Rereading SS/PS question(s)/Harry's protections

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 153982

 
> Alla:
<snip>
> If that is OKAY that it was easy enough to find Harry and as you are 
> saying DE or former DE were so afraid of Harry anyways, couldn't he 
> grew up with some.... I don't know less abusive, decent folks?
> 
> Especially since as you are saying Harry has two  related 
> protections. He needs protection given by Lily against Voldemort, 
> but the additional protection on Privet Drive, the charm that 
> Petunia sealed when she took Harry in, doesn't it look like 
> according to your argument that Harry does not actually need it?
> 
> 
> See, I am not sure I am buying that DE will not attack Harry and 
> that is why I HOPE that protection on Privet Drive was essential too 
> ( would be nice if JKR confirmed it in book 7 by making DE attack 
> it), but then I am again back to Dumbledore who could not hide Harry 
> well enough.

Pippin:
This line of thought reminds me of the foolish villagers who decided
that since no one ever fell off the cliff it would be safe to take the
fence down. I think considering what happened to the Longbottoms,
not to mention James and Lily themselves, it would only make sense
for Dumbledore to take a belt and suspenders approach to keeping
Harry safe.

In the first place, we can't be sure that there weren't attacks on Privet
Drive that Harry doesn't remember. Petunia is afraid to leave Harry
alone lest she find her house in ruins, and Harry has that out-of-
sequence memory of a black dragon rearing up in front of him. We
also know that the Ministry keeps a close eye on Privet Drive in light
of "past events" and that they are very sure there are no other wizards
in the vicinity (obviously they don't know about the Order keeping
watch.) It seems to me that if there are Muggle-repelling charms 
then there are probably wizard-repelling charms also, (don't we
have a hint of that in HBP with the boat?) which wouldn't keep out
underage wizards like Fred and George but would have to be 
removed by Dumbledore before any other wizards could get near
Privet Drive. 

I know it seems like all this would be enough to protect Harry
without the Dursleys, but OTOH, no else that Voldemort
has tried to kill personally has ever survived anywhere near
as long as Harry.

Pippin