Dumbledore's letters to Petunia (Re: Petunia's Eyes)

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 169939

Carol:
> However, I've always considered it interesting that the first part
> of the first chapter of SS/PS, is from the arch-Muggle, Vernon's, 
> pov rather than from Petunia's. She reminds me of Lupin in PoA, very
> touchy and obviously hiding something. Vernon's explanation for
> Petunia's becoming upset every time her sister is mentioned, given 
> to us by the limited omniscient narrator, is simple embarrassment at
> being connected with abnormal people: "He didn't blame her--if 
> *he'd* had a sister like that" (5). 
<snip>
> To me it's obvious that she knows something that she's concealing 
> from Vernon. Maybe she hasn't heard from her sister directly, but I 
> think she may have heard from Dumbledore, who has only recently 
> suggested the Fidelius Charm to the Potters. Maybe he's mentioned 
> it to Petunia, along with the name of the supposed Secret Keeper? 
> And *somebody* has told them both that the Potters have a son named
> Harry only a month younger than Dudley.

Jen:  You're saying JKR couldn't use Petunia as the limited 
omniscient narrator in this chapter because she would give too much 
away?  That's a new idea to me and it fits so well with a comment by 
JKR that you touched on in your post (from FAQ section of her 
website): 

"Dumbledore is referring to his last letter, which means, of course, 
the letter he left upon the Dursleys' doorstep when Harry was one 
year old. But why then (you may well ask) did he not just 
say 'remember my letter?' Why did he say my last letter? Why, 
obviously because there were letters before that
"

JKR goes on to say the 'last' refers to letters written only to 
Petunia.  Now that you've mentioned the bit about the narrator, I 
want to take one last stab at deducing why Dumbledore would have 
contacted Petunia prior to the night he delivered his 'last' letter 
along with Harry.

It's seems highly unlikely the blood protection would come up prior 
to the night of Godric's Hollow since the outcome of Lily's sacrifice 
was such a phenomenal event and it had to take place in order for 
Dumbledore to place his charm on Harry.  Dumbledore says as much 
in "The Lost Prophecy," that he made his decision after Lily died.  

I suppose it's possible Dumbledore revealed the Secret Keeper and the 
fact that the Potters were hidden by the Fidelius like you mentioned, 
Carol, but it's not Dumbledore's modus operandi to give out more 
information than necessary to anyone, let alone someone he wouldn't 
know well.  It would more likely be up to Sirius (Peter) to contact 
Petunia on Lily's behalf if Lily wanted Petunia to have such 
information.

*Unless*....there's something I've wondered about since we found out 
Sirius was Harry's godfather.  Since he was also the Secret Keeper, 
sworn to die if needed in order to save the secret, how does that 
mesh together?  Then Harry loses his godfather.  Presumably the 
Potters would still be alive but it's not like *all* risk would be 
removed even after the Secret Keeper died with the secret, would it?  
It's not called a foolproof plan by Dumbledore, just their 'best 
chance.'  

Maybe during the time Sirius was Secret Keeper, Lily, estranged from 
her sister, requested Dumbledore contact Petunia about being Harry's 
guardian should something happen to herself, James and Sirius.  And 
that would have started a communication from Dumbledore to Petunia.  
(It's not clear if it was a two-way communication.)  The only thing 
I'm not sure about is why Lily would want Petunia to be guardian 
since there's nothing to show they cared for each other.  Unless Lily 
thought Harry would be safer in the Muggle world. 

Carol:
> At any rate, there's more to learn from Petunia. Maybe terror for 
> her family, fear that they'll no longer be protected when the blood
> protection expires on Harry's seventeenth birthday (she clearly
> assumed that it would last till he was eighteen) will prompt her to
> disclose her secrets in exchange for protection.

Jen: Petunia is such a curious person it seems likely she would read 
Dumbledore's letters even if she didn't respond.  What if Dumbledore 
wanted to caution her that Voldemort is very adept at using a 
person's family and friends when targeting someone?  And that as 
Lily's last living relative, Petunia and her family could be in grave 
danger.  But...that doesn't quite work with Petunia agreeing to take 
Harry because she's taking on *more* danger by doing so.  Once her 
supposedly hated sister was gone, Petunia should be able to wash her 
hands of the situation, right?  I'd say yes, but not if 1) she had 
some feelings left for Lily and/or 2) Dumbledore stressed in the last 
letter that Voldemort's followers were 'almost as terrible as he' and 
that somehow Petunia and her family would be protected in exchange.  

Is it possible the blood protection works both ways?  Maybe that's 
the answer.  It's inside Harry because of the sacrifice but we don't 
know how the charm Dumbledore sealed with Petunia works.

> Carol, expecting Mrs. Figg rather than Petunia to perform a feat of
> magic in the Battle of Privet Drive

Jen, thinking Mrs. Figg performing magic during a battle at Privet 
Drive would be a highlight of DH. :)