[HPforGrownups] Dursley's bribed? charmed? or afraid?

[ArtsyLynda at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 50883

Patty wrote

> Do you think that, aside from the Dursley's being Harry's only living 
> relatives, that maybe one of the reasons that Dumbledore sends him back to 
> them each summer is to also strengthen him for greater battles yet to come? 
> He may not be allowed to use his magic while away from Hogwarts, but Harry 
> is still able to gain his strength, wisdom and indepenence through the 
> trials that he must endure with his muggle family. I guess the old saying 
> could be true in this case: What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger.
> 
I think you're right in this -- poor Harry, having to deal with all he's had 
to in his life, and still having to suffer through those summers with them 
after finding his "home" at Hogwarts!  On the initial question (subject 
line), I seriously doubt the Dursleys were bribed -- they would know money 
was coming from somewhere and that somebody might be overseeing them in some 
fashion, so they would have been forced to treat Harry better, to provide his 
OWN clothes, not Dudley's hand-me-downs, etc.  Charmed?  Nope, I don't think 
so, or they wouldn't be so awful to him.  Afraid? Nope, not that either, or 
again, they would think there just might be "consequences" for their actions 
toward Harry.  I think they worry so much about how their neighbors perceive 
them that they actually do take care of Harry (he does have glasses, after 
all, which aren't hand-me-downs and apparently are the right prescription -- 
so they HAVE taken SOME care of him).  So, they do take care of him, albeit 
as little as possible, because that's what's "expected." The neighbors know 
they had this child dumped on their doorsteps and will think kindly of the 
Dursleys for taking in the poor orphan (currying favor -- with Muggles anyway 
-- is something the Dursleys are very fond of doing, from all appearances).  
I think Dumbledore placed Harry there in the first place, rather than keeping 
him in the wizarding world, to strengthen him for the battles yet to come -- 
and to hide him from Voldemort's followers, who might very well have tried to 
hunt him down, if they'd known where to look.  They probably didn't think to 
look in the Muggle world, and Dumbledore did set some kind of protections 
around Harry there.  Also, Harry has gained a huge understanding of the 
Muggle world, something that will be of great benefit to him in the future, 
in some way.  I honestly wish Rowling would keep the series going through 
Harry's adult years, because I'd love to see where he goes and what he does 
with his talents.  JMHO

Lynda 
* * *
"Don't let  the Muggles get you down." Ron Weasley, PoA


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