Dursley

The Dursleys are a fictional family in the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling. They are Harry Potter's Muggle relatives and guardians during most of his childhood. The immediate family consists of Vernon Dursley, his wife Petunia Dursley (née Evans), and their son Dudley Dursley. They reside at 4 Privet Drive in the town of Little Whinging, Surrey, England. Vernon is described as a large, conventional man who works as a director at Grunnings, a drill-manufacturing firm; Petunia is Lily Potter's sister, traditional and dismissive of magic; Dudley is their spoiled son.

The Dursleys are characterized as status-conscious and vehemently anti-magic; they treat Harry as an outsider and attempt to conceal his magical abilities. They keep him isolated from the wizarding world, enforce strict discipline, and show him little affection beyond routine care. Their attitude contrasts sharply with the magical world and the legacy of Harry's parents.

In the course of the series, the Dursleys' neglect and fear of scandal are repeatedly challenged as Harry's life becomes intertwined with Hogwarts and his friends. While their central role diminishes after the first book, they remain a recurring point of reference for Harry and for readers as exemplars of non-magical prejudice within a fantasy setting. The Dursley surname is used to refer to the family collectively and has become a recognizable element of the series.