How does Petunia know about Dementors?

[fanofminerva]

No: HPFGUIDX 97017

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Franzi schuerch <amlesis at y...> 
wrote:
> 
> 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. 
<major snipping of a great post>

Welcome to the group!  Don't apologize for your English.  It was 
fine.  Actually, better than mine and English IS my primary language!

I've always thought there was more to Petunia than meets the eye.  
Much speculation has been done on this list, but it is always good 
to rehash old ideas.  I think it is quite possible that one of 
Petunia and Lily's parents was a squib who married a muggle.  That 
would explain several things to me:
1. That Lily was a "mudblood" and not a half-blood
2. That their parents /knew/ of the wizarding world, which is why 
Petunia said that her parents were glad to have a witch in the family
3. Why Petunia would have an understanding of this world (e.g., 
dementors, Azkaban) whereas Vernon does not.

As to who "that boy" was, I've always assumed it was James.  
However, your post makes a lot of sense to me.  Coupling that with 
my hypothesis that perhaps one of the parents was a squib, "that 
boy" could have been referring to a magical cousin, friend of the 
magical part of the family, etc.  Given that Vernon was so anti-
magic, it would stand to reason that they never associated with this 
part of Petunia's family.  

Petunia could still be the only relative Harry has, but I really 
doubt that.  I think DD (or perhaps even Lily herself) chose Petunia 
to be Harry's guardian precisely to keep him OUT of the wizarding 
world. It will not be a surprise to me to find out that Harry does 
have other living relatives (the whole Mark Evans thread, perhaps), 
but I doubt if we have met them in the books yet.  Who they are, I 
haven't a clue, with the exception of Mark.  But, even with Mark, I 
haven't a clue.

In summary, great post and great English!

Julie