Going off on a tangent from Re: Dumbledore and the Dursleys

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 123185


Alex Boyd:
> [DD] says, "I've come to bring Harry to his aunt and uncle.  
> They're the only family he has left now."  and then, after 
> McGongall protests, "It's the best place for him.  HIs aunt and
> uncle will be able to explain everything to him when he's older." 
> (page 13 of the Scholastic paperback). 


SSSusan:
I don't know why this line stuck out to me so upon this reading, 
after all the other times, but it did.

There is often speculation here about just how much DD knew about the 
goings-on at the Dursleys' home after Harry was left there.  Some 
assume he knew pretty much everything but chose to leave Harry there, 
*either* because it was the safest place for him *or* because DD 
didn't want Harry to grow up to be a pampered little prince and felt 
that this environment was better for preventing that than a WW home 
would be.  OTOH, some assume that DD really hasn't had much of a clue 
about the specifics of Harry's upbringing with the Dursleys.  

I think this statement above, from SS/PS, gives credence to the 
second view -- well, either that or DD lies.  

When Hagrid first appears, he is stunned that Harry does not know 
he's a wizard and, especially, that he doesn't know the true story of 
his parents' death.  Surely if DD was aware of the specifics of 
Harry's upbringing, he'd have known whether Petunia & Vernon had told 
Harry the truth.  In fact, though, DD says, "They will be able to 
explain everything when he is older."  To me this implies that DD 
*expected* them to tell him -- perhaps because of a directive in the 
note tucked in with Harry?  Yet they did not, so it would seem DD 
truly was in the dark about the specifics of Harry's life with the 
Dursleys.  

Does this get DD off the hook with some readers?  Or does it beg the 
question, "How could he have left Harry somewhere where he couldn't 
be monitored?" 

Siriusly Snapey Susan