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Re: The Dursleys. Seriana Sedai Send a noteboard - 26/07/2010 06:02:14 AM
Another, related, thing that struck me was that the Dursleys' preoccupation with keeping Harry from Hogwarts seems to suggest they actually care for him, in a warped, twisted way -- if not they would just leave him to magical life, surely? It would be less of a liability for them to have him at Hogwarts 10 months out of the year, than locked up in his room in their house (where he might suddenly lose control and start magicking the neighbours?


I don't think they want to keep him away from Hogwarts as a way of caring for him. I think it's all about themselves. What if people found out that the boy who has lived with them for 11 years was one of Those Weird People? It's (strangely) better for people to think that he's just a wild, disturbed child than someone who is part of a world so outside their understanding. And I think there's some malice in it as well: trying to prevent Harry from doing something he enjoys.

Petunia's a bit more complex than that. I think there is some love for Harry deep (deep) down. (Of course, we do see a glimpse of that later in the series.) But any love she does have for him is only because he's her sister's child.

I agree with all. I just wonder about Petunia. I don't know why she is so at war with herself about caring for Harry. I know she was very conflicted about her sister being a witch. I wonder if Petunia was going to mend the rift with Lily "one of these days" and then Lily died and Petunia was left with all that guilt or something like that.
I know I'm rambling, but I've always wanted to understand her better. I understand Vernon's motivations for why he treats Harry badly and I agree totally that he is trying to keep Harry from Hogwarts because it is something he enjoys, but Petunia I just don't understand.
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The Great Harry Potter re-read: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Rebekah - 19/07/2010 09:32:22 AM 2777 Views
Chapters 1-3 Rebekah - 19/07/2010 09:32:52 AM 1853 Views
Dobby Dark Knight - 19/07/2010 02:39:06 PM 1784 Views
Re: Dobby Seriana Sedai - 20/07/2010 06:42:21 AM 1940 Views
I hate Dobby. Rebekah - 20/07/2010 11:32:58 AM 1902 Views
I'm not a huge Dobby fan either. *spoilers from end of book* StormCrow - 20/07/2010 03:18:27 PM 1796 Views
Me too. Camilla - 20/07/2010 05:56:27 PM 1710 Views
Boo! Dark Knight - 21/07/2010 12:44:33 AM 1833 Views
I hate "movie Dobby." Book Dobby I'm neutral on. *NM* Deadsy - 21/07/2010 03:42:29 AM 1132 Views
I don't like him either. nossy - 21/07/2010 02:26:47 PM 1818 Views
It looks like all us cool kids hate Dobby Monkey - 23/07/2010 07:13:19 PM 1801 Views
Excellent. Rebekah - 23/07/2010 10:17:16 PM 1846 Views
Monkey - 24/07/2010 12:35:44 AM 1778 Views
Stuff Camilla - 20/07/2010 05:54:26 PM 1830 Views
The Dursley's and the Twins StormCrow - 21/07/2010 02:22:41 PM 1738 Views
The Dursleys. Rebekah - 23/07/2010 11:35:31 PM 1867 Views
Re: The Dursleys. Seriana Sedai - 26/07/2010 06:02:14 AM 1699 Views
she reminds me a bit of snape Deadsy - 26/07/2010 01:01:35 PM 1780 Views
Re: The Dursleys. Camilla - 26/07/2010 02:58:31 PM 1740 Views
Chapters 4-6 Rebekah - 19/07/2010 09:33:18 AM 1779 Views
