The Milkman Hasn't Cometh ( was: Weighing In Very Late

[Talisman]

--- In the_old_crowd at yahoogroups.com, "carolynwhite2" wrote:
> BTW, is this yet another flint: Petunia is described as shrieking
> with horror on finding baby Harry on her doorstep when she opened
> her front door to collect the milk. But wouldn't a muggle milkman
> have noticed a baby lying on there and done something about it? Or
> is the definition of a flint now so elastic that we just roll our
> eyes and groan nowadays?

Talisman:
Hey, I'll have to take Rowling's back on this.  There really aren't 
as many flints as all that.

In this case, my text reads that Petunia found Harry when she 
*opened the front door to put out the milk bottles* (PS/SS 17).  

This would indicate that the milkman had not come yet, though 
apparently he was expected sometime later that morning.

I wouldn't have been alarmed even if the text had provided that she
found Harry whilst going to *collect* the milk.  

That would merely explain her motivation in checking the front 
stoop; it would not follow that there was actually any milk to 
collect.

I'm quite sure DD put temporary repelling charms all around the 
area.  I imagine such charms would have been the least
of the protections in place.

Recall how Rowling went to the bother of having old Jim McGuffin 
*promise a wet night* for the night that Harry is delivered to the 
Dursleys? 

Yet there is no sign of even the slightest drizzle.

I hope no one considers that a flint.  It strikes me as quite
intentional.

Indeed, I think that the drought experienced in the beginning of OoP 
is also magic induced.  

Remember all those damp clouds Harry has to fly through
en route to 12 GP?  Lot's of moisture hovering above, but no rain.

Now, why do you s'pose she bothered to write all that?

Talisman, saying: steady on...