Dumbledore and the Dursley Problem

[echaschneider]

No: HPFGUIDX 41215

On the subject of why Dumbledore left Harry with the Dursleys while he
is clearly suffering emotional abuse:

Two passages (together) make the reasons quite clear, to my mind at
least. 

First, in PS/SS, Dumbledore tells Minerva that despite the Dursleys
being the worst kind of muggles, they are the only family he has. Thus
he must entrust them with Harry's care.

Second, in GoF, Voldemort says that Dumbledore has invoked an ancient
magic that protects Harry whenever he is in his relation's care. 


I do not believe that Dumbledore knew how abusive the Dursleys would
be to Harry. Surely, he did not want Harry treated this way.

However, Voldemort makes it clear that while Harry is with the
Dursleys, he cannot be harmed. No matter what Dumbledore knows about
Harry's life with the Dursleys, I'm certain he belives that as awful
as Harry's emotional abuse might be, it is preferable to Harry being dead.

It seems that no wizard can touch him there. Voldemort cannot reach
him, and by extension I assume that no other Death Eater can reach
him. Otherwise, there would most likely have been AK!ed (or attempted
AK!)Harry soon after he was entrusted to the Dursleys.

Dumbledore, as painful as it may be to him, will not let Harry spend
the summer with the Weasleys because it is simply not as safe. No one
can harm him at the Dursleys, and his life is more important than him
being treated kindly, even decently.

If Dumbledore knows how terribly Harry is treated, it must pain him
immensley to send him to the Dursleys instead of the Weasleys. But we
all know that what is right is not always easy. And keeping Harry
alive at all costs is surely right.

Echa