[HPforGrownups] Re: New JKR FAQ Poll: Which is significant?

[James Lawlor]

No: HPFGUIDX 107074

Shannon:
> I voted for #3, because that Howler was worded too oddly to just be a
> reminder of her agreement to take Harry in and protect him.  He could have
> just said, "remember your promise."  And would that have had such an impact
> on her? I think there's definitely more to know there.

You know, when I was first reading OotP, my initial guess was that the
Howler was, in fact, from Lily. I figured perhaps she had somehow
rigged a charm to send the Howler or left a Howler with instructions
to send at the appropriate time. But it suddenly occurs to me that it
could be Dumbledore's voice sending the Howler, but Lily's words.
Perhaps referring to a conversation Lily and Petunia had before she
died.

"Remember my last, Petunia" does strike me as something more likely to
come from a sister than a
mentor-grandfather-type-headmaster-to-sister-and-nephew person.

Another thing, now that I think about it. How would Dumbledore know
when to send the Howler (regardless of who "wrote" it)? We know the
MoM knew about Harry's using the Patronus Charm, and that Dumbledore
could have found out via them or one of the members of the Order. But
unless there was someone sitting out under the window of Number 4
Privet Drive, they wouldn't know that Harry had just been "throw out".
Perhaps Dumbledore has another way of watching Harry and the Dursleys.
Or, it could be a fairly simple deduction on Dumbledore's part: "Harry
just cast the Patronus Charm in front of Dudley Dursley, meaning they
are being attacked by Dementors (Harry would not needlessly use the
Patronus Charm). Petunia and Vernon will be furious at Harry's use and
mention of magic and at Dudley's state after being attacked by a
Dementor - and Dudley will quite possibly blame Harry meaning that
Petunia and/or Vernon will be ready to tell Harry to leave and never
come back, so it's just about time for that reminder".

 - James Lawlor
jlawlor at gmail.com