Does Harry love the Dursleys?

[lil_snuffles]

If the Dursley's were to be killed by Voldemort, then yes I think Harry will be sad because, yes the werent very nice to him, but they are close to him. Not in a loving way or caring way but as relatives.

[Selene Sedai]

He probably doesn't or doesn't want to.

[Defyeverything]

Harry is a neglected child who was rasied by the Dursleys.

"Neglected Child" means a child less than 18 years of age whose physical, mental or emotional condition has been impaired or is in danger of becoming impaired as a result of the failure of the child's legal guardian to exercise a minimum degree of care in supplying the child with adequate food, clothing, shelter, or education or medical care.

As any abused person will tell you is that they love their abuser inspite of the fact that they are being harmed by the same person. Most of the time the child feels like it's something they have done and all the want to do is change so that they can feel loved by the people they love. I think that the fact that Harry saw his family in the mirrior shows how bad he wanted a loving family and when he's love for the Dursleys wasn't returned he wished for his mom and dad back. I think if in his heart he didn't love the Dursleys he would have ran away a long time ago and he wouldn't defend his cousion when the Weasley twins played that prank on him or when the dementors came down that alley way.

[lil_snuffles]

Originally Posted by Defyeverything

Harry is a neglected child who was rasied by the Dursleys.

As any abused person will tell you is that they love their abuser inspite of the fact that they are being harmed by the same person. Most of the time the child feels like it's something they have done and all the want to do is change so that they can feel loved by the people they love. I think that the fact that Harry saw his family in the mirrior shows how bad he wanted a loving family and when he's love for the Dursleys wasn't returned he wished for his mom and dad back. I think if in his heart he didn't love the Dursleys he would have ran away a long time ago and he wouldn't defend his cousion when the Weasley twins played that prank on him or when the dementors came down that alley way.

Exactly. Harry, weather or not he likes or hates the Dursleys, would do anything to save the people that are close to him, weather it be his relatives or not. The Dursleys might have neglected him, but Harry doesnt want to see anyone he knows, loves, or whatever get hurt or killed, especially if it has to do with Voldemort.

[LeanneJO]

I don't think he loves the Dursleys. They haven't given him a reason to love them (that he is aware of anyway) and have mistreated him for years. They give him sucky Christmas presents but then again Harry doesn't seem to give them anything so..??

[lil_snuffles]

Originally Posted by LeanneJO

I don't think he loves the Dursleys. They haven't given him a reason to love them (that he is aware of anyway) and have mistreated him for years. They give him sucky Christmas presents but then again Harry doesn't seem to give them anything so..??

He doesn't love them yes. But he still cares for those around him. He would have some feelings for them if they did die, especially if Voldemort kills them.

[winky123]

No, I agree he doesn't love them because he has no reason to. But he does sort of have an inner promise to himself, even if he wont admit it, that he must keep them safe. Because, after all they are related to him and they are his blood. Petunia is his mother's sister and he loves his mother so he must respect that and keep them safe while caring just a little bit for them.

[lil_snuffles]

Originally Posted by winky123

No, I agree he doesn't love them because he has no reason to. But he does sort of have an inner promise to himself, even if he wont admit it, that he must keep them safe. Because, after all they are related to him and they are his blood. Petunia is his mother's sister and he loves his mother so he must respect that and keep them safe while caring just a little bit for them.

well said . Though Harry doesnt like the Dursley's because of their past treatment, Harry has a type of instinct where he has to protect those that are close to him, whether he likes them or not.

[Kimagine]

Harry knows that the Dursleys, awful as they are, are still family. I think he is aware they have mistreated him and he knows they do not love him. But it's probably a lot more complicated than whether he does or does not love them. Ask an abused person if he/she loves his/her abuser, and they might say, "I do not like (the person) at all, but I do love (him/her) because we're family."

[MHPFAN]

Originally Posted by Kimagine

Harry knows that the Dursleys, awful as they are, are still family. I think he is aware they have mistreated him and he knows they do not love him. But it's probably a lot more complicated than whether he does or does not love them. Ask an abused person if he/she loves his/her abuser, and they might say, "I do not like (the person) at all, but I do love (him/her) because we're family."

I agree. I think there might be something there because they were the only people who were his family before he was introduced to the magical community. However, I don't think he'll miss them that much once he's gone. If one of them died, I'm sure he'd be more than upset, but certainly not as upset as he was when DD or Sirius or even Cedric died.

