Dumbledore & Dursleys-What DD Knew

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 123207


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "cubfanbudwoman"
<susiequsie23 at s...> wrote:
> 
> 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.
> 
> ... speculation here about just how much DD knew about ... the 
> Dursleys' home [and] ... Harry ....  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 
> be a pampered little prince ....  OTOH, some assume that DD really
> hasn't had much of a clue about the specifics....  
> 
> 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 ... Surely if DD was aware ...., he'd have known 
> whether Petunia & Vernon had told Harry the truth.  ...edited...
> 
> 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

bboyminn:

Why did Dumbledore chose to leave Harry at the Dursley?

First, it was Dumbledore who took on the task of arranging Harry's
care, even Voldemort knows that; witness his speech in the GOF graveyard.

Second, leaving Harry with the Dursleys sealed/activated Dumbledore's
Blood Protection Charm that further protected Harry; protection
building on but going far above and beyond Lily's /sacrifice/ Love
protection. By accepting Harry into their home Petunia sealed a Charm
that protects Harry from anyone wishing to do him serious bodily harm;
again, Voldie's speech in the graveyard.

So, at the Dursley's Harry had the ultimate protection. He probably
had the highest protection possible short of Dumbledore personally
raising Harry himself. Knowing that Voldemort and his deranged Death
Eaters would be very likely to seek Harry out and do him harm,
Dumbledore had to chose the option of greatest protection. Since the
Blood Protection Charm is tied to a place, Harry is protected even
when he is alone.

In addition, Dumbledore had Mrs. Figg in the neighborhood to keep an
eye on things, and she could keep him up-to-date on Harry progress and
notify him quickly in case of emergency. 

That should be sufficient to explain to anyone why Harry was at the
Dursley's.


What did Dumbledore know?

Well, he knew the Dursleys were not too fond of the wizard world
(slight understatement). I'm sure he also knew they were oddly
unpleasant people. By his own words, he knew Harry's life there would
be unpleasant; unpleasant but safe.  

But I seriously doubt that Dumbledore knew every little detail and
every little event. I'm sure his knowledge consisted of general status
reports from Mrs. Figg, and perhaps an occassional covert observation
of his own. But when Dumbledore weighed Harry's unpleasant existance
in which he as fed, clothed, and housed, against his increased
vulnerability at any other location, he reasonably chose the safer
option. Knowing the dangerous magnitude of the people who were out to
get Harry, certainly Dumbledore would always choose safer over more
pleasant.

I also think that Dumbledore thought it best to keep Harry out of the
wizard world; witness his 'pampered prince' statement. Given Harry's
fame and recognition, I don't think he could have been raised in the
wizard world without it being common knowledge regarding where and who
he was. That common knowledge would make it very easy for people who
wanted to do him harm, to find him and do that harm. Since Harry would
likely be seen in the wizard world in Diagon Alley (etc...) and
frequently be found among wizard, it would have been easy for someone
to covertly harm Harry; as in, sniper-wizard on the roof of the Leaky
Cauldron. 

At least with the Dursleys, he was away from all that. To some extent,
Harry was hidden in the muggle world, away from prying and potentially
dangerous eyes. Although, it's clear from the books that a few people
in the Wiz-World knew who and where Harry was, I don't think the
details were common knowledge. No, it was logically much better and
safer to keep Harry out of the wizard world and under the protection
of the Blood Charm.

So, I agree Dumbledore knew what was going on at the Dursley's, but
only in a general way (not ever little detail), and that general
knowledge did not go against his expectation, nor was it ever bad
enough to his knowledge to out weigh the level of protection Harry had
there.

Sometimes in life, the best choice isn't always the most pleasant
choice. Sometimes you must accept small misery and sacrifice in order
to avoid a much greater misery and sacrifice; it's called life.

Final note; in addition to the general situation being monitored by
Mrs. Figg, it's crystal clear that the Ministry of Magic is closely
monitoring Harry's location for any magical activity. I really don't
think they are monitoring it for magical activity by Harry. That just
turned out to be something the could use to their advantage at a later
date. I think the Ministry has a general knowledge of the Prophecy,
and they know that Harry has an important role in the future of
wizarding-kind. So, I think there monitoring was set up to give them
the fastest possible alert should someone magically attack Harry.

So, Dumbledore knows enough to know that safety still out weighs comfort.

And the situation at Privet Drive is being monitored, but monitored
for safety and security as a primary concern, and Harry general
comfort, via Mrs. Figg, as a secondary concern.

But then... that's just one man's opinion.

Steve/bboyminn