In honour of Harry Potter's cousin Dudley's birthday on June 23, JK Rowling has revealed new information about his mean parents, Vernon and Petunia Dursley, on her interactive website Pottermore.
Vernon and Petunia took in Harry after his parents Lily and James Potter were killed by Voldemort.
Rowling reveals that when Petunia and Vernon got engaged, Petunia was extremely concerned about what Vernon would think of her sister Lily who was in her final year at Hogwarts. Rowling goes on to explain that Vernon was mean to Harry because he resembled his father James, who Vernon disliked form the very first meeting.
On Pottermore Rowling writes, "Vernon tried to humiliate James by asking what car he drove, to which James 'described his racing broom'”. When James tried to explain what Gringotts is, after Vernon made the comment that wizards had to live on unemployment benefits, the Dursleys stormed out of the restaurant, after Vernon felt like he was being made fun of.
In a brief passage, Rowling also gave insight into the origin of their names and where she got the name Dursley from. Rowling explained,"Vernon" was a name she never cared for, while “Petunia” was a name she would give to vicious female characters in games she played with her sister. Rowling also revealed their surname ‘Dursley’ was taken from a town in Gloucestershire, close to where she was born.
Fans can also anticipate the upcoming spin-off Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them, by Rowling, who has also completed the screenplay for the film. Eddie Redmayne and Katherine Waterston are cast in its leading roles.
