Changes: Petunia Dursley

Revision as of 22:15, 10 November 2008

Petunia Dursley (née Evans) was the sister of Lily Potter, thus making her the aunt of Harry Potter. She lived in Little Whinging, Surrey at Number Four Privet Drive with her husband, son, and nephew.

History

Petunia was the oldest child of the Muggles, Mr. and Mrs. Evans, and had a sister, Lily who was two years younger. When her sister received a letter from Hogwarts confirming that she was a witch, Petunia wrote a letter to Albus Dumbledore, asking if she could also study there. Even though the Headmaster rejected her kindly this made Petunia create a curtain loathing for the Wizarding World, one she frequently took out on her sister, often calling Lily a "freak." After that point she barely talked to her sister.

Petunia was also acquainted with Severus Snape even before Lily received her Hogwarts letter. She heartily disapproved of him and never made any secret of it.

Petunia had little contact with her sister once they had grown up (though she did send her a horrible vase over Christmas), partly to do with her jealousy of Lily being a witch. At some point before 1980, Petunia married Vernon Dursley, and their son, Dudley was born on June 23, 1980. The family settled into Little Whinging where they took pride in being "normal."

This changed on November 1, 1981 when Petunia opened her door to find a baby on her doorstep. The child turned out to be her sister's son, Harry Potter. A letter had been left by Albus Dumbledore, explaining the circumstances of Harry's arrival, including the deaths of her sister, Lily, and her husband, James Potter. She was the only member of the family that has her sister's blood running through her which ensured the protection of Harry and her family from Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters, Petunia reluctantly agreed to take her orphaned nephew into her home, she then took into the family's responsibility not to tell Harry or anyone else about the fact that Harry was a wizard.

Petunia, however, did not treat Harry as a welcome addition to her family. A constant reminder of her sister and the world she herself had been refused entrance to, she treated Harry like a disease, even keeping him in the cupboard under the stairs as a bedroom for much of his childhood. She deliberately spoiled Dudley and neglected Harry, who were both around the same age, in turn, showing him no affection or love. She forced him to do all of the chores while Dudley was free to do anything he pleased. Petunia also told Harry that his parents had died in a car crash and that the scar on his forehead came from that same accident. She didn't let Harry ask any questions about his family.

When Harry's Hogwarts letter arrived in 1991, she supported her husband's decision to keep the truth from Harry. They constantly tried to burn or rip the letters but they found that nothing was helping to stop the letters coming to Harry, so Petunia and the rest of the family moved to different places to try to outrun wizards until finally being tracked down by Rubeus Hagrid. When Hagrid forced the issue of Harry's origin, Petunia lost control and let loose all of the resentment she'd held about Lily's life.

Petunia Dursley OOTP — Petunia upon seeing Dudley Dursley after a Dementor attack in 1995.

Throughout the next several years, Petunia still permitted Harry to remain in her home over the summers, recharging the blood protections that kept him and her family safe from Lord Voldemort throughout the rest of the year.

In Harry's fifth year, Dudley and Harry were attacked by Dementors and only saved by Harry performing underage magic. When Vernon ordered Harry out of the house, she reluctantly stepped in after a Howler (later revealed to have been from Dumbledore) arrived telling Petunia to "remember his last."^[1] Petunia cloaked her decision to allow Harry to stay in that she knew it would appear strange to the neighbors if Harry suddenly vanished. Whether this was the true reason for allowing her nephew to remain there or perhaps a glimmer of family loyalty, was left unsaid.

In the summer of 1997, the blood protections were due to expire. Petunia, Dudley, and Vernon were placed under the protection of Dedalus Diggle and Hestia Jones, both members of the Order of the Phoenix. Just before the group left Privet Drive, Petunia watched her son offer the first words of acceptance Harry had ever heard and burst into tears on Dudley. She wanted to say,"I know what you're up against and I hope it turns out okay" to Harry before they left, but decided against it because of her resentment to the wizarding world and left the house.

When Harry had grown up he was on "Christmas Card" terms with the Dursley's and went to visit them occasionally, which his children hated.

Appearance and Personality

Petunia is a thin, blonde-haired woman, and described as having "nearly twice the usual amount of neck."^[2] It is also mentioned that she looked like a horse when she pursed her lips. She is very nosey and often spends her time spying on her neighbors and has to have everything very clean.

In contrast, Petunia is shown as having dark hair in the films, and is played by Fiona Shaw.

Attitude Towards Magic, Wizards, and Witches

Petunia is frequently heard referring to witches and wizards as "freaks." When Lily left for Hogwarts for the first time she referred to it as a place for "weirdos," a place where they may be "separated from normal people" for the safety of the latter. In 1995 she received a Howler from Albus Dumbledore not helping in her liking for the wizarding world.

Petunia's attitudes toward the wizarding world most probably stem from her deep desire to attend Hogwarts, only to be rejected. After Lily's invitation to attend, Petunia wrote Albus Dumbledore, asking that she also be permitted to study there. Dumbledore's kind rejection seemed to have resulted in severe jealousy towards Hogwarts and the wizarding world in general.

Relationships

Vernon Dursley

Petunia has always shown love towards Vernon and seems to do all the chores while Vernon works. She obviously cooks all the meals, and seems to overfeed him a bit too much.

Dudley Dursley

Petunia massively spoils Dudley, resulting in him being very overweight, though she denied it for many years, calling it baby fat. She gives him anything he wants and comforts him when he is having a tantrum. Petunia also deliberately puts Dudley's word before Harry's even if Harry is right. She obviously loves him very much and bursts into tears everytime he says something that isn't cruel or mean. Even when Dudley is a teenager she calls him "Diddy-kins" and names that one would call a baby.

File:HarryPotter5.jpg

Harry Potter

Petunia has never shown any love at all towards Harry only because he reminds her of Lily and the Wizarding World. She treats him as if he is a waste of space, giving him the cupboard under the stairs at first and making him do all the chores. She along with Vernon ignored most of Harry's birthdays and gave him something minor like a toothpick when they don't. She never accepted him as a second son and given him the love and affection he needs which Harry always craved from her. She also helped to keep him out of the wizarding world and tried to keep themselves as normal as possible trying to hide Harry from people.

Appearances

Notes and references

↑ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
↑ Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

This article about a specific character is a stub. You can help by expanding it.

[1] Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

[2] Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

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@@ Line 85: / Line 85: @@
 ====Dudley Dursley====
-Petunia massively spoils Dudley resaulting in him being very overweight, though she denied it for many years, calling it baby fat. She gives him anything he wants and comforts him when he is having a tantrum. She deliberately puts Dudley's word before Harry's even if Harry is right. She obviously loves him very much and burst into tears everytime he says something that
+Petunia massively spoils Dudley, resulting in him being very overweight, though she denied it for many years, calling it baby fat. She gives him anything he wants and comforts him when he is having a tantrum. Petunia also deliberately puts Dudley's word before Harry's even if Harry is right. She obviously loves him very much and bursts into tears everytime he says something that isn't cruel or mean. Even when Dudley is a teenager she calls him "''Diddy-kins''" and names that one would call a baby.
-isn't all that mean. Even when Dudley is a teenager she calls him "''Diddy-kins''" and names that one would call a baby.
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