After the deaths of James and Lily Potter at the hands of Lord Voldemort, Albus Dumbledore left Harry Potter with the loathsome Dursley family at Number 4 Privet Drive. Unlike their biological son Dudley, the Boy Who Lived was subjected to years of misery during his time under their roof.
This was conveyed brilliantly in the eight movies that released between 2001 and 2011 but, with so much to work with, Warner Bros. inevitably couldn't cram every single scene in. These were just a number of examples...
Vernon Agrees To Take Harry
In The Sorcerer's Stone, the first movie in the series, Harry is taken to Kings Cross Station by Rubeus Hagrid. But things are different in the book of the same name, with the Dursleys agreeing to take him instead. This is extremely out of character from the Chosen One's relatives and it soon emerges there's more to Vernon Dursley's kind offer than initially meets the eye.
He doesn't bother beating about the bush, telling Harry he will only take him to the station because they are on their way into London anyway. They are forced into a trip to remove Dudley's tail given him to Hagrid.
Fans couldn't imagine how they explained it to the medical experts involved in the procedure. It must have been a pretty difficult conversation to have...
The OWL
The Chamber of Secrets film sees Dobby the House-Elf dump an entire cake over a guest of the Dursley's named Mrs Mason, much to their annoyance. The loathsome trio then imprison Harry in his own room, with the Boy Who Lived only saved when Ron, Fred and George Weasley come calling in the dead of night to whisk him away to The Burrow.
However, an omitted moment actually details the immediate aftermath of the cake incident. An owl from the Ministry of Magic appears on the scene from Mafalda Hopkirk, dropping a letter informing Harry that no magic is permitted outside of Hogwarts while he's underage. He's lucky to avoid expulsion from the school and the Dursleys savor this revelation, knowing they can't be punished for their horrible actions.
The Accidental Magic Reversal Squad
After Harry blows up his Aunt Marge following her horrible comments about his dead parents, the Boy Who Lived is, once again, lucky to fortunate to avoid being booted out of Hogwarts. Cornelius Fudge spares him yet doesn't divulge too much into what happened next, merely saying 'that's that' and 'no harm done.'
But fans of the Prisoner of Azkaban book will know the Accidental Magical Reversal Squad turned up on the scene to set things right, also modifying Marge's memory so she would have no recollection about being transformed into a human hot air balloon. That's probably for the best because it would certainly be a traumatic experience, one that wouldn't make her any fonder of her nephew.
Blowing Up The Fireplaces
The Dursleys, and Aunt Petunia, in particular, take great pride in the tidiness of their home. So that's why, when the Weasleys blow their electric fireplace to smithereens in the Goblet of Fire, they are left appalled, with Petunia close to tears.
It leaves Number 4 Privet Drive a dusty mess and, though Arthur Weasley repairs things, Harry's relatives are far from happy. Arthur, Ron, Fred and George all emerge to take the Boy Who Lived away to the Quidditch World Cup, with Ireland locking horns with Bulgaria in the final. Petunia and Vernon only let Harry go because it gets him out of their sights far quicker.
Ton-Tongue Toffee
Fred and George are known for being two of Hogwarts' greatest ever pranksters. This actually helps them in later life, with the pair beginning their business of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes at Hogwarts before then opening a shop right in the heart of Diagon Alley. And one of their test subjects is an unsuspecting Dudley Dursley.
In the fourth book, it's revealed that Dudley and the rest of the family are all following a strict diet after he's accused of being overweight by his school. So when Fred and George drop a toffee on the floor, he takes the bait. Unfortunately for him, his tongue then swells up at an incredible rate, in a scene that sparks huge panic and a big telling off from Mrs. Weasley upon their return.
A Peck Of Owls
Similar to what happens in the second book, Number 4 Privet Drive is bombarded with owls in The Order of the Phoenix novel. In this instance, things unfold after Harry uses a Patronus Charm to save both himself and Dudley from the Dementors, who had been dispatched to their location by the vile Dolores Umbridge as she looks to get the Chosen One kicked out of Hogwarts for good.
He then receives several letters from different people. One tells him he's expelled, there is another from Mr. Weasley telling him to stay where he is and then the Ministry of Magic messages him again to arrange a hearing over his Hogwarts future. Petunia even gets one from Albus Dumbledore, who reminds her of her vow to take Harry in many years previously to spare him from harm.
Albus Dumbledore's Visit
At the beginning of the Half-Blood Prince book, Harry is shocked when Albus Dumbledore turns up at Privet Drive. Though the Hogwarts headmaster had informed Daniel Radcliffe's character he would be dropping by to take him away, Harry just couldn't imagine somebody like him stepping foot in the Dursleys' home.
This is something Dumbledore senses, being the powerful wizard he is, and he enjoys himself on the night. He compliments their flowers in the garden, conjures drinks for them out of thin air, and, when they simply ignore the glasses, have the contents poured over their head. Dumbledore then slams Petunia and Vernon for how they have treated Harry over the years and also performs one last deed...
Kreacher's Visit
With Sirius Black gone, Dumbledore delves into the contents of the wizard's will. He informs Harry that he's been left Number 12 Grimmauld Place but, given Severus Snape was one of the place's confidants, needs to perform a test to make sure the Boy Who Lived is the true owner. In order to do this, he then summons Kreacher the House Elf.
Petunia nearly passes out at the sight of something so dirty being in her living room and they are horrified at Kreacher's loud, shrill cries as he protests at the chance. He would later change his mind on Harry, helping the Boy Who Lived in his fight against Lord Voldemort and even taking part in the Battle of Hogwarts - something the movies again didn't show.
Harry's Goodbye To Petunia
There's a deleted scene on the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 blu-ray that shows the protagonist saying goodbye to Petunia for the last time. Well, sort of.
It's similar, but not perfectly identical to what happens in the final book. Harry and his aunt have a final conversation where Petunia looks like she's going to say something, only for her to swallow it at the last minute. It means things end on a rather awkward note, which can also be said for how Harry and Vernon part ways. Dudley, though, is the exception...
Harry's Goodbye To Dudley
For the most part, Dudley is a bully. He definitely makes Harry's life at Privet Drive extremely uncomfortable, often using his cousin as a human punchbag. However, things change after he was rescued from Dementors during the events of the Order of the Phoenix. And as they prepare to say goodbye for the last time, Dudley decides to offer an olive branch.
He tells his relative he doesn't consider him an idiot - which is probably the closest thing to a compliment Harry could be hoping for. The duo would later stay in touch, seeing each other at Christmas with their own children but spending the majority of their time together sat in silence. Awkward...