“Two large purple hands reached through the open window and closed tightly around his throat.”

Vernon relishes opportunities to treat Harry with cruelty; when Harry is discovered outside the window listening to the news, Vernon strangles him aggressively. The reader is positioned to view Vernon, who is entrusted with his nephew’s care, as a dislikable antagonist.

“Don’t kill Cedric. […] Dad! Help me, Dad! He’s going to kill me!”

Dudley, Harry’s cousin, cruelly and mockingly recounts the contents of Harry’s nightmares. Harry’s vivid nightmares illustrate his ongoing trauma over the events at the Triwizard Tournament featured in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, where Cedric was murdered in front of Harry by Voldemort, who also tried to kill Harry.

“They want wizards on the street to think you’re just some stupid boy who’s a bit of a joke, who tells ridiculous tall stories because he loves being famous and wants to keep it going.”

Fudge and the Daily Prophet attempt to discredit and ridicule Harry rather than entertain his terrifying claim that Voldemort has returned. This institutional denial leads to Harry being oppressed and ostracized at school.