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The story of Harry Potter's Dudley Dursley goes beyond his last scene in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Dudley's parents, Vernon and Petunia Dursley, encouraged their son's mean-spirited attitude towards his cousin instead of trying to shape him into a better person. Dudley could have been like a brother to Harry, but instead he tormented him, contributing to Harry's childhood being far more miserable than it should have been.
After learning that Harry was a wizard, the dynamics between Harry and Dudley shifted significantly, especially after Rubeus Hagrid used magic to give Dudley a pig's tail. The cousins' dynamics continued to change after Dudley experienced the horror of Dementors and was saved by Harry. Their relationship was never the focus of the Harry Potter books, but it was an important part of the story that continued to develop even after Deathly Hallows' ending.
Dudley Dursley & Harry Potter Remained On Distant Speaking Terms After Deathly Hallows
They Were Still In Each Other's Lives
While Harry and Dudley never became close, they were cordial towards each other during their adult years. J.K. Rowling confirmed they would send each other Christmas cards, and Harry would take his three children — James, Albus, and Lily — to visit Dudley when they were nearby (via Wayback Machine). James, Albus, and Lily did not enjoy or look forward to these visits, although they would play and interact with Dudley's children. Harry and Dudley would quietly sit together during these visits, without a great deal of conversation passing between them.
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In Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Dudley found the blanket Harry arrived in as a baby and mailed it to him as well. Considering the relationship they had growing up together, their adult dynamic is a significant improvement. Their willingness to spend time together, even when no longer living under the same roof, proves that they were both invested in maintaining a relationship. Even more importantly, they wanted their kids to grow up knowing each other, hoping to foster a better relationship with the next generation than they had while being poorly raised by Vernon and Petunia.
Dudley's Final Deathly Hallows Moments Redeem Him Before The Series Ends
Dudley Does What Vernon And Petunia Couldn't Do
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows redeemed Dudley and showed that he had truly changed during his last appearance in the book. Dudley told Harry that he did not think he was a waste of space, shaking his hand, and thanking Harry for saving him from the Dementors. This occurred before Dudley and his parents were taken into hiding by the Order of the Phoenix members Hestia Jones and Dedalus Diggle, leaving Harry pleasantly surprised by Dudley expressing gratitude and respect he had never exhibited before.
Harry's aunt and uncle did not say anything meaningful to him, despite a fleeting moment where it seemed like Petunia might show him some long-overdue kindness.
Dudley's actions further stood out because he gave Harry a more heartfelt and sincere farewell than Vernon or Petunia did. Harry's aunt and uncle did not say anything meaningful to him, despite a fleeting moment where it seemed like Petunia might show him some long-overdue kindness. Dudley made the choice to be more mature than his parents, to show that he appreciated what Harry had done for him, that he regretted the way he treated him, and that there was potential for an improved and cordial relationship in the future.
The Harry Potter Movies Cut Dudley's Redemption & Hopes Of A Relationship With Harry
This Is A Scene That Shouldn't Have Been Deleted
While a version of this scene was filmed for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, it was ultimately cut. The penultimate movie shows Harry watching Vernon, Petunia, and Dudley packing the car and preparing to drive away, but there is no scene of reconciliation. Harry and his cousin do not bid each other farewell. Without this scene, Harry does not realize how much Dudley has changed since their encounter with the Dementors two years earlier. Their relationship ends without a sense of closure, or any hopes of staying connected later in life.
The Dursleys leave on their own and without any help from the Order of the Phoenix in the movies.
The scene was likely cut as it would not have fit the pacing of the movie's quick opening montage showing how Harry, Hermione, and Ron were preparing for the conflict ahead. However, after the significant inclusion of the Dursleys in most of the previous movies, the lack of conclusion felt jarring, and it failed to address how Dudley changed in the aftermath of the Dementor attack in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. The Harry Potter movies would have benefited from keeping the scene of Dudley's redemption before he and his parents left Privet Drive.
Source: Wayback Machine
Harry Potter
Harry Potter is a multimedia franchise about an orphaned boy who enrolls at Hogwarts School of Wizardry, where he learns the truth about himself, his family, and the terrible evil that haunts the magical world. Adapted from the novels, Harry Potter is an eight-episode film saga that follows the journey of Harry Potter and his friends, Hermoine Granger and Ron Weasley, as they navigate the tricky world of growing up, school life, and magic. Starting from year one and moving to their seventh year, the films chronicle the students' time at Hogwarts while unfurling a sinister plot that centers around the unsuspecting Harry. With the return of the dark wizard, Voldemort, the students and professors at Hogwarts will fight to carry on as the world around them may change forever. Harry Potter has expanded beyond the world of its films and novels with several video games, a spin-off film series titled Fantastic Beasts, and even attractions at Universal Studios.
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