Harry Potter's relationships

Throughout his life, Harry has had many relationships with a variety of people. Because of his upbringing, he had few connections in his early years, the only people he truly interacted with being the abusive Dursleys. With his introduction to the wizarding world, this changed and he built connections with many of the residents of the magical community, both good and bad.

His strongest relationships are with: Ginny Weasley, Hedwig, Dobby, his parents, his children, Hermione Granger, the Weasley family, Sirius Black, Albus Dumbledore, Rubeus Hagrid, Minerva McGonagall, Remus Lupin, Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood, Nathara Prince-Slytherin, Severus Prince-Slytherin (following the war) and Cayenne Lupin.

## Hedwig

Hedwig is the Snowy owl Hagrid bought Harry for his eleventh birthday, from Eeylops Owl Emporium in Diagon Alley. Hedwig is often Harry's only companion during the lonely holidays he spent with the Dursleys, and the bond that developed between them is a close one. Hedwig is usually very affectionate with Harry, which she showed by gently nibbling his ear or fingers. However, she was not above snubbing him out of jealousy or nipping him a bit harder than usual on the rare occasions he snapped at her.

Hedwig is also highly intelligent; she understood perfectly when Harry asked her to peck Ron and Hermione until they responded to him, and even flew, completely of her own accord, to where Hermione was on holiday in France, to ensure that Harry received a gift for his thirteenth birthday.

## Relatives

### Parents

"*Harry, you are* so *loved. Mama loves you. Dada loves you.*"
— Liliana Potter's final words of support

James and Liliana Potter died when their son was only a year old. Harry barely knew them, but nevertheless regarded them with great reverence. He fiercely defended their memory if anyone spoke ill of them. In 1995 he punched Draco Malfoy for insulting his mother and he frequently became furious with Professor Prince-Slytherin, who taunted Harry that James was not the great man others made him out to be. Severus was, to Harry's horror and later relief proven right in the spring of 1996. Harry accidentally witnessed James bully Severus using the *Levicorpus* spell in one of Severus's memories, with Dumbledore's Pensieve. However, Harry was relieved to know that his mother was a fair and kind person, who neither participated in nor tolerated bullying and would stand up for those in need. Remus Lupin and Sirius Black later assured him that James had changed his ways, eventually becoming mature enough to win Liliana over.

"*Liliana's smile was widest of all. She pushed her long hair back as she drew closer to him, and her green eyes, so like his, searched his face hungrily, as though she would never be able to look at him enough.*"
— Description of Liliana's spirit upon seeing Harry

The few times he ever saw his parents were through pictures given to him by Rubeus Hagrid, a vision within the Mirror of Erised, spectral forms which came out of Voldemort's wand during Priori Incantatem, stored memories within the Pensieve, and as lifeless corpses in a flashback that was triggered when he saw his now-ruined parents' house. The Mirror of Erised was the first true time he had ever glimpsed what they looked like, as the Dursleys did not keep pictures of the couple nor did they discuss them. As they hoped that in doing so Harry would be less likely to turn out like them.

The last known time Harry saw them where when he "summoned" them during the Battle of Hogwarts by using the Resurrection Stone. Both James' and Liliana's spirits had "*loving smiles on their faces*" and told their son that they were tremendously proud of him, for being so brave and strong despite all the suffering and pain that he had been forced to endure, and gave him the support he needed to sacrifice himself to Voldemort. Harry described their presence as his courage, the very reason why he was able to keep putting one foot in front of the other, with his mother smiling at him, and his father nodding encouragement.

Albus Dumbledore maintained that Harry's greatest strength was his love for his parents and the love they had for him, and in part, this literally translated to the protection afforded to Harry by his mother's sacrifice. Harry eventually named two of his children after his parents, a gesture that clearly stated that he would always keep the memory of his parents alive and honoured. It is seen that both his parents call him a name of affection, as James calls Harry "*son*" and Lily calls him "*sweetheart*", it is very possible that they had a nickname for Harry when he was a baby.

