The Dursleys at Risk

[Ali]

No: HPFGUIDX 104099

Steve wrote:

>>> For what it's worth, I too think the protections work both ways. 
The Protection of Blood protect everyone of that blood.
 
The big flaw in the 'Blood Protection' plan is that in order to be
protected, you have to stay at home. Dudley could be in danger at
school, Petunia that the grocery story, and Vernon at work. 
 
I've always thought there would be a direct attack on the Dursleys,
but now I wonder if the Dementor attack was it, or if a bigger 
scarier attack is still coming?>>>

Ali: 

I think this highlights my big problem with Petunia sealing the pact 
to foster Harry *only* in return for similar protection as that 
which Harry himself will receive.

As far as I can ascertain, the Dursleys must be incredibly exposed 
every time they leave the house. After all, Harry is. 

Presumably, the Dursleys are only at risk because of Harry. If Harry 
wasn't there, or more to the point, did not exist, would the 
Dursleys be at risk? If the only risk is because of Harry, Petunia 
is entering into a pact knowing that she could be endangering her 
family, yet receiving only very limited protection in return. Would 
she do this for a nephew she doesn't want, whom she has never learnt 
to love?

I think the draw of protection, however limited, might be sufficient 
for Petunia to agree to take Harry if Petunia already perceived a 
threat. If that is the case, why did Petunia feel her family was 
under threat?

I understand that her sister had been murdered. It's more than 
possible that she lost her parents through murder. But was Petunia 
similarly at risk? Lily appears only to have lost her life because 
she tried to protect Harry. So why would Petunia feel at risk? 
Perhaps it was simply paranoia, which I believe would have been 
understandable, but is that really the reason?

Or is it possible that she didn't feel at risk but she feared for 
Dudley? perhaps there is something in the male blood line of the 
Evans family which Voldemort was keen to stamp out? Perhaps there is 
another prophesy relating to the Evans family, or perhaps Petunia 
was aware of peculiarities about Dudley aka magical abilities which 
she felt would endanger his life? 

Of course, having a magical son would force Petunia to face her own 
feelings of jealousy and demons from her past. I think those would 
be sufficient reasons to make Petunia take Harry in, but not 
otherwise.

Ali