SUMMARIES: The Worst Birthday and Dobby's Warning

[meboriqua at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 22874

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Indigo" <indigo at i...> wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at y..., catherine at c... wrote:
 
Indigo beat me to some of the answers I would have written, but here 
are some of my responses to this well written summary of chapters 1&2. 
> > 
> > 3.	Why can't Petunia see that Dudley has a serious weight 
> > problem?
> 
> Denial.  Just call her Cleopatra.  Her boy is perfect in her eyes, 
no matter what anyone else says.>

Absolutely.  Petunia later tearfully insists that Dudley's behavior at 
school is misunderstood (GoF).  I also think that she thinks she is 
showing him love by spoiling him rotten.  Not only does she think 
Dudley is perfect, but she probably thinks she is a super mom as well.  
I think she sucks, but I'm glad she made him follow that diet in GoF.

   
> > 5.	Has anyone ever eaten a pudding made of cream and sugared 
> > violets?  Is it as sickly and as revolting as it sounds?
> 
> Never had one.  It does sound pretty yucky. I've had violet gum and 
> violet candy and those are pretty nasty. But I'm an American with an 
> uncultured palate *wink* >

I have also tried Violet candy, which was vile.  It tastes like 
perfume.  I'd rather have Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans any day. 
> > 
> > 8.	Why does Harry assume that his friends have forgotten him, 
> > rather than thinking something may have happened?  Is he very 
> > insecure?
> > 
> Yes, and rightfully so. He has never had friends of his own before.  
> Everyone he could've been friends with was denied him by Dudley and 
> the fear of reprisal by Dudley at his pre-Hogwarts school.>

Once again, Indigo, I agree with you.  I think it is fairly common for 
people to think the way Harry did - "My friend hasn't called in a 
while.  I wonder if she is upset with me?"  Since Harry is so 
completely cut off from the wizarding world when he is with the 
Dursleys, it is easy for him to think the worst.    

> 
> > 9.	Dobby says that Harry is too important to be put at risk.  
> > Why is this?  Is it just because of what Harry stands for among 
the  oppressed, or does it refer to something which is going to happen 
> >in  the future?  Could this be an early reference to Professor 
> > Trelawney's first prediction?>
> 
> Dobby has, no doubt, heard from Lucius, that Harry is of some 
> significance.  And while he can't speak badly of his family while in 
> servitude, he is clever enough to throw a monkeywrench in their 
> works.>

I think some of that special elf magic is at work here.  They can 
probably communicate with each other.  The combination of the Malfoys' 
mouths and news from other house elves is enough to convince Dobby to 
try and save Harry.
  
> > 12.	If Harry had been expelled, at the end of the year, would 
> > Dobby have cleared his name?
> > 
> Maybe.  More likely Hermione would've sought to find out what had 
> happened and get to the bottom of it herself.>

I like that idea!  
> 
> > 13.	If the MoM knew that magic had been performed in the house, 
> > why didn't they also know that it wasn't Harry who had done it?
> > 
> Perhaps Dobby faked it in a manner to fool the MoM's detection 
> spells?>

Once again, that powerful elf magic is working here.  Whatever Dobby 
did, the MoM followed his plan and Harry got in trouble.

--jenny from ravenclaw*********************************