### The Dursleys

#### Petunia Dursley

**Harry**: "*She doesn't love me. She doesn't give a damn —*"
**Albus Dumbledore**: "*But she took you. She may have taken you grudgingly, furiously, unwillingly, bitterly, yet still she took you...*"
— Petunia feelings toward Harry

After Liliana and James Potter were murdered by Lord Voldemort, Harry was taken in by his maternal adopted aunt, Petunia Dursley. Petunia had not been fond of her late adopted sister, jealously and bitterly regarding her as a "freak" for her magical abilities. She took out her resentment on Harry, treating him poorly and depriving him of affection. When Harry was finally told about his wizarding background, Petunia admitted she had always feared he would turn out "like his parents".

Though after years of neglect, Harry did not particularly care for his aunt either, he was concerned enough for the Dursleys to push them to go into hiding during the height of the Second Wizarding War. Just before departing, Petunia gave her nephew an odd, tremulous look, and seemed to want to say something more to him than goodbye, but ultimately just shook her head and left. She had wanted to wish him luck, and admit that her loathing of him and his world was born out of jealousy, but years of pretending that "normal" was best had hardened her too much.

During the Battle of Hogwarts, Harry was browsing through the repressed memories of Severus Prince-Slytherin that were given to him after the latter's attempted murder at the fangs of Nagini and explained Severus's true loyalties. In addition, Harry viewed many memories of Petunia as a child, and discovered the real reasons for her deplorable treatment of him; Petunia, as a child, was jealous of her adopted sister for her magical abilities, and had written to Albus Dumbledore to accept her into Hogwarts so that she could learn magic herself. When this request was denied, Petunia responded by furiously rejecting the wizarding world in general and her adopted sister in particular.

However, Harry was more concerned with uncovering Severus's loyalties at the time. It is unknown if he ever revealed this information to anyone after the War. It can be assumed that Harry had came to understood the reason behind Petunia's resentment for him, now realising that it comes from jealousy and a feeling of inferiority. He might have even sympathised and forgave her. He may have reconciled with her just as he had reconciled with Dudley, whom he was on Christmas card terms with.

#### Dudley Dursley

**Dudley Dursley** : "*I don’t think you’re a waste of space.*"
**Harry**: "*Well... er... thanks, Dudley.*"
**Dudley Dursley** : "*You saved my life.*"
— Harry’s farewell to Dudley

Harry and his adopted cousin Dudley did not get along very well for most of their early lives. While Vernon and Petunia treated Harry poorly, they spoiled Dudley to the extreme. Dudley constantly bullied his much smaller cousin throughout their childhood but did his best not to provoke him after he found out that Harry was a wizard, though the two still got into an occasional argument and trading of insults.

Despite this however, Harry still saved Dudley from a pair of Dementors that attacked them during the summer of 1995, showing that even if he disliked Dudley, he still cared for him enough to spare him from the fate that came from Dementor's Kiss. Harry's heroism, and his exposure to the Dementor's powers, forced Dudley to face up to his previous selfish, bullying nature and inspired him to change his life for the better. When the Order of the Phoenix placed the Dursleys into hiding to keep them safe during the height of the Second Wizarding War, Dudley was the only member of the family to express concern for Harry's safety, asking his parents why Harry was not accompanying them and where he would go, if not with them. He also expressed remorse for his prior treatment of Harry, and the two shook hands before the Dursleys left.

The cousins eventually reconciled as adults, remaining on "Christmas card terms" and visiting each other occasionally. Harry also had an additional niece and nephew through Dudley. During visits Harry's four children and Dudley's children would all play together while their fathers would sit together quietly.

#### Vernon Dursley

"*Well, I've got news for you, boy... I'm locking you up... you're never going back to that school... never... and if you try and magic yourself out — they'll expel you*"
— Vernon meanly taunting Harry

Vernon Dursley became Harry's uncle through Vernon's marriage to Harry's Aunt Petunia. Harry lived with the Dursleys after Albus Dumbledore appealed to Petunia and convinced her to take Harry in following the death of the Potters. Vernon seemed to resent this fact as much as, if not more than, his wife; he and Petunia begrudged Harry all but the meanest comforts, even forcing their nephew to sleep in a cupboard under the stairs until shortly before Harry's eleventh birthday.

