Petunia?! (formerly Christmas Gifts from Dursleys)

[scoutmom21113]

No: HPFGUIDX 77282

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, yellows at a... wrote:
> In a message dated 8/14/2003 1:42:07 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
Brookeshanks writes:
> 
> > 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?
> 
> I think you have a good point -- her gifts may have a protective 
magical quality to them and DD may have required that she send 
*something* while he's at Hogwarts. Here's my question: Does he keep 
the things she sends, or does he chuck them? How useful could they 
be?
> 
> But in response to yours: I believe that DD has told her about 
Azkaban, which is why she seems to know all about it better than 
other aspects of the WW. If Petunia has heard about and fears 
Azkaban, she'll obey DD's every wish. For all we know, Petunia may 
actually be considered a potential inmate if she refuses to protect 
Harry. She may be held responsible by a magically-binding contract. 
> 
> Brief Chronicles

I think Petunia's attitude towards Harry is the same as Snape's, 
except in reaction to jealousy over his mother instead of hatred for 
his father.  However, I still believe that she knows much more about 
the WW than she has ever let on.  Knowledge of Azkaban is only one 
example.  Her reaction when Harry told the Dursleys that Voldemort 
had returned was not a muggle reaction.  She seemed to know, not 
only Voldemort's name, but the implications of his return.  

Dumbledore may have told her about Azkaban, but I don't think would 
have threatened her with it.  And being described as that "awful 
boy" (or whatever the exact quote) doesn't fit Dumbledore.  IMHO it 
strikes me as a childish threat for him to have made and is out of 
character.  He never has to tell students "do this or I will..."  He 
is able to get his point across while being polite and soft-spoken.

Ravenclaw Bookworm