Dursley's and Harry (was: Innocent Alby?) (LONG)

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 122949




Alla:
Yes, he was starved , A LOT, in fact. I quoted canon on it many 
times, so if you would like me to cite it again, tell me. And 
besides not having much of material things, Harry was deprived of 
spiritual things - namely love and that is NOT a good thing in my 
book at all.
 
Betsy:
I have problems with the word "starved" too.  Harry was not overfed, 
that is true.  And I think he wasn't allowed seconds, because they 
were given to Dudley (though I don't think that was any kind of 
favor to Dudley in the end).  But I don't recall him actually being 
faint from hunger, and his growth rate hasn't been stunted. I'm not 
trying to say the Dursley's were perfectly wonderful, but I think 
they trod a very fine line without tipping into actual, actionable 
(and I mean legally) abuse.  After all, what would the neighbors 
think?

Alla:

I think Dursleys are way past that line.
Since it was discussed many times and I wrote on this subject many 
times, I will just repost my post 117446:

Your Honor. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury. It is the prosecution
position that Petunia and Vernon Dursleys should be found guilty of
abuse and /or neglect of their nephew Harry Potter.

According to testimony of Mr. Potter's Dursleys made him live in
the
cupboard, dressed him in the old clothes, starved him continuously
and even attempted to hit him. Dursleys' favourite punishment was
locking Mr. Potter in the cupboard with little or no food at all to
go on with.
According to Mr. Potter Dursleys also failed to protect him from
school bullies. Moreover, their son actively participated in such
activities.


Let me read to you a few excerpts from Mr. Potter's testimony.

"Dudley had laughed himself silly at Harry, who spent a sleepless
night imagining school the next day, where he was already laughed at
for his baggy clothes and taped glasses. Next morning, however, he
had gotten up to find his hair exactly as it had been before Aunt
Petunia had sheared it off. He had been given a week in his cupboard
for this, even though he had tried to explain that he couldn't
explain how it had grown back so quickly." - PS/SS, p.24,
paperback.


"Harry lay in his dark cupboard much later wishing he had a
watch.
He didn't know what time it was and he couldn't be sure the
Dursleys
were asleep yet. Until they were, he couldn't risk sneaking to
the
kitchen for some food" - PS/SS, p.29, paperback.

"Harry was glad school was over, but there was no escaping
Dudley's
gang, who visited the house every single day. Piers , Dennis,
Malcolm, and Gordon were all big and stupid, but as Dudley was the
biggest and stupidest of the lot, he was the leader. The rest of
them were all quite happy to join in Dudley's favorite sport:
Harry
Hunting" - PS/SS , p.31, paperback.


"Harry paid dearly for his moment of fun. As neither Dudley nor
the
hedge was in any way hurt, Aunt Petunia knew he hadn't really
done
magic, but he still had to duck as she aimed a heavy blow at his
head with the soapy frying pan. Then she gave him work to do, with
the promise he wouldn't eat again until he'd finished.
While Dudley lolled around watching and eating ice cream, Harry
cleaned the windows, washed the car, mowed the lawn, trimmed the
flowerbeds, pruned and watered the roses, and repainted the garden
bench. The sun blazed overhead, burning the back of his neck." -
CoS, paperback, p.10.


"And laughing like a maniac, he dragged Harry back upstairs.
Uncle Vernon was as bad as his word. The following morning, he paid
a man to fit bars on Harry's window. He himself fitted a cat-flap
in
the bedroom door, so small amounts of food could be pushed inside
three times a day. They let Harry out to use the bathroom morning
and evening. Otherwise, he was locked in his room around the clock.
.........
The cat-flap rattled and Aunt petunia's hand appeared, pushing a
bowl of canned soup into the room. Harry, whose insides were aching
with hunger, jumped off his bed and seized it. The soup was stone-
cold, but he drank half of it in one gulp. Then he crossed the room
of Hedwig's cage and tipped the soggy vegetables att he bottom of
the bowl into her empty food tray. She ruffled her feathers and gave
him a look of deep disgust.
"It's no good turning your beak up at it - that's all
we've got."
said Harry grimly.
He put the empty bowl back on the floor next to the cat-flap and lay
back down on the bed, somehow even hungrier than he had been before
the soup." - CoS, p.22, paperback.


"He was working flat-out just to get through all their homework,
though he made a point of sending regular food packages up to the
cave in the mountain for Sirius; after last summer , Harry had not
forgotten what it felt like to be continually hungry." - GoF ,
paperback, p.548.


Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury, you also heard testimony
of several friends and acquaintances of Mr. Potter, who were clearly
aware of the fact that his aunt and uncle were mistreating him and
attempted to interfere on his behalf.

"We thought we'd just have a few words with you about
Harry" said
Mr. Weasley, still smiling.
"Yeah," growled Moody, "About how he's treated when
he is at your
place" - OOP, paperback, p.869.

You also heard the testimony of Albus Dumbledore, who perhaps should
be charged as accomplice in those crimes, but for now prosecution is
investigating whether his claim that Harry could only survive with
Dursleys is in any way correct

"You had suffered. I knew you would when I left you on your aunt
and
uncle's doorstep. I knew I was condemning you to ten dark and
difficult years. " - OOP, paperback, p.835.


Ladies and Gentlemen, we ask you to find that Dursleys are guilty of
the above mentioned crimes.


P.S. Strangely enough, I tried to think about any possible defense
of Dursleys and ... well, I failed.

It is very easy for me to imagine the defense of Snape ( no matter 
how strongly I disagree with it). For Dursleys, well, I see none. 
One can say that Dursleys did not ask
for Harry to be brought to live with them. True, they did not. But
to me, the sister does have some kind of obligation to take care of
her orphan nephew if necessary, so this defense does not sit well
with me, either.

I do suspect that JKR may redeem Petunia, but for now I really,
really dislike all Dursleys. :o)


Betsy:

Had Vernon and Petunia tried, in their strange muggle way, to keep 
Harry out of the WW altogether?  Or in other words, keep him safe?

Alla: Not sure about that. Again, I think it is a possibility that 
Petunia may be redeemed. I don't think vernon will be though.

Betsy:
Again, I think the word "abuse" is too stong.  Harry certainly 
wasn't legally abused.  He was never beaten and he wasn't 
neglected.  He was not treated well, of course.  And he was often 
ignored (which I think Harry prefered actually).  But especially 
after PoA, the Dursley's seem more frightened of Harry than 
anything, and for the most part 
leave him alone.

Alla:

I don't think that the word abuse is too strong, far from it, but I 
do agree that with each book Harry seems less affected by their 
abuse. It does not matter to me though in evaluating Dursleys' 
actions. Unless I learn that Petunia tried to protect Harry somehow, 
they will continue to be amont my less favourite characters 
of "potterverse"


Just my opinion,

Alla