[HPforGrownups] Re: Acceptable Abuses?

[squeakinby]

No: HPFGUIDX 96309

vmonte wrote:

> Are you saying that Petunia is a good person but treats Harry 
> horribly because one day she will lose her "beloved" Harry and 
> family? 

No, I didn't say that at all.

  Does that make sense?

A lot of human behavior makes no logical sense but humans are so often 
ruled by emotions.  I think Snape tells Harry that's not very wise, 
wearing one's heart on their sleeve, etc.

   Do you really think she goes to his
> cuboard at night to cradle him and sing lullabys?

We don't know if she ever did or not.

  I'm sorry but your
> post has left me stunned!

In a good way or a bad way?

  I guess she also starved him for his own
> good?! 

No.  That was very mean of them.

  Do you think for one moment that Lily would have treated
> Dudley the same way if things had been reversed? 

Never having met Lily, I don't know.  I know she had great love for her 
own child.

Do you think that
> Petunia's treatment of her own son, Dudley, is helping him face the 
> realities of life? 

Oh I think I put forth the argument that Dudley may indeed be considered 
an abused child.
> 
> I agree that Petunia is a desperate woman who is trying to maintain 
> her illusion of the world. This woman does not live in reality; and 
> she most definitely does not suffer in silence --- everyone else 
> around her suffers.  

I guess then my theory of Little Whinging is all bollocks!  ;-)

Jem