While working on my review of Order of the Phoenix, I was reminded that my favorite Dursley scene actually takes place in the previous book, Goblet of Fire, which I recently reviewed here.

The scene takes place at the start of the story, when Harry is still at Privet Drive. The Weasleys attempt to pick up Harry, so they can take him to the Quidditch World Cup, but they make the mistake of attempting to use the Flu Network. That doesn’t work because Vernon sealed the fireplace, since they never use it anyway.

But the key moment comes at the end of this scene, all of which was completely left out of the film. As they start to leave, Arthur has clearly been taken aback by the severity of Vernon’s admonishment. But he still doesn’t quite realize that Vernon’s animosity extends to Harry. As the Weasleys begin to leave, Arthur gives Vernon a chance to say goodbye to his nephew, whom he won’t see again for many months.

And of course, Vernon does… nothing. And suddenly Arthur gets it, and he becomes angry. He just cannot fathom how Vernon thinks so little of a member of his own family, and it really bothers him. He gives Vernon a piece of his mind, and it makes for a very satisfying, if temporary, come-uppance for Vernon.

Arthur and his family, of course, represent all that Harry loves about the wizarding world. They always greet him with a genuine smile and welcome him warmly into their home. While their feelings are clearly genuine, in the early books they see him as Ron’s friend from school and of course “the boy who lived”. But he isn’t a member of the family. Not really. I think it isn’t until Goblet of Fire that this begins to change. And that starts with this episode with Vernon.

In a larger sense it’s also symbolic of the weakening boundary between the Muggle and Wizard worlds following the return of Voldemort. But I’ve always seen it as Vernon’s first true come-uppance. It doesn’t last, but it sure is satisfying.