CHAPDISC: DH3, The Dursleys Departing

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 177156

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "kneazlecat54" 
<12newmoons at ...> wrote:
<SNIP of the summary>
> QUESTIONS
> 
> Oh, the Dursleys
*shakes head*
> 
> 1.  The way Vernon calls to Harry speaks volumes about their
> relationship.  What strikes you about this and what do you think it
> means?  Is Vernon's behavior here consistent with that in the other
> books?

Alla:

Yeah, I thought he was just as bully as ever but maybe scared bully.
 
> 2.  Although Vernon is the chief disciplinarian at Privet Drive,
> clearly it is Petunia who sets the tone of the family's 
relationship
> with Harry.  We learn in Book 1 that it is her rage and resentment
> towards Lily that is playing out in her treatment of Harry.   What 
do
> you think Petunia sees when she looks at Harry, and how does it 
make
> her feel?

Alla:

Do not know, do not care, find her treatment of Harry even more 
despicable especially in light of her early years revelations. 
Although I guess the answer is Lily's eyes.

Seems like her beef was not even with James, but with Snape, so even 
the fact that Harry looks like James does not make me feel for her 
much.


 
> 3.  Many of us expected a confrontation between Harry and Petunia 
in
> DH, but instead, Jo (as she usually does) surprised us by giving us
> Petunia's back story in another context.


Alla:

Yes, thought was very very well done and sort of surprising yes. 
Although even maybe I had tiny bit of sympathy for little Petunia, 
it still did not make me sympathise much with her grown self.

 
> 4.  What do you think she would have said to Harry had she chosen 
to
> speak at this time?  Will Harry and Petunia ever see each other
> again?  Is there unfinished business between them?


Alla:

Hope not.

 
> 5.  After Dudley's encounter with the dementors in Book 5, fans
> wondered what experiences   Dudley relived.  From Harry's point of
> view, Dudley had never had a moment of fear, doubt or sadness in 
his
> entire life.   But something life-changing happened to Dudley 
during
> that encounter, as we see in DH.  What do you think Dudley saw, and
> how did it change him?

Alla:

Didn't JKR mention somewhere that he saw himself as he is in 
reality, Dudley I mean? Maybe I dreamt it up.

 
> 6.  What was your reaction on reading Dudley's unexpected defense 
of
> Harry?


Alla:

OMG, I **loved** it, I loved it, loved it, loved it. Again, it is 
not like Dudley expressing that sentiment made me automatically like 
him, because he started to like Harry. No, of course not.

But I found it believable and was again reminded of how quickly and 
believably to me JKR resolved Molly/ Fleur emnity.

While I would never call JKR Tolkien or Shakespeare or Tolstoy or 
Dostoevsky, I think she is a very **good**, solid writer.

Writer who is capable of showing so much with so few words.



 
> 7.  Do you see Dudley and Harry having any further contact 
throughout
> their lives?

Alla:

I would like Harry having some contact with Dudley. Seems like 
Dudley is not opposed to it and Harry may want to have a relative in 
the muggle world.


 
> 12. Did you wonder what would happen to the Dursleys' lives while
> they were in hiding?  Would Vernon lose his job?   How would their
> bills get paid?  Or were you happy to see the back of them?  *grin*

Alla:

Was happy, yes, but as I said would not mind further contact with 
Dudley.

Thanks for great questions, Laura.