Why the Dursleys were afraid of Dumbledore?

[sbursztynski]

No: HPFGUIDX 158058

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, <coverton at ...> wrote:
>
> Hi group. 
> 
> The topic was brought up about DD and the Dursleys. I think they 
were afraid 'cause they have limited understanding of the magical 
world. And they look on Harry as a burden that they didn't want to 
deal with. Remember when they tried to "squash the magic out of 
him"? I think they'd just as soon forget about Harry and live 
normally. And if Harry does beat Voldemort will they really 
understand? 
> 
> Your fellow member, Corey
>

Hi Corey,

I think I'd be petrified if I DID understand the WW! My guess is 
that Petunia, at least, knows all too well, and doesn't want any 
part of it. I mean, she had a sister at Hogwarts, one who came home 
every summer - imagine what she told her friends about Lily (did she 
say her sister was off at a female equivalent of St Brutus's?). So 
when the time came, Petunia married the most mundane man she could 
find and tried to forget about magic. Obviously, the Evans parents 
didn't mind (a cause of Petunia's jealousy - her sister was the 
favourite), so "that awful boy" (I assume it was James, but this 
list has plenty of ideas about it) was allowed to visit and she 
would have heard more. And then, when Harry arrived on their 
doorstep, she would have had to tell her husband more than he wanted 
to know. It does seem to me a case of denial rather than imperfect 
understanding.

I do agree that they would really rather forget about Harry, though.