[HPforGrownups] Redeemed!Dudley?

[herm - own - ninny]

No: HPFGUIDX 56214

>From: "Kelly Grosskreutz" My thoughts did lead me to this observation, 
>though.  Is it just me, >or do the Dursleys sometimes act like they're 
>afraid of Dudley?  At >his 11th birthday party, for instance, he notices he 
>has less presents >than this year.  He is on the verge of throwing a temper 
>tantrum.  The >Dursleys scurry to do anything they can to pacify him so he 
>will not >get angry.  There have been other times in the series when the 
> >Dursleys >give in to Dudley.  From a normal child-rearing standpoint, 
> >this obviously is not good for the child. However, what if they are 
> >afraid of what he might do if he has a temper tantrum?  One of the 
> >things Hagrid said to prove to Harry that he was a wizard is asked him 
> >if he'd ever done magic when he was angry or >frightened.
>It makes me wonder if the Dursleys are afraid that Dudley might end up
>taking after his aunt Lily.
...(edited)
>On a side note, I clicked on the link for the Book Magazine article, >and I 
>got a message saying the page couldn't be found.
>



Me:
Well first off, sorry about the bad link. I found it through the Leaky 
Cauldron, so if you go there (www.the-leaky-cauldron.org) and find the April 
23 Book Magazine blurb, you ought to get a working link.

Now, as for Wizard!Dudley, I think this would also work well with the 
"someone developing magical powers later in life" hint that JKR dropped. I 
had always thought that someone would be Filch, but I see no reason why 
Dudley can't be a late blooming wizard. However, if you're suggesting that 
he -already- has magic powers, hence the Dursley's being afraid of him, then 
I would disagree. If that were the case, then why didn't he get a letter 
from Hogwarts? Also, Dudley himself seems frightened of magic. In CoS, when 
Harry does a faux spell on him out in the garden, he runs away terrfied.

I've never gotton the impression that Petunia and Vernon are afraid of 
Dudley, just afraid of upsetting him. Not because he can do any significant 
harm, but because they love him to death and don't want to bring on a temper 
tantrum of screaming and crying. They cannot deal with these temper tantrums 
because they have lost their position of authority over Dudley, so they try 
their best to avoid them. Also, based on the way they treat Harry and refer 
to Lily and James as "freaks," I would think they'd be less enthusiastic 
about their son had he displayed any inclination towards magic.

dina


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