OOP :4 Privet Drive: Harry's safe haven?

[zenchela]

No: HPFGUIDX 64333

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Ali" <Ali at z...> wrote:
> 
> The Pact
> 
> I wonder what the "pact" was that Petunia sealed by letting Harry 
in 
> her home. I am tempted to believe that it was to keep Dudley out of 
> Hogwarts/ the Wizarding World. Dudley's worst memory could be doing 
> something magical, and the effect that it had on Petunia. This is 
of 
> course pure conjecture. But, the pact must have given Petunia some 
> sort of incentive, or why else would she endanger her family by 
> taking Harry in? I really believe that she knew the risks.
> 

What if that pact involved a trade -- Harry for Dudley?  Suppose 
Petunia is a squib from a wizarding family, and Dudley has inherited 
the potential for magic -- like a suppressed gene.  Might Dumbledore 
be able to say, in effect, "Petunia, you protect Harry and I'll 
protect Dudley (from becoming a wizard)."  So she and Vernon do all 
they can, in their abusive way, to keep Harry in the house as much as 
possible -- locked in the cupboard or Dudley's second bedroom -- for 
all those years, or in Arabella Figg's house.

Now Harry and Dudley have been attacked by Dementors.  Petunia has 
not protected Harry as it says in the pact, and the Howler reminds 
her that if she doesn't protect him, Dudley may no longer be 
protected, either.  That might explain her white-faced acceptance 
that Harry *must* stay with them.

Zen