Harry Vs. Dursleys, What will happen in Harry's 7th Year? Options

[GoldyPotter]

One thing that's been on my mind is what's going to happen when Harry gets ready to go to Hogwarts for his final year, and the Dursleys try to stop him one last time.

The key word here being "try".

Keeping in mind that Harry will be 17 before he goes to Hogwarts, and thus, no longer an underage wizard. This means that Harry may now perform magic whenever he wants, as long as he doesn't break any Wizarding Laws.

He doesn't have to be secretive, because the Dursleys already know he's a wizard.

But for the past 17 years of Harry's life, the Dursleys have never been even the slightest bit friendly. He's gotten the bare nessessities; shelter, food, clothing, a place to sleep (though in Book 1 it was a closet...). They've never shown him the love he's needed. All they've done is bully him, and order him around like a boy Cinderella. Harry never had any real friends (or friendship relations) until Hagrid came, and started him to Hogwarts. Suddenly, he had at least two friends (Ron and Hermione), and many more was to come his way (as well as a few enemies...)

Now, "Cinderfella" has the power. He's at least a highly capiable magician, if not a master. All those years of being pushed down, and now he can finally do something to really defend himself.

What would he do?

The Dursley's would attempt to keep him from going to Hogwarts --as they have attempted to in every book. What would Harry do to get past them this time?

And what if Uncle Vernon (and maybe even Dudley. He'd be 17 too, you know.) attempted to keep Harry from going to Hogwarts by force? What would Harry do to defend himself? I'm sure he'd attempt to do so without hurting Vernon and Dudley. And he's probibly a capiable enough wizard to do that with a snap of his fingers or a wave of the wand.

I imagine that he'd warn them first, though, that he is 17, and thus, no longer an underage wizard. Hopefully, that would be enough of a determent to keep them from doing anything so that Harry would have enough time to either use apparate, or to use Floo Powder to get at least to the Weasley House in the Burrow.

If not, then more drastic messures would have to be taken. I'm sure there is plenty of spells that Harry can use to defend himself without actually hurting anyone. The slug spell Draco pulled on Ron in Book 2, for instance. ("Eat slugs!")

Somehow, in the books, there always seems to be a miracle that gives Harry some sort of defence against the Dursleys, so that his life is a bit easier.

Book 2 (Begining only): The fact that Harry could use magic alone kept the Dursleys at bay. All Harry had to do to make Dudley leave him alone was to start muttering in a strange --although totally made up-- language. Then, the only thing protecting Harry was the fact that the Dursleys did not know that underage wizards --like Harry-- could not use magic out of Hogwarts. Thanks to Dolby, though, they found out real quick about that rule.

Book 3: Nothing through the book, but at the end, Harry got Sirrus Black as a legal guardian. The fact that Black was considered a dangerous murderer in the Muggle world kept the Dursleys from doing anything that could be reported. They couldn't even keep Harry from writing to Sirrus, because if Black didn't recieve any messages from Harry every so often, he threatened to come and see about him, himself.

Book 4: Still has Sirrus Black watching over him, as well, I think, Remus Lupin, and Mad-Eye Moody. I'm not sure on these last two. Need to re-read the book to be sure.

Book 5: To be truthfull, I haven't read it yet, but I'm hearing that Sirrus Black dies in it. If that's true, than Harry has lost not only a loving guardian, but the only person I know for sure that he could call on for help against the Dursleys if he needed to. Who --or what-- he gets to look after him now, I don't know. (I'm planning on getting Book 5 when they put it on paperback. Financal reasons.)

Book 6 and 7: ?

At some point, of course, Harry's going to have to face them on his own. How and what he does is what's up for debate.

I'm wondering though: Why haven't the Dursley's been investigated for child abuse? Surely someone must have noticed the way they treat him, even in public. Wouldn't someone have reported the possible child abuse?

What's your opinion? What do you think the final "showdown" between Harry and the Dursleys would be like?

(About time I posted something besides part of a fanfic...)

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:hogwarts: :harry: :lbolt: :hermy: :orb: :ron: :wand: :hedwig: :gryffindor:

[Loonymort]

I think by book 7 there will be an agreement to disagree. Something will have happened in Bk. 6 to make them see otherwise. With the "Second War Begin-"-ning, i think we'll see a lot of mugle massacres and even the Dursley's can't keep a blind eye to that. They will unite and i'm sure Harry *loves* them at heart.

[MELIMUSH]

[sweetsixteen]

As ever i feel sorry for those who cant be bothered to read Harry Potter, but you have missed out! Go get the book and stick yer nose in!

[GoldyPotter]

Don't worry, I do plan on getting it and reading it. But I'm waiting for it come out on paperback, for the stated reason. Besides, Books 1 -4 that I have is all in paperback, so I'd like to keep my collection consistant.

I wish, though, that they would make the paperback available at the same time they bring out the hardback. It would make things a lot easier.

