DD at the Dursleys: Why do people dislike the scene?

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 157541

--- "lupinlore" <rdoliver30 at ...> wrote:
>
> Let us turn our attention for a moment to a scene that 
> gets a lot of discussion and no little heat:  DD at the 
> Dursleys at the beginning of HBP.  ...
> 
> It seems that the scene serves two purposes. One, the 
> more minor purpose, is to get Harry out of the house 
> while providing some comic relief ...
> 
> The second, .... The DD that came out of that book simply
> was not the DD she wanted to sell.  ....  By providing 
> that scene she managed to partially ... wrench the 
> Dumbledore train back onto the correct track.
> 
> Yet it seems, as I say, to have provoked a distaste in 
> some  quarters.  As I say, I am quite baffled as to why. 
>  ...
> 
> So whence the problem?
> 
> Lupinlore


bboyminn:

I agree with what you said, but I think there are some 
other critical factor as well. JKR has a lot of story to 
tell and not many books left to tell it in, so the first
chapters clear up a lot of old hanging plot points, so 
that can be over and done with and the story can move on
to the importants stuff.

In the first chapter, Fudges status and the new Minister 
are introduced, and we are given an overview of the 
Voldemort/DE situation. 

Next we rush off to Snape, where several lingering 
questions about him are cleared up, and new groundwork
is laid for the current story.

Then we are off to Harry and the Dursleys. Here again 
the visit is an excuse to clear up old hanging plot 
points and a chance to further set the stage for the 
current story.

One critical aspect was Sirius's Will and Estate. I have 
previously assumed that this would be a battle between 
Draco and Harry over the Estate that was the foundation 
for the whole book. But... bing bang boom... Harry has 
Sirius's money, house, and Kreacher; situation resolved. 

I also think the scene gave Dumbledore a chance to casually 
drop the location of 12 Grimmauld Place into the 
conversation. I think that will be important in the final 
book. 

While all this is happening, in the background, glassed of 
wine are bashing in the skulls of the Dursleys. OK, I 
exaggerated, but no more so than those who hate this scene. 
Yes, the wine glasses are annoying the Dursleys, and that 
was funny. It was partly funny because all they had to do 
to stop it was take the wine glass. They didn't even have 
to drink it; just take hold of it.

Then finally Dumbledore gives the Dursleys the dressing 
down that they so richly deserve, and he and Harry are off 
to find that flighty temptress Adventure.

In the Slughorn scene, a new and important character is 
introduced. Back to the Weasleys where a couple more hanging
plot points are resolved, and the real story is ready to 
begin.

I think more and more JKR is going to have to do this, rush
through the explanation of some hanging plot points, so she
can move on with the real story at hand. 

While many think Dumbledore came of as infinitely rude, I 
agree with others, that he came of as infinitely charming 
and wisely diplomatic. He knew when to be hard and when to 
be soft. He knew how to move things along smoothly. I think
it shows Dumbledore at his best.

Also, the Dursley scene does allow one more subtle hint 
regarding Petunia to be dropped. Her reactions in that scene 
seem out of character and also out of sync with Vernon and
Dudley. One more hint that there is something special about
Petunia. Though JKR shot down the best theories; Petunia is 
not a Squib, and she will never do magic. So if not that, 
then what? 

Yes, I certainly found that to be a great entertaining chapter.

Steve/bboyminn