Harry was never given any love or affection by Petunia because he made her think about Lily and the wizarding world. [4] She frequently treated him like a waste of space, gave him the cupboard under the stairs to start with, and had him do all the chores. She and Vernon neglected the most of Harry’s birthdays. [11] [13]
She refused to accept Harry as a second son and never showed him the warmth and love he yearned for from her. In an effort to hide Harry from others, she kept him completely uninformed of the wizarding world and made her family appear as normal as she could. In 1997, when Harry left to look for Horcruxes, Petunia was on the verge of saying goodbye to him and wishing him success while also acknowledging that her mistreatment of him was motivated by envy, but she pulled back at the last minute. [26]
After Severus Snape was killed by Nagini’s fangs during the Battle of Hogwarts, Harry was given access to various memories of Snape’s past and allegiances. Inadvertently explaining to Harry the reasons for his future aunt Petunia’s hate of him and magic in general, such as their falling out as children, Petunia’s jealousy of Lily’s magical powers, and her childhood animosity with Snape, was one of Harry’s first memories. However, Harry was more interested in learning Snape’s roots and allegiances than he was in unlocking Petunia’s animosity toward him.
Petunia would subsequently become Ginevra Weasley’s aunt-in-law and the great-aunt to James Sirius, Albus Severus, and Lily Luna, the three children of Harry and Ginny. It is uncertain if Petunia herself ever got in touch with Harry again, despite the fact that Harry and Dudley were still on “Christmas card terms” and occasionally visited. Despite everything, Harry loved her enough to insist that they hide for their safety. Although it is unknown if Petunia got in touch with Harry once more after the war, it is very likely that she made up with her nephew and was exchanging Christmas cards with him as well. Harry developed a new appreciation for his aunt as a result of how he discovered what sparked the conflict between his mother and her sister. After she passed away, Dudley gave Harry the blanket that Petunia had been holding onto ever since he arrived at Privet Drive.
Severus Snape
“I heard that nasty boy telling her about them years ago,” said Petunia Dursley.
After Dementors attacked Dudley Dursley, Harry and Petunia talked about Snape[src].
Severus Snape and Petunia originally became friends when they were little. She was Lily Evans’ sister, but unlike Lily, Petunia was a Muggle. From the minute they met, Snape and Petunia had a profound disdain for one another. He was such an eccentric, and Petunia, who was dismissive of anything out of the ordinary, looked upon him with contempt because of his low economic standing. The fact that she was a Muggle and that she made derogatory remarks about his clothing, on the other hand, caused Snape to look at her with disdain. The issue of Snape, like with everything relating to magic, was never brought up under the Dursley’s roof until Dudley Dursley was attacked by dementors and he was implicitly addressed by Petunia as “that dreadful boy” when talking about dementors, possibly as a result of this early hate.
Ironically, Snape and Petunia’s unpleasant interactions contributed to the development of their individual adult personas. Snape’s experiences with Petunia probably contributed to his increasing contempt for the Muggle community and led him to dabble with pure-blood supremacy and the Dark Arts in his adolescence. Similarly, Petunia’s interactions with Snape probably made her less tolerant of anything or anyone associated with the wizarding community. In a tragic twist of irony, Lily, Petunia’s sister, died as a result of Snape’s pursuit of the Dark Arts.
Why was Petunia envious of Lily so much?
Mr. and Mrs. Dursley come to mind right away when asked to name two persons who abhorred the magical world with a passion. But Petunia didn’t always hold that opinion. She pretended that her animosity for witches and wizards sprang from her perception of them as aberrant, but her true desire was to be a part of the community. Petunia detested that her magical sister Lily always seemed to be the center of attention and was tremendously envious of Lily’s magical talent. She was sick of being overshadowed by Lily, so when she married Vernon, she didn’t want Lily to be a bridesmaid. She also referred to Lily as a “freak” when they were kids because she felt left out because she lacked Lily’s talents. All of that does not excuse Petunia’s behavior, but it does shed light on why she rejects anything even faintly mystical.
