Dudley's development

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 92556

Going back to PS to check on some facts about the Dursleys, something 
curious suddenly struck me as unusual about Dudley.

We had a thread a few weeks back about Dudley's birthday and decided 
that canon evidence pointed to late June, so that when Harry arrived 
at Privet Drive, Dudley was about sixteen months old.

We are told that:

"Mr.Dursley..... tried to kiss Dudley goodbye but missed because 
Dudley was now having a tantrum and throwing his cereal at the walls."

(PS "The Boy Who Lived" p.8 UK edition)

..and when Professor McGonagall objects to Harry being brought to the 
Dursleys, she remarks.....

"And they've got this son - I saw him kicking his mother all the way 
up the street, screaming for sweets."

(same chapter p.15)

I don't recall either of my sons being strong enough to throw cereal 
at the walls when they were sixteen months; in a temper, they might 
push the dish off the high chair or spit the cereal out.

Again, a child of this age with the ability to walk up the street and 
kick Mum and also scream recognisably and specifically for sweets 
must be a fast developer, don't you think?