Harry at the Dursleys / DD's feelings about it

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 118467


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "justcarol67" 
<justcarol67 at y...> wrote:
> I still say Dumbledore was right that such an upbringing would 
> have been worse than being raised by Muggles, even with all the
> deprivations and occasional abuse. This way Harry will earn his
> celebrity status instead of having it handed to him. This way he 
> will know his own worth--and his own weaknesses--instead of taking
> the one for granted and ignoring or denying the other. This way he
> will be able to fight Voldemort when the time comes rather than 
> being snuffed out by him on the first encounter.


Oh, dear.  I think we need to be VERY careful with this type of 
thing.  I know you aren't trying to justify child abuse, but still I 
find it VERY hard to swallow that there is ANY situation, barring the 
absolute dire necessity of survival, that would make this acceptable -
- spoiled, pampered prince or not.  And yes, even with the entire 
wizarding world on the line.

Once again, I will point out that the key thing we are missing in 
that speech of Dumbledore's in OOTP is his tone of voice.  Is he 
saying this sadly, bitterly, self-mockingly, in a matter-of-fact 
tone?  We don't know, and the meaning changes quite a bit, 
depending.  My own reading of it is that his tone was probably self-
mocking, that is he was ridiculing his own excuses and half-truths.

To bring in two quotes from JKR, she has said "Dumbledore is 
goodness" and "If Harry were related to Dumbledore he would not have 
had to live with the Dursleys."  Now, I suppose we might say she is 
referring to a special case where Dumbledore could have raised Harry 
without spoiling him, but IMO she is trying to send a clear message 
that the *only* reason Harry ended up at the Dursleys was the 
protection, and the stuff about not turning his head was an excuse he 
was using to fend off Minerva (by the way, I'm not sure she agrees 
it's valid -- it seems to me more that she lapses into silence 
because she knows nothing she will say will change Dumbledore's mind).

Lupinlore