TBAY: DRIBBLE SHADOWS (long)

[huntergreen_3]

No: HPFGUIDX 128812

Neri (hugely snipped):
>>G) We also know that DD had corresponded with Petunia before, but it
doesn't look like he did during the 24hrs, because Petunia was in a
very good mood when Vernon was back from work.<<

Snow replied:
> How about
Dumbledore met with Petunia after Vernon had gone off for 
> the day. 
[snip] 
> Dumbledore used Petunia/Lily's blood to bind the 
> contract that when she picked the baby up in her arms the contract 
> was activated and Harry was protected by both his mother's blood   
> and Petunia's home. (Dumbledore didn't need Harry, just the family 
> blood that ran through Harry's veins also.) 
[large snip]
> Dumbledore and Petunia together plan 
> the arrival of Harry along with the letter that accompanied him so 
> that Vernon was totally unaware of neither Petunia and Dumbledore's 
> meeting nor the pact between them. 

Rebecca:
Great theory Snow! It fits very well with canon and explains why 
Dumbledore would have been away from Harry/Hagrid all day. Its 
perfect except for one thing. OotP heavily implies that the agreement 
was made in a letter: (emphasisis mine)

"`But she took you,' Dumbledore cut across him. `She may have taken 
you grudgingly, furiously, unwillingly, bitterly, yet still she took 
you, and in doing so, *she sealed the charm I placed upon you*. Your 
mother's sacrifice made the bond of blood the strongest shield I 
could give you.'

[snip] Your aunt knows this. *I explained what I had done in the 
letter I left, with you, on her doorstep*. She knows that allowing 
you houseroom may well have kept you alive for the past fifteen 
years.' "

Unless Dumbledore was lying or bending the truth there, he explained 
Petunia's end of the deal in a letter, not in person. Also, he 
implies (the words "charm I placed on you") that he personally placed 
a charm on Harry, but that doesn't make sense either. His reaction to 
Harry and Hagrid is one of someone who hasn't seen either person all 
day. He certainly didn't place any charms during the brief scene 
before putting Harry on the doorstep, so what is he talking about? 
When was it placed? 

My only theory (and I'll admit that its unlikely) is that he placed 
the charm on the *letter*, and it became sort of like a contract. The 
moment that she took Harry in (in other words made Privet Drive his 
home, perhaps whenever her or Vernon cleaned out the cupboard and put 
Harry there), that sealed the charm. 
The whole thing is sort of confusing. Dumbledore says its the same 
ancient magic that started when Lily died to save Harry, so why would 
a charm be needed at all? We know whatever it needed to work was done 
either by her simply dying for him or by something done beforehand, 
so why would something additional be needed? 


-Rebecca / HunterGreen