How did Lily’s passing affect Petunia?
When Petunia and Lily married, to put it mildly, extremely different men, their schism got further. James Potter had a bad first impression of Vernon Dursley, thus the two couples didn’t interact much. Meanwhile, Vernon would have fostered Petunia’s worst personality traits, making her spiteful, judgmental, and intensely resentful of anything or anybody who was “different.”
Petunia would have undoubtedly been heartbroken to learn of Lily’s passing, but her conflicting feelings—grief, sorrow, and unresolved jealousy—were likely hidden in the distractions of cleaning, gossip, and caving to her son Dudley’s every whim.
Petunia was disturbed and nervous in Harry’s presence because he made her think of things she had tried all her life to forget. His sight Lily’s eyes recalled the sibling she had lost and the irreparably damaged relationship. Petunia’s knowledge that her nephew was destined for the magical realm she had once so dearly desired brought up old sentiments of inferiority and jealousy. Petunia appeared to have concluded that magic was terrible in order to cope with the fact that she was not magical.
Additionally, Petunia was aware that Harry’s world was dangerous and endangered her own family, especially the priceless Ickle Dudleykins. Yes, we all laughed at Dudley’s curly tail and his exploits with Ton-Tongue Toffee, but those events were horrifying from a mother’s perspective. Not to mention Lord Voldemort and the Dementors, which Petunia is well aware are very real threats.
Aunt Petunia had never before in her life observed him with such an expression. Unlike her sister, who had huge, pale eyes that were narrowed in disapproval or wrath, she had large, terrified eyes. The vehement delusion Aunt Petunia had upheld during Harry’s entire life—that there was no magic and no other world save the one she shared with Uncle Vernon—seemed to have crumbled. Order of the Phoenix: Harry Potter
Does Lily matter to Petunia?
Petunia and her parents might have gotten along well. But because of Lily’s unique skills, they preferred her, and Petunia felt left out (this may have contributed even more to her intense dislike of magic). They are known to have passed away by the time Petunia gave birth to a boy.
Petunia Evans had only one sibling, Lily Evans. Petunia felt ambivalent about Lily’s magical prowess as it first came to light, split between interest and disdain. When Lily became friends with the ominous lad next door, Severus Snape, their relationship grew even more tense.
Petunia wrote a covert letter to Professor Dumbledore after Lily was accepted to Hogwarts pleading with him to allow her to enroll as well. After that, Petunia started referring to wizards and witches as “weirdos” and made every effort to deny her sister’s existence. Petunia would not acknowledge it, but she still had feelings for Lily and was probably grieved when her sister was killed. Petunia organized the funeral and arranged for her sister and brother-in-law to be buried in Godric’s Hollow because James didn’t have a family. To her eternal regret, Petunia never had the opportunity to make apologies with her only sister, despite her desire to do so.
Vernon Dursley
Vernon Dursley and Petunia Dursley were coworkers who later got married. [2] She agreed with his limited viewpoints and took pride in his position at work. She and Vernon made every effort to ignore Harry and kept him out of most family gatherings.
They were incredibly conceited, materialistic, and status-obsessed. Dudley was given complete control over the house since they provided him anything he desired. Harry, on the other hand, was strictly under their supervision; he did the work, made the meals (or at least breakfast), and otherwise spent time imprisoned in the cupboard beneath the stairs. Harry was less under Petunia and Vernon’s influence once he returned to the wizarding community.
Vernon may or may not have been aware of his wife’s former desire to attend Hogwarts, her previous close friendship with Lily, or her early association with Severus Snape, a wizard. It’s possible that Petunia didn’t tell him because she had always wanted to be “normal.”
How come Petunia is not a witch?
There are no coincidences in the wizarding realm when it comes to JK Rowling, as any true Potterhead would attest.
Finally, consider this Harry Potter theory: Petunia Dursley was a witch all along.
As a result, one Tumblr user claims that Aunt Petunia is actually a disgruntled old witch who buried her abilities after being shunned by the magical world rather than a Muggle.