The paperback should be out soon, though, with the third movie coming later this spring (or is it summer?), so it won't be long, now. And I can read the first four over again, to refresh my memory.

So there may be reconciliation of some sort between Harry and the Dursleys, huh? That's good, too. They are, after all, family, not true enemies in the same sence that Voldmort is.

Be interesting if the Dursleys actually came and helped Harry in the final battle, somehow. Blow their minds if Petunia developed her own magic in the time of crisis --sorta like a magical adrenalin rush.

Sounds like a fanfic idea... ;)

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:hogwarts: :harry: :lbolt: :hermy: :orb: :ron: :wand: :hedwig: :gryffindor:

[sweetsixteen]

paperback is better, my spines have broken on my hard-backed books

[Guest_fan of the fans_*]

All of these ideas that Goldy Potter has put forward are really sensible and fascinating. But what if there won't be any hardship for Harry to face leaving the Dursleys.
I m so sorry I m revealing this to you as you haven't read yet, but i have to, so, due to the fact that Petunia receives a mail from Dumbledore for Harry's welfare, her attitude changes a bit regarding Harry just at the moment.... and maybe aslo due to the fact that she also knows that Dementors are those creatures who guard a wizard prisons , she may also have the slightest idea that Harry being the age of 17 is allowed to use magic. Becoz of these two reasons maybe her attitude toward Harry changes she may stop Vernon or Dudley for fighting or they fight she shall control them.

[Bunnyc]

As Petunia is aware what Dementors are, you'd think she'd soften a lot towards Harry for saving her Dudley from them?
Good ideas Goldy Potter.

[Dijares]

Hey Goldy,

The paperback won't be out til July, I believe. :( Wish I could send you a hard back = can you go to the library? Poor you.

One thing to add to your theory is that JKR has stated there is someone who gains magic at a late age, which is very unusual. She has also stated that we should watch Dudley. So it may be he who gains magical powers. Wouldn't that rock the Dursley boat? Mr. Dursley would have to accept the magical world, or lose his son. Petunia, of course, would still love her dudders. JKR mentioned that the magic will occur out of need, so I am thinking perhaps - well if you haven't read the 5th book, then don't continue, so i'll go down a bit













perhaps another attack at the dursley house. JKR was also asked during the last webchat what dudley saw during the dementor attack. she would not answer the question.

[Guest_fan of the fans_*]

A gud prediction laid by u (dijaries) abt Dudley gaining the power to magic.
But most of us, atleast all the one's I know, predict that it ud b Neville to gain the power. After all, he cannot remain a squib. Although he was not chosen as equal to Voldemort but he may have sum powers that his prediction had also been named. Therefore may b it ud b Neville to gain magical powers.

And by the (Bunnyc) fer ur answer I think if Petunia knows all this stuff, she surely has to becum a little soften fer saving Dudley, but like as before she went be too much bcoz if she ud she knows that wrong predictions will b started makin abt her frem Harry's mind and he' ll start askin questions like before.

[Loonymort]

fan of the fans, how did you come to the conclusion that Neville's a squib? A squib is a non-magical person born into a magical family, it's an opposite of muggleborns. Neville goes to HOgwarts because he can practise magic.

[Dijares]

i suppose one could come to this conclusion b/c neville states it himself - that his family thought he was a squib b/c he wasn't performing any magic, and it didn't happen to him until he was dropped (over a balcony?) and he bounced. :o

[DracoIsAHottie]

[hadley123456]

I have a different prediction than anyone else... and that is he will be given Grimmauld Place in book 6, and probably spend little if no time what so ever at the Dursleys in book 7.

[iareaj]

but maybe grimauld place will be in other hands, like bellatrix or narcissa. remember that the house-elf, kreacher went to the malfoys. so if he thinks that narcissa can replace his master (sirius), then she can take possesion of the house.
what do you think?

[Wab]

In the next two books the Dursleys will move from being stage grotesques to more rounded characters whose motivations will be finally revealed.

[crazy4orli]

whoever said that grimmauld place might go in to the hands of narcissa, well done thats a good theorie, although, it was siriusis so he wouldnt leave it too her. and now someone said it, i think that harry will go to grimmauld place this summer, and the house will be his. :D

[ronweasleyrocks]

sirius may not have even thought about leaving the place to anyone and it might stay order HQ?? i dont tihnk he would have left it to harry because it was a place sirius hated to be. when he was there he was lonely, agitated and miserable and it was a constant reminder of his family whom he hated. if he does leave it to harry i will be a little suprised that he is giving harry something that he himself loathed so much

[crazy4orli]

i know what yu mean and i see your point, but it will remind harry of sirius, and it will be like he said, at the end of book 3, he could move in. kinda. just to make harry more depressed. poor boy. :sorry:

[ronweasleyrocks]

poor harry, hes had a bad life. :( its all trelawnleys fault for making that prophecy....if she hadnt made that prophecy and someone overheard and told Voldemort then harrys parents might still be alive and harry wouldnt be having such a bad life.....