Uncle Vernon: But there’s still the matter of our work and school!
What did they do about Vernon's job? What king of explanation did they provide for taking off suddenly with no notice for an indefinite period of time? What are they going to do to see that his job is there when they come back?
I remember a post DH fan fiction where the Dursley's come back and Vernon finds his job gone. Since he couldn't explain what had happen he couldn't get another one
And what about Dudley's schooling? There was one where after missing 12th grade and having nothing to do all year but lift weights his only career option was in the military.
Also, the DEs burned down 4PD and the insurance company refused to pay out because they suspected the Dursleys did it on purpose.
JKR presents magical education as a lot of meaningless nonsense taught by a bunch incompetents (e.g., Prof. Binns), and dropping out has no repercussions (e.g., the trio, the twins); in fact, it is an act of heroism and rebellion against oppression. Why should muggle education be any different? School? Who needs it? If dropping out is good enough for Harry, it should be good enough for Dudley.
Although JKR may have meant all this as satire, it comes across as a license to ignore your studies, cheat on your homework, and drop out before graduation. It's hardly the sort of thing that you'd expect a responsible children's author to encourage, but there it is, alas.
Comments 4
Yet the closest that Harry and Draco ever get to this kind of moment is Draco’s nod in the Epilogue.
/[The group departs, leaving Harry alone]/
And with that, the Dursleys exit the story and are never heard from again.
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What did they do about Vernon's job? What king of explanation did they provide for taking off suddenly with no notice for an indefinite period of time? What are they going to do to see that his job is there when they come back?
I remember a post DH fan fiction where the Dursley's come back and Vernon finds his job gone. Since he couldn't explain what had happen he couldn't get another one
Reply
Also, the DEs burned down 4PD and the insurance company refused to pay out because they suspected the Dursleys did it on purpose.
Reply
JKR presents magical education as a lot of meaningless nonsense taught by a bunch incompetents (e.g., Prof. Binns), and dropping out has no repercussions (e.g., the trio, the twins); in fact, it is an act of heroism and rebellion against oppression. Why should muggle education be any different? School? Who needs it? If dropping out is good enough for Harry, it should be good enough for Dudley.
Although JKR may have meant all this as satire, it comes across as a license to ignore your studies, cheat on your homework, and drop out before graduation. It's hardly the sort of thing that you'd expect a responsible children's author to encourage, but there it is, alas.
Reply
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