Thank you! I have a lot of FEELINGS about Petunia and Lily, and how so much of Petunia's treatment of Harry (and of Dudley, for that matter, and just her attitude toward magic in general) was a reaction to her own childhood and her parents' (real or perceived) favoritism toward her sister... and then of course to Lily's death before any of that could be resolved.
(Also, in a reverse scenario, even if Lily and James had treated Dudley perfectly on the personal front, I don't think he'd have done very well growing up in the wizarding world as the Muggle relative of a Muggle-born witch. There's a big psychological difference between "I can do weird things that everyone else can't," and "I can't do basic everyday stuff that everyone else can," you know? I am not remotely surprised that Squibs often abandon the magical world, or are very bitter if they stay.)
(no subject)
Date: 2015-12-06 02:48 am (UTC)(Also, in a reverse scenario, even if Lily and James had treated Dudley perfectly on the personal front, I don't think he'd have done very well growing up in the wizarding world as the Muggle relative of a Muggle-born witch. There's a big psychological difference between "I can do weird things that everyone else can't," and "I can't do basic everyday stuff that everyone else can," you know? I am not remotely surprised that Squibs often abandon the magical world, or are very bitter if they stay.)