[HPforGrownups] Re: Harry's Family

[Bernadette M. Crumb]

No: HPFGUIDX 38322


----- Original Message -----
From: "grey_wolf_c" <greywolf1 at jazzfree.com>
>
> I'd imagine that, even though she doesn't speak of Lily, she
has
> compared to her all her life: how Lily was always the best in
> everything, etc. She's now desperate to know that she's leading
a
> better life. In fact, this seems to have rubbed on Mr. Weasley,

I assume you meant to type Dursley here? :)

>too
> (remeber his thoughts at the beggining of PS: they were classy,
the
> Potters were not). It would only stand to reason that, even if
Mrs.
> Weasley despises her sister, she maintains contact to see if
she can
> show off, to asure that she's leading a better life and to know
what
> they are doing (remember, she's the sort of woman who cannot
allow
> secrets to be kept from her: she spies her neighbours, listens
to
> rumours, etc.). Then again, most baby's are Christianed, and
family is
> supposed to attend, even if you're not in speacking terms (this
would
> apply to weddings, too, so I'd imqagine that even if the
Dursleys don't
> come up in the photos of the Lily-James wedding, it's because
they left
> as soon as it was convinient - or where already stuffing
themselves).

Well, if Lily and Petunia's mum was anything like mine, it was
"You will be at your sister's wedding and put a good face on it
or else!"

I like your thoughts about how Petunia probably did keep up on
what her sibling did, even if only to point out to herself how
abnormal and freakish that Lily was.  The comparisons that
Petunia makes between her life and the "freaks" of the Wizarding
World, sadly, just points out how maladapted SHE is... being
unable to let go of grudges, and being prejudicial and
maintaining a hatred even after the object of that hatred was
gone.  I'm sure a pychoanalyst would have a field day with
Petunia and her transferences and repressions and such...  Her
emotions toward anything Wizarding are so out of balance with the
real differences between Muggle and Magic, that even after Harry
finally does leave home, she'll probaby stew and grouse and
mutter about Lily and the WW for the rest of her life.

I admit that I do wonder why Vernon is even more anti-Magic in
attitude than Petunia though... we get that incredibly
vituperative speech about Lily being a "freak" from her when
Hagrid comes to get Harry, but Vernon is the one who really goes
overboard in the ranting against the WW... Just WHY is he so
afraid of it?  Beyond the "normal" fear of the unknown?  Could
the Marauders have pulled a magical prank on him?  Who knows...
but it's fun to speculate!

Bernadette

"Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art. It has no
survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value
to survival."
-- C.S. Lewis (1898-1963).