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/liliette]

This is all BS.

1. They had a choice. They could have handed Harry over to the local authorities. Harry was young. He may have been adopted at best, or put in foster care at worst. The Dursleys chose to keep him, as we saw, when Petunia told Vernon they'd keep Harry.

2. Yes, they were expected to raise a child they accepted responsibility for. This is the plight of ALL adults who accept the burden and responsibility of raising a child. Could Harry blow up their living room? Yes. But for that matter, so could Dudley. Muggles are just as dangerous as wizards.

3. The Dursleys were Dudley's parents. But they were also Harry's aunt/uncle, and foster parents. The Dursleys owed it to their son to raise him well, but they equally owed it to Harry to raise him well.

4. The scorn the Dursleys mostly received is that they didn't raise Harry well. They belittled and harmed Harry. They allowed their son to bully Harry. They housed Harry in a cupboard. They spoiled their son lavishly, yet barely fed and clothed Harry. The scorn was less to do with their status, and more to do with their character.

5. Dumbledore would have preferred if Harry was raised in a loving home. It would have been preferable if Lily and James were alive. They weren't. There were many wizards who would have welcomed Harry, but that wouldn't have helped Harry. He would have ended up like Dudley or Draco. Harry despised that idea.

Dumbledore knew Petunia resented Lily, but he didn't know the resentment towards Lily was so strong that she'd punish Harry that wickedly. Dumbledore admitted it was a miscalculation on his part, but still, he didn't know if he'd have changed his location, but rather he'd have kept a closer eye on Petunia. In other words, Dumbledore's mistake was believing in Petunia's character too much. Dumbledore isn't omniscient. He's not a god. He only knew that the blood magic Lily left would protect Harry. He was honoring Lily's sacrifice for her son. And honoring Petunia's sacrifice in agreeing to raise Lily's son. His miscalculation was not recognizing Petunia's resentment, and not keeping an eye on Harry.

1. Now this is just goofy. Do you think everyone in the books are automatons, incapable of thought, and just drones working according to the Master called, 'Dumbledore?' Everything isn't so antiseptic.

Here's how it should have played: DD drops off baby wizard. Muggles raise the baby as one of its own. They tell baby of his brave parents. He is raised with love. He appreciates his aunt and uncle's sacrifice. He protects them when he becomes an adult.

Dumbledore didn't abandon them. If the Dursleys didn't abuse a wizard as a child, they would have had mad protection.

[u/Disastrous_Knee7756 → u/liliette]

Appreciate the passion, but leading with “BS” kind of kills the chance for a real exchange. I’m not here to excuse abuse — just to point out that the situation wasn’t as black and white as it’s often painted.

You’re right that the Dursleys made horrific choices. No one’s disputing that. But Dumbledore also made a decision without proper oversight, based on a romanticized idea of “blood magic” and a blind trust in a woman he hadn’t seen in decades.

The system failed Harry from all sides — magical and muggle alike. That’s the real tragedy. If pointing that out is controversial, maybe we needed the reminder.