Lily and Petunia

[Ceridwen]

No: HPFGUIDX 176468

Debbie:
> Does anyone besides me wonder at how Lily and Petunia grew up?
> 
> If this was their background, then it might explain a lot of
> Petunia's attitudes -- i.e. her jealously of her sister (after
> all, Lily apparently married into money), her obsession with
> status, and even her almost paranoid attitude about cleanliness.
> Thoughts?

Ceridwen:
The Evanses don't seem to live in the same neighborhood as Snape, 
though they do apparently live in the same town.  Petunia makes a 
disparaging remark about where Snape lives, like he lives in the 
worst neighborhood possible.  They don't seem to be dressed poorly, 
while Snape is.

They may have had a struggle to make ends meet all the same.  Having 
more than the Snapes doesn't mean the Evanses were rich, or even that 
well-off.  And buying all the things people want and see as rewards 
for their labor can eat up the extra money.  The Evanses may have 
been in the race to "keep up with the Joneses", as a lot of families 
were back then.  Petunia's notice of things like where Snape lives 
and the sort of clothes he wears could be an indication of that.

And maybe Petunia got the keeping up bug and never let go of it.  
Maybe she mistook having to pay for the new color console TV monthly 
as being poor.  Maybe richer kids taunted her the same way she 
taunted Snape.  Or, she could have been so soured on the magical 
world, and afraid of suddenly having WW neighbors, that she spied on 
the neighbors and hoped they didn't spy back.

Ceridwen, offering a few alternatives.