Im confused...Petunia's letter.

[Tenou]

No: HPFGUIDX 115383


Amy C. thus spoke:
<snip>
> So, It sounds as if JKR is saying that the letter left for Harry 
> was to PETUNIA alone, BUT..... On page 12 of the American Edition, 
> ... "It's the best place for him," said Dumbledore firmly." 
> His aunt and uncle will be able to explain everything to him when 
> he's older. I've written THEM (emphasis mine) a letter."
>
> Did he leave two letters in that basket? One in which Petunia did 
> not share with Vernon? Wonder what it said?


   Hi, before I state my reply, just want to say hi and that I just 
joined, so please, be tolerant and if not tolerant, kind.

   The quote 'It's the best... I've written them a letter.' (pg 15 UK 
edition) may refer only to the Dursleys filling Harry in on who/what 
he is. There may have been another letter addressed to Petunia alone 
with the letter to 'The Dursleys' in the basket. The sentence is 
written so that it could mean that there were a dozen letters in the 
basket but only one telling the Dursleys to explain everything to 
Harry. At least, that's how I read it. 

   However, is it possible that, for example, when Harry was, say, 
five-years-old, Vernon and/or Petunia decided that they didn't want 
to keep Harry with them? Getting ready to ship Harry off to an 
orphanage, Petunia receives a letter - possibly containing some dire 
threat - from Dumbledore which made her reconsider her plans for 
Harry and convinces Vernon to do the same. 

   Vernon (pg 40 UK ed.) does not hide the fact that he 'should've 
done this a long time ago' and that they had considered sending him 
to an orphanage. Sounds like they've been considering these 
possibilities for some time now.

   So there may have only been one letter in the basket and later, 
when circumstances changed, another letter was sent to Petunia alone 
containing what I assume was some sort of threat - or more likely, in 
Dumbledore's case a promise - of what would happen to them if they 
didn't heed him.

   So that's my theory, and I hope it wasn't too painful for everyone.

Ten'ou