Occlumency VERY VERY LONG

[willsonteam]

No: HPFGUIDX 191731


> 
> Otto's response:

> 
> I found, after only a few chapters of the book, wondering why in the world Dumbledore ever lodged Harry with the Dursleys and questioned what he hoped to achieve. The best I can extrapolate is that Petunia is Lilly's sister and owes him some obligation, and that she (Petunia) knows what is going on, apparently being a squib. I maintain that his judgement in such case was extremely faulty, perhaps foolish, but I cannot concieve of it being the motivation you suggest.

Potioncat:
We know from canon that DD placed Harry with Petunia because of the Blood Protection. It is very old magic and offers him protection as long as Petunia's home is his. I doubt he had any idea Harry would be abused or neglected--though of course Harry wouldn't be some sort of celebrity in the Muggle World. Afterwards, (imo) DD considered the Blood Magic a more important issue than the Dursleys' treatment of Harry in Harry's placement.
> 

> Otto:
> My own belief is that you cannot explain this from the internals of the book, but that JK Rowling was simply assuring marketing success by weaving into the story one of the most powerful tropes that appeals to immature readers, that they are special children with magical mystical powers marooned among a family of boorish toads who do not recognize their greatness and insist on them doing things like homework, shining their shoes, brushing their teeth, studying, and not running with scissors.

Potioncat:
If you mean the orphan with the cruel relatives is a standard storyline and JKR is using that, I agree. She says as much in her interviews, that for the story to take place Harry needed to be alone and the kids had to be away from parental supervision (hence a remote Hogwarts)

It seems you view this as trope while I think of it as an archetype.