OOP: Harry's bullying was Favorite Lines...

[jenny_ravenclaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 63225

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "sadimae2002" <sadimae2002 at y...> 
wrote:
 
> Harry has always treated Dudley like this. In book one Dudley asks 
if Harry would like to practice putting his head down the toilet and 
Harry answers that Dudley might make the toilet sick. In book two he 
teases Dudley with phoney spells. I do see anger and a willingness to 
hurt Dudley that I did not see in the other books. I think that Harry 
is realizing that he is powerful and angry that others do not see 
that. I don't see a parallel because I do not think James is acting 
from anger and a whole life of being bullied by Snape. James is acting  
more like a stupid teenager. But you have a good point. I think Harry  
will realize what he is doing when he can look back in the summer.>

I don't know about this.  Even though I see the makings of a 
begrudging understanding between the two cousins, there is a lot of 
anger and jealousy there.  Dudley was always terrified of Harry 
spoiling things for him - like his birthday in SS.  He hated for 
anyone to get more attention than he did, and who worse than the 
bizarre cousin he has to share a home with?

Harry, of course, has always been forced to live in Dudley's shadow - 
literally.  Remember Dudley laughing when Harry was chased up a tree 
by Aunt Marge's dog?  Or how often Harry was chased by Dudley and his 
gang?  Or how he must have felt having to wear clothes cast off by 
Dudley?  To be realistic, it's quite understandable that Harry is 
aggressive towards Dudley, simply because he can be and he isn't going 
to suddenly forgive and forget the suffering he's done at Dudley's 
hands.  Besides, Dudley can take care of himself. 

It is possible that Dudley has developed some jealousy of Harry at 
this point.  Harry has power that Dudley never will, and Dudley is 
stuck with Vernon and Petunia as parents but Harry doesn't have to 
worry about them always being on his back.  Dudley showed quite a bit 
of embarrassment at Harry's taunting of Petunia's sickening nicknames.  
I am sure Dudley is sick and tired of being treated like a five year 
old moron by his mother, even if he uses it to his advantage, like 
when he insisted Harry was at fault when Harry not only saved Dudley, 
but carried him home, too.  I think Dudley knew that.

The two of them take swipes at each other whenever they can.  Ah, 
families!

--jenny from ravenclaw *************