What did Dudley see with the Dementors? (WAS: Theory on Petunia)

[saberbunny]

No: HPFGUIDX 158254

 > 
> Abergoat suggests:
>snipped... 
> I understand that parents are encouraged to handle a toddler's
> transition from only child to 'older sibling' carefully. Dudley
> wouldn't have had that preparation - he would have woken up to 
sharing the house with another toddler...and a 15 months his 
understanding would be sufficiently limited <snip> (that) must have 
been the first time in his young life that screaming didn't get him 
what he wanted. It must have been a horrible shock...one that it 
seems his parents are still trying to make up for.
> 
> 
Catherine (de-lurking for a post) now:

Actually, at 15 months, a child's short-term memory is pretty 
limited. Give him a few days, and he won't even remember having been 
an only child. He'll notice something is different, but won't blame 
it on the newcomer. 
The Dursley's, on the other hand,  have enough resentment towards 
Harry that they just transferred it over to Dudley. If they were 
older, even closer to 2 years old, he might have memories of being an 
only child. But take it from me...I vaccinate babies and older 
children, and at a year old, I have to give 4 seperate injections, 2 
of which burn a heck of a lot. By the 4th injection, I don't know who 
hates me more, the child or their parent. But what I can tell you, is 
that 5 minutes later, the child is giving me a great big smile having 
completely forgotten all the pain (or at least that I was the one 
inflicting it). The parents still hate me though....can't cure that 
with a sticker!

Catherine
(hiding back in the shadows of lurkdom)