Why Live With The Dursleys

[dkgrubb at earthlink.net]

No: HPFGUIDX 28413

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Rowena Grunnion-Ffitch <
rowena_grunnion_ffitch at y...> wrote:
>    Frankly this has been puzzling me ever from the
> first book on. *Why* does Harry keep going back to
> those horrible people? (yes I know he's protected
> while in their care but *he* doesn't know that so why
> doesn't he take action to escape?). 
>    By PoA Harry has learned of at least two
> alternatives to the Dursleys. He could stay with the
> Weasleys who like him and might even be persuaded to
> accept a little something for room and board *or* he
> could spend his summers at the Leaky Cauldron, (he's
> got the money). 
>    Yet still he goes dutifully back to Privet drive
> every summer, why? 

This question bothers me too.  After Harry spent two weeks at the Leaky 
Cauldron, it seemed very unlikely he would ever go back to Privet Dr.  
I can only imagine that Dumbledore told him he had to, and Harry can't 
argue his way out of it.  There has not been any hint in canon of Harry 
hoping that any of the Dursleys can be "improved".

Debra