What's in it for Petunia?

[Doriane]

No: HPFGUIDX 93328

Entropy wrote :
> 1. Dudley has "magical" ability in him. There is some evidence that
> Dudley sensed the Dementors more than the average muggle may 
> have.

Del :
I don't remember reading about any other Muggle meeting the 
Dementors, so we can't "measure" Dudley's reaction. Dudley didn't 
say he saw the Dementors, he didn't even realise he had met real 
beings. I don't think we can safely affirm that Dudley sensed the 
Dementors any more than any other Muggle boy would have. 

Entropy :
> In addition, the Dursley's indulgence of Dudley's every whim may 
> be an attempt to keep Dudley's "accidental" magic from surfacing: 
> if he never becomes upset, the magic never has to slip out.

Del :
Many parents over-indulge their kids for no other reason that they 
don't like to see them upset. I have a 16 month-old son, and I know 
that it is indeed easier to indulge him than to refuse things to 
him, and it is more gratifying to see him happy than angry.
Moreover, Dudley might never have suffered frustration at the hands 
of his parents, but I'm sure he got upset quite a few times around 
other people. His teachers come to my mind : they must have 
irritated him to no end more than once. And yet we are not told that 
any of them ever reported anything weird.

Entropy :
> 2. Petunia knows about Dudley's "specialness" and, besides loathing
> the idea herself, also realizes that her husband would never 
> accept a wizard in the family, so...

Del :
How does she know ? Dudley is a very little boy by the time Harry 
comes around, it's very unlikely he would have done enough 
accidental magic for her to suspect something.
However, she could just be afraid that her son would be 
a "spontaneous" wizard just like Lily was apparently.
Moreover, if Dudley's name was on the list of magical children, DD 
could have told her in The Letter, which would be one good reason 
for her screaming. But this leaves no time for any agreement to be 
made between Petunia and DD.

Entropy :
> 3. She makes a deal with Dumbledore, who "squelches" Dudley's
> abilities and promises that Hogwarts will not send a letter when
> Dudley reaches eleven years old. In exchange, she promises to allow
> Harry to live with her family to seal DD's protection charm.

Del :
We have never heard of the possibility of squelching magical 
abilities. And as I have read it expressed in this group more than 
once, it would be highly immoral and unfair for DD to do such a 
thing to Dudley.

Entropy :
> 4. She keeps her end of the bargain (in the most minimal way) until
> the night Harry and Dudley are attacked by the dementors. While 
> she is considering throwing Harry out, Dumbledore's message 
> arrives, and reminds her that, if she casts Harry out, Dudley's 
> magical abilities will surface.

Del :
That would imply that whatever charm was put on Dudley is 
reversible, or at least that Petunia believes it.
And it would be further abuse of Dudley : first they take a part of 
himself away without his consent and knowledge, and then they would 
give it back to him when he's come to hate it. Harry was horrified 
to discover that his father was a bully, but can you imagine the 
extent of Dudley's horror on discovering he's a wizard ?

Del