[HPforGrownups] Re: Acceptable Abuses?

[Shaun Hately]

No: HPFGUIDX 96254

On 18 Apr 2004 at 0:25, dumbledore11214 wrote:

> It is not like he could not interfere. The Order told Dursleys off at 
> the end of OoP, after all. Why exactly they did not so it  much 
> earlier?
> 
> Beyond plot reasons, are there any others? 

I can think of a couple of possibles.

The first involves Vernon Dursley. It seems obvious to me that he's 
the real fly in the ointment here. I think it's quite likely that 
if it wasn't for Vernon, Petunia would probably treat Harry better 
than she does. I'm not saying she's ever likely to have been a 
loving aunt to him - but I think a lot of her attitude is coloured 
by her husbands.

It is critical remains at his aunt and uncles home - we know that 
this is because he is protected there - and we know that is taken 
seriously by those who know what is going on. Harry receives two 
urgent messages from Arthur Weasley and from Sirius near the start 
of Order of the Phoenix both telling him not to leave the house. 
There's a specific threat in that case - but it really drives home 
that Harry must stay.

And his staying really does rely on Vernon and Petunia agreeing 
that he stays. They could throw him out - and Vernon is intent on 
doing so at that point.

It's plausible that if Dumbledore knows what is going on that he 
realises that Vernon is the type of man who could, at any moment, 
easily kick Harry out. Dumbledore may believe that Vernon is less 
likely to do this, if he is able to bully Harry - forcing him to be 
nice to Harry - or even civil - may increase the chance he will 
throw the boy out. And that can't be risked.

Petunia is different - despite her resentment of Harry, she does 
seem to have a sense of some duty towards him. She took him 
'grudgingly, furiously, unwillingly, bitterly' yet she took him. 
She understands what is going on - at least to some extent. And she 
is willing to do what is necessary on this basis.

This could explain why at the end of OotP, the Order feels it can 
confront the Dursleys - because in that book, Petunia has asserted 
herself, she's made it clear that *she* decides if Harry stays or 
goes. Even if Vernon wants to kick Harry out, she has shown she 
will block that. So that risk has diminished. Vernon no longer 
needs to be placated.

I also think that despite her very obvious faults, it's possible 
that Petunia realises that Harry *saved* Dudley from the Dementors. 
She obviously knows a bit about what is going on - for all her 
faults, and they are many, Petunia does seem to love her son - 
often in ways that aren't particularly good for him. I think Harry, 
in standing up to the Dementors has brought himself a little bit of 
credit in her eyes.

Speculation, of course - but it seems to me that Petunia may have 
an insight into what it is like to be a muggle relative of a wizard 
or witch, in a world where Voldemort is at large. She may have 
understandings that this could be dangerous for some reason.

I often wondered - and this is total speculation - if Petunia's 
attitudes are born of guilt. I wonder at her relationship with 
Lilly - what was it really like? I wonder if she cut off her 
relationship with her sister, mostly because Vernon wanted her to - 
if he's the real bigot, and she became such to be with him. And 
that denied her contact with her sister before she died. And that 
could lead to a lot of guilt - and that could explain why she took 
Harry in - but also could lead to considerable resentment of him - 
because everytime she looks at him, she is reminded of the sister 
she lost.

Speculation - but I do wonder.



Yours Without Wax, Dreadnought
Shaun Hately | www.alphalink.com.au/~drednort/thelab.html
(ISTJ)       | drednort at alphalink.com.au | ICQ: 6898200 
"You know the very powerful and the very stupid have one
thing in common. They don't alter their views to fit the 
facts. They alter the facts to fit the views. Which can be 
uncomfortable if you happen to be one of the facts that 
need altering." The Doctor - Doctor Who: The Face of Evil
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