How does Petunia know about Dementors?

[Franzi schuerch]

No: HPFGUIDX 97005


Hi, I am new to the list and English is not my first language so I apologise for spelling and grammar mistakes. I also hope the topic below was not the subject of previous discussions.

 

I was wondering how Petunia knows about Dementors and the prison Azkaban. After the attack on Harry and Dudley in OoP she said something like, I heard the boy telling her about Dementors guarding the prisoners in Azkaban. Harry jumps to the conclusion that Petunia means James telling Lilly. Well, I don’t think this is correct because of two reasons: 1. Later in the book we learn that James and Lilly haven’t been an item before their final year at Hogwarts. Surly by then Lilly would have known about Dementors and there was no need for James telling her. 2. Since James and Lilly only got together in their final year Petunia must have met James for the first time when he was about 17-18 years old. She would hardly refer to him as a boy then even if Petunia should be substantially older than Lilly.

So I am wondering who is Petunia’s source of information? I personally believe Petunia is a muggle and she must have overheard someone other than James and Lilly. Later in OoP during Harry’s hearing we are told that apart form Harry there are no other registered wizards living at Privet drive. But what about an unregistered wizard family? Mark Evans’s family perhaps?

Another detail I found interesting, Petunia and Vernon are not very impressed when hearing LV’s name but Petunia is really scared of Dementors. (Considering LV has murdered her sister we would expect a reaction from Petunia. Even when Petunia totally disliked Lily she was still her sister being the victim of a violent death.) Why this strong response to the mention of Dementors in contrast? I am wondering how can overhearing someone talking about them leaving such a strong impression on a person like Petunia? Or does she know more than she pretends to know? Any suggestions?

 

Amlesis

 


		
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