Defense of DD re Dursleys..

pippin_999 foxmoth at qnet.com
Sat May 27 13:30:49 UTC 2006


No: HPFGUIDX 152985

 
> Nikkalmati:
> We are assuming that DD knew what was going on at the Dursley's and I  am not 
> sure he did.  The Muggle world and the WW are supposed to stay  as separate 
> as possible.  I am struck when listening to Hagrid in  PS/SS how shocked he is 
> to find out Harry does not know anything about Hogwarts  or his parents and 
> that he had not been given the letter DD left for him.   Apparently, Hagrid and 
> also DD did not have a way of spying on the  Dursleys. 

Pippin:
That contradicts what Dumbledore and Voldemort say: that Harry has been
watched very closely. Now maybe the WW is only watching out for magical
interference. But Dumbledore does say that he knew when he left Harry that
he was in for dark and difficult times. 

It would make sense for Dumbledore to keep his knowledge to himself. Hagrid's
outrage would doubtless have been shared by many others, and there would 
have been pressure to remove Harry from what Dumbledore considered to be
the only safe place for him. 

Dumbledore is interested in results not posturing, IMO. He uses disapproval 
sparingly and threats only as a last resort. Some people (cough*Snape*cough) 
have more confidence in these methods than he does. But Dumbledore 
knows that disapproval works only with people who desire your approval,
and threats are a weapon that often misfires.

Dumbledore may be able to get away with using magic in the Muggle world
once in a while, but he can't expect to get away with it all the time. His
enemies would love to be able to accuse him of Muggle-baiting.  Also,
to punish Petunia in any way that would prevent or interfere
with her ability to provide a home for Harry would be worse than useless.


Pippin








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