Dursleys' Fears (WAS: Redeeming the Dursleys

[David]

No: HPFGUIDX 53507

> Eric Oppen wrote:
> 
> > We know from JKR's statements in interviews (don't have URLs 
handy, sorry)
> > that we're going to find out a lot about the Dursleys in Book 
Five.
> > Maybe...maybe we find out _why_ they're so terrified of magic?
> > 
> 
Debbie replied:

> Indeed. I think we need an explanation, as the ones in the books 
don't quite add up.

Me too.  In the past I speculated rather tongue-in-cheek that Vernon 
may be the Weasley Muggle relative who's an accountant. (If you want 
to rise to the top in business, being an accountant is a good 
tactic.)

Debbie argued that Vernon's antipathy to magic is more likely to 
result from pranks by James and Sirius than from Voldemort's 
activites.  I think another possibility is that Vernon suffered from 
Voldemort's use of magic, or saw suffering inflicted by it, but 
assumed that it was James and his friends who were responsible.  
Dobby's use of the pudding to frame Harry could foreshadow this.

It is of interest that Vernon appears to understand very little of 
what magic can do (one reason why it's actually hard to argue that 
he's a squib, Weasley relative or no.).  For example, when the 
letters in PS start to arrive, he blocks the letter box, and Petunia 
warns him that's unlikely to work.  He cuts her off quite brusquely, 
implying her objections indicate a lack of resolve.  Quite what this 
means about his fears I'm not sure.

David, who thinks Colonel Fubster has a good chance of turning out 
to be a wizard