"Will and Won't", Part II: Petunia's Flush of Shame and Fear
The following essay represents my contribution to the hp_essays HBP Read-Through. Because I’m so incredibly long-winded, I’ve decided to break this essay into two parts. Unless otherwise noted, all quotations are from the Scholastic editions of the books. Thanks to _vocalion_ for allowing me to bounce ideas off of her. I apologize for any typos or errors, and I welcome comments and suggestions.
“Will and Won’t,” Part II: Petunia’s Flush of Shame and Fear
By the end of “Will and Won’t,” Dumbledore has stripped away the Dursleys’ veneer of decorum, showing them to be uncouth, inhospitable, and irresponsible. This revelation is hardly news to Harry (or the reader); I don’t think that Rowling sets up this confrontation between Dumbledore and the Dursleys to rehash the Muggle family’s flaws. She may actually have a more subtle purpose in mind. One line in this chapter is particularly striking: “Aunt Petunia, however, was oddly flushed” (HBP, 56). What caused this reaction in Petunia?
Just before Dumbledore prepares to leave Privet Drive, he points out that, in little more than a year, Harry will come of age. This information evokes Petunia’s only dialogue in the entire book. She contradicts Dumbledore, believing that the age of consent in the Muggle world is the same as it is in the wizarding world. But Dumbledore corrects her, pointing out that Harry will come of age at seventeen, not eighteen. What is the purpose of this dialogue? Well, on the surface, it’s probably meant to make sure the reader knows that Harry has to return to the Dursleys one more time. Even so, I find it curious that Petunia, who is so disturbed by the appearance of Dumbledore that she does not speak at any other time during his visit, finally pipes up to discuss Harry and Dudley’s ages.
Petunia continues to act strangely a moment later. Dumbledore asks the Dursleys to allow Harry to return “once more, to this house, before his seventeenth birthday, which will ensure that the protection continues until that time” (HPB, 56). Rowling then notes each of the Dursleys’ reaction to this news: “Dudley was frowning slightly, as though he was still trying to work out when he had ever been mistreated. Uncle Vernon looked as though he had something stuck in his throat; Aunt Petunia, however, was oddly flushed” (HBP 56, emphasis mine).
Why does Petunia flush? And why does Rowling distinguish Petunia’s reaction from Dudley’s and Vernon’s? There are two possible explanations, and they’re not mutually exclusive:
1. Petunia is ashamed. Whereas Vernon and Dudley fall into the “won’t” camp - they refuse to accept anything they don’t like or can’t understand - Petunia, by the beginning of HBP, shows herself to be different. In some ways, she’s one of the saddest and most pathetic characters in Potterverse. She seems to have flashes of realization of what is right. It was Petunia who agreed to take Harry; she makes sure Harry remains in the house after the Dementors attack on Privet Drive; and she, not Vernon, “flushes oddly” at Dumbledore’s censure. Petunia does not lack understanding; she lacks conviction. Perhaps after Dumbledore’s condemnation, she finally sees herself and her family for what they truly are.
2. Petunia is afraid. Wouldn’t it be ironic if the magic that Petunia has tried to ignore for the last fifteen years has also been the magic keeping Voldemort from making an appearance on Privet Drive? We don’t know exactly what Dumbledore’s first letter to Petunia said, but we do know that he told her of Lily’s death and of Harry’s brush with Voldemort. It’s not much of a leap to speculate that Dumbledore also warned Petunia about the consequences of Voldemort’s return. Should Harry be denied houseroom as a baby, Voldemort could, when strong enough, return to murder the Dursleys. Why would he bother? Well, the dark wizard would have realized that only Lily’s blood was protecting Harry, and so long as Harry had no other living relatives, the child would have no sanctuary. If Harry had not been granted houseroom, the ancient magic protecting Prive Drive would never have been invoked. So long as Harry can call Privet Drive home, Voldemort cannot enter.
Note that Harry’s protection will continue only until he turns seventeen. Therefore, that protection will cease at the beginning of Book Seven. It will be no good to him during the final battle against Voldemort. In fact, some have speculated that the blood protection ceased to protect Harry the moment Voldemort used Harry’s blood in Goblet of Fire. If this is the case, why does Rowling continue to discuss the blood protection? Why did Harry have to return to Privet Drive every year after GoF? Why did Petunia allow Harry to remain at Privet Drive, even after Dementors attacked her precious son?
All evidence points to the idea that the blood protection, even after GoF, continued to make Privet Drive a sanctuary for Harry. Voldemort never did find his way to Privet Drive. None of the Death Eaters approached the home. The Dementors, remember, were sent by Dolores Umbridge, not Voldemort. Perhaps Petunia realizes that the only thing standing between her family and Voldemort is Harry Potter and the strange, mysterious magic he possesses. The day he turns seventeen, that protection disappears. This might be why, in OotP, Petunia looks so frightened when she realizes that Voldemort has returned.
The disappearance of the blood protection at Privet Drive will mean very little to Harry. He’s now looking forward to the battle Voldemort; he neither wants nor needs sanctuary. But the blood protection means everything Petunia. Her actions have made her, Vernon, and Dudley vulnerable to attack. She has probably guessed that there will be no other arrangements for protection once Harry has left Privet Drive; the deal she made with Dumbledore back in 1981 is coming to an end. As a result, while Harry and Dumbledore escape Privet Drive to “pursue that flighty temptress, adventure,” Petunia has to face the consequences of her moral failure. Cloistered in her home, flanked by her ignorant husband and spoiled child, Petunia Dursley is left alone with her shame and her fear.
