Dudley Dursley

Dudley Dursley is the only son of Vernon and Petunia Dursley, making him the Muggle cousin of Harry Potter. For most of Harry's childhood, Dudley served as a primary antagonist, being a spoiled, greedy, and brutish bully. He lives with his parents at Number Four, Privet Drive. Dudley's character undergoes significant development following a traumatic encounter with Dementors, culminating in a moment of reconciliation with Harry before his family goes into hiding during the Second Wizarding War. He represents the ignorance and prejudice of the non-magical world but also demonstrates a capacity for change.

Born on 23 June 1980, Dudley was doted on and excessively spoiled by his parents from birth. He grew up receiving lavish gifts and praise, which fostered a selfish and demanding personality. His parents saw him as a perfect child, referring to him with pet names like “Diddy” and “Popkin.” In contrast, his cousin Harry Potter, who came to live with the Dursleys as a toddler, was treated with neglect and cruelty. Dudley, along with his gang of friends including Piers Polkiss, often engaged in a game they called “Harry Hunting,” which involved chasing and beating up Harry. When Hogwarts letters began arriving for Harry, Dudley showed immense jealousy over the attention Harry received. During the family's flight from the letters, on Harry's eleventh birthday at the Hut-on-the-Rock, Rubeus Hagrid punished Dudley for eating Harry's birthday cake by magically giving him a pig's tail, which later had to be surgically removed. Dudley went on to attend his father's old private school, Smeltings Academy.

Throughout his early teenage years, Dudley's behavior remained largely unchanged. He was placed on a strict diet before Harry's second year at Hogwarts, much to his displeasure. During the summer before Harry's fourth year, Dudley and his family were tricked into eating a Ton-Tongue Toffee enchanted by Fred and George Weasley, which caused his tongue to swell to an enormous size. By the age of fourteen, Dudley had taken up boxing and became the junior heavyweight inter-school champion. His physical appearance changed from fat to muscular, though his bullying nature persisted. A significant turning point occurred in the summer of 1995 when Dudley and Harry were attacked by two Dementors in the alleyway near their home. Harry saved his cousin by casting a Patronus Charm. The Dementor's attack forced Dudley to relive his worst memories, giving him a profound insight into his own character and how he treated others. This event left him withdrawn and deeply shaken, marking the beginning of his transformation.

In the summer of 1997, as Lord Voldemort's power grew, the Dursleys were forced to leave Number Four, Privet Drive and go into hiding under the protection of the Order of the Phoenix. Before their departure, Dudley stunned his parents and Harry by expressing concern for Harry's safety, asking why he wasn't coming with them. In a moment of genuine gratitude, he shook Harry's hand and thanked him for saving his life from the Dementors. This act served as their reconciliation and was their final interaction in the series.

J.K. Rowling has revealed that in adulthood, Dudley and Harry remain on “Christmas card terms” and that their children would occasionally visit one another, though the cousins themselves never became close friends. Dudley is married and has two Muggle children. (J.K. Rowling interview).

As a young boy, Dudley is described as a large, blond child with a pink face and small, watery blue eyes. He was immensely fat due to being spoiled with food by his parents. After taking up boxing, his physique transformed from overweight to broad and muscular, though he retained his blond hair. Initially, Dudley's personality is that of a quintessential bully: cruel, selfish, greedy, and unintelligent. He throws tantrums to get what he wants and enjoys using his size and strength to intimidate others, especially Harry. He is a product of his parents' indulgence and their prejudice against anything magical or different. The Dementor attack fundamentally alters his perspective. The experience forces him to confront his own cruelty, leading to a more introspective and considerate nature. His final act of thanking Harry shows that he has developed a conscience and a capacity for gratitude, marking a significant and redemptive change in his character.

Dudley is a Muggle and possesses no magical abilities. His primary non-magical skill is boxing, in which he excelled, becoming a regional school champion.

• Smeltings Academy Uniform: The traditional uniform of his school, which included a maroon tailcoat, orange knickerbockers, and a boater hat.
• Smeltings Stick: A knobbly stick used for hitting people, which was part of the Smeltings Academy uniform.
• Air Rifle: A gift for his tenth birthday, which he had broken within a month.
• Vast Quantities of Toys and Electronics: Throughout his childhood, Dudley received numerous presents, including a racing bike, a cine-camera, a television, and a computer, many of which he quickly grew bored with or broke.

• Harry Potter: As his cousin, Harry was Dudley's first and most frequent victim. Their relationship was defined by years of bullying and mutual animosity. However, after Harry saved him from the Dementors, Dudley's view of Harry changed dramatically, leading to their final, peaceful farewell.
• Vernon Dursley and Petunia Dursley: Dudley is the center of his parents' world. They showered him with affection and material possessions, which directly contributed to his unpleasant nature as a child. They remained largely oblivious to his faults until his encounter with the Dementors.
• Marge Dursley: His paternal aunt, who shared Vernon and Petunia's habit of spoiling him while denigrating Harry.
• Piers Polkiss: Dudley's best friend and a key member of his gang, who often joined him in bullying other children.

• The name Dudley is an English place name and surname, which can carry connotations of being a “dud” or dull, reflecting his lack of intelligence and imagination in his early years.
• Dursley is the name of a market town in Gloucestershire, England, not far from where J.K. Rowling grew up. The sound of the name is somewhat harsh, fitting the unpleasant nature of the family.

• In the film adaptations, Dudley Dursley is portrayed by Harry Melling.
• A deleted scene from the film Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 expands on the reconciliation between Dudley and Harry. In the scene, Dudley explicitly tells Harry, “I don't think you're a waste of space,” before shaking his hand. (film)
• J.K. Rowling considered having Dudley appear in the epilogue at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters with a magical child, but decided against it, stating that “any latent wizarding genes would never survive contact with Uncle Vernon's DNA.” (J.K. Rowling interview)
• The author also clarified that the Dementor attack made Dudley see himself for who he truly was for the first time, which was the catalyst for his change. (J.K. Rowling interview)