[HPforGrownups] RE: Defense of Snape in POA. Was:Re: Snape, Apologies, a...

[OctobersChild48 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 152854

In a message dated 5/24/06 3:46:34 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
bawilson at citynet.net writes:


> 
> One thing I noticed when I re-read PS/SS was that the Dursleys were trying
> to keep Harry from his wizardling heritage because they considered it
> DANGEROUS.  It seems that, as mean and wrongheaded as they were, they are
> trying to protect him.

Sandy now:
I have been very tempted to respond to many of the current topics but since I 
can never seem to pass muster with the list elves I have remained in lurkdom. 
This statement, however, brings me out. Do you REALLY think the Dursleys are 
trying to protect Harry? I don't see it that way at all. I have no doubt that 
the Dursleys think Harry's magical heritage is dangerous, but not to Harry but 
rather to them. They are worried that their precious neighbors will find out 
and they will be treated like lepers. Considering the circumstances that 
brought Harry to them I'm sure they're plenty worried something likewise could 
happen to them.  They worry that Harry himself may bring some kind of magical 
disaster upon them like, say, blowing up their house. I'm sure, despite the 
estrangement between Lily and Petunia, they had to be at least aware that there was 
a wizarding war going on, which was confirmed when Harry landed on their door 
step. Keep in mind Vernon's reaction when Harry told him Voldemort was back in 
Phoenix. And, of course, they were worried that some harm would come to their 
precious Dudley as a result of Harry's magic. That, too, came to pass in 
Phoenix. If there is one question I want answered in book 7 it is WHY the Dursleys 
took Harry in. To me, that is the biggest mystery of all. Yes, they thought 
magic was dangerous, and they were scared shitless of it, but they were scared 
for themselves, not for Harry. The only thing they ever did to protect Harry 
was take him in, and I don't understand why they did.


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