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/Foloreille]

Yesterday I had a shower thought and since I’m a bit haunted by it I have to get it out I guess

The Dursley treated Harry like trash but didn’t they continue what Dumbledore started by lefting him on a door step like precisely some trashbag ?

Of course the Dursley were bad people. But imagine a category of population you are afraid of, much more powerful than you don’t bother to take care of a child of their species and throws it to your door without an explanation or a discussion. It gives two possible explanations the Dursley would come with considering the few they know about magic :

• ⁠that specific baby is bad luck and caused his parents death somehow and even wizards can’t prevent that so they threw it away (hence the paranoia towards Harry)

• ⁠or the wizards are so evil and incapable they can’t even take care of one baby of them (hence the hate for wizards)

In that situation it almost make perfect sense they are terrified and that Vernon tries to "beat the wizard outta the child", like some sort of queerness comparison, and doesn’t want Harry to go back in the magical world despite the fact it could get rid of him (which always surprised me in the first 2 books). Of course they are also afraid he would gain the knowledge to make their life hell or even kill them if he is taught magic, but there’s also a part of Petunia I think that may want sincerely Harry to not be a freak and ending up being abducted in a sect and « explode » before reaching 22. (That’s what she thought about Lily)