Dumbledore & Dursleys-What DD Knew

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 123390


Lupinlore:
> Granted the Dursleys MIGHT have put Harry out.  Yet they didn't 
> after the Howler nor after being threatened by the Order.  Strange 
> for people who are so ready to kick the boy out.  No, until we are
> SPECIFICALLY told otherwise the high-hand in the situation seems to
> reside with DD, and until we are SPECIFICALLY told about why he did
> not use that hand to alleviate Harry's suffering, he remains 
> complicit.


SSSusan:
I think you're twisting things here a bit.  Yesterday you pointed 
out that I presented only two options, when there might be another.  
Today I'd like to respectfully point out that there may be a BALANCE 
between the two extremes that are being presented here.  

I have seen no one say that the Dursleys were *ready* to push Harry 
out.  What I suggested, for instance, is that perhaps if DD pushed 
*too hard* for certain things concerning their behavior & treatment 
of Harry, they might have been willing to.  I suggested that DD, 
wise as he is, could not *know* in advance how these people would 
react to threats or bribery and so had to weigh Harry's safety 
against his comfort.  

You asked how great might the risk have been that the DEs would have 
come after Harry if he was kicked out as a child?  Pretty great, I 
would think!  The kid didn't even know he was a wizard 'til 11.  He 
wouldn't have had a wand; he wouldn't have been able to defend 
himself.  Look at what the DEs did to Alice & Frank *after* Voldy's 
fall.  What would have given DD any indication that Harry might not 
meet a similar -- or worse -- fate?

But back to my main point, I believe DD offered the Dursleys 
something -- likely a form of protection for them or Dudley or their 
home -- as long as Petunia & Vernon continue to allow Harry to live 
in their home.  This would have been a starting point, but with *how 
delicate* a balance?  If the Dursleys routinely beat Harry or 
refused to allow him to go to school or made him live in squalor [do 
we see evidence of any  of this?], I like to think that would have 
tipped the balance too far and DD would have appeared to address 
it.  [Perhaps Mrs. Figg served as DD's monitor for these flagrant, 
very dangerous abuses?]  But the Dursleys likely know about the 
protection their home affords Harry, as well, and so they know DD 
wouldn't lightly remove Harry -- so in that way, they have the upper 
hand.  They *could* kick him out, albeit [*if* I'm right about a DD 
offer] potentially at the loss of protection for themselves.  But it 
was always a chance that they might elect to do this.

That Petunia seemed quite frightened & did *not* kick Harry out 
after receiving DD's Howler makes me believe:  1) that DD *has* 
provided ongoing protection; and 2) that she still very much wants 
that protection.  So *now* DD knows that!  And perhaps it was only 
*now* -- when Harry's 15 and more able to fend for himself, knows 
what's going on in the WW & with Voldemort -- that DD could risk 
issuing a threat which might lead to the Dursleys backing out of 
Harry's life.

Siriusly Snapey Susan