Gilding the Lily

[scoutmom21113]

No: HPFGUIDX 114454


Kneasy:
Just one very, very oblique clue here; Petunia reacts to the name 
Voldemort and to the mention of Dementors. Where has she heard these 
before? Voldy possibly from DD's letter after GH, or possibly not. 
It could have been the reason given for an earlier bereavement.... 
or two.

Bookworm:
While Petunia recognized what the dementors are, the Dursleys
didn't recognize Voldemort's name at first. At least Vernon
didn't; we don't see Petunia's reaction until after Harry
tells them Voldemort is back.  It took Vernon a few moments to 
recognize the name – 

<<"Lord – hang on," said Uncle Vernon, his face screwed
up, a look of dawning comprehension in his piggy eyes. "I've
heard that name...that was the one who..."

"Murdered my parents, yes," Harry said.

"But he's gone," said Uncle Vernon impatiently, without
the slightest sign that the murder of Harry's parents might be a
painful topic to anybody. "That giant bloke said so.  He's
gone."

"He's back," said Harry heavily.  <snip>

"Back?" whispered Aunt Petunia.>> [OOP, Ch2]

Vernon doesn't get the name right; he keeps calling him Lord 
Voldythingy. But they did know what he had done.  For a while I 
thought about the theory that Voldemort had killed the senior Evans, 
but it seems there is no connection in Vernon's mind between the 
deaths of his in-laws and Voldemort.  If there was, I think Vernon 
would have said something like, "Isn't he the one who killed
your parents, Petunia?"  

Your suggestion that they were killed in the car crash that Petunia 
uses as the cover for Lily's and James' deaths seems to fit
this scene better.  Now, what could have caused the senior
Potters' deaths near the same time?  Hmmm?

Ravenclaw Bookworm