[HPforGrownups] Petunia?! (formerly Christmas Gifts from Dursleys)

[Michaela Ross]

No: HPFGUIDX 77179


Brooke <brookeshanks at mugglenet.com> wrote:
<spinelli372003 at y...> wrote:
  I wondered if anyone else had noticed that the Dursleys had sent 
things to Harry at Hogwarts.  



   I always wondered why the Dursleys ever bothered to send Harry 
Christmas gifts, knowing how much they despise him, (and how 
toothpicks and kleenex tissues are hardly worth the effort of sending 
off even as a joke).  
   Up till now it seemed to me that they just found it amusing to 
tease Harry with worthless gifts to remind him that he is a thorn in 
their side.  But now that Dumbledore has revealed to Harry why he has 
to go back to the Durlseys every summer, I am thinking there might 
have been another reason for the pathetic gifts.  
   Now that we know what magic protects Harry at Privet Drive, I am 
betting that Petunia had been the one sending the "gifts" to Harry at 
Christmas.  If she had not cared a bit, she would not have even 
thought of him.  But the fact that something was sent to Harry at 
all, means that he was on her mind (or someone's mind).  
   Petunia has always known that Harry is protected by her presence.  
Maybe the gifts had magical qualities (because they belonged to a 
blood relative) that were hidden by their commonplace appearance - 
convenient for Petunia to send off without attracting any attention.  
Perhaps she did not know that Harry did not need her protection while 
he was at Hogwarts... 
   The only problem with this hypothesis is - why would Petunia take 
care to make sure that Harry remains protected?  She obviously knows 
more than we thought she did.  How much does she know?  How far would 
Aunt Petunia go to protect Harry in a crisis?  Could her apparent 
loathing of him ever subside?  Any thoughts?
<snip>

  

 Maybe secretly she does have feelings for Harry, but since she seemed to despise her sister for being a witch she couldn't show it. Like Snape, I think he secretly respects Harry.      

Michaela