[HPforGrownups] The case for Dudley, the Latent Wizard

[Leon Adato]

No: HPFGUIDX 83763

On Tue, 2003-10-28 at 16:39, Ali wrote:

> <snipped out much good introspection>
> Yep, Dudley could be magical and 
> might not know - yet.
> 
> Ali


While I had previously been firmly in the "Petunia, saving her Dudder's
life, does act of magic which shakes her world toward ruin", I think
your argument has real merit.

Taking this a couple of steps further, let's say that Dudley has done
magic in the past, perhaps close in time to when Harry arrived. Petunia
might have picked up on this, but not mentioned it to Vernon. When the
letter (and Harry, for that matter) arrived, Petunia struck a deal -
keep Harry but either ignore (or better-still, somehow mask) Dudley's
abilities. 

Now let's say that Dudley does some magic, and realizes (because of
Harry's influence these last few years) what it is. What he might have
chalked up to luck or coincidence is exposed for what it really is. Now
our Dudders, he's not exactly afraid of power, is he? Once he knows what
he's got, he's not likely to ignore it and hope it will go away. No,
he's going to LORD it over those around him. 

I can imagine the scenes - Dudley, both guile-less in the ways of the WW
and drunk on the promise of even greater powers from Death-eaters. Do
you suppose that the arrangement about "safe as long as he comes to live
with you" has a loophole - something akin to a vampire's need to be
invited into a house? Into Privet drive storms Lord Voldemort, intent on
finally getting revenge. Dudley is at his side (right next to Wormtail,
no doubt). Harry, of course, makes an escape. That's when it really hits
the fan. Lord Voldemort turns on Dudley, intent on punishing him for his
failure. 

Now I can perceive two possible outcomes. In one, we are witness to the
devastation and full impact of true evil. Harry will experience
firsthand what Arthur described in GoF, coming home to find the Dark
Mark hovering over (the remains of) his house.

But on the other hand, everything I've described doesn't exactly match
someone doing magic later in life. In my scenario, Dudley has always
been able to do magic, but either been dissuaded or blocked. 

No, to truly match up, someone would have to save Dudley from himself.
Someone would have to do something so unexpected, so completely off the
wall that it would take all the death-eaters and the (second) greatest
wizard in an age completely by surprise. 

Yep. I think I'm sticking with my Petunia theory after all.


-- 
Leon Adato
===============
You are never too old to be what you might have been.
     -George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans), novelist (1819-1880)
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