Petunia, Dudley, magical ability? (was Re: Question: Do/can squibs use owl post? Floo powder?)

[vidar_fe]

No: HPFGUIDX 122901


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "minervakab" <minervakab at y...> 
wrote:
> 
> > Chancie:
> > And why since Uncle Vernon hates Hedwig to begin with, would 
> > he attach a present for Harry whom he also hates?  Something 
> > just doesn't add up to me.  Perhaps there is more to thing 
> > than meets the eye.  JKR said we would be learning more about
> > Petunia. Perhaps she doesn't dislike Harry as much as we think
> > and it's more of a show for Vernon? Who knows? Thoughts anyone?
> 
> 
> Minervakab:
> 
> I think Petunia treats Harry the way she does so that Vernon won't
> find out about her own magical background.  She knows more about 
magic
> that any muggle should.  She seems to me to be over-compensating  
much
> as reformed (prostitutes, drug addicts, fill in your own word) do 
when
> they "find" god.  Can you choose to be a muggle?
> 
> I read a prediction once, written by a little girl before one of 
the
> previous books was published, that Petunia gave in to Dudley all 
the
> time and gave him everything he wanted because she didn't want him 
to
> get angry and show that he also is magical like Harry.  When 
magical
> children are frightened or angry, they do magic without thinking so
> she kept Dudley from anger just so he would never do accidental 
magic.
>  It made perfect sense to me at the time. I still think the theory 
is
> valid and could play out in book six or seven.  
> 
> This prediction still makes sense with the new information we have
> been given such as Dudley being attacked by the dementors.  Would a
> muggle even know a dementor was in the vicinity?  Yet Dudley
> definitely felt them if he did not see them.  And we do know from a
> JKR interview that someone becomes magical late in life.  This 
could
> be Dudley and if so then he is a possiblility for the HPB.  In this
> case "prince" would be used in a derogatory manner rather than a 
royal
> title.
> 
> I wonder if the note from Dumbledore "Remember my last" was 
reminding
> Petunia that Dudley's name was written on the Hogwarts list at his
> birth and Dumbledore agreed to not send a letter to Dudley when he
> turned eleven only if Petunia kept Harry at her home.  Dumbledore
> could have made a deal with her to keep quiet about Dudley being
> magical in exchange for her keeping Harry safe. Maybe Petunia is
> keeping the house safe with her own magic.
> 
> I think magical Petunia dislikes Harry because she has to work even
> harder at appearing to be pure muggle with him around.  It would be
> easier to blend into the muggle world if she kept away from all
> contact with the wizarding world.  Harry is a reminder of what she
> left behind and also a reminder of the deal she made with 
Dumbledore.
> It also has to be irritating to look at Harry and see 
your "perfect"
> sister's eyes staring back at you.
> 
> Of course, none of this theory works if you cannot choose to be a
> muggle.  So if someone can show me that it is impossible to turn 
your
> back on the wizarding world, please let me know.
> 
> Minervakab

vidar_fe:
IMHO you can't choose to be a muggle. If you are born with the 
ability to use magic, it's logical that you keep that ability all 
your life. However, you might choose to leave the wizarding world 
and never do magic again, but you will still be a wizard/witch.  
think it's a bit like having musical talent. If you are born with 
it, you will always have it. Of cause you can choose to burn your 
instruments and never produce any music again, but you will still be 
musically talented.

JKR has confirmed that "there is more to Petunia that meets the 
eye", and it would be very interesting if it turned out that she's a 
witch:-) But IIRC Jo has also said that this is not the case with 
Duddykin. I think her word were: What you see is what you get.

Vidar