After Harry discovered his magical abilities, Vernon tended to take offence whenever Harry used words related or pertaining to magic in the house. Vernon rarely referred to Harry by name, instead referring to his nephew by pronouns or "[The] boy". Vernon seemed to take particular pleasure in showing Harry all he was missing, while simultaneously spoiling and indulging Harry's cousin, Dudley.

In 1995, when Harry and Dudley were attacked by Dementors, Vernon demanded that Harry leave, thinking it the only way to protect his family from Lord Voldemort, though Petunia disagreed after receiving a Howler from Dumbledore. In 1997, Harry and the Dursleys parted ways, thus ending the protection placed on Harry by his mother's sacrifice for as long as he had a "home" with his blood relatives, or until he came of age. Vernon, Petunia, and Dudley were hidden by the Order of the Phoenix, to be protected from the Death Eaters, while Harry was transported to the Burrow prior to searching for Voldemort's Horcruxes. Vernon almost shook Harry's hand, but changed his mind and left the house quickly. It is unknown if the two ever met again.

#### Marjorie Dursley

"*I won't have this namby-pamby, wishy-washy nonsense about not hitting people who deserve it. A good thrashing is what's needed in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred. Have you been beaten often?*"
— "Aunt" Marge's extreme dislike of Harry

Marge Dursley was Vernon's sister, whom Harry was forced to call "Aunt Marge" despite only being indirectly related to her, and despite the fact that Marge, in fact, hated Harry for no apparent reason. She seemed to resent Harry's parents for having "left Harry to be a burden on their decent, hard working relatives", and called his mother the "*bad egg*" of Petunia's family, while assuming his father was a "*good-for-nothing, lazy scrounger*" after Vernon told her James had been unemployed.

She spoiled Dudley, giving him gifts and money, while she gave Harry dog biscuits, and was overjoyed to think he was being regularly beaten at St Brutus's Secure Centre for Incurably Criminal Boys. In 1993, Harry lost control of his magic and inflated Marge like a balloon after she insinuated that Harry's parents had died as a result of their driving while drunk. After this, the Ministry modified her memory of the incident, and she never saw Harry again after this, as the Dursleys never invited her around again when Harry was present.

### The Weasleys

#### Ron Weasley

**Ron Weasley**: "*I'm sorry. I'm sorry I left. I know I was a — a —*"
**Harry**: "*You've sort of made up for it tonight. Getting the sword. Finishing off the Horcrux. Saving my life.*"
**Ron Weasley**: "*That makes me sound a lot cooler than I was.*"
— The two friends reconcile after the Ron's return to the Horcrux hunt

Ron Weasley became Harry's best friend during their first year at Hogwarts. Ron, along with his mother, brothers, and sister first met Harry at King's Cross Station, when Harry was unable to find Platform 9¾. Ron sat across from Harry during the train ride and the two almost immediately bonded over the ample sweets Harry purchased from the Hogwarts Express food trolley, which Harry happily shared with Ron, who was unable to afford any sweets himself. Harry cemented his friendship with Ron by turning down Draco Malfoy's offer to help Harry avoid making friends "*with the wrong sort*" after Draco insulted Ron's family.

After being Sorted into Slytherin House together and sharing the same dormitory, the two grew even closer, and eventually gained another best friend in Hermione Granger, a Ravenclaw, when they saved her from a troll on Hallowe'en. As Ron was raised in a wizarding family, he was often called upon to explain customs and items that were commonplace to wizards, but completely new to Harry and Hermione, who had both been raised in Muggle society.

In the summer of 1992, after Dobby had prevented Harry from receiving any letters, Ron and his twin brothers (Fred Weasley and George Weasley) flew their father's Flying Ford Anglia to rescue Harry from Priv Drive. After spending a few days less than a month at Ron's home, Harry and Ron were supposed to return to school on the Hogwarts Express]] with Ron's other siblings. However, Dobby had blocked the entrance to the platform, and Harry and Ron were unable to board the train. Panicking, the pair flew the enchanted car to Hogwarts; however, they landed on the Whomping Willow and lost the car as well as broke Ron's wand. Later on in the year, when Hermione had been Petrified by Slytherin's basilisk, Harry and Ron ventured into the Forbidden Forest together, where they were rescued from a clan of Acromantula by the missing Ford Anglia. Ron also accompanied Harry down to the Chamber of Secrets the same year to rescue his sister Ginny.

