Abusive Dursleys (was Innocent Alby?)

[slgazit]

No: HPFGUIDX 123176


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "horridporrid03"
<horridporrid03 at y...> wrote:
> I agree with you, Salit, that the Dursleys do not provide a loving 
> home for Harry.  And I want to clarify that I'm in no way condoning 
> the behavior of the Dursleys.  What I *was* trying to point out was 
> that Harry's treatment *would* go unnoticed by his school teachers 
> and neighbors.  So there would be no legal interference.

In Britain perhaps. I doubt that the Dursleys' attitude would go
unnoticed in the schools I've seen here in the U.S. - there are
teacher/parent conferences, Dr. visits, etc.

> However, I also want to point out that Harry doesn't act much like a 
> victim of emotional (or physical for that matter) abuse.  In PS/SS he 
> actually climbs all over Vernon to get to his Hogwarts' letter.  He 
> screams at Vernon (yes, there is an all-caps moment) for his letter 
> and makes snarky comments when Vernon doesn't give it to him.

I agree that Harry seems to have a lot of inner strength and spunk
from the get-go, but then he is supposed to be the super-hero of the
series and super-heros are not like the rest of us! (as for why I
argue he is one, well, after all, he is destined to confront and
defeat - hopefully - the most powerfull evil wizard of all times while
still working on his high school finals...).

Still, I would argue that his actions wrt Hogwarts letter are the
exception rather than the rule. Other than that he shows a lot of fear
of the Dursleys reactions (snake in SS, pudding in CoS), obeys without
arguments, etc. As he matures and gains confidence because of Hogwarts
experience, he stands up to them more and more, but initially he is
scared and obedient.

> There's no love lost between the Dursley's and Harry, but Harry 
> doesn't seem to actually *fear* the Dursley's or to be very hurt that 
> they don't love him.

He does fear them - witness his behaviour after the snake incident and
the pudding. But he also knows he is much smarter than they are and is
therefore able to manipulate or control their reactions to some extent.

> But, if Dumbledore was monitoring Harry in someway, I don't know if 
> he'd see Harry hurting in a way that would demand interference.  I 
> mean, yeah, the cupboard sucks, but Aunt Petunia's blood is the best 
> protection against Voldemort and cronies that Dumbledore can think 
> of.  That's not something to be given up lightly.  Especially when 
> Harry seems to be handling life at the Dursleys.

I was not saying that his situation was reason enough to endanger his
life by removing him from the Dursleys. Only that I believe their
behaviour to Harry is indeed abusive.

Salit