Dumbledore and the Dursleys

[Valerie Flowe]

No: HPFGUIDX 123449


Alex:
> I was just re-reading the first chapter of OotP, and noticed that
> there is a very small bit of evidence that *someone*, at least, has
> taken a *slightly* more hands-on approach to making sure that Harry is
> taken care of during the summer.  To wit:
> 
> "Mrs Figg had recently taken to asking him around for tea whenever she
> saw him in the street" (2, US HC).
> 
> If this sentence refers to tea-the-meal, rather than tea-the-beverage,
> then at least some care is being taken to see that Harry gets enough
> to eat that particular summer, though whether Mrs. Figg is acting on
> her own initiative or on Dumbledore's orders, we can't say.  In either
> case, it probably would have worked better if someone had clued him in
> that she wasn't *just* a nutty neighbor--as it is, he goes out of his
> way to avoid Mrs. Figg and her tea.


Yes, it is implied that Harry was constantly observed, if not by DD, then by
Figg and her "husband", was it? The irresponsible one who runs off and gives
the Dementors a chance to swoop in on Harry and Dudley? So, I guess that as
long as Harry wasn't being physically abused to the point of
hospitalization, then DD figured that was still the only place he could be
assured that Harry was safe from Voldemort? It still seems like gross
negligence to me. Is that because in this day and age we are so conscious of
children's emotional wellbeing? Maybe DD was old school and thought "Hey,
the kid's gotta toughen up. Maybe the Dursleys evil antics will somehow
prepare Harry for his eventual battle with the most evil one of all? Who
knows what DD thinks? He's a strange bird. One minute he's all sensitive and
grandfatherly. The next he's putting Harry in harm's way AT HOGWARTS, which
they are constantly saying is one of the safest places in the wizarding
world to be (with charms and spells guarding the place and all). I don't
understand why DD does this. In fact, it really bugs me. If Harry is so
important to the future of the wizarding world, where is DD when Harry gets
into all of his "grand finale of the books" scrapes? He always shows up at
the end to philosophize. But is he really concerned about Harry's safety?
And should Harry be allowed to attend Hogwarts at all, considering that
every year, he almost loses his life??? (trolls; Voldemore/Quirrel; huge
man-eating spiders; basilisks; supposed escaped convicts on the loose). I
know in Book 2, DD was kicked out, thanks to Lucius's intimidation tactics,
but if he arguably the most powerful wizard in the world, wouldn't he have
some sort of powers to know when Harry is in danger, and come to his rescue?
Gee, I suppose he did sent Fawkes with the Griffyndor sword, end of Book 2.
But that's the only example, isn't it?
Why didn't DD go rescue Sirius from the tower? Why send some 13 year old
kids to tangle with a supposed rabid hippogriff and potentially murderous
werewolf? Why DOES DD hire such bizarre volatile folks to teach the DADA
class? Quirrel was a joke, as was Lockhart. Lupin, we presume is a brilliant
wizard, as he coaches Harry to reach his full potential with the patronus.
But, for heaven's sake; he's a werewolf! Is anyone other than the crazy tree
guarding the student body and Hogsmeade from the potential danger of an
escaped werewolf?! I mean, I love Lupin, as does everyone, but come on! That
IS a rather irresponsible choice of teacher. I don't think I'd like my kids
to be taught by a werewolf either! And Mad-eye...well, he's just insane.
Totally out to lunch! But then again, we don't really get a true picture of
Mad-Eye, because he is in effect, Crouch, Jr. But he's still portrayed as a
paranoid freak. Snape seems rather acceptable by all of those standards. But
for whatever reason, as yet unknown, that DD trusts Snape, I think he still
fears that Snape is just too close to his Dark Side roots. That it wouldn't
take much for him to get sucked back in. Though he does trust him to report
back on any Voldemort/Death-Eater activity. But not to influence the
kids...hmmmm. But, then again, Potions could dispense very powerful evil.
Could he not insinuate his potential evil to the kids through that practice?
He implies it at the beginning of the series when he goes on about
"ensnaring the senses; putting a stopper on death, etc", while looking at
Draco, who Snape surely knows is evil, as he is his house leader, and knows
his father as the evil bastard that he is.
So. to sum it up, DD must deep down, not trust Snape. Else why would he
"diss" him so bad, year after year?
I'm sure this has all been discussed previously. But thought I'd throw my
thoughts in...
Val