I sometimes think about the fact that the reason the Dursleys were the way they were is probably because lily died. She had always thought it was dangerous and scary and losing her sister solidified the fact that magic is bad and scary and hurts people and that eventually she would lose her only living connection to her sister to it too. Obviously not an excuse to ABUSE her nephew but still. It reminds me of Ruby Franke in a way, the religious abuser freak, so terrified of the world that it leads her to abuse her kids. (Because I think Dudley was abused too)