Letters from Dumbledore to Petunia / Magic late in life

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 161847

> Jen: So there were letters to Petunia prior to the letter left
> with Harry on the doorstep.  Likely Dumbledore was warning Petunia 
> about Voldemort during the time he was after James and Lily.

Baby blue: 
> This is, of course, a distinct possibility. Probably just as
> likely as my theory, but somehow it doesn't get me as excited.
> Says a lot about me, I think, that I'm mose excited by the idea of
> missed opportunities than by a secret bond with a sister she was
> obviously at odds with ( an old story to me).

Jen:  Yeah, I know what you mean, it's a little ho hum and pretty 
easy to extrapolate from the text that Dumbledore had reason to 
contact Petunia during the First War.  The more exciting part for me 
is *how* Dumbledore surmised that, why would he think Voldemort even 
knew about Petunia?  This is where 'that awful boy' could come in if 
indeed Petunia was referring to someone other than James.  Maybe 
that awful boy was Snape passing on information about Lily's 
relatives being targeted. 

I wasn't sure what you meant about a secret bond, that Petunia and 
Lily did like each other at one time?  If that's what you meant I 
don't think that has to be the case, it's enough that Petunia knows 
more about the magical world than she's letting on without there 
needing to be a great friendship in the past.

Baby blue:
> Wouldn't that be good though. Imagine how on earth you would write
> a letter like that? "I'm sorry you're an orphan, your parents were
> killed by a powerful evil sourceror. Don't worry though, you got
> you're own back, it seems you've killed him. At ther age of one."
> (Please don't jump on my back, that was not written for accuracy,
> but for a small attempt at comedy value.)How scary would that be
> though?

Jen: Hehe!  Whatever it was I'm sure Petunia had a hissy fit once 
she assured the neighbors everything was fine and went inside. ;-) I 
wonder if there was a part of that letter only for Harry, bewitched 
for Harry's eyes or a letter to him tucked inside Petunia's letter?  
Dumbledore didn't seem concerned in OOTP that Harry hadn't read the 
letter before so I'm thinking it was mainly written to Petunia.  Now 
that Dumbledore is gone though, it would be poignant if there was a 
special message in there.  Whatever, I'm almost 100% certain Harry 
will read it since JKR loves writing letters and this is the ONE.

Baby blue:
> And here I come undone. I've just gone and filched my sister-in-
> law's copy of philosopher's stone, and the letter to Harry is 
> written by McGonagall. So, with lack of any supporting data, I
> will retire from this debate. But be assured, if I turn out to be
> right when the book's released, I will be the first back on here
> to say I told you so. (unlikely, I know, but a girl can always
> hope.)

Jen:  No, no wait!  Here's where the fun begins, this is where the 
speculation starts:  Petunia was the younger sister lets say, so 
with Lily already at Hogwarts and Petunia refusing her letter, 
Dumbledore himself felt he needed to make a last attempt. He saw 
such promise in Lily and hated to see her sister refuse her 
destiny. :-)  I'm sure you can come up with a better idea, lol.

Jen R.