DD and Harry and Dursleys Re: Christian Forgiveness and Snape

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 164342

> >>Kathy: 
> I think blood protection is the lame excuse Dumbledore used to justify
> leaving Harry with the Dursleys.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
It's the only excuse that I find credible; Harry had to stay at the 
Dursleys or he would have been killed.  That's the only reason I can 
accept (and therefore, I hope it's the only real reason Dumbledore has) 
as valid in this sort of situation.  For me, the threat of death is 
enough.  Adding any sort of "character training" to the mix turns 
Dumbledore into a cruel and manipulative old man.  So it's not an 
argument I'm all that fond of.  (Especially since Dumbledore didn't own 
up to that sort of manipulation in his big confession scene.)

> >>Carol, who is primarily concerned with the dangers of arrogance and
> overconfidence for the boy destined to face Voldemort, dangers that
> only Dumbledore fully understands

Betsy Hp:
But, do you really think the *Dursleys* were the only way to prevent 
Harry from becoming an arrogant menace?  If Dumbledore merely wanted 
Harry to not grow up with the fame he had in the WW, he could have sent 
Harry to Mrs. Figg.

> >>va32h:
> Life with the Dursleys permitted Harry to make what in retrospect was
> his first and most crucial decision.
> The first wizard boy Harry meets is Draco - and Draco extends his
> friendship to Harry. Making Draco the first potential friend, wizard
> or otherwise, Harry would have ever had. Who would blame Harry for
> wanting a friend? But it is Draco's resemblance (in look and
> personality) to *Dudley*, that leads Harry to decline that
> friendship.
> Harry ultimately chooses Ron over Draco, which is symbolic of
> choosing good over evil, love over power, and so on and so on.

Betsy Hp:
Or... Because Harry was so distrustful of children doted on by their 
parents, he readily bought into the prejudice and judgementalism that 
has made Hogwarts and the WW such easy pickings for Voldemort.

Or... Because Harry has an irrational hatred of blond boys, Draco was 
shut down by the one potential friend that may have helped him move 
beyond his parents' prejudices and fears and kept him from falling 
under Voldemort's sway.

Or... A Harry raised by Mrs. Figg would have been perfectly able to see 
the potential in Ron without the years in a closet.

I really don't see that the Dursley's did anything to help Harry be a 
good person.  They just kept him from being a dead person.

> >>va32h:
> Dumbledore surely regrets that Harry suffered during his time with
> the Dursleys, but neither he, nor we, should regret how he turned out
> as a result.

Betsy Hp:
But the thing is, I think Harry is who he is *in spite* of the 
Dursleys, not *because* of them.  What Dumbledore shouldn't regret that 
he kept Harry alive.  But he shouldn't pat himself on the back for 
Harry's rather bleak childhood. (In my opinion, of course.)

Betsy Hp