Petunia and Lily (was why do people dislike this scene)

[Ceridwen]

No: HPFGUIDX 158080

Alla:
> I have no argument with **different age groups see things 
> differently** to some extent, as long as you are not arguing that 
> that really means that Harry was not abused by Dursleys. JKR as 
much 
> as said that he was. That is why irregardless whether Petunia is 
> angry or terrified and as I said I am sure she was terrified too, 
> but for the reasons I fail to find sympathetic as of today. IMO of 
> course

Ceridwen:
I purposely tried to stay away from any other issues, like the abuse 
issue and the DD's visit issue, but didn't do a very good job of 
saying so!  Blame math class.  8(

Though, I would suggest that if Petunia and Vernon were supported by 
the WW, perhaps the abuse would not have happened.  I'm only saying 
perhaps, because we can't know.  But knowing that they had some 
recourse when Harry displayed accidental magic might have relieved 
stress, which also contributes to abusive situations, if I recall 
correctly.  And knowing that someone would be around to check and 
have 'Tea with Petunia' (who said that?  love it, sounds like an 
afternoon gossip program on TV!) would curtail some more overt 
abuses, too, in my opinion.

I didn't say anything about Harry's viewpoint, except to say that we 
don't really know there is no support network.  Harry may not have 
seen such a thing if the visiting WW counsellor came over while he 
was at school, for instance.  But, since you mentioned it ;), Harry 
could read anger for fear if someone is yelling at him (not talking 
about any physical abuse here, just yelling).

Plenty of parents yell at their kids when something horrifying has 
happened.  For instance, a child running into the street.  The kid 
thinks the parent is very angry, shouting, carrying on, but another 
adult seeing what was happening would see fear for what could have 
happened.  Not that we see Petunia too concerned for Harry's safety, 
but she might react in fear over a bout of accidental magic, which 
Harry would perceive as anger.

Alla:
> Indeed and that fear and/or anger lead them to do things to Harry 
that Sherry described and as she said **none** of them was his fault. 
None. I am sure that we can find plenty of reasons explaining 
Petunia's behaviour. It is just I cannot find any, which justify it. 
IMO.

Ceridwen:
As I said, I wasn't trying to address any other issue than the 
apparent lack of support for Muggles dealing with magical children.  
Lack of support in this case equals lack of knowledge and 
understanding.  I still think there should be some pre-Hogwarts 
support for *all* Muggle parents and guardians of magical children, 
not just the Dursleys.  Fear and anger, and in some instances, even 
misplaced religious fervor, could lead to tragic circumstances for 
any magical child, not just Harry.

Alla:
> I just completely disagree that she was **not** jealous, when she 
says as such, I just disagree that fear alone is what drives Petunia.

Ceridwen:
Oh, definitely Petunia is jealous.  Her speech about her 'freak' 
sister in PS/SS sounded bitter and sad and jealous.  Their parents 
were *proud* to have a witch in the family.  That speech misled me on 
first reading to think that, in the Potterverse, Muggles knew about 
the WW since there had to be some basis for the Evans's pride.  Maybe 
something to lord over the neighbors, since Petunia is portrayed as 
someone who wants to keep ahead of her neighbors, or is at least 
concerned with keeping up with them.

But, I think she was hurt, too, that her parents were so proud of 
Lily.  It sounded to me that she felt left out and even unloved on 
some level.  Lily's special, Petunia is just Petunia.

Ceridwen.