I was very interested in portraying Dumbledore's choice in leaving Harry with Petunia. In my opinion, his choice was a very calculated one, perhaps almost insidiously so, to leave Harry with his aunt Petunia. I refuse to believe, for a second, that he didn't know Aunt Petunia was a shrewd woman, who hated her sister Lily for becoming a witch and leaving her alone, and didn't imagine that she wouldn't take her vengeance upon Lily's orphan son. I think perhaps Dumbledore was carefully optimistic that Petunia would find some affection for Harry, and perhaps care for Harry as her own. But I don't think for a moment that Dumbledore was completely naive.

I think he was right in his calculation that leaving Harry with the Dursleys would enable Harry to grow up without much knowledge of the impact he had made in the wizarding world, and his status as a "savior." If a kid grew up knowing he was the wizarding world's savior, and raised by doting parents who treated him as such, he would likely not be the humble, grateful, awed child that arrived at Hogwarts. Dumbledore knew that Petunia and the Dursleys were magic-phobes, and so would be unlikely to try to integrate his wizarding culture into his upbringing. And thus Harry would have no knowledge of the circumstances surrounding his parents' death, and his nearly messanic status.

But I also think Dumbledore knew what this detachment from his own story would do to Harry. It would make Harry an orphan in more ways than merely losing his parents. He would lose his entire heritage, and the truth, and for not just a few years, but for most of his childhood. He would have no childhood, no notion or understanding of who he really is, and the loss of that truth is a fundamental part of his upbringing, and who he becomes.

By leaving Harry with the Dursleys, Dumbledore is ensuring that Harry would grow up with no knowledge of his wizarding roots, and thus enable a maximum experience of "magical wonderment" upon his entry into the magical world at age 11. It is possible to me that Dumbledore knew that life with the Dursleys would be tough on Harry, and so Harry's introduction into the magical world would have a profound impact on his psychology and sense of identity, and thus Harry will view the magical world as an integral, sustaining part of himself. This has critical implications to his later role as prophesied defeater of Voldemort.

------------------------------------------
LIMITED EDITION PRINTS ARE STILL AVAILABLE!

I am offering 11x14" and 16x20" prints of this painting. Please inquire (or email me at foxestacado@gmail.com), as I am not selling them through DA. Proceeds from print sales will help me auction off prints for charity!