Harry's first time in Dumbledore's office

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 140505

> Saraquel:
> IMO, this also provides us with a reason why DD might have chosen 
> the Dursleys, over and above the blood charm protection.  DD could 
> not have known what the outcome of the encounter with Voldemort 
> meant for Harry, imediately after the event, so he had to choose 
> something which would suit all eventualities - good or bad. If DD 
> knew the attitude of the Dursleys towards magic, which I think he 
> probably did, whether or not you go along with the theroy that 
> Petunia is actually a witch who decided not to go to Hogwarts, then
> he was putting Harry in a place where his magical abilities would
> be squashed and definitely not be encouraged early in his life.
>  He had seen with Riddle what the early discovery of power had
>  done to him. 

Jen: Dumbledore must have found it very difficult to chart the right 
course for Harry, given his past experience with Riddle. Back then 
Dumbledore seemed to think, or maybe just hoped, that Tom 
discovering his magical heritage and attending Hogwarts would be 
enough to turn him around. Dumbledore's regret was palpable during 
their last civil discussion when he told Voldemort: "the time is 
long gone when I could frighten you with a burning wardrobe and 
force you to make repayment for your crimes. But I wish I could, 
Tom...I wish I could." (chap. 20, p. 446, Scholastic) I felt like 
Dumbledore was also voicing his personal regret for *allowing* that 
time to pass and not intervening more during Riddle's slide to evil. 

You couple that with Dumbledore discovering the prophecy boy was 
marked with an evil curse, and the situation is downright sticky to 
sort out. How could he know what "marked him as his equal" would 
mean? It could very easily mean Harry was slated to be the next Dark 
Lord, meant to overthrow Voldemort--there was nothing in the 
prophecy about the the person born in the 7th month being good! 

I tend to think placing him with the Dursleys was solely because of 
the blood protection, though. If Dumbledore's main concern was not 
repeating the past, he'd make certain Harry was placed with a 
wizarding family who could help shape his magical ability in a 
positive direction.

Jen