Free Republic
Browse · Search
Smoky Backroom
Topics · Post Article

To: GraceCoolidge
I think it would be pretty powerful to be reminded that if you send your nephew out of your home, you are virtually executing him. I can see a reminder like that hitting Petunia pretty hard!

Yes, but she knew it was from Dumbledore -- even Harry, who knew his voice well, didn't know that.

It's a minor point, really -- but Rowling did address the question of why Dumbledore referred to "his last," which again implies "not the only correspondence we've had." Ultimately, it ties back to Petunia's childhood, and helps to explain how she became the person she did.

Interestingly, the letter also sets up the final goodbyes at Number 4 Privet Drive. Petunia and Vernon had been building a wall between the muggle and wizard worlds. Learning that Petunia had actually corresponded with Dumbledore irretrievably smashes the barrier between the wizard and muggle worlds. The Dursley's begin to appreciate the danger posed to them by Voldemort, and in Book 7, Petunia and Dudley finally recognize the protection that had been given to them over Harry's life.

Unsaid, of course, is that Vernon's take on things is right, too: Dumbledore knowingly and without their permission put them in mortal danger by putting Harry on their doorstep. Given Dumbledore's manipulativeness, of which we learn in the last book, one wonders if he mentioned that little item in his last letter to Petunia.

At the same time, though, they begin to see that the wizard world (the breeding dementors) is beginning to intrude on them anyway ... and Dudley, realizing this, finally humbles himself and is, I suppose, saved. Petunia, too.

I've always wondered, BTW, what nastiness baby Harry might have magically inflicted on baby Dudley. The tantrum of a magical 2-year old might do some serious damage. Perhaps Vernon and Petunia had a more personal reason to detesting Harry's magical abilities, and perhaps Dudley's dementor experience is explained as well.

And if Dudley suffered spell damage as a result of Harry's tantrums ... mightn't Petunia have to have asked Dumbledore's help in setting things right again?

Interesting....

1,034 posted on 07/24/2007 12:26:03 PM PDT by r9etb
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1027 | View Replies ]


To: r9etb
Learning that Petunia had actually corresponded with Dumbledore irretrievably smashes the barrier between the wizard and muggle worlds.

Yes, I recall Harry being befuddled at the collision of the two worlds, and suddenly becoming powerfully aware that Petunia was his mother's sister.

I've been re-reading parts of Hallows now, and am still finding things I don't understand. For instance, couldn't Kreacher have saved Regulus? Kreacher was able to disapparate from the Inferi, and we know he can take other people with him when he disapparates. He does it to Mundungus Fletcher, and Dobby apparates with Harry. Did Regulus want to die? Have to die? Or, more prosaicially, why didn't they just bring water with him on the return trip to the island? I guess there was sure to be some magical preventative there. It also struck me as interesting that Mad Eye, Lupin, and Snape all die-- that curse that Snape put on the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher seems to be a pretty potent one! Even Moody, who never actually filled the post, gets it.

1,161 posted on 07/25/2007 10:09:53 AM PDT by GraceCoolidge
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1034 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Smoky Backroom
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson