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

[amis917]

No: HPFGUIDX 170008

> Dung:
> Right. ::rolls up sleeves:: 
> I'm going to attack PS chapter 1, and work out where Vernon could 
be 
> wrong...
> 
> ::loading::
> 
> p7-8 (UK).
> *************************
> Mr Dursley hummed as he picked out his most boring tie for work and 
> Mrs Dursley gossiped away happily as she wrestled a screaming 
Dudley 
> into his high chair.
> None of them noticed a large tawny owl flutter past the window.
> *************************
> 
> None of them noticed *at the time*. But then Vernon goes out to 
work. 
> A fluttering owl is not an owl on a long journey, it's an owl near 
> its destination, isn't it? It could be going to Mrs Figg, although 
> she lives two streets away, but it could equally be going to 
Petunia. 
> Someone sending their condolences on the death of her sister?
> <snip> 


Amis917:
I think your analysis of this scene is right on. IMO, this owl is one 
of our hints to Dumbledore's communication with Petunia. If the owl 
flutters past their window, it is likely to be delivering something. 
I, personally, belive that Petunia has been made aware of the ongoing 
war for her own safety. I think this letter is likely Dumbledore 
giving her the most recent news.

<snip>
>Dungrollin: 
> P11 (UK).
> *************************
> "Er – Petunia, dear – you haven't heard from your sister lately, 
have 
> you?"
> As he had expected, Mrs Dursley looked shocked and angry. After 
all, 
> they normally pretended she didn't have a sister.
> "No," she said sharply. "Why?"
> *************************
> 
> But does Vernon know *why* Petunia looks shocked and angry this 
time? 
> Her response, the `no' is said sharply, rather than bemusedly, 
> surprisedly, or even reproachfully. And then the immediate `why?'



Amis917:
IMO, Petunia hasn't heard from her sister lately. She now knows, 
infact, that that would be impossible. She recieved word earlier that 
day, from Dumbledore, that she had been killed.

<snip>

> Dung:
> Heh. You're soooo right. But back to Petunia in PS

> 
> In chapter 2 we're in Harry's pov, but there's one thing worth 
> pointing out

> 
> P22 (UK).
> *************************
> "You could just leave me here," Harry put in hopefully (He'd be 
able 
> to watch what he wanted on television for a change and maybe even 
> have a go on Dudley's computer).
> Aunt Petunia looked as though she'd just swallowed a lemon.
> "And come back and find the house in ruins?" she snarled.
> *************************
> 
> If DD gave Petunia a thorough explanation of what happened (or what 
> he suspected) happened at GH in the letter he left with Harry (or 
the 
> hypothetical one delivered by the tawny owl the morning PS begins), 
> Petunia may be under the impression that it was Harry who blew up 
the 
> house at GH. She certainly knows the house blew up.


Amis917:
I have recently become quite interested in this quote. I came upon it 
using the Lexicon's portkey search feature (which you really should 
check out if you haven't). I like this because at this point of the 
story, Harry doesn't know that he can do magic. Petunia and Vernon, 
of course, suspect that he might be able to. I think this gives us 
the hint that Petunia knows more about what happened that night than 
the potters were simply killed. She says as much later when Hagrid 
comes for Harry and she screams "she went and go herself blown up and 
we got landed with you!" (PS UK pb p 44)

It' also interesting because (as I found using the Portkey) it's "A 
little while later, Uncle Vernon suggests that Harry can't be trusted 
to remain alone in the new car, presumably because he'd harm it in 
some way." This could be used to argue that either Vernon also knows 
some details about what happened to Lily, or he simply thinks the 
possibily of Harry being able to do magic would endanger his 
belongings. I think it could also be used to argue that the Dursleys 
knew that Harry could do magic and would be invited to attend 
Hogwarts. As Hagrid says 

"His name's been down every since he was born." (PS UK pb p 43)

I would think it likely that Dumbledore would have included this in 
his correspondence with Petunia. Something about how his schooling 
would be taken care of; he'd be able to go to Hogwarts. Although 
Petnuia doesn't give evidence of this she says she assumed Harry 
could do magic because his parents could. Vernon gives some possible 
evidence in the conrtrary. 'We swore when we took him in we'd put a 
stop to that rubbish,' said Uncle Vernon, 'swore we'd stamp it out of 
him!' (PS UK pb p 43) This tells us that while they suspected Harry 
could do magic, Vernon at least, didn't understand it. 

I guess all of this makes me more confused than I was when I started. 
IMO Petunia knows much more of what's going on that she lets Vernon 
or Harry believe. I think Dumbledore told her about what happened to 
Lily and why it was important for Harry to stay with them. I also 
think he included in the letters about Harry's magical ability and 
his eventual studies at Hogwarts.

Amis917