Now, we can all agree that the Dursleys failed in raising Harry. Dumbledore gave them one goal, to treat Harry like they treated Dudley. What did they choose to do? The complete opposite. Dudley received plenty while Harry got by with very little. Sometimes they resorted to pretending that Harry didn’t exist.
What an awful family to grow up in!
After reading through the books for what seems like the hundredth time, I had a thought. What if this horrendous childhood actually contributed to Harry’s success against Voldemort? If he received the love and affection Dumbledore requested, would he have triumphed?
Curious to see this thought through, I made a list. Below, I’ve weighed Harry’s skills against the behavior of the Dursleys. Read through the list below. I think, if you give it enough thought, the Dursleys can take credit for some of Harry’s success.
Reading People
Harry is great at reading people. Throughout the series, we find countless examples of this. He senses their thoughts and moods. He often makes significant decisions on what little information he gathered. He quickly learns who he can and cannot trust.
- He senses Snape’s incredible dislike, bordering on hatred.
- He knows that Draco is a bully from one brief conversation at Madame Malkin’s. Yet, he trusts Hagrid implicitly from that very first visit.
- He guesses at Scrimgeour’s motives for the Christmas visit in The Half-Blood Prince. In that moment, he chooses to prove his loyalty to Dumbledore instead.
Where does this social awareness stem from? I argue it comes from living with an abusive Vernon Dursley.
- Harry often describes Vernon’s shift from red to purple-faced. He’s learned when to let an argument go for the sake of surviving another day.
- He stays out of Vernon’s reach, knowing the consequences that come from standing too close. A running start gives him a better chance of survival.
Easy conclusion here. Harry spent his life reading the expressions of the Dursleys. It’s how he knew a good day from a bad day. This need to understand others led to a keen sense of self-preservation. When Harry arrives at Hogwarts, he’s well-versed in expressions of rage, discontent, and dislike.
Quick Reactions & Strong Instincts
When they assemble Dumbledore’s Army in Harry’s 5th year, Harry points out the keys to his success. He attributes his success to gut instincts, quick reactions, and luck.
We see this in many challenging moments.
- His quick thinking helps him outsmart Quirrell.
- Harry defeats the basilisk with the help of Fawkes and his own courage.
- He saves himself and Sirius from the dementors because of luck and his desperate need to see his father.
- When facing Voldemort in the graveyard, Harry relies on both to escape.
- Harry relies on instinct to find the Ravenclaw horcrux. He succeeds in finding the cup because of Bellatrix’s actions. Luckily, she gave herself away.
The pattern continues through the remaining books. While his innate talent contributes to his success, I can’t overlook the impact of the Dursleys on him.
- He grew up avoiding physical abuse from Dudley and Vernon. He learned quick how to evade threats, even if it requires magically jumping onto a roof.
- Living in an unstable environment, Harry adapted to changing moods. He prevented conflict when possible while also recognizing the irrationality of their behavior.
- Harry learned how and when to challenge others.
Growing up with the Dursleys, Harry developed strong instincts and quick reactions. Honestly, how scary can Voldemort be when you’ve been living with Vernon’s rage your entire life?
Learning to Live with Little
Harry certainly learned to live with little. In those early years, the Dursleys often withheld food from Harry. They used it as a form of punishment and control. Harry snuck food at night or received snacks from his friends to make it through the summer.
He slept under the stairs for the first 10 years of his life. The Dursleys only moved him into a bedroom when they received Dumbledore’s letter. They were more concerned with others knowing about Harry’s mistreatment.
While extremely challenging for Harry, these early years prepare him for horcrux hunting. Harry was conditioned for that year spent traveling with limited supplies and resources.
Community Worth Fighting For
In the same way, Harry lacked food, he lacked love. The Dursleys showed disgust or discontent but never love. They hated him for being abnormal and used that to drive their behavior towards him.
Throughout the books, the Dursleys fail to provide for Harry beyond keeping him alive.
- They offer no encouragement or hope.
- They withhold information about his family and community.
- They criticize him while praising Dudley.
The Dursleys created an environment that Harry hated. He dreaded the summer months and his return to their house. This sets up Harry to love Hogwarts. At Hogwarts, he receives love and encouragement. He’s taught to succeed rather than treated like a failure. He finds friends and creates a new family within the Wizarding World.
So, when Harry must make that final sacrifice, he has a community worth the cost. While it’s a difficult decision, Harry understands he has no other option. He would give anything to protect the community that gave him so much.
It seems the Dursley’s actions had the opposite effect from their intentions. Their constant abuse towards Harry helped him develop the skills needed to take on Voldemort. They taught him hate, anger, and aggression. Yet, their behavior only strengthened Harry.
I admit, the Dursleys can’t get all the credit. We know Harry’s parents were talented wizards. Harry also had powers gifted from Voldemort along with the power of love. These combined gave Harry what he needed to win.
What do you think? If Harry had received love and kindness growing up, would he have made the same sacrifice?
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