Ton-Tongue-Toffy (Was: Fred and George)

[hickengruendler]

No: HPFGUIDX 137057

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "msbeadsley" <msbeadsley at y...> 
wrote:
 
> 
> As the twins said, they didn't GIVE Dudley the sweet; he picked it 
up
> off the floor and stuck it in his mouth. I'd say that makes it his 
own
> fault in part. (He's already, somewhat wisely in fact, terrified of
> magical people and things and his gluttony overcame him in this 
case.)
> And the Ministry would have been by to sort Dudley out pretty soon,
> anyway (remember Aunt Marge? and other Muggles we've heard of who've
> been rescued from magicked artifacts and had their memories
> modified?). It isn't like the twins didn't know their Dad was there 
to
> fix things, either. If we credit them with figuring what Dudley 
would
> do, then we have to credit them with knowing that Dudley would do 
what
> he would do in time for Arthur to fix it.)
> 
> Sandy aka msbeadsley, less than 600 posts behind now

Hickengruendler:

Actually, I think that the twins didn't give the Toffee to Dudley but 
threw it on the flor makes it worse. First of all, from Harry's 
stories the twins could be sure that Dudley would pick up the sweet. 
Sure, it wasn't very intelligent from Dudley, but then, Dudley isn't 
very intelligent. And he's greedy, therefore it's totally in 
character for him to pick it up, and the Twins knew this. But if the 
twins had given Dudley the Toffee, then at least they could have 
controlled when he would eat it. However, as it was, Dudley could 
have picked up the Toffee anytime, even when Arthur and the other 
Weasleys were already gone. That he picked it up at time for Arthur 
to fix it, was just JKR's good will. 

However, I don't think the twins meant to cause any harm, or that 
they really wanted anything serious to happen to Dudley. I just think 
they are people who do not often consider the possible consequences 
of their deeds.