Arthur right or not? ( was Hate crimes (was Re: muggle baiting vs. muggle tortur

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 155849

> a_svirn:
> 
> First, when it comes to reasons, they had none of the above. 
Dudley 
> is in no way responsible for barren Christmases, cheerless 
> birthdays, cast-offs and the like. His parents are the ones 
> responsible for the abuse. He was indeed responsible for the 
> bullying bit, but that was water under the bridge by the time of 
the 
> Toffee incident. Moreover, he had already been "punished" for that 
> by Hagrid. 
> <SNIP>

Alla:

Where is it stated in canon that by the time of GoF Dudley was not 
bullying Harry any more? Harry hunting or something else? I mean, in 
OOP Harry sure has no problem talking back to Dudley, not that it 
stops Dudley from mocking Harry's nightmares, but I don't remember 
Harry stating that Dudley stopped at all. Could be wrong obviously.

But Dudley's bullying definitely seems to be fresh in Harry's mind 
at 
the beginning of GoF, IMO.


""We'll get it," said Fred at once.  Winking at Harry, he and George 
left the room.  They knew where Harry's bedroom was, having once 
rescued him from it in the dead of night.  Harry suspected that Fred 
and George were hoping for a glimpse of Dudley; they had heard a lot 
about him from Harry."


They heard a lot about him from Harry. I am guessing Harry did not 
describe Dudley's actions in very flattering words.

Also when Fred says that they gave candy to Dudley because he is a 
bully and asks Harry to confirm, Harry's answer is 

"Yeah, he is, Mr. Weasley," said Harry earnestly.

Not, he **was**, but he **is**, so to me it is not proven that 
Dudley's bullying is water under the bridge at the time of GoF.

JMO of course,

Alla, who wants to express her agreement with Amiable Dorsai once 
again.