What's in it for Petunia?

[lizvega2]

No: HPFGUIDX 93345

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Doriane" <delwynmarch at y...> 
wrote:
> Entropy wrote :
> > 1. Dudley has "magical" ability in him. > 
> 
> 
> 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

LizVega here, just had to say something:

As far as DD not doing 'such a highly unfair and immoral thing' as 
taking away the powers of a magical child, I think it is fair to 
remember what DD was dealing with at the time the charm was placed 
and Harry's parents were murdered. The night James and Lilly died 
must've been DD's worst nightmare- he saw first hand the prophesy 
being fulfilled- this boy, and this boy alone would save the WW- he 
did whatever he had to in order to keep HARRY safe. Is it so 
unreasonable that part of his 'plan' as he himself calls it in OOP- 
the Lost Prophesy chapter- was to ensure Harry's survival by taking 
the powers of a child whose parents would probably have disowned him 
when his magical abilities surfaced anyway? I remember DD commenting 
about all of the things he ignored to ensure Harry's happiness, and 
survival. I don't think that taking away Dudley's alleged powers was 
beyond his scope of 'necessary' precautions. 

LizVega~ who hopes she never has to take away someone's magic in 
order to save the world! : )