[HPforGrownups] Re: More on Dursleys

[Rebecca Stephens]

No: HPFGUIDX 56292


--- Steve <bboy_mn at yahoo.com> wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com,
> "darrin_burnett" <bard7696 at a...>
> wrote:
> >
> > ...edited....
> > 
> > Why on earth did the Durseleys take Harry in? Why
> not just ship him 
> > off to an orphanage, or call the proper
> authorities, 
> >
> > ...edited...
> >
> > Darrin
> 
> 
> bboy_mn:
> 
> I think it could be something as simple as "What
> would the neighbors
> think?". 
> 
> The Dursleys put a lot of stock in their image. They
> like to look good
> and impress the neighbors. So I don't think they
> would have wanted to
> take any chance that the neighbors would find out
> that they had turned
> away a family member especially if the family member
> was a helpless
> baby. They certainly couldn't say they couldn't
> afford it because they
> go to great lengths to impress people with how
> successful they are. 
> 
> One could ask, "How would the neighbors ever know?".
> But Harry was on
> the doorstep overnight. Neighbors working the night
> shift could have
> returned home and say him there. When Petunia came
> out the next
> morning, she screamed at the sight; I'm sure that
> would have roused
> the neighbors curiousity. It may have taken them a
> few days to decide
> what to do, during that time people may have found
> out. So, I find it
> hard to believe they could have shipped Harry off
> without a single
> soul knowing about it.


The neighbors might know the baby was there, but there
would by no way for them to know the child was family.
 They'd just think someone dumped a baby on their
neighbors, and that the Dursley's did the right thing
by turned him over to social services.

And I sure hope none of the neighbors saw the baby on
the stoop.  It would have been pretty bad of them not
to go pick him up or knock on the door or even call
the Dursleys.

I still think there must be something in the letter
that convinced them.

=====
http://wychlaran.tripod.com

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