Duddles adopted?

[delwynmarch]

No: HPFGUIDX 96788

Sue White wrote:
> ...When I first encountered the notion that Petunia was Harry's 
> only relative it struck me that it's altogether a possibly that 
> Dudley was adopted (atleast by Petunia):
>  
> 1. He looks nothing like Petunia; he are Harry are physical and 
> emotional opposites Rowling always makes a concerted effort to 
> show the physical similarities between family memebers. Why 
> wouldn't this be the case if Petunia and Duddles were mother and 
> son?

Del :
1. Dudley has his mother's hair if I remember correctly. They are 
both blonde in the books.
2. Dudley looks very much like his dad and dad's sister (Aunt 
Marge), just like Harry looks like his dad.
3. Most of all, JKR always took great pains to point out how 
different Lily and Petunia are. If anyone was adopted, it's one of 
those 2 sisters.

Sue :
> 2. He is doted on in a way that seems quite over the top, as if 
> compensating for something. I just find it curious why the two 
> boys are treated so differently... since they were both babies 
> when they entered the family. 

Del :
I think Dudley was always supposed to be an only child, the little 
king who would have everything. It does happen in the Real World, so 
it doesn't bother me that Dudley should be doted on so much.

As for Harry, he was already 15 months old when he entered the 
family. Unlike Dudley, he wasn't desired, Petunia didn't carry him, 
his place in the family wasn't prepared over months, he wasn't a 
newborn when Petunia first saw him and he isn't flesh-and-bone to 
either parent. An unknown and yet already detested 15-month old baby 
who was dumped on your doorstep one night has *nothing* in common 
with a desired, expected baby you carried in your own belly and have 
cared for ever since he was born.

Del