Another character we love to hate! Gilderoy Lockhart. Plus Weasley vs Malfoy. StormCrow - 20/07/2010 03:29:39 PM 1836 Views
Yes! Seriana Sedai - 20/07/2010 09:41:09 PM 1887 Views
Re: Yes! Camilla - 21/07/2010 07:05:13 AM 1829 Views
I can't remember how much I hated him the first read Deadsy - 21/07/2010 03:44:15 AM 1925 Views
You're right. It's not as bad the second (or third) time around with him. StormCrow - 21/07/2010 01:54:01 PM 1719 Views
I don't think I ever truly "hated" Lockheart Seriana Sedai - 26/07/2010 06:09:20 AM 1722 Views
My problems with Dobby are very different from my problems with Lockhart Camilla - 21/07/2010 07:02:55 AM 1829 Views
I can see that and I understand completely. StormCrow - 21/07/2010 02:06:27 PM 1990 Views
Exactly. Rebekah - 21/07/2010 07:20:33 PM 1882 Views
More stuff Camilla - 21/07/2010 07:00:04 AM 1767 Views
I really noticed this time around aria - 21/07/2010 03:10:43 PM 1687 Views
Yeah. Rebekah - 23/07/2010 10:15:21 PM 1805 Views
This section really brought home to me how well Rowling writes about love and relationships. Rebekah - 21/07/2010 07:22:43 PM 1839 Views
That last remark made me check out the names in the French translation... Legolas - 26/07/2010 05:18:36 PM 1863 Views
Don't get me started on the Norwegian translation. Camilla - 26/07/2010 09:52:09 PM 1794 Views
Ahahahahaha! Rebekah - 26/07/2010 09:55:17 PM 1656 Views
That is indeed genuinely awesome. Legolas - 27/07/2010 12:24:07 AM 1806 Views
Re: That is indeed genuinely awesome. Camilla - 27/07/2010 09:07:35 AM 1785 Views
McSnurf? MCSNURF?? WTH? *NM* fionwe1987 - 27/07/2010 08:47:55 PM 1083 Views
Nono. McSnurp. Camilla - 27/07/2010 08:48:58 PM 1762 Views
Read it wrong. fionwe1987 - 27/07/2010 09:15:07 PM 1610 Views
Chapters 7-9 Rebekah - 19/07/2010 09:33:44 AM 1743 Views
Deathday Party - seemed like filler to me. Not a big fan. StormCrow - 21/07/2010 02:33:53 PM 1798 Views
Yeah, I didn't like that either. Rebekah - 22/07/2010 06:56:39 PM 1744 Views
It is a plot device Camilla - 23/07/2010 10:11:45 PM 1728 Views
Heh. Rebekah - 23/07/2010 10:16:48 PM 1676 Views
Colin Creevey. Rebekah - 22/07/2010 06:55:17 PM 1808 Views
I don't know. He's always annoyed me. StormCrow - 22/07/2010 09:23:36 PM 1762 Views
Re: Colin Creevey. Camilla - 23/07/2010 10:13:33 PM 1784 Views
Suspect I'm more patient with young people than you are. Rebekah - 23/07/2010 10:18:24 PM 1768 Views
Infinitely more so, I think Camilla - 23/07/2010 10:21:09 PM 1767 Views
Even more stuff Camilla - 23/07/2010 10:10:39 PM 1811 Views
Mrs Norris. Rebekah - 23/07/2010 10:13:51 PM 1845 Views
Re: Mrs Norris. Camilla - 23/07/2010 10:15:18 PM 1791 Views
Re: Mrs Norris. Rebekah - 23/07/2010 10:17:41 PM 1717 Views
Chapters 10-12 Rebekah - 19/07/2010 09:34:13 AM 1657 Views
Three good chapters StormCrow - 22/07/2010 02:28:20 PM 1722 Views
Re: Three good chapters Camilla - 23/07/2010 10:34:40 PM 1831 Views
Yup. Rebekah - 23/07/2010 11:32:03 PM 1762 Views
Re: Yup. Camilla - 26/07/2010 03:01:15 PM 1752 Views
I agree. And plain jealousy that Harry's hogging the spotlight time and again. Legolas - 26/07/2010 05:28:09 PM 1869 Views
And then some... Camilla - 23/07/2010 10:31:56 PM 1608 Views
Hermione Rebekah - 23/07/2010 11:29:22 PM 1803 Views
Another example aria - 24/07/2010 12:56:26 AM 1662 Views
Re: Hermione Camilla - 24/07/2010 04:58:14 AM 1576 Views
Something I don't like: Rebekah - 23/07/2010 11:24:59 PM 1650 Views
