Chapter 2: The vanishing glass

[Ms. Elsewhere]

Well, this chapter just had me so angry! I positively hate the Dursleys, which I'm sure was JK's intent. How could anyone be so cruel to a boy who lost his parents??? They are trully the scum of the earth. The bit that made me really mad was when they bought Piers and Dudley chocolate ice cream and only because the lady asked what harry wanted did they buy him a cheap lemon ice lolly.

How could a child grow up in a situation like that and not be terribly unhappy? It seems that his dreams that something else was out there for him was his only solace. The strange things that happened to him, the POSSIBLITY that someone was out there that was not the Dursleys but that knew him.

I just don't get how teachers and so on didn't interfere with the obvious neglect that was going on....

so that's my rant and rave about that chapter. Dursleys are officially hated. And making him live under the stairs... Poor thing!

I have a new found hate for them, and a new found admiration that Harry could be such a sweet wonderful person even under such horrors of childhood....

looking forward to hearing your thoughts! xx

[FawkesthePhoenix]

well, i imagine the dursleys spun an unimaginable web of lies to keep harry's suffering a secret. and the neighbors don't seem like people who would be very quick to tell anyone.
the fact that harry could take such joy out of something as simple a thing as a lemon ice pop really shows how much we all have and how much we take it for granted.

[DucksRMagical]

I don't know what it's like in the UK, but in the US, teachers can only do too much. If they see signs of abuse, they call a state hotline and report it. The state then investigates the claim. Sometimes they do a home visit to see how things are, but it's easy for people to cover up any abuse/neglect. Oftentimes, they alert the family ahead of time and the family has time to cover it up. Basically, parents just have to give food/water/shelter/clothing and not be physically abusive (mainly just don't leave marks). And then there's the issue of emotional abuse. That's a whole different story. A lot of the abuse Harry received was emotional. He had the basics. He had food, water, shelter, and clothing. It wasn't great, but it was the basics.

I personally think the department of social services that deals with this kind of stuff needs to be overhauled. In the past couple years a couple babies have died due to neglect in my area. Not to mention the boy in Fawke's class who died recently, largely due to the system failing him.

Anyway, basically, it would be easy for the Dursleys to cover up any sort of abuse and the teachers wouldn't be able to do anything about it. That is, if the system in the UK is anything like the US one.

[Ms. Elsewhere]

The system in Australia doesn't seem to be much better. A few kids have died as a result of neglect, and worse yet, they were under investigation. One child actually died of starvation because her father claimed she wouldn't eat!

I once thought that it would be an interesting fan fic to bring in a character who was a counsellor at Harry's primary school. She even goes to his house and tries to talk to the Dursleys. She could even be someone magical, who is trying to help Harry have a better time of it with the Dursleys. I mean, there had to be SOMEONE who was concerned. Still, Dumbledore had his reasons for sending him to the Dursleys. (which i will not discuss so as not to spoil)

I just loved the bit at the zoo... when the snake said, "Brazil here i come! Thankssssssssss Amigo!" lol!

[*Riley*]

I thought that the Dursley's had every right to conceal Harry.. But not to starve him, and lock him in a cupboard!!!

But i think Dumbledore should've stepped in, he was 4 books late.

[Ms. Elsewhere]

Careful not to mention things from other books. I know ppl who are reading this now have read the whole series, but some might come in upon a first reading and end up spoiled!

Yes, the Dursley's were afraid, I agree. If they left Harry to do what he really could do, it would have been catastrophic for them. Plus they had no idea how to nurture a magical person, or hide what was happening from innocent muggles. So... I suppose it all worked out for the best.. but why did they have to be so completely horrible to him. No photos on the wall of him, no love toward him. it was cruel.

[*Riley*]

Yes I have to agree on that one.. (Sorry didn't realise)

They had never had a magical person but I thought Petunia would be a bit understand after all her sister was a witch.
She probably got all the hate of the wizarding world from Lily, he parents probably gave Lily special attention.

[Ms. Elsewhere]

Indeed. Bottom line, they are both (Vernon and Petunia) terribly judgemental people, by the way they turn their nose up at everything. but worse yet! They think their "Ickle Dudlikins" can do no wrong! They let him get away with everything! He's a big, fat bully. It's such a pity because I cannot understand why someone would choose to be cruel instead of kind. If my cousin's parents had died, no matter how, I would be supportive and kind to them. But... i guess it wouldn't make for good reading if everyone was nice all the time! lol