More on Dursleys

[darrin_burnett]

No: HPFGUIDX 56263

Katie:

> > Why on earth did the Durseleys take Harry in? Why not just ship 
> him 
> > off to an orphanage, or call the proper authorities, pretend you 
> have 
> > no clue who the kid is, and send him into the system.
>  
> To answer that question, I believe it was partially about the 
> money.  The 
> muggle authorities would give them LOADS of money for taking care 
of and bringing up a child that wasn't their own (that is of course 
> assuming they know about it, and don't think that Harry has 
> evaporated into thin air)

First, Katie, thank you for giving me the courtesy of a response and 
not condescendingly blathering about how we shouldn't take this 
seriously. 

There are 55,000 posts here. That horse has already escaped the barn.

I realize the welfare system in the UK works differently than in the 
U.S., but I don't see how LOADS of money would be coming from the 
state. James and Lily were likely not registered with any kind of 
Muggle organization such as Social Security, that would give Harry 
benefits.

> I also believe that the Dursleys had faith that they could squeaze 
> every drop of magical blood out of Harry's veins.
> I think that Petunia was jealous of Lily's ability, but she still 
> cared about her, regardless of the "freak" comment.  I think she 
> wanted Harry to be looked after my family, rather than someone he 
> didnt know. 

I do not see any evidence in the Dursleys actions or behavior that 
indicates Petunia gave a damn. All through the beginning of PS/SS, 
they talk about never wanting to see Lily and not wanting Harry to 
associate with Dudley. 

All you'd have to do is call the police or child-welfare and 
say, "Someone left this kid on my doorstep."

Don't show them the note, or forge another note, and soon enough, the 
kid will be in the system and someone else's problem. Harry doesn't 
seem to bear any resemblence to Petunia, even though she is his blood 
aunt, so they would get away with it.

No, I believe Dumbledore said something in that letter.

> > Dumbledore left a letter in Harry's blankets. What was in that 
> letter?
> > 
> > My guess? Money and maybe an implied threat. Any other thoughts? 
> > Surely it wasn't out of family loyalty.
> 
> I think the letter explained that the darkest wizard of the age had 
> killed Lily and James, and had tried to kill Harry but failed.  
> Maybe it included why they were killed.........????
> I'm not sure about money being enclosed in the letter, because what 
> would Dumbledore be doing with muggle money?  

The Grangers change Muggle money into Wizard gold at the bank in CoS. 
Why can't it be changed the other way? Also, Dumbledore reads the 
Muggle newspapers. It is not inconceivable he's got a stash of Muggle 
money somewhere, or maybe even a checking account under an assumed 
name. Or, he told them they would receive a certain amount every 
month and enclosed the first check. 


Because I imagined the letter to 
> be fairly thin, and you couldn't get many galleons in the space.  
> I'm also not sure about the implied threat either.  What could 
> Dumbledore threaten the Dursleys with? 

Oh, turning them into pigs, for one. He's a wizard! All he has to do 
is say, "Jiggory-Piggory" and watch them run.

 However I do believe that in 
> the letter it was also explained that on Harry's 11th birthday, he 
> will be sent for, and he will go to Hogwarts, regardless of the 
> thoughts of the Dursleys.

That's possible. 

Still, the Durselys have not only taken Harry in, but have accepted 
him back three years in a row during the summer, even after he blew 
up Aunt Marge.

They are getting paid off. OR there is something about the Dursleys 
we don't know yet.

Darrin
-- I come here because I want one thing I don't have to take 
seriously, damn it.