When Petunia met James

[darrin_burnett]

No: HPFGUIDX 70268

No, this isn't the beginning of a SHIP - yeeeeech.

I'm trying to get opinions and ideas on when Petunia was able to hear 
from "that awful boy" about Azkaban. For the moment, let's assume the 
awful boy is James, although I realize Petunia doesn't confirm this 
when Harry asks her.

The actual phrasing is - (page 34, UK) "I heard -- that awful boy -- 
telling HER about them - years ago."

We know James and Lily weren't dating until at least seventh year, 
which would be 1977-78. That is the earliest, presumably, that he 
would have gone to meet her family. 

The events at the beginning of Philosopher's Stone, the Lexicon tells 
us, takes place on November 1, 1981. 

On the very first page of PS/SS, we are told that Lily and Petunia 
have "not met for several years."

We know she has information on Lily -- she knows that Lily had a baby 
roughly the same time she had Dudley and the baby's name is Harry - 
but that could have been relayed by another relation, or through a 
letter that Petunia gave a cursory response, or no response, to.

Now, it is possible Petunia overheard something when the family went 
to drop off or pick up Lily at the station prior to Lily and James 
dating -- and if James was being an arrogant berk, maybe the "awful 
boy" was more truth than Petunia's hatred of magic.

It is possible James was bragging to Lily about not being scared 
of "Dementors in Azkaban" or something and Petunia overheard him, and 
asked Lily what the deal was.

Still, that is an astonishing thing to remember, based on overhearing 
something. Not only does Petunia remember Dementors, but SHE 
volunteers the name of the prison.

How to resolve this?

1) Petunia and Lily were a lot closer and Petunia never approved of 
James. It wasn't Lily's magic that drove them apart, but her choice 
in men. So, she would have been concerned about things like Wizard 
Prison (if only to know where she thought James would end up.)

2) They may not have met in several years, but they've been 
corresponding actively, behind Vernon's back. And for that matter, if 
Chapter One of PS/SS is Harry's dream, who is to say they haven't 
met? Again, it's what Harry knows.

3) OK, the awful boy is someone else Lily brought home. Maybe Snape, 
maybe Sirius, maybe someone else entirely.

Darrin
-- Petunia-James Ship? Gahhh... MY EYES!