys and must return to the Dursleys
each summer is even more solid proof that they are indeed his only
living blood relatives (in other words, Hermione is not his sister or
his second cousin, and the Weasleys are not suddenly going to be related
to him either).  It sounds as though the "ancient magic" that Dumbledore
invoked for Harry's protection required that he be with blood
relatives.  It would make sense that they must be the *only* choice to
fulfill this requirement, or Dumbledore wouldn't have placed him with
such a hideous family (or continue to insist that he return there).

Related questions though: What happens while he was at muggle school?
Playing outside?  Staying with Mrs. Figg?  Was the fact that he *lived*
with the Dursleys enough?  I assume it's something similar to the
Fidelius Charm and that Voldemort has no idea where to find Harry when
he's not at Hogwarts (which, of course, is also protected -- although
you must wonder about that Porkey getting through whatever wards are in
place).

But, brief absences seem to be okay (1-2 weeks with the Weasleys in CoS,
2 weeks at the Leaky Cauldron in PoA, and 2 weeks with the Weasleys
again in GoF).  I wonder how that works?

Penny (pondering. ....)