[HPforGrownups] OoTP: Dudley

[monkykat at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 61616

Nikki wrote: Also Petunia obviously knows more about the wizarding 
world than she has ever let on, so maybe this is something she's been 
hiding from everyone. 

I think Petunia definately knows more than she is letting on. Rowling said at 
some point that someone that hasnt used magic yet will use it later in the 
series, and I think it definately has to be Petunia. I think Petunia used to 
hang out with Lilly and James and perhaps other magic folks. How else would she 
have heard "that boy telling my sister about it." There must at some point have 
been a massive falling out between them. Perhaps Petunia even went to 
hogwarts for a while. Additionally, I think that Dudley was exposed to Voldemort 
early on. Otherwise what would "spoiled, bullying" Dudley have to fear so much 
from the dementors. Remember almost everyone isnt horribly affected at all, they 
just get the chilled sensation.  I think something horrible happened early on 
to Dudley that made Petunia and Vernon 1) hate everything in the wizarding 
world 2) reequire some protection from voldemort. Because of this they grudgingly 
took Harry in for their own protection as well as his. Afteralll, Dumbledore 
said that petunia did not want to take in Harry, but was convinced in some 
manner by Dumbledore to.

Jana