#especially since their overindulgence of dudley should count as abuse

[vazaha-tya]

i don't pity the dursleys, they're awful people but there's something about the way they've been terrorised (which is not in any way harry's fault) that is very rarely addressed

like, imagine you're petunia

aside from struggling with jealousy due to your sister being magical, your first introduction to that world is a boy who clearly does not endear you to the wizarding world. he makes dismissive comments about muggles and is downright rude to you. later you find out (probably by eavesdropping since you're not on speaking terms with your sister) that the guy is joining a cult which thinks people like you should be dead or enslaved

years later, while you're happy with your husband and living your dream (no accounting for taste but eh) you find out your sister's been murdered by said cult and you're threatened into taking care of her son, or else

the next ten years are totally on you and there's no excuse for mistreating a child but you still live with the anxiety of being confronted again with this society you both resent and fear

your first reintroduction to it ends with your son cursed with a pig tail that has to be surgically removed

year after year, something new comes up that makes you even more sure that you were right to be scared and wary of magic

your son is terrified, your husband just as much though they try to hide it in false bravado and doubling down on their behaviour

the dementor attack seals the deal, you're persuaded magic will be your downfall and you can't do anything to remove its presence from your home