The Dursleys (was many other subjects) long

[bleckybecs]

No: HPFGUIDX 124638


Snorky:
The Dursley's have reason to hate everything about the Wizarding 
World, not just the psycho killer who is after Harry. Having a 
little child who can perform magic would be terrifying. (snip) If 
you knew you had no magic and that the baby did, the best way to 
solve this would be to repress magic as early as possible.

I also wonder what it would be like to be burdened suddenly with a 
toddler who is probably still in diapers, who is just about to go 
through the terrible two's, and who can have magical accidents that 
could kill your own toddler or blow up your house. Eek!

I think the Dursleys could have done a lot worse. They were not 
nice, but they did succeed in protecting themselves and their 
property without evicting Harry.

Becky:
I agree that they were scared, panicked even. I can understand the 
fear of other people discovering who Harry really was (even Harry 
himself). So, while I'm inclined to just agree, can't the same 
argument be applied to the parents of Lily and Hermione, in fact any 
muggle parent of any witch or wizard (and there appear to be a fair 
number around)? Their parents seem to have done ok by them without 
treating them the way the Dursley's treated Harry.

In relation to the psycho killer, I think that DD must have done 
something to help them overcome their fear of attack, or else I 
don`t think they would have agreed to take him in the first place. 
It's clear from the couple of revelations from Petunia (I'm talking 
about the ones in PS and OotP) that she knows a lot more about the 
WW than she is letting on. (And wouldn`t we all love to *know* 
why?!) It seems clear that she at least has an idea of the threat 
the dementors were to Dudley, and I'm sure that she's aware of what 
LV being back means. I think the protection offered to *her* is one 
of the reasons she didn't allow Harry to be kicked out. I think that 
she and her family are offered protection for as long as they keep 
Harry. They don't have to stop him leaving of his own free will, as 
they are not actually removing the offer of housing (like in PoA). 
But they can't actually evict him, or their protection is just as 
removed as Harry's would be. I think when that howler came, Petunia 
was more aware than ever just how much she would be needing that. 
After all, she does know (I'm sure it was explained in that often 
wondered about letter left with Harry) what Harry may mean not just 
to the WW, but the muggle world too.

I'm firmly of the opinion that there was no other option and that 
their treatment, which I do partly understand because they were 
scared, is not excusable. However, because I believe there was no 
other option, it has to simply be accepted. And yes, I do agree that 
they could have done worse. I would love to join the ranks of people 
who say DD was wrong, but as yet I haven't been convinced by anyone 
that there was a better alternative. They were the best going, 
reluctant as they were, so that's what Harry got. 

And I have to agree with Snorky - you were brave to post that Tonks!

Becky (I would love to have seen the discussion between Petunia and 
Vernon when they found him on that door step. It`d make a change to 
see one of them arguing *for* Harry for a change!)