Dursleys and Memory Charms

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 88873

Eustace_Scrubb wrote:
> By virtue of having Harry Potter under their roof for extended periods
> of time, the Dursleys have witnessed a number of things that might
> normally result in the arrival of a squad of Ministry memory charm
> operatives.  
> 
> In COS, there was the levitating pudding.
> Also in COS, all three Dursleys saw the flying car as Harry escaped.
> In POA, the inflation of Aunt Marge.
> In GOF, the Weasleys' destruction of the living room.  
> In OOP, the Dementor attack on Dudley.
> 
> Subsequent references in the books appear to indicate that the
> Dursleys memories have not been modified however.
> 
> In POA (p.44), when Harry meets Fudge at the Leaky Cauldron, the
> Minister tells him that Marjorie Dursley's memory has been modified so
> that she "has no recollection of the incident at all."  There's no
> mention of other memory modification and Fudge later tells Harry, "I
> won't deny that they are extremely angry..."  Had their memories been
> modified, they would presumably have nothing (other than their general
> anger at Harry's presence) to be angry about.
> 
> At the end of OOP, when Arthur Weasley leads Harry and his entourage
> up to the Dursleys, he greets Vernon "pleasantly" with "You might
> remember me, my name's Arthur Weasley."  This is followed by this
> line:
> "As Mr. Weasley had demolished most of the Dursleys' living room two
> years previously, Harry would have been very surprised if Uncle Vernon
> had forgotten him." (p.765)
> 
> Now, it's true that this is Harry's impression, and we don't really
> know whether the Dursleys' reaction (Vernon turns "a deeper shade of
> puce," Petunia looks "frightened and embarrassed" and Dudley tried and
> failed to look "small and insignificant")to Arthur and the group
> really relates to the incident Harry remembers.  But the passage
> implies that they may remember Arthur's visit.
> 
> I'm wondering why the Ministry doesn't modify the Dursleys' memories.
>  Aunt Marge may not remember being blown up, but I would imagine the
> other three Dursleys would have difficulty putting it out of their
> minds at future family gatherings.
> 
> Is this entirely because Vernon and Petunia are Harry's legal
> guardians (and would this therefore apply to all muggle parents of
> young wizards and witches as well)?  Or is it Harry-specific?  Has
> someone (Fudge? Dumbledore?) determined that it would be more
> dangerous for Harry and/or the Dursleys for these memories to be
> modified?  Presumably there's a reason for Petunia to remember
> Dementors and Azkaban; perhaps these "domestic incidents" are also
> important enough that they should be remembered?  Or maybe...the
> Dursleys will do such a good job of repressing their own memories of
> such events that the charm is unnecessary?

Carol:
I think there's a very simple explanation: The Dursleys already know
about magic because of Lily and James, but they were already
attempting to conceal any connection with it before the Potters died
and Harry ended up on their doorstep. There's no need to conceal magic
from them, and now that Harry has to go to Hogwarts, it's essential
that they get him there and back again and that they allow him his
school books, wand, cauldron, etc. (This would be the case with any
Muggle parents or guardians of witch/wizard children, but it's
particularly important in Harry's case.) Also, Petunia has to be
reminded of her bargain with Dumbledore, whatever it entailed (the
Howler in OoP). Aunt Marge is another matter. She (as Vernon's sister)
has no WW connections; she doesn't know or need to know about Harry's
magical powers, so she has her memory fixed.

Carol