Certain Danger
Hermione explains, to Harry and the reader, what Voldemort understands about Harry:
"Voldemort knows you, Harry! He took Ginny down into the Chamber of Secrets to lure you there, it's the kind of thing he does, he knows you're the -- the sort of person who'd go to Sirius's aid!"
(OotP ch 32)
So the Dark Lord has good reason to use the Dursleys as a lever against Harry. But if so, we should perhaps ask why he hasn't done so already. Consider the nature of the protection:
"Dumbledore invoked an ancient magic, to ensure the boy's protection as long as he is in his relations' care. Not even I can touch him there...."
(GoF ch 33)
If Petunia's blood is the linchpin that protects Harry while on Privet Drive, why not simply kill Petunia and clear the way to Harry? Why not send Death Eaters after Vernon or Dudley to force Petunia to throw Harry out of the house? Only one answer makes sense: Voldemort cannot do these things.
We deceive ourselves if we imagine some kind of invisible force field around Privet Drive. The magic does not act on the house, it acts on Voldemort. It prevents him from taking any steps which lead to harming Harry at the Dursley's -- including attacks on the Dursleys themselves.
If that sounds far-fetched, remember Harry's experience when he first came to Grimmauld Place. The magic of the Fidelius Charm acted on him and altered his perception, so he could not see the house until the secret was revealed on that slip of parchment.
Furthermore, we get a strong hint that Petunia is well aware of the danger:
[Dumbledore:] "...Harry comes of age in a year's time--"Petunia normally tries to act like Harry doesn't even exist, and she hasn't made a peep up until this point in the coversation. So two things are clear: She knows (she thinks she knows) exactly when Harry comes of age, and it's very important to her. (She is fully aware of the nature of the protective enchantment, as Dumbledore explained in OotP ch 37).
"No," said Aunt Petunia, speaking for the first time... "He's a month younger than Dudley, and Dudders doesn't turn eighteen until the year after next."
(HBP ch 3)
Corporal Acts of Mercy
The Acts of Mercy comprise a list of seven worldly acts that the faithful are meant to carry out. These acts have been woven into the Harry Potter series, with Harry significantly performing (or symbolically performing) one of the acts in each book:
PS - Feed the hungry - Harry shared his goodies with Ron on the Hogwarts Express
CoS - Clothe the naked - Harry slipped a sock to Dobby via Lucius
PoA - Visit the imprisoned - Harry visited (and set free) both Buckbeak and Sirius
GoF - Bury the dead - Harry recovered Cedric's body for proper burial
OotP - Visit the sick - Harry went to St. Mungo's twice, visiting both Mr. Weasley and (by happenstance) Gilderoy Lockhart
HBP - Give drink to the thirsty - Harry gave Felix Felicis to Ron, Hermione, and Ginny; he gave fake FF to Ron; and he obediently forced the nasty green stuff into Dumbledore (in the cave)
DH - Shelter the homeless - ???
Hence the sheltering of the Dursleys would be a perfect fit.
The Latest Clue from a book cover
One of the back covers for DH, recently revealed, has this snippet:
Harry is waiting in Privet Drive. The Order of the Phoenix is coming to escort him safely away without Voldemort and his supporters knowing...
That reveals quite a bit, because Harry himself needs no escort. He can Apparate, as was demonstrated at the end of HBP, but there are three other residents of number four, Privet Drive who cannot. Theoretically, Harry might be able to take Petunia side-along, but not Vernon or Dudley. Size matters.
Finally, we should note that the story has several other good reasons for going to Grimmauld Place. First, it is even safer than The Burrow or Hogwarts as a base of operations. Second, it is possible that the locket and/or Sirius's two-way mirror are there. Third, the Black family tapestry is there, and that will almost certainly be the means by which Harry figures out the identity of R.A.B.
If I disagree with Ann about anything, it is the statement that "we won’t know for sure" until book seven comes out. :-) I'll eat my hat if it doesn't happen.
Do you have an addition, objection, or comment? You can discuss this theory on Scribbulus.
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