Petunia's protection/What's the point? (was re: making up our own book)

[dungrollin]

No: HPFGUIDX 114163

> Dungrollin asks:
> >Has anyone come up with a decent theory as to why Dumbledore wants
> >him protected at Privet Drive?  Was it mostly for his protection
> >before he went to Hogwarts, and now DD thinks that one little 
> >month a year can't hurt, if, through that, he can be sure that 
> >there's somewhere safe for Harry?

Janet replied:
> I think you've answered your own question.  Until he could go to 
> Hogwarts, Harry needed to have that protection year-round.  Now, 
> he needs it for the summer (and in case he ever really did get 
> expelled ...)

Dungrollin:
Sorry, I've probably not made it clear what I mean.  He spent a 
month at The Burrow at the beginning of CoS, nearly a month in 
Diagon Alley at the beginning of PoA, a week at The Burrow in GoF, 
and a month in Grimmauld Place at the beginning of OoP. (I checked 
on the Lexicon).  

Dumbledore says "You need return there only once a year, but as long 
as you can still call it home, whilst you are there he cannot hurt 
you."  OoP, The Lost Prophecy p 737 UK hb.

Either he's being sent there because he needs the protection over 
the summer, or he's being sent there to renew the charm so that 
Privet Drive is there in an emergency.  If he's being sent there 
because he needs the protection over the summer, why is he allowed 
so much time at other places where he won't be protected?  Just 
being sent there to renew the protection reads (to me) like making 
sure DD has a back-up plan in case all else fails.

Now Grimmauld Place is pretty safe, if it's as safe for Harry to 
spend a whole month there as it was at the Dursleys' why send him 
back to them every summer, force him to have a thoroughly miserable 
and unpleasant month for safety that he can equally find at the far 
more pleasant (!) Grimmauld Place (or indeed The Burrow or The Leaky 
Cauldron)?
 
That's probably not much clearer... Sorry :(

Dungrollin.
And thanks for the reply :)