The day after

[Barry Arrowsmith]

I suppose we've all wondered about what  went on in that 24 hours 
between GH and the Dursley's doorstep. And no doubt  we've all also 
wondered just how much DD knows about what happened at GH - and how he 
came to know it.

Explosion at GH around midnight, the owls fluttering around the WW by 
early morning, Minerva sussing out Privet Drive as Vernon drives to 
work - the word was most definitely out. All very interesting, indeed 
appetite whetting for the reader. It's only later when it becomes 
obvious that the author intends to keep schtum that we realise we are 
thrown back on our own devices.

Now is it credible that Tot!Harry spent  the day at the scene of the 
disaster, covered in brick-dust and needing his nappies changed? 
Hardly. Especially, particularly, as interested parties would be doing 
their damnedest to figure out exactly what had happened. Yet this is 
what we are encouraged to believe, that Hagrid borrowed Sirius's bike 
and carted Harry  across country from GH the following night. Meanwhile 
DD is sitting somewhere twiddling his thumbs and contemplating the 
infinite.
A likely story.

There's been much speculation that Voldy was not alone when he tip-toed 
through the Potter's tulips. Maybe so. But that doesn't immediately 
help DD in deciding what to do with Harry. It's unlikely that the 
henchwizard was knocking on DD's door in the wee small  hours to tell 
all. (Unless it was Snape. Though even then Snape might not be aware of 
some of the critical bits.) DD wouldn't know in any detail what had 
happened to the Potters, to Harry or to Voldy; he'd be in much the same 
state of ignorance as were the DEs when they had a belated round of 
'Trick or Treat" at the Longbottom residence. Now if there's one thing 
it's dangerous to assume about DD it's that he's ignorant. He throws 
information around like it was money and he's got short arms and deep 
pockets, but to assume he doesn't know...... dodgy. Very dodgy.

"OK," says you, "so how did he find out?"
"Easy," says I, "there was an impeccable witness who didn't lie."
"Oh yes," says you,"and who would that be then?"
"Simple," says I. "Harry."
"What?" says you, "rely on a 15 month old who couldn't understand what 
was happening and probably couldn't put it into words anyway?"
"Yep."
Because words aren't needed, neither is understanding, all that are 
required are memories. And a Pensieve.

DD and Snape use a wand to transfer memories from mind to Pensieve. 
Memories that are straight replays - no interpretation, no commentary, 
no filtering - just the action. As a bonus the scenes can be viewed 
from a neutral viewpoint, getting perspectives and dialogue that are 
not apparent to the memory holder. At least that is what appeared to 
happen in "Snape's worst memory." So is it so incredible to believe 
that a wand couldn't be pointed at someone else's head and *their* 
memories transferred?

Cor!  What a plot device!
DD knows everything right from the start!
He knows Voldy isn't dead, that he probably will come back.
He knows that Harry must be protected, that his destiny is not 
complete,  that he has a function to fulfill.
He knows the significance of the scar and how it was caused and why.
He knows (as he admits in CoS) that Harry has powers (plural) 
transferred from Voldy.
He knows who else was there.
DD doesn't need to guess at "what now?".  Given the circumstances he 
can make his plans accordingly.

Best of all, at least for those with a conspiratorial bent, is the 
possibility, faint but imaginable, that Harry's memories have been 
edited. That not all of them were replaced.

It wouldn't do for Harry to realise too much, too soon, now would it?


Kneasy