Dudley Demented (???)

[Berit Klausen]

No: HPFGUIDX 106916

Amey wrote:
"Arms clamped over his face"??? Why? How should he know that the 
Dementor is going to kiss him?  From what he says later, he didn't 
see the dementor, then how does he know to cover his face???

Mae wrote:
I assumed it was just the overwhelming feeling of hopelessness, not
that he thought the dementor would kiss him.

Berit replies:

I've always gathered that Dudley for once actually listened to Harry! 
When Harry realises that there are more than one Dementor in the 
alleyway and that Dudley is running right at one, he tells Dudley to 
keep his mouth shut at all costs: 'WHATEVER YOU DO, KEEP YOUR MOUTH 
SHUT!' (OotP p. 21 Bloomsbury) I think Dudley, thick-headed though he 
is, picked up on the urgency and dead seriousness in Harry's voice 
and did what he was told even though he didn't know why. Just look at 
the way Rowling is describing Dudley a couple of pages later 
(p.25): 'But Dudley either could not or would not move. He remained 
on the ground, trembling and ashen-faced, *his mouth shut very 
tight*.' Yeap, I reckon Dudley got the message and acted on it even 
though he hadn't the faintest idea what a Dementor's kiss was all 
about :-)

So, according to canon, Dudley didn't know he should keep his mouth 
shut at all costs in order to avoid having the Dementor's kiss 
administered to him. He just did what Harry told him to do.

Berit