How It All Goes Down
Aunt Marge's Big Mistake
- The next day, Harry goes down to eat breakfast with the Dursleys.
- The TV is on and a news report notifies people that a dangerous convict named Black is on the loose.
- Harry then hears news that really ruins his day: Aunt Marge is coming to visit.
- Marge hates Harry and makes his life even more miserable than usual at the Dursleys.
- Vernon tells Harry to keep up the cover story that he goes to some school for "incurably criminal boys" (2.1.42) or else he'll get a knuckle sandwich.
- Harry is crafty, though, and tells Uncle Vernon that he'll cooperate as long as Uncle Vernon signs Harry's Hogsmeade permission slip.
- Well played, Harry.
- Aunt Marge and her bulldog Ripper arrive and act like jerks.
- She says charming things to Harry like, "You'd have gone straight to an orphanage if you'd been dumped on my doorstep" (2.1.74).
- Aunt Marge continues to insult Harry and his parents throughout her stay and Harry tries to tune her out and just think of Hogwarts.
- But when Marge insults his mom, he loses his temper and breaks her teacup with magic. Fortunately, Aunt Marge thinks she broke it herself with her super strong grip of steel.
- But Uncle Vernon is suspicious.
- Harry continues to daydream around Marge and manages to survive until her last night.
- "This worked quite well, though it seemed to give him a glazed look, because Aunt Marge started voicing the opinion that he was mentally subnormal" (2.3.1).
- But then Marge starts drinking and really goes to town insulting Harry's parents, and Harry finally snaps.
- Aunt Marge starts inflating like a balloon, the Dursleys freak out, and a furious Harry gathers his stuff and leaves the house.