Olive Branch (was Re: Dumbledore the Counselor )

[finwitch]

No: HPFGUIDX 124462


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "lupinlore" <bob.oliver at c...> 
wrote:
> 
> Okay, I admit.  I was over the top the last couple of posts.  Sorry,
> but child abuse does that to me. 
> 
> Nevertheless, I think it's time for all of us to admit that none of 
us
> are going to change our positions.  For those of us who see blatant
> child abuse in the case of Harry and the Dursleys, and who feel that
> Dumbledore must be held accountable for that, no argument or 
quotation
> will budge us.  It's just that simple.  We aren't going to back down
> because we feel it's too important and the case is far too clear, 
and
> furthermore has been verified by JKR herself.

Finwitch:

Let me present the case of this Dursley abuse, and what I find of 
Dumbledore. For those who ask where it shows... well, you see - it's 
not so much in DOING things to Harry, but as in NOT doing.

The *clearest* of where this comes out - showing the scars - is when 
Harry's learning his Patronus, searching for the happy thought. He 
immediately figures: "Nothing with the Dursleys".

The first to get out SOMETHING - is: Hagrid giving him the letter. 
The first time someone stood up for Harry; Hagrid's the one taking 
care that Harry has something to keep him warm (Dursleys didn't give 
him so much as a blanket);.. and most importantly, *getting away from 
the Dursleys* at least partially.

And the last non-corporeal Patronus he casts when attacked by 
Dementors- living with Sirius (AND being away from Dursleys for good).

I tell you, if *being away* from these people is enough happiness to 
bring out the Patronus when faced with Dementing powers - well, I'd 
say he was abused, emotionally at least. They well - IGNORED him.

As for Dumbledore... he tells Harry how the neglect and such is worse 
than open hostility 'as you yourself are well aware' (because that's 
what Dursleys did) - the 'silent treatment'.

I hope my view becomes clearer if I make an analogy...

You know, Harry - being exposed to 'silent treatment' from Dursleys 
since early life - gave Harry a sort of immunity to that, built up 
his defences against such thing...

This is what happens when you have gone trough chicken pox as a 
child - you get a lifelong immunity.

So when Snape gives Harry that 'silent treatment' after the Pensieve- 
thing... Harry finds it a *relief*. A relief, because this is 
something he's been immunized against...

And as for Chicken Pox, and Dumbledore's - if not now, it'll be 
harder later - you know, someone who gets the disease as an adult is 
going to have much harder time with it than a child would have.

So in effect... Dumbledore putting Harry to Dursleys was... well, 
more or less equivalent to deliberately having him infected with a 
pox as a child so he won't get it as an adult...

Finwitch