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Old 05-04-2005, 09:07 PM   #4 (permalink)
Toro
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Heron
Well, I think it's obvious that she's jealous of her sister.

I think that she's jealous because Lily's a witch and she's not--well, not because Lily's a witch, but because of all the attention she received for it.
Exactly. Petunia had to watch her sister go off to a special school while she studied for her tests. I think Petunia took comfort in the fact that her sister was "abnormal" and she was "normal." Something she took so far as to have integrated it into her very personality as an adult.By the time Harry arrives, Petunia genuinely believed the justifications she told herself as a child.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Heron
It's also why she treats Harry so poorly. He's a constant reminder of everything her sister has accomplished...and everything she hasn't.
Harry is also a constant contrast to her own son (whom she probably relates to). As such, as immature and juvenile as it is, I think Petunia is a reminder of how fragile human psyches are.
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