new (?) thoughts about the Dursleys

[pigwidgeon37 at yahoo.it]

No: HPFGUIDX 21513

I've been working like a house elf this morning, going through the 
archives and finding that there has been quite a lot of Dursley 
discussion going on.
Anyway, the fact that it seems to be confirmed that Arabella Figg 
*is* the elderly, cat-loving Mrs. Figg who occasionally baby-sits 
Harry, cast a new light upon our least favourite chracters: It all 
comes up to the question: What did Dumbledore write in his letter he 
left at the Dursleys' doorstep together with baby Harry? Who is in 
possession of the letter right now? Did the Dursleys burn it, or keep 
it?
Dumbledore must have been giving them explanations and instructions, 
as it was vital to keep Harry safe until he was old enough to enter 
Hogwarts. He must have told them that Harry was safe under their roof 
(WHY???- did he put some spell on the house?) and that, if they went 
somewhere else, he had to stay with Mrs. Figg.

The Dursleys' behaviour to Harry can never be really justified, but I 
think we should look at some parts of it from a slightly different 
angle: They didn't take him anywhere because it wouldn't have been 
safe. (What about school, though? Could there have been some 
undercover wizard to look after Harry?)
Closing him in the cupboard and humiliating him certainly wasn't 
necessary, but maybe Dumbledore's instruction was: "Don't let him 
become aware, under whatever circumstance, that he is a wizard". That 
would explain why they punished him most when he did "abnormal 
things", like making his hair grow or jumping up on the school roof.

Any comments?
Susanna