The Dursleys

[lealess]

No: HPFGUIDX 145663

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Steve" <bboyminn at y...> wrote:
>
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "lupinlore" <rdoliver30 at y...>
wrote:
> >
> > Corey:
> > <SNIP>
> > > So I'm afraid the Dursley issue will be put on the back burner
> > > so to speak. 
> > 
> > 
> > Well, IMO that would be incredibly poor writing on JKR's part, and 
> > bordering on morally reprehensible.  We shall have to see, I 
> > guess.  There are just so many issues to wrap up in the last book.  
> > But, I think the Dursley issue is one of the most important ones 
> > with which she has to deal.
> > 
> > Lupinlore
> >
> 
> bboyminn:
> 
> According to Ron, Ron and Hermione are going to be with Harry at the
> Dursley's house. Please, you must see the comic come-uppance 
> potential in that? 
> 
> I know, or at least it seems, Lupinlore wants a direct accounting
> of people's actions, but I think it is going to be more subtle than
> that. The Dursleys will once again be put in their place, but not by
> being held accountable for their actions, but, as we have discussed,
> by a Karmic twist of fate and circumstances. 
> 
> Just having Ron and Hermione there at the Dursley will be torturous
> enough for the Dursleys, but when Ron and Hermione expect civilized
> treatment that will just be too much. The frustration & intimidation
> alone represent a good deal of Karmic justice in my book. And if
> Privet Drive is attacked, and the Dursleys are forced to seek refuge
> at 12 Grimmauld Place, then I will be a happy camper. The will be
> justice enough for me.
> 
> Just passing it along.
> Steve/bboyminn
>

I would actually like Ron and Hermione to behave civilly to the
Dursleys.  I am sure that is not what they would expect, however, as
that has not been their experience with wizards.

The thing with people is that they don't always learn the lessons you
think they should.  Sometimes they come up with different conclusions
on their own.  Many people have posited that the twins leaving
ton-tongue toffee for Dudley to find was a kind of rough justice,
retribution for the abuse Harry put up with at Dudley's hands.  I see
a parallel to Sirius' putting temptation in Severus' way, leading him
to the Whomping Willow and the Prank.  Both incidents were set up by
teenagers no doubt convincing themselves they acted on noble impulse,
preying on the weakness of another (in Severus' case, his insatiable
curiosity or "nosiness"), without considering the full consequences. 
For the Prank, those consequences were pretty damaging, and included
the potential loss of someone's life, if not subsequently his soul. 
And was the lesson meant to be taught actually learned?  The
beneficiary of the Prank believed that the one who "saved" him only
did so to prevent the expulsion of the prankster and his friends.

In the case of the prank on Dudley, what lesson did Dudley learn?  To
stop bullying Harry?  He had already learned that lesson.  It may be
he learned again how dangerous wizards can be to Muggles.  Severus
went to quite an extreme to make sure there were consequences for the
Marauders' prank.  Consider what Dudley might do.  In him, the magical
world may one day have a potent enemy.  In pranking Muggles, wizards
may plant the seeds of their own destruction.

Perhaps Arthur was so angry with the twins not only because preying on
the weak is morally wrong, but because doing so exposes the magical
world to danger.  In spite of their power, wizards are numerically
disadvantaged compared to Muggles.  Wizards went into hiding because
they were being persecuted by Muggles, at a time when the technology
for finding and eliminating others was far less developed than it is
today.  

Yet wizards show a continual disdain for Muggles.  It surprised me
that Scrimgeour was so cavalier with the Muggle prime minister.  As
far as that prime minister may be concerned, it is wizards of all
persuasions who form a threat.  Suppose Scrimgeour had visited the
current U.S. president?  That president would have characterized
wizards as "terrorists" and mobilized U.S. forces against them without
blinking an eye.  And for those who might think he'd be crazy to talk
of forces of evil or something similar, I am sorry to say there would
be many ready to fall in line.

Dumbledore's supposedly polite offer of drinks to the Dursleys is
another example of a wizard demonstrating casual superiority to
Muggles.  So it would be nice if Hermione and Ron reversed this trend,
supported their friend but not at the expense of others, and saved the
Dursleys while they were at it.  If Dudley survives a potential attack
on Privet Drive which is preceded by Hermione and Ron's retribution on
the Dursleys, it wouldn't surprise me to see Dudley devote his life to
eradicating wizards from England.

lealess