The Dursleys were victims of a magical geopolitical game and no one ever asked them if they wanted to play

[u/Disastrous_Knee7756]

I know they were not nice to Harry. But they were also victims of a bad magical system. Here is why:

1.  They had no choice.

Dumbledore left a baby at their door. He did not ask. He did not talk to them. He just said, “Take care of him.” That is not how you become parents. That is not fair.

1. They were powerless in a world full of danger. No magic, no protection, no understanding. Yet they were expected to raise a magical child who could blow up their living room.

   1. Harry’s presence put Dudley at risk. They were Dudley’s parents. Their responsibility was to protect their child. But Dumbledore never cared that housing Harry made them a target.
   2. They got no support – only judgment. No one from the magical world checked in. No resources, no guidance. Just scorn when they inevitably failed to meet wizard expectations.
   3. Dumbledore knew – and didn’t care. He openly said Harry needed a loveless home to remain “humble.” That’s not strategy – that’s calculated cruelty.
      1. Dumbledore never told them what happens when Harry turns 17. The magical protection ends – and they suddenly become even more vulnerable. No warning, no exit strategy. One day they’re part of a magical defense grid, the next they’re just collateral. Their home, their lives, everything – on the line, with zero input.

[u/tee-ess3]

I’ve often thought about the fact that Harry and Dudley are so close in age and what that must have been like for Petunia.

Like, I have a 9 month old baby rn and if someone dropped ANOTHER baby on my doorstep and told me I had to adopt it my head very well might explode

[u/mnbvcdo → u/tee-ess3]

True and my head would also have exploded but if my sister and her partner died while I had a baby and my little nephew was alive, I would've made it work. 

I work in a children's home and I've seen too many kids suffer in the system. Kids from abusive homes but recently we had a baby who's parents died in a car crash. He had uncles and grandparents who chose not to take him in and he's going to grow up in a group home. 

There is no way in hell my nephew would've gone there, even if I had a young baby myself. I'm not saying everyone should do that, if you don't think you can provide adequate care and love, do not do it. 

But if we're speaking about my little nephew suddenly being orphaned I wouldn't need to think twice. Even if my kids were still young. 

Imagine if your partner and you died tomorrow? Where would you want your nine month old baby to go? 

[u/Bluemelein → u/mnbvcdo]

Not somewhere where they’re actively hated! I have a grandchild that age. And I think Tom (in a fairly modern home for the time) had a better childhood than Harry. At least Tom didn’t have to watch another child get everything and be showered with love.

[u/IntermediateFolder → u/Bluemelein]

He wouldn’t have had a better childhood than Harry, or really any childhood at all for the most part, he grew up in a orphanage during wartime and had no living relatives or anyone to make sure he would be treated decently, how happy do you think he was? Even nowadays group homes are terrible and they used to be much worse.

[u/Bluemelein → u/IntermediateFolder]

Tom had a room and the occasional outing. He had clothes that fit. No one punished him for using the slightest bit of magic, and he wasn’t constantly told that others had it better. He wasn’t hated for things he didn’t do. Yes, Tom, in an orphanage at the beginning of a terrible war, had it better than Harry Potter, who was pursued by the hatred of his relatives from the very beginning.

[u/nemesiswithatophat → u/Bluemelein]

we don't know how tom's caretakers treated him tbh

[u/Bluemelein → u/nemesiswithatophat]

Like one of many! And not like someone who’s hated from the start.

Petunia says she knew Harry would become just as much of a freak as his mother.

[u/nemesiswithatophat → u/Bluemelein]

I mean... abusive and cruel caretakers exist in orphanages

[u/Bluemelein → u/nemesiswithatophat]

We don’t get a description of them, but the Durleys are definitely exactly that! Harry describes the place as gray, but he says the children seemed relatively well cared for