[HPforGrownups] Re: Magical protection -- the Dursleys

[Barb P]

No: HPFGUIDX 44947


I wrote: 

> Dumbledore [snip] knows nothing about them.  In fact, he makes the groundless assumption that they will be honest with him about who he is (he tells McGonagall that the Dursleys will tell Harry what he needs to know when he is older).<  

MarEphraim wrote:

Actually, he says "His aunt and his uncle will be able to explain everything to him when he's older. I've written them a letter." (PS, UK paperback, p. 15)

This doesn't necessarily mean they _will_ tell him. <g>

Me: 
Exactly.  When he said that the Dursleys "will be able to explain everything" and mentions the letter, he is clearly assuming that they will do this.  We have no indication that the Dursleys have shown him this letter.  He was making an assumption (that they would follow his suggestions, obviously included in the letter). 
 
Barb P writes:

> Plenty of times, people walking up to him and shaking his hand could have spilled everything to him about who he was.  While he may have been protected from people with bad intentions by being with his relatives, he wasn't completely sheltered from the wizarding world, as people who meant well were easily able to access him ...[snip]<

MarEphraim wrote:
 
Now assuming that the Fidelius Charm was used for Harry,  

 

Me:

This is assuming quite a lot.  Considering that Voldemort called the protections on him "ancient magic," which is not a phrase used to describe the Fidelius Charm, and that numerous magical people of good intent have no trouble finding Harry (the Weasley twins and Ron, for instance, when they rescue him in the Ford Anglia) there are many, many clues that the Fidelius Charm is not involved in his Protection on Privet Drive and that there is no Secret Keeper involved.

 

MarEphraim wrote:

it would mean the Ms Figg really was playing a much larger active role in protecting Harry than we might otherwise have imagined. (We'll have to wait for OoP for more info on that one).


Me:

I believe you are correct about this, and it is yet another clue that the Fidelius Charm is not involved.  The magic seems to have something specifically to do with Harry staying with relatives, so when the relatives are not available, someone who is a witch masquerading as a Muggle is called in to protect him until the stronger source of protection can return.  (JKR pretty much admitted in an interview that Arabella Figg and Mrs. Figg are the same person, I believe.  When someone asked her about this, she said "Well spotted!" or words to that effect.)

 

MarEphraim wrote:


On the other hand, Harry's encounters with WW people before the Letter from No One could be a Flint.


Me:

We have no reason to believe this.  To twist things like this just so that it appears Harry is under the protection of the Fidelius Charm is rather convoluted, IMO.


 wrote: 

>He wasn't protected from ill-intentioned people in general, just magical ones, it seems.<

MarEphraim wrote:

Right, see my comments about the Fidelius Charm above.

Me:

Ah, but the description of the Fidelius Charm says it hides people from anyone but the Secret Keeper, not just people planning to do magical mischief.  It doesn't fit.


 

--Barb


  


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