The Dudley Theory

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 92783

Sue:
> Aha! Happy day. Mrs. Figg (apparently) saw the Dementors.  We know 
> Harry and other magical people can see them for sure. Dudley did not 
> see the Dementors. In fact, he ran right at one of them trying to 
> get away and only described the incident as feeling "cold, really 
> cold."  OotP US pg. 31. Therefore, he cannot be magical. The only 
> other "Dudley is a wizard" possibility is that DD took his powers in 
> an agreement with Petunia as some people have said previously. I 
> can't imagine DD doing that to anyone. And we have no canon to 
> indicate that magical power could be given or taken away. <snip>
> 
> Resting peacefully now, knowing Dudley cannot be magical.
> Sue

Carol:
I've already stated my own reasons for believing that Dudley can't be
magical, so I'll just respond to the second part of your post by
adding that taking away magical powers, even if it's possible, would
be an extreme violation of freedom of choice--worse even than an
extended Imperius curse because the person deprived of the powers
could never get them back. Since Dumbledore is JKR's spokesman for
freedom of choice, it's extremely unlikely that he would make any such
bargain. (He tells McGonagall that he wouldn't take away baby Harry's
scar even if he could; surely he wouldn't take away another baby's
magical powers!)

I'm inclined to agree with the posters who think that as long as
Petunia gives Harry a home, whatever protection Harry receives will
extend to her and her family as well. It's the only bargain that makes
any sense.

So, Sue, we may not agree on Snape, but at least we agree on Dudley!

Carol