Dumbledore & Dursleys-What DD Knew

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 123268


Lupinlore:
> Hook's still in for me, too.  I don't think either I or Alla or 
> most other people argue with DD's INITIAL decision.  That is very 
> well explained in OOTP.  Harry was in danger, there was a traitor 
> in the inner circle of the Potters', and DD had little time.

SSSusan:
Yes, we're in agreement with this.

Lupinlore:
> The problem that arises is in his inaction in the FOLLOWING ten 
> years.  I perhaps can see how he might initially believe 
> (especially considering his general disposition toward optimism) 
> that things would work out.  He might have said to himself "things 
> will be difficult, but they ARE his family and he's just a child.  
> Petunia will surely come to SOME kind of resolution of her issues 
> when she realizes he's just a child..."  Fine.  I can buy that for 
> the initial decision with no problem.
> 
> However, he had plenty of time to check back up on Harry in the 
> next ten years.  And I can't imagine Mrs. Figg's reports were very
> encouraging.  THAT is the hook Albus is wriggling on, and I'm 
> afraid nothing JKR or anyone else has said is good enough yet to 
> get him off.
 

SSSusan:
The key phrase in what you say, for me, is "nothing JKR or anyone 
else has said is good enough yet to get him off."  But I'm about 
100% certain that the way I'm thinking of that phrase is mightily 
different than the way you are.

I think I *can* still see DD choosing to leave Harry there, even if 
he knew how he was being treated, but what I'd need to know is, DID 
he check back?  If he did and decided what was happening was still 
preferable to the risks Harry would face in the WW, I might be able 
to live with that.  For me, I'm more distressed by the notion that 
he might not have checked back at all.  And *that's* the part I'd 
really like to have JKR explain.

Siriusly Snapey Susan