[Kimagine]

I absolutely agree -- what will really tell us, I think, is how he says goodbye to them in DH. It could go either way -- explosion of anger, or an expression a bit less volatile, and I hope there is some reconciliation. It would be a shame if he knew he was going to face his nemesis with unsaid business or bad feelings between himself and the Dursleys.

[Shevaun]

While I find it incredible that Harry would LOVE the Dursleys, I think he cares for them and their well being because they're family; no matter what rotters they are or how they've treated him. And while in Vernon's case it's nothing but pure dislike, I wouldn't call it hate either. I think the one he probably likes the best would be Petunia, simply as the last connection he has to the family he saw in the mirror of erised. I use the term "likes" loosely. Sort of like I don't love my uncle Dick very well (he lives up to his name) but I wouldn't wish him any harm either. As for saving Dudley in the alley one thing you have to look at is that he did it without thinking. Some use it as evidence for some deep care for Dudders as a cousin, but I think it's simply part of his nature. A reflex. We pull our hands away from a hot stove. He saves people he sees in danger. Same thing....kind of...


:]

[DarkDaysAhead]

I wouldn't say he loves them but, given his power, character, and all that, it's entirely possible.

I'd rather describe it as an odd attachment, though.

[Ibelieveinmagic]

It's interesting. The thing with love is that it is so simple yet so complex. So many times I have loved those who treated me badly, yet found myself unable to love someone who treated me like a Princess (lol, lets not get into the murky depths of my psyche).

Love isn't an emotion or a feeling, its a way of 'being' and so complicated. Harry may not know why he loves them, and he may not want to love them but I believe he does. Why? Because they can hurt him. He doesn't care what Voldemort says about him, or how Snape treats him...and yet the unfairness and injustice of his treatment at the hands of the Dursely's stings. He feels pain at their hands, not Voldemort's or Snape's (emotional I mean).

It's too complex to surmise that they're mean to him so he doesn't love them, but it is simple enough to say that they're his family, Lily's family, so he loves them.

[maiko_tsero]

I don't think Harry loves them, but the fact that he has lived with them for so long and all his childhood memories (good or bad) are related to them, suerly must mean something to him.

He may not ralise that he cares for them, until something happens to them. So, if they were to die, he would feel rally sad. At least thats what I think.

[Jadelynn]

As Harry has seen nothing but neglect and cruelty from the Dursley's it is hard to say if he loves them. If I had to guess I would say that he holds no love for Dudley, though he may hold some pity. Vernon... I believe he despises him and what he represents. For 11 years before he found out he was a wizard he was always treated very cruely by Vernon, the only father figure he had known up till then, and because of that I think he will always harbor a grudge against him... so no I don't think he loves him.
As for Petunia... yes... I think the fact that she is his mothers sister will always insure some small thread of love for her. In OOTP he also shares a moment of connection with her that had never happened before, causing Harry to appreiciate the fact that she is his mothers sister. I don't think Harry will forget that anytime soon.

[lil_snuffles]

Originally Posted by DarkDaysAhead

I wouldn't say he loves them but, given his power, character, and all that, it's entirely possible.

I'd rather describe it as an odd attachment, though.

yeah, very odd. I mean, he didnt exactly ask to live with the Dursley's, but, of course, he didnt have any other choice.

[Chris]

I don't think he likes the Dursleys, but he won't let any serious harm come to them. He saved Dudley from a dementor in OoTP, and I would think he'd evacuate them to 12 GP if they are in serious danger. I think he's growing a bit fonder of Petunia in HBP and OoTP, but it might not ever reach that "love" level. But he won't let them suffer at the hands of DE's, if he can do anything about it.

[hgrwfan]

The phrase "There's a thin line between Love and Hate," definitely applies here. I don't think he loves them but I think he cares about what happens to them. Its like when the dementors were trying to take Dudley's soul, he protected him. Not because he loved him, but because that was his cousin. I hope. It could have been that he was trying to protect himself and had to save Dudley in the process. I prefer the former rather than the latter.

[Jadelynn]

Originally Posted by chparadise

I don't think he likes the Dursleys, but he won't let any serious harm come to them. He saved Dudley from a dementor in OoTP, and I would think he'd evacuate them to 12 GP if they are in serious danger. I think he's growing a bit fonder of Petunia in HBP and OoTP, but it might not ever reach that "love" level. But he won't let them suffer at the hands of DE's, if he can do anything about it.

I think Harry may have saved Dudley due to the fact that he knows how terrible it would be to have your soul sucked out... with the exception of 2-3 people... I don't think he would wish that type of fate on anyone... even if it is Dudley...