How did Lily and Petunia interact?
Petunia Dursley (née Evans) was an English Muggle who lived from before 1960 to after 2020[1]. She was Lily Potter’s sister and the eldest child of Mr. and Mrs. Evans. She cut off communication with her sister during her childhood and refused to interact with anyone from the wizarding community since she had grown to hate her sister for being a witch.
She had a son named Dudley after she wed Muggle Vernon Dursley. But after Voldemort killed Lily, Petunia took on the responsibility of looking after her nephew Harry Potter, who was still a little child. Because she disliked the Potters being wizards, she mostly neglected and mistreated Harry, forcing him to sleep in the cabinet beneath the stairs (although she allowed him a room of his own after receiving his acceptance letters to Hogwarts in order to attempt to trick Hogwarts into not sending letters).
She erupted in rage in 1991 when Rubeus Hagrid arrived and announced that Harry will enroll in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Her nephew had learned the truth about his true magical lineage. In 1997, she and her family fled their house to avoid being attacked by Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters.
Her son married after the Second Wizarding War, and she gave birth to two grandchildren. She had two great-nephews, James Sirius and Albus Severus Potter—the former named after her late brother-in-law—and a great-niece, Lily Luna Potter—named after her deceased sister—through her nephew’s marriage to Ginny Weasley.
She passed away before 2020, yet the precise date and circumstances of her passing were unknown.
Did Petunia attend Harry’s nuptials?
“Large and neckless, this young businessman seemed to young Petunia a picture of manliness.”
“Petunia accepted right away when Vernon Dursley quite appropriately proposed marriage in his mother’s sitting room at the appropriate time.”
He solemnly assured Petunia that he would never hold that fact against her for having a weirdo for a sister.
Petunia had also long had the wish—which she never confided to Vernon—that one day, she too would exhibit magical abilities and be whisked away to Hogwarts.
The Dursleys’ names were chosen by J.K. Rowling because she believed they had an unpleasant sound.
“Vernon” is just a name I’ve never given much thought to, wrote Rowling. In make-believe games I played with my sister, I always called disagreeable female characters “Petunia.”
“Although some readers desired more from Aunt Petunia during [Harry’s departure], I still believe that I had her act in a manner that is most consistent with her thoughts and sentiments throughout the previous seven volumes,” the author said.
Uncle Vernon never seemed to live up to expectations, so people weren’t upset.
Aunt Petunia, did you wish to attend Hogwarts?
Petunia’s animosity against Harry was probably a result of her long-standing envy of Lily, her magical sister. Remember my last,” read a Howler from Dumbledore addressed to Petunia. He was likely referring to the letter he left with baby Harry on Privet Drive’s front step. Albus had another motivation to write, though, and this one had far-reaching repercussions.
When Petunia wrote to the headmaster of Hogwarts as a young girl pleading to be admitted, he sent her a sympathetic reply. Dumbledore’s tactful rejection caused “Tuney” to start calling her sister a “weird.”
Petunia was disappointed and resentful, so she watched Lily and Snape as they become close friends and learned bits and pieces about the wizarding world she would never be able to enter.
Harry was more shocked than Uncle Vernon to hear Petunia mention “Azkaban” as she spat out a competent description of a Dementor. Even Petunia, who was so determined to despise the magic she never experienced, was horrified to learn of Voldemort’s reappearance; this was the one time Harry genuinely realized she was her mother’s sister.
Although she may have given Harry a place to grow up, it was obvious that Petunia’s unfulfilled magical aspirations were likely what made her the person she was—someone who was more concerned with the surgical cleanliness of her counters than the welfare of her sister’s son.
She paused briefly as she bid Harry farewell, as if to say something. Of course, she never did, but that shaky second revealed a lot about her character.
Why did Harry get to stay with Aunt Petunia?
Though Lily was different from Petunia, she had Lily in a small corner of her heart. It’s possible that she believed Harry was her sister’s last memory, Lily’s last gift, or the last obligation for an elder sister.