Why did Petunia Dursley accept Harry at the beginning?

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 99664

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "mariofett1187"
<Mariofett1187 at a...> wrote:
> Dumbledore explains to Harry at the end of OoTP the magic protecting 
> him at Privet Drive-but why did Petunia accept the baby on her 
> doorstep, when she and Vernon wanted nothign to do with Lily's 
> family? 
> 
> On a related note, is Harry vulnerable to attack by Voldemort when he 
> wanders around Little Whinging? Dumbledore said that he is protected 
> only when he is in the Dursley's house.
> 
> "mariofett"

bboy_mn:

As others have pointed out, I think 'what the neighbors would think'
had a lot to do with it. Not to mention how difficult it would be to
explain why the baby was there one day then gone the next.

But more importantly, I think it was a small degree of human
compassion; alright, a very very small degree. It's one thing to say
you don't want anything to do with that Potter family, but quite
another to send a baby boy away to certain death.

Logically, Dumbeldore would have explained the Blood Protection Spell
to Petunia. She would have know that as long as Harry lived with her,
he would be protected, and that the Dursley's, by association, would
also be protected. Presented with this need to protect Harry's life,
not just his comfort and general well-being, it would have been pretty
cold hearted to send Harry away. 

If it we just a matter of comfort or discomfort, convinience or
inconvinience, the Dursley's would have certainly sent him away, but
would they be equally willing knowing that their decision would mean
Harry's certain death? Quite a moral dilemma for the Dursley's.

Just a thought.

bboy_mn