Harry and Ron had a major falling out in 1994 when Harry was made a Triwizard Champion; despite knowing it to be completely contrary to Harry's character, Ron's insecurities initially led him to believe Harry had cheated in order to enter the tournament, but left Ron out of scheme to keep the resulting glory and attention for himself. However, Ron soon realised how badly he had misjudged the situation and apologised. Ron was later taken as the object Harry would "sorely miss" in the Second Task of the competition.

**Ron Weasley**: "*What are you doing? Are you staying, or what?*"
**Hermione Granger**: "*I... Yes — yes, I'm staying. Ron, we said we'd go with Harry, we said we'd help —*"
**Ron Weasley**: "*I get it. You choose him.*"
**Hermione Granger**: "*Ron, no — please — come back, come back!*"
— Ron leaves after a fierce row with Harry

Harry and Ron had an even more serious falling out in 1997, when they, along with Hermione, were hunting Voldemort's Horcruxes; the negative energy within Slytherin's Locket affected Ron more severely than the other two, causing him to temporarily abandon his friends before regretting his decision, and returning to them as soon as he was able. During this outbreak, Ron thought that Harry and Hermione were in love, which momentarily disrupted Ron and Hermione's relationship.

Upon his return, Ron watched Harry follow the silver basilisk to the Sword of Gryffindor, and saved Harry's life after he jumped into a lake to retrieve it. When Harry finally opened the locket, Ron saw the part of Voldemort's soul transform into a supposed Harry and Hermione kissing, and it almost led him to believe that the imagined relationship between Harry and Hermione was real. However, Lord Voldemort underestimated how strong Ron really was, and so the soul piece in the locket was destroyed when Ron plunged the sword of Griffyndor into it and overcame his fears and worries. Harry then repaired the purified locket and kept it to return to Nathara and her family. The hardships Ron and Harry faced together served to reinforce their bond, and they remained friends for life. Ron's fierce loyalty and sense of humour often helped Harry relax and have fun even in the darkest times of his life.

The two were like brothers, and would ironically eventually become brothers-in-law when Harry married Ginny. Ron was an uncle of Harry's four children and became the godfather to Harry and Ginny's eldest son, James Sirius Potter. Harry also had a niece, Rose Weasley and a nephew, Hugo Weasley, through Ron's marriage to Hermione. It can be assumed that out of all his nieces and nephews that Harry's closest to Ron and Hermione's children, it's also very likely that he might be the godfather to one or both of them.

#### Hermione Granger

"*She's like my sister. I love her like a sister, and I reckon she feels the same way about me. It’s always been like that.*"
— Harry regarding his and Hermione's relationship

Harry and Ron initially found Hermione Granger to be stuck-up and arrogant, (They weren't wrong). Eventually, the three became best friends after Harry and Ron saved her from a troll in 1991. Hermione, in turn, lied to keep them from getting in trouble.Her quick mind was at times the only thing that saved the three friends from potential failure in both life-threatening and everyday situations. Out of concern for her friend, Hermione often chided Harry for his recklessness; though this occasionally put some strain on their relationship, it often served to keep Harry on track, such as when he briefly considered pursuing the Deathly Hallows instead of the Horcruxes.

Hermione was always with Harry and was fiercely protective of him, from snapping at Lavender Brown when she doubted Harry's claim that Lord Voldemort returned to interceding when Dolores Umbridge was about to use the Cruciatus Curse on Harry. Hermione stood by Harry even when Ron doubted him during the Triwizard Tournament, accepting his story "without question". She also stood by him when Ron temporarily left them in 1997, despite her own romantic feelings for Ron. Harry, for his part, was quick to defend Hermione against Cho Chang, Draco Malfoy, and others who insulted her. Besides the time that she was called a mudblood, because Ron stood up for her then. He was also known to protect her physically on instinct when in dangerous situations. Hermione even saved Harry's life twice in 1997, first during the attack at Godric's Hollow on Christmas Eve and again during the ambush at the Lovegood House.