Dursleys' Fears (WAS: Redeeming the Dursleys

[Susan Miller]

No: HPFGUIDX 53724

Discussing why Sirius and James could not have played tricks on 
Vernon or Petunia, 

naamagatus wrote:
> 
> First, there is a question of time. When did James and Sirius have 
> the *time* to play magical tricks on Vernon? Petunia is Lily's 
> younger sister, and Lily married early in life. 

Actually, we have no canon that says that Petunia is younger. In 
fact, I believe she is older or at least a fraturnal twin. If Lily 
married early and had Harry young, well Petunia must have married 
about the same time to produce Dudley, who is about the same age as 
Harry. If Petunia is older and was dating Vernon when Sirius and 
James were at Hogwarts and had occasion to meet Vernon, it would be 
quite in character for them to pull stunts on Vernon the same as the 
twins do on Dudley.

Having said that, I do think it is unlikely that such a thing 
happened. The logistics to get Sirius and James into familiar contact 
with young Vernon are pretty stretched. So you can go ahead with your 
desire not to want Vernon to

> 
> ... have a reasonable reason to hate 
> magic <g>. I think it would dim a) the burlesque and b) the moral 
> point that JKR is making (I think) through the Dursleys about 
bigotry 
> and prejudice. 
> 

Returning to lurk mode

Constance Vigilance