[HPforGrownups] Re: Random Questions from The Boy Who Lived

[Jeremiah LaFleur]

No: HPFGUIDX 164954

>Jeremiah
>snip>

As far as the letter: I would assume a few things that DD would have
written. 1)He would have told Petunia that her sister died and 2) He would
have told her that she needs to take Harry in so he can be safe. I do,
however, think (and this is where I jump into the world of speculation) DD
would have talked about LV's attack. This is my guess because I feel that
Petunia, knowing more than she lets on, would have known that her sister
went into hiding, was all caught up in the Order and I base this on her
saying in "The Keeper of the Keys" (I hope that's the right chapter in PS/SS
when Hagrid arrives) that her sister "got herself blown up" because of
James. Whatever else is anyone's guess.

Nikkalmati

Yes, we have several indications that Petunia is aware of the WW in ways
Vernon is not, and why not? She had a sister who was a witch. But I do not
think DD arrived that evening with the letter in his pocket and left it and
Harry on the doorstep without notice or a prior agreement. Much of what you
speculate about would have been in that letter, but I don't think that was
their
first communication. Notice as Vernon was leaving for work that morning he
failed to notice a large tawny owl over his house. I think that owl was
coming for Petunia and in the letter it was carrying DD informed Petunia of
Lily's death and his need for a place for Harry. I don't think Petunia first

learned of the tragedy when she found Harry on the doorstep.

Nikkalmati
==================================

Jeremiah:

Actually, I do believe that at the end of the chapter "The Boy Who Lived" it
is said that harry would be awakened by Petunia's screams as she set out the
milk bottles in the morning. I'm sure you can interpreate that as Petunia
"freaking out" about finding the baby of her dead sister... assuming Petunia
knew that her sister was going to die... I'm sure Petunia knew Lily was in
hiding (IMO, btw) but I see it as a shock that there was a basket on her
doorstep and then she read the letter... (whatever was in it) I don't know
about any prior arrangements. I also remember Petunia saying how she and
Vernon got stuck with Harry.

I have always had the feeling that, even though Petunia knows more that she
lets on, she was truely shocked to have Harry pop up on her doorstep one
morning. She seemed oblivious to anything that had been happening to her
sister until she discovered Harry.

I do, however, agree that there were messages from DD earlier than the one
left with Harry (and I do recall the Tawney Owl on the morning in question)
and I would find it amazing that Petunia would be so "calm" (well, calm for
Petunia, that is) in the evening with her tea infront of the telly reacting
with pursed lips at the question of her sister's son's name. I'm sure that
if the Tawney Owl did deliver a message from DD it was as cryptic about
Harry's arrival the the Potter's demise as DD has ever been.

Prior arrangements, well, if Petunia knew Harry would be on her doorstep
under the circumstance that Lily was dead then I can see Petunia shouting at
that. Guess I need to re-read. ;)

However, I an of the persuasion that the letter with Harry was Petunia's
first notice that her sister was dead and that she needed to take Harry in.
Any prior arrangements is specualtion (and and educated guess, Nikkalmati,
as to what that arrangement would be) but I'm just not convinced that DD
would have totally laid out plans with Petunia... he probably had her agree
to something very cryptic and then ka-blam! Kid on the doorstep, IMO.


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