Harry's "care" (was Re: Lilly's touch)

[GulPlum]

No: HPFGUIDX 45041

(Before I start my reply, I must admit that I have absolutely no idea why I 
went off on a tangent about "passing on formal care for Harry" in my 
previous post, as it really had nothing to do with the gist of the post. 
Furthermore, Barb's comments have convinced that I seem to have been 
barking up entirely the wrong tree anyway. It may be wise to drop that 
entire line of thought.) :-)

Barb P wrote:

>No adult took over his care when he was rescued from Privet Drive by Ron 
>and the twins, as you note, but I don't believe this caused 
>"consternation" to all concerned; Molly seemed most upset that the twins 
>had stolen the car, and then that Arthur had charmed the car.  Harry being 
>at the Burrow did not seem to concern her.  He was very likely not as safe 
>at the Burrow during that summer as he would have been on Privet Drive, 
>but a specific threat wasn't feared at the time, either.  Of course, 
>Dumbledore must have feared that Voldemort would rise again at some point 
>or he wouldn't have devised the "ancient magic" on Privet Drive to protect 
>Harry in the first place.  Evidently, his staying at the Burrow between 
>first and second year was deemed to be an acceptable risk.

I have absolutely no idea what the relevance of the following has to all of 
this, but I've just taken another look at the beginning of CoS.

It goes further than your observations. There is an indication that it 
didn't cross the Weasley parents' mind that it would be wise or necessary 
to inform *anyone* that Harry was at the Burrow (despite knowing that Harry 
had escaped from the Dursleys without their consent), and when the Hogwarts 
letters arrive a week after Harry's arrival, Arthur's comments indicate 
that he has no idea how Dumbledore found out Harry was there.

Apart from the curiosity of just how Dumbledore found out (yes, I am 
convinced that his watch has something to do with it), :-) it seems strange 
to me that the caring Weasleys wouldn't consider it important to contact 
the Dursleys, or at least Dumbledore, to let them know that Harry was safe. 
Contrast this with their attitude at the beginning of PoA or GoF when they 
are particularly fearful for Harry's safety. (Yes, I know Sirius was on the 
loose at the beginning of PoA, but they seem to go to extraordinary lengths 
at some points whilst being quite nonchalant at others.)

-0-
GulPlum AKA Richard, without a clue what he's trying to say... :-)