It is no news that Harry Potter did not like the Dursleys very much (and who could blame him?). Yet, after every school year at Hogwarts, he returned to the Dursleys without fail despite having the option of staying with the Weasleys’.
So, why did Harry always go back, considering all the tension and friction he had to endure each time?
Here’s what you need to know:
Contents
The Reason Harry Potter Always Went Back to the Dursleys
Harry always returned to the Dursleys after every school year at Hogwarts. But, it had nothing to do with his ‘love’ for them as his last living relative. Instead, it was because his safety depended on it.
Petunia was a blood extension of Lily’s dying Sacrifice
When Lily, Harry’s mother, launched herself between her son and Voldemort to try and stop him from killing her child, she unwittingly cast a powerful protective charm over her baby boy.
Although she died from the Aveda Kedavra spell, the powerful magic of her dying love lived on in Harry’s blood, protecting him from Voldemort.
You can find out why Voldemort wanted to kill Harry in the first place here.
However, for the ancient magic to keep performing its protection duties, someone who shared the same blood as Lily must take the baby into their care.
Hence, Petunia Dursley.
“You would be protected by an ancient magic of which [Voldemort] knows, which he despises, and which he has always, therefore, underestimated – to his cost. I am speaking, of course, of the fact that your mother died to save you. She gave you a lingering protection that he never expected, a protection that flows in your veins to this day. I put my trust, therefore, in your mother’s blood. I delivered you to her sister, her only remaining relative.”
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Petunia (being Lily’s blood sister) served as an extension of Lily’s protection over her child by agreeing to take Harry Potter into her home.
However, this protection only works until the child becomes an adult (which happens at 17 in the wizarding world).
“While you can still call home the place where your mother’s blood dwells, there you cannot be touched or harmed by Voldemort. He shed her blood, but it lives on in you and her sister. Her blood became your refuge. You need return there only once a year, but as long as you can still call it home, whilst you are there, he cannot hurt you.”
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Dumbledore put a protective spell over Harry at Privet Drive
Also, the other reason has to return to the Dursleys’ home (4, Privet Drive) every year is because Dumbledore placed a protective spell over that location.
When Dumbledore was delivering Harry Potter to the Dursleys as a baby, he tied the protective charm that Lily cast over her baby boy to the home of the only family the child had left — a place he knew the body would grow up.
However, many argue that Dumbledore’s spell is the less critical of the two reasons Harry had to return to the Dursleys every year. That may be so.
Nevertheless, Dumbledore was widely considered to be the greatest wizard to live. In addition, the darkest wizard (and admittedly another great) to ever live feared Dumbledore and his power.
As such, it does make sense that the magic of Dumbledore is worth mentioning.
“She may have taken you grudgingly, furiously, unwillingly, bitterly, yet still she took you, and in doing so, she sealed the charm I placed upon you. Your mother’s sacrifice made the bond of blood the strongest shield I could give you.”
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Here, Dumbledore was referring to the Blood of Bond charm. So, as long as Harry could call the residence of the Dursleys his home, he would always have protection.
However, there were 2 clauses to this protective spell:
- The child (Harry) must return to the said home once every year to ‘renew’ the strength and protection of this ancient magic.
- The protective magic will only last as long as the child in question can call that house his home. In other words, the spell will break immediately after Harry becomes an adult. Or if he moves out — whichever comes first.
(This explains why the Order of the Phoenix tried to move Harry Potter to a more secure location before he turned 17. Once he turned 17, the protection would be ineffective as he would now be an adult).
Why did Vernon and Petunia Still Take Harry?
Vernon and Petunia’s agreement to take Harry in probably had more to do with moral obligation, rather than family loyalty or love. After all, they never really liked the Potters (Petunia’s deep jealousy of her sister’s magic and Vernon’s hatred for anything out of the ordinary).
They had even estranged themselves!
However, after the death of Lily and James Potter, the Dursleys may have felt like they had no choice other than to take him in, seeing as they were his only relative.
But, there’s also the place of Dumbledore’s letter, which the Dursleys also received the day Harry came to their doorstep.
“It’s the best place for him. His aunt and uncle will be able to explain everything to him when he’s older. I’ve written them a letter.”
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
Although we never find out the exact content of the letter, it is safe to assume Dumbledore explained how James and Lily Potter died, the magical protection that would be on the Dursleys’ home and the dangers of Harry moving out before he turned 17.
While Dumbledore hardly seems like a man who would threaten someone else, he can be very compelling.
Although J.K. Rowling never revealed the full content of the letter he wrote to the Dursleys, we can only assume that he also included convincing reasons to ensure that Vernon and Petunia accept their nephew into their home.
Another speculation is that Petunia hoped she would be able to keep Harry from going to Hogwarts like her sister did if he lived with her. Glad that didn’t work out, right?
Why Didn’t the Weasleys Let Harry Stay With Them?
There is no doubt that the Weasleys would have been more than willing for Harry Potter to stay with them for several reasons. However, agreeing to take him in would put Harry at significant risk, not to mention their own family.
Here are some of the more apparent reasons the Weasleys would have wanted Harry to stay with them:
- He was the best friend of their son, Ron.
- He was a child of two resolute members of the Order of The Phoenix (Lily and James Potter). At least until their death.
- He was Harry Potter!
However, while their heart was in the right place, it was never an option for Harry Potter to live with them at The Burrow.
The most pressing reason for this was Lily’s protective spell over Harry, which could only remain effective if he lived with his blood family. The Weasleys (at least Arthur and Molly) probably knew this, too, as Dumbledore would have explained it to them.
Also, the Burrow may not have been as heavily protected and fortified as Dumbledore made 4, Privet Drive. However, Dumbledore could have easily remedied this if it was the only reason.
As such, the fact remains that Harry Potter could not stay with the Weasleys for his protection and theirs.
You can find out why Harry seemed to like using the Expelliarmus spell here.
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