[HPforGrownups] Dumbledore's Decision and the Explanation for it we have yet to see

[Richelle Votaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 41199

> Did Dumbledore have any clue how horrible the Dursley's would be when
> he left baby Harry there? We know he left them a letter that was
> supposed to explain everything...so I wonder what he told them.

Yep, Dumbledore knew.  McGonagall sat on the fence all day as a cat and
watched them.  She tells Dumbledore "You can't mean the people living here?
Dumbledore--you can't.  I've been watching them all day.  You couldn't find
two people who are less like us.  And they've got this son--I saw him
kicking his mother all the way up the street, screaming for sweets.  Harry
Potter come and live here!"

To which Dumbledore replied "It's the best place for him."

My only explanation was in relation to the dementors.  If they were going to
be after Harry for one reason or another, and are only attracted to happy
memories/ thoughts, etc. then Dumbledore would have wanted him to have no
happy memories.  Which he didn't, if you'll recall when learning the
Patronus Charm his only happy memories were post Privet Drive.

> know about Quidditch and wizards and such.  Was it because of the
> letter Dumbledore left? Hagrid was there when Harry was dropped on

I think so.  I don't think that Dumbledore necessarily wanted Harry to know
about the wizarding world.  Hagrid, of course, assumed that was in the
letter.  Dumbledore said "His aunt and uncle will be able to explain
everything to him when he is older."  What was everything, exactly?  He sure
couldn't  expect Muggles to teach Harry about things in the wizard world.
He probably only had enough information to get by on--as little as possible.
I think that perhaps he wanted Harry to grow up just as he did.  If he had
been raised to think he were going to be a great wizard, he may have become
more like Draco Malfoy and less like the Harry Potter we know.  As they say,
Ignorance is bliss.

Richelle