Deathly Hallows:Ariana Dumbledore

[Carol]

No: HPFGUIDX 181935

"floribelole" wrote:
> >
> > Was Ariana raped?
>
Andrea X responded: 
> I don't think she was. Think it too much for the books and their
younger audience. <snip>

Carol responds:
I don't think she was. Ariana was only seven, IIRC. I don't think that
the Muggle boys were that much older, maybe ten. Maybe they threw
rocks at her or banged her head against a wall. Granted, JKR left
their action vague and older readers are free to imagine rape, but
there's nothing to imply that the attack was sexual, only traumatic. I
think they got carried away with their violence and nearly killed her,
a mob mentality reaction. But just as Draco is unable to kill, I think
that most boys, however angry and scared and carried away by the
desire to punish a kid who's different, are unable to commit rape. I
doubt they even considered it, especially given the era.

You can do a search of the site for more in-depth discussion of this
topic.

Carol, who thinks we should look at the actions of the Muggle bullies
in the books for our clue as to the behavior of these particular boys