‘What she did was unforgivable’: Potterheads Debate What They Would Do if They Were in Aunt Petunia’s Shoes, and if Her Behavior Was Justified

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Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Sep 2, 2024 11:30 AM EDT

While we all admire Harry's bravery and the way he handled his life situation, we often tend to forget he was just an 11-year-old kid, and he had many adults in his life who simply failed him. The first adult who failed Harry was Aunt Petunia, the one relative he had, who should have loved Harry like her own child.

No matter what kind of problems Petunia had with Lily or James, Harry was not to blame for any of them. He didn't deserve to spend 11 years without real love, and he most definitely didn't deserve to live in a cupboard. So even if I feel for Petunia and understand her jealousy over Lily becoming a witch and going to Hogwarts, I do not think that is an excuse for her behavior as an adult. 

But that is just my opinion, and in the Reddit thread down below, Potterheads share what they think they would have done if they were in Petunia's shoes. Scroll down to read this enlightening discussion. After you are done, click here for some magically hilarious Harre Potter memes.

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  • 01
    Shutterbudion's PINSIDE I sympathise with Petunia Evans the child. It would not have been easy when you could not have what you desperately wanted and had to see your sister enjoying it. INGOTTS BAN PERS CARKITY
    via Christy B
  • 02
    People hate on Petunia (because she's nasty), but honestly, how jealous would you be, if, after reading the books, only your sibling got the letter?
    via u/platypodus
  • 03
    Background_Muffin622 4d ago I would be very jealous. Especially knowing that I am the older one so there is no chance that I will receive a letter after a couple of years.
    via u/Background_Muffin622
  • 04
    • BatfoxSupreme 3d ago My sisters and I all grew up being really like.... Happy for each other? I feel like their success is my success. Petunia is trash.
    via u/BatfoxSupreme
  • 05
    irish_ninja_wte • 4d ago Ravenclaw I'd be jealous, but you can bet I'd make use of her. I'd have her pop round once a week to scourgify my house.
    via u/irish_ninja_wte
  • 06
    Ornery-Sea-5957 • 4d ago This is the first thing that came to my mind too. Jealous as a kid, certainly. But as an adult, I'd definitely ask for the occasional scourgify
    via u/Ornery-Sea-5957
  • 07
    Snark Knight 29 .4d ago I'd want to know how Petunia was treated by their parents- was she ignored by them after Lily got the letter? That would cause some serious issues
    via u/Snark_Knight_29
  • 08
    PugsnPawgs Gryffindor 4d ago That seems to be the case in the way Petunia describes the events. Her parents were SO proud of a witch in the family! All the attention suddenly went to Lily, and as we know it seems to have caused significant damage.
    via u/PugsnPawgs
  • 09
    But Harry seems to be the subject of abuse by not only Petunia, but also Snape, for venting a certain frustration they had with his parents. Petunia and Snape hate James for taking Lily out of their lives. Harry, looking alot like his father, and simply being the embodiment of their bond, has to endure their ak :se so they can express their grief and regrets.
    via u/PugsnPawgs
  • 10
    Imissyoudarlin • 4d ago Ravenclaw I agree. Every isn't just black and white. Imagine being treated differently purely because one person can use and wand and the other can not. Petunia sent letters to dumbledore begging to join her sister.
    via u/Imissyoudarlin
  • 11
    Not_a_cat_l_promise • 3d ago Rowena Ravenclaw's favourite I sympathise with Petunia Evans the child. It would not have been easy when you could not have what you desperately wanted and had to see your sister enjoying it.
    via u/Not_a_cat_l_promise
  • 12
    I cannot sympathise with Petunia Dursley, because she abused her sister's child and punished him because she was jealous of her sister.
    via u/Not_a_cat_l_promise
  • 13
    Anythingany1time → Slytherin • 4d ago We'd all be jealous, especially as kids... but most of us won't torment a kid for getting one, let alone if said kid is a relative
    via u/Anythingany1time
  • 14
    KoopaKaaaaahn • 4d ago Jealous is fine. How she reacts and does with that jealousy is not.
    via u/KoopaKaaaaahn
  • 15
    thechelseahotel • 3d ago Slytherin I would be sooo bitter and resentful, but I would beg Lily to introduce me to wizarding men so I could marry into that world
    via u/thechelseahotel
  • 16
    Tod Lapraik • 3d ago Gryffindor The thing I think is a little overlooked is that Petunia didn't really have a choice when it came to taking Harry in.
    via u/Tod_Lapraik
  • 17
    Dumbledore basically told her in the letter that Harry would only be safe there with his own blood. So she'd have known that turning him away might mean his death.
    via u/Tod_Lapraik
  • 18
    Also her sister went away to learn magic and then was mored in that world so I can see, even outside of the jealousy, why she might not want Harry to go into that world.
    via u/Tod_Lapraik
  • 19
    None of that is an excuse for having her nephew live in a cupboard obviously. Just points I don't think are raised all that often.
    via u/Tod_Lapraik
  • 20
    JJkillem98 3d ago • She can be jealous and still not take out on her nephew.. he lost his mother and she lost her sister and she didn't even show some sympathy. That's pure hatred
    via u/JJkillem98
  • 21
    repwin1 • 3d ago I wonder how she would have acted if Dudley got a letter to hogwarts? Would they still hated the whole thing or would have it become an awesome special thing.
    via u/repwin1
  • 22
    • TheDuke_Of_Orleans 3d ago Me and sibling talk about this. Both love Hogwarts sm and we agreed we would be so jealous it would hurt. Like I would have to ignore them and
    via u/TheDuke_Of_Orleans
  • 23
    forget they exist especially if we were poorer. Like you really left me here. But I could never treat their kid so horrible. I would love them like my own.
    via u/TheDuke_Of_Orleans
  • 24
    WrastleGuy 3d ago I would become Voldemort.
    via u/WrastleGuy

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wand geek hogwarts students Harry Potter voldemort hermione granger horcrux discussion owls entertaining magical hedwig Ron Weasley Dobby potterhead reddit thread Reddit Hogwarts
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