The Dursley's - Blood Protection (was Re: Occlumency ... LONG)

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 191734



--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, sigurd at ... wrote:
>
> Dear Alla
> 
> Alla says:
>  " No, I think Dumbledore wanted to do everything in his power that Harry would abused and scared and miserable after living with Dursleys and would look at Dumbledore as god and do anything Dumbledore would want him to do and would go and die because Dumbledore raised him to that."
> 
> Otto's response:
> At peril of agreeing with Pippin on anything, I must say that I find this extremely doubtful on simple logic alone, leaving aside the necessity of any proof from "scripture." ...
> 
> 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. ...
> 
> ...
> 
> Otto
>

Steve:

Actually, the books explain very very well precisely why Dumbledore left Harry at the Dursleys.

When Voldemort shed Lily's blood as she defended Harry, that left a degree of magical protection within Harry. That is why Quirrel couldn't touch Harry in the last Chamber in Sorcerer's Stone. This and the part I will explain next have become known among fans as "The Blood Protection". 

Dumbledore expanded on 'the Blood Protection' by further enhancing it with additional spells. While Harry can call home, the place where his mother's blood dwells, he can not be harmed there. There is, in a sense, a protective bubble around #4 Privet Drive, that not only prevents Death Eaters from coming there, but prevents them from even finding the place. In a sense, the place to Death Eaters, has become 'unplottable', it can't be found on a map. 

Only two conditions cause these protective spells to break. One, if Harry left the Dursley's forever, and therefore could no longer call that place home. Two, when he became 'of age' in the wizard world. 

That sounds to me like a very important and positive reason to choose the Dursley, nasty as they might be, was the prefect place to put Harry. There is no other place when he can get such powerful and complete protection. 

To have Harry so thoroughly protected is certainly worth the inconvenience of putting up with the Dursley's boorishness. Harry is skinny, and not well favored at the Dursley, but on the whole, he is healthy. He is not starving. He is not in poor health. He is not physically damaged, and he seems extremely psychologically resilient.

Given all that has happened, Harry seems in pretty good shape to me. And the "Blood Protection" has kept him safe for 10 years. 

When Harry finally leaves the Dursley's for good, the sky is filled with Death Eaters, why didn't they just attack Harry at the house? Well, as I have explained, despite being in the sky above Privet Drive, they couldn't actually find the house, and they couldn't penetrate the protective bubble. They had to wait for Harry to leave the protective bubble, and in doing so, as he was leaving for good, the protection at that location was broken. Hence the need for the Dursleys to go into protective custody. 

Again, the level of protection seems a very very good reason to board Harry at the Dursley's. I think Petunia knew of this protection. I think Dumbledore explained in it the letter he left on the doorstep with Harry. When the Dementors attack Harry in Little Whinging, Dumbledore simply send Petunia a letter that says "Remember my last". 

I also think the Dursley's had further incentive to accept and live up to this bargain as they also benefited from the protection. As long as Harry was there, the DE's, or anyone meaning Harry true harm, could not attack the Dursleys either. 

Let's not forget that there is no better protected place on earth for Harry. 

Just a few thoughts.

Steve/bboyminn