Twins and Dudley

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 145752

Alla wrote:
<snip>
> 
> As to Dudley though - it is clear to me that it is JKR playing 
> retribution on Dudley for all those years of "Harry's hunting", so 
> no matter how many practical jokes twins play on Dudley, I am 
> cheering them on and saying "More, please".

Carol responds:
But the lengthening and swelling of Dudley's tongue was not some funny
little prank like turning Neville (momentarily) into a canary when
Neville ate a canary cream. Now if *that* had happened to Dudley, I'd
have laughed.

But choking on one's tongue, asphyxiating, is a horrible way to die,
and I'm sure that Dudley thought he was dying (not to mention that his
mother was pulling on his tongue, not realizing what it was, in her
misguided attempt to save him). Dudley was choking and suffocating,
and he was in pain from having his tongue pulled. Also, both he and
his parents were helpless against this terrifying magic. Yet the Twins
thought it was funny.

Whatever Dudley had done, he didn't deserve to suffer *that* horribly.
And it was none of the Twins' business. He'd done nothing to *them,*
and their behavior could have made matters worse for Harry.

So I'm with Magpie: This incident is Muggle-baiting and IMO, there's
nothing funny about it.

Carol, who thinks this incident may well be the memory that came back
to Dudley when the Dementor tried to suck out his soul (and if
*that's* not sufficient comeuppance for Dudley, I don't know what is)