“Will and Won’t,” Part II: Petunia’s Flush of Shame and Fear
By the end of “Will and Won’t,” Dumbledore has stripped away the Dursleys’ veneer of decorum, showing them to be uncouth, inhospitable, and irresponsible. This revelation is hardly news to Harry (or the reader); I don’t think that Rowling sets up this confrontation between Dumbledore and the Dursleys to rehash the Muggle family’s flaws. She may actually have a more subtle purpose in mind. One line in this chapter is particularly striking: “Aunt Petunia, however, was oddly flushed” (HBP, 56). What caused this reaction in Petunia?
Just before Dumbledore prepares to leave Privet Drive, he points out that, in little more than a year, Harry will come of age. This information evokes Petunia’s only dialogue in the entire book. She contradicts Dumbledore, believing that the age of consent in the Muggle world is the same as it is in the wizarding world. But Dumbledore corrects her, pointing out that Harry will come of age at seventeen, not eighteen. What is the purpose of this dialogue? Well, on the surface, it’s probably meant to make sure the reader knows that Harry has to return to the Dursleys one more time. Even so, I find it curious that Petunia, who is so disturbed by the appearance of Dumbledore that she does not speak at any other time during his visit, finally pipes up to discuss Harry and Dudley’s ages.
Petunia continues to act strangely a moment later. Dumbledore asks the Dursleys to allow Harry to return “once more, to this house, before his seventeenth birthday, which will ensure that the protection continues until that time” (HPB, 56). Rowling then notes each of the Dursleys’ reaction to this news: “Dudley was frowning slightly, as though he was still trying to work out when he had ever been mistreated. Uncle Vernon looked as though he had something stuck in his throat; Aunt Petunia, however, was oddly flushed” (HBP 56, emphasis mine).
Why does Petunia flush? And why does Rowling distinguish Petunia’s reaction from Dudley’s and Vernon’s? There are two possible explanations, and they’re not mutually exclusive:
1. Petunia is ashamed. Whereas Vernon and Dudley fall into the “won’t” camp - they refuse to accept anything they don’t like or can’t understand - Petunia, by the beginning of HBP, shows herself to be different. In some ways, she’s one of the saddest and most pathetic characters in Potterverse. She seems to have flashes of realization of what is right. It was Petunia who agreed to take Harry; she makes sure Harry remains in the house after the Dementors attack on Privet Drive; and she, not Vernon, “flushes oddly” at Dumbledore’s censure. Petunia does not lack understanding; she lacks conviction. Perhaps after Dumbledore’s condemnation, she finally sees herself and her family for what they truly are.
2. Petunia is afraid. Wouldn’t it be ironic if the magic that Petunia has tried to ignore for the last fifteen years has also been the magic keeping Voldemort from making an appearance on Privet Drive? We don’t know exactly what Dumbledore’s first letter to Petunia said, but we do know that he told her of Lily’s death and of Harry’s brush with Voldemort. It’s not much of a leap to speculate that Dumbledore also warned Petunia about the consequences of Voldemort’s return. Should Harry be denied houseroom as a baby, Voldemort could, when strong enough, return to murder the Dursleys. Why would he bother? Well, the dark wizard would have realized that only Lily’s blood was protecting Harry, and so long as Harry had no other living relatives, the child would have no sanctuary. If Harry had not been granted houseroom, the ancient magic protecting Prive Drive would never have been invoked. So long as Harry can call Privet Drive home, Voldemort cannot enter.
Note that Harry’s protection will continue only until he turns seventeen. Therefore, that protection will cease at the beginning of Book Seven. It will be no good to him during the final battle against Voldemort. In fact, some have speculated that the blood protection ceased to protect Harry the moment Voldemort used Harry’s blood in Goblet of Fire. If this is the case, why does Rowling continue to discuss the blood protection? Why did Harry have to return to Privet Drive every year after GoF? Why did Petunia allow Harry to remain at Privet Drive, even after Dementors attacked her precious son?
All evidence points to the idea that the blood protection, even after GoF, continued to make Privet Drive a sanctuary for Harry. Voldemort never did find his way to Privet Drive. None of the Death Eaters approached the home. The Dementors, remember, were sent by Dolores Umbridge, not Voldemort. Perhaps Petunia realizes that the only thing standing between her family and Voldemort is Harry Potter and the strange, mysterious magic he possesses. The day he turns seventeen, that protection disappears. This might be why, in OotP, Petunia looks so frightened when she realizes that Voldemort has returned.
The disappearance of the blood protection at Privet Drive will mean very little to Harry. He’s now looking forward to the battle Voldemort; he neither wants nor needs sanctuary. But the blood protection means everything Petunia. Her actions have made her, Vernon, and Dudley vulnerable to attack. She has probably guessed that there will be no other arrangements for protection once Harry has left Privet Drive; the deal she made with Dumbledore back in 1981 is coming to an end. As a result, while Harry and Dumbledore escape Privet Drive to “pursue that flighty temptress, adventure,” Petunia has to face the consequences of her moral failure. Cloistered in her home, flanked by her ignorant husband and spoiled child, Petunia Dursley is left alone with her shame and her fear.