Speaking up for Petunia

[Ali]

No: HPFGUIDX 83611

Susan McGee asked:-
> > So, has someone figured out why Petunia agreed (and continues to 
> agree) to shelter Harry?

This is actually a section from a post I wrote in the summer, I 
don't unfortunately have the message number. It's my favourite 
explanation of why Petunia would take Harry in. I have to be honest 
though, and say that not many people seem to agree with me! 

<< Petunia took Harry "grudgingly, furiously, unwillingly, bitterly" 
(P. 737 OoP). But, this does not seem to be the action of an Aunt 
acting only from her desire to save her nephew's life or be seen to 
do the right thing. I think Dumbledore rules this out by his howler 
as "she might need reminding of the pact she had sealed by taking 
you. [He] suspected the Dementor attack might have awoken her to the 
dangers of having you as a surrogate son". No, this pact means that 
Petunia gained something in return for taking Harry in, to 
counteract the first assault on her non-magical refuge.

If Petunia craved respectability and normality above all else, then 
I would suspect that the only thing important enough for her to take 
in her despised nephew, was to stop something that was a threat to 
that way of life. I believe that either Petunia or Dudley had shown 
some sign of magical power, and Petunia's pact with Dumbledore was 
to prevent it from being taken any further. I have chosen to think 
that it was Dudley who at a young age had shown some magical 
prowess, Petunia's reaction to it was Dudley's worst memory. What 
would be worse for Petunia than her own beloved son showing signs of 
the very thing that she despises most? Petunia dealt with 
this "problem" by smothering Dudley, in an effort to protect him 
from himself. Perhaps the pact with Dumbledore was to stop Dudley 
getting a Hogwarts letter. If Petunia then threw Harry out, 
Dumbledore would make Dudley aware of his magical inheritance. Thus, 
Petunia deals with Harry's magical abilities by trying to squash 
them out, without success, but by pampering her son, she proves 
successful.>>


Ali