I disagree. aria - 24/07/2010 01:01:17 AM 1589 Views
Re: Something I don't like: Camilla - 26/07/2010 03:01:54 PM 1603 Views
Those students are 12 years old, though. Legolas - 26/07/2010 05:35:13 PM 1630 Views
Chapters 13-15 Rebekah - 19/07/2010 09:34:50 AM 1570 Views
Heh. I'd forgotten how near the end of the book the spiders are. Rebekah - 23/07/2010 11:26:43 PM 1609 Views
"Goodbye friends of Hagrid..." StormCrow - 26/07/2010 01:58:25 PM 1616 Views
Re: "Goodbye friends of Hagrid..." Camilla - 27/07/2010 08:50:34 PM 1926 Views
Re: "Goodbye friends of Hagrid..." Seriana Sedai - 27/07/2010 09:08:24 PM 1676 Views
And... Camilla - 26/07/2010 02:54:54 PM 1740 Views
Chapters 16-18 Rebekah - 19/07/2010 09:35:20 AM 1724 Views
Lockhart & Dobby get what's coming to them. StormCrow - 26/07/2010 02:26:42 PM 1729 Views
Finally... Camilla - 26/07/2010 02:55:39 PM 1720 Views
He is one indeed, sort of anyway. *NM* Legolas - 26/07/2010 05:39:12 PM 1061 Views
Harry was a horcrux Deadsy - 27/07/2010 02:57:42 AM 1571 Views
Yes Camilla - 27/07/2010 09:09:38 AM 1692 Views
Voldemort's (sometimes) hilarious names in translation. Legolas - 26/07/2010 06:14:58 PM 3941 Views
Rebekah - 26/07/2010 06:45:55 PM 1789 Views
Overall thoughts Rebekah - 19/07/2010 09:36:06 AM 1774 Views
Character development Rebekah - 19/07/2010 09:37:01 AM 1619 Views
Re: Character development Seriana Sedai - 20/07/2010 06:45:43 AM 1641 Views
Similar to the first, but a nice step up in complexity. Nate - 19/07/2010 07:56:45 PM 2149 Views
I found an error i the POA preview in the back of my book Deadsy - 20/07/2010 10:51:42 AM 1614 Views
Yeah i have that edition too *NM* Dark Knight - 21/07/2010 12:43:12 AM 983 Views
Thoughts on the movie quality Deadsy - 21/07/2010 04:15:20 AM 1536 Views
I always felt that the first two movies were the best, and the others bungled the atmosphere. *NM* lord-of-shadow - 21/07/2010 03:08:29 PM 999 Views
I wonder if Rowling ever looks back and wishes she could change some stuff Dark Knight - 21/07/2010 06:44:41 PM 1640 Views
I think this book isn't as deep or as thoughtful as the first. Rebekah - 23/07/2010 11:36:17 PM 1685 Views
I feel the same way. aria - 24/07/2010 01:04:39 AM 1564 Views
Agreed. Camilla - 26/07/2010 03:22:48 PM 1644 Views
Suggestions for the re-read? Rebekah - 19/07/2010 09:37:32 AM 1607 Views
Re: Suggestions for the re-read? Camilla - 23/07/2010 10:37:37 PM 1699 Views
OK. Rebekah - 23/07/2010 10:43:00 PM 1695 Views
Re: OK. Camilla - 23/07/2010 10:43:56 PM 1731 Views
Do we want a wee break before the next book? Rebekah - 24/07/2010 10:47:07 AM 1591 Views
I'm indifferent 'cause I can't find my copy of POA *NM* Deadsy - 26/07/2010 01:27:05 AM 1069 Views
Nonononono! Camilla - 26/07/2010 03:12:56 PM 1620 Views
Nooooooooo! Elaine - 27/07/2010 02:32:56 PM 1747 Views
we need an impatient smiley that taps its foot while looking grumpy. *NM* Camilla - 27/07/2010 08:51:30 PM 979 Views
More than anything! *NM* Seriana Sedai - 27/07/2010 09:01:33 PM 986 Views
It's not Wednesday yet! *NM* Legolas - 27/07/2010 09:26:21 PM 897 Views
But it was a question: Camilla - 27/07/2010 10:25:27 PM 1586 Views
Yes, but the two possibilities in Rebekah's post were either Wednesday or next Monday. Legolas - 27/07/2010 10:33:10 PM 1946 Views
Aaaah Camilla - 27/07/2010 10:34:51 PM 1660 Views
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