HP as "fairy-tale," Harry left with the Dursleys (Re: Snape and Harry again.)

[phoenixgod2000]

No: HPFGUIDX 114025

Magda:
> The "toughening up" is a result of the situtation, not a cause; as
> JKR said, the prime motive was magical protection.   
> 
> There's a fairy-tale quality to the HP series (and is particular
> apparent in the first part of the first book) where Harry - like
> Cinderella - undergoes tribulation and personal degradation at the
> hands of near-relatives only to be given the opportunity to take 
> his rightful place in the world with the assistance of a magical 
> stranger - like a fairy godmother.  Harry is rendered deserving of 
> a chance at a golden future because of his earlier trials. This is
> the context in which the Dursleys treatment of Harry is best 
> understood.

 
I agree that Rowling was using a fairy-tale trope with the 
Philosopher's stone but as the books became more realistic, Harry's 
relatives stopped being the evil step-parents and started being 
abusive.  To me that makes Dumbledore look bad.  I don't see how his 
leaving Harry with the Dursleys could have possibly, *realistically*, 
be seen as anything other than a terrible act.  It stretches credulity, 
but I'm still not sure how to justify it in my mind.

"phoenixgod2000"