[HPforGrownups] Dumbledore's hold on Petunia [was Re: Lily's Family]

[Magda Grantwich]

No: HPFGUIDX 107985


--- Jen Reese <stevejjen at earthlink.net> wrote:

> If there's no threat to the Dursleys or Dudley at least, I have a 
> very hard time figuring out what Dumbledore offered them. I can't 
> believe he treatened them into doing it--I think Petuina had to 
> *choose*(grudgingly, bitterly, etc.)
> to take Harry in for Dumbledore's charm to work.


No offense to Jen for using her quote, but I would suggest that we
might be making this more complicated than it has to be.  

Regardless of how Petunia felt about having a witch for a sister
(truly disgusted or secretly jealous) there was one platform where
the two of them could meet, know exactly how the other felt and be in
total empathy and sympathy with each other:  they were both new
mothers and they knew what it felt like to be willing to die for
another little human being.  

For me, it's not a matter of Dumbledore's threats or complicated
spells.  Petunia opened the door, found Harry and read the letter. 
She realized that her sister was dead and that as a result of her
death Harry had been saved.  I'm sure the letter went on to explain a
number of other things but that probably had the biggest impact on
Petunia.  She could appreciate the desperate need Lily would have
felt to protect Harry and the great love her sister had as a mother
for her child.

I believe in that moment Petunia felt closer to Lily than she ever
had in her life before or would ever feel after.  And that's why they
kept Harry.  

Magda (wielding Occam's Razor)


	
		
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