I have a feeling that Dudley always felt at least a little affection towards Harry throughout their 16 years of living together...the truth that he'd never see Harry again struck him right at the last minute, and he couldn't imagine living without Harry, even though it wasn't exactly pleasant all the time. That's my opinion, anyway.

All the above reasons make sense, still I don't feel completely satistfied. Dudley's actions flew out from left field for me

It was really nice that Dudley was so affectionate towards Harry. I can't wait to see it on the big screens.

Dudley was really a good person in the end and I figured this much about him, he didn't seem as evil sometimes and I had the feeling the Tea in the door way was not always cold it seemed like a peace offering from the get-go not a Booby Trap.

I have to say that I'm very proud of Dudley for overcoming his dislike of Harry and sort of thanking him for saving his life and such. I don't think that Dudley ever really disliked Harry as his father or mother did.

Dudley realized that Harry wasn't coming with them and it came as a bit of a shock. Well, think about it: Dudley grew up with Harry. If Harry had been treated as well as Dudley had, they'd be a lot like brothers. Actually, they still are a lot like brothers seeing as they grew up together (no matter what the conditions). They've known each other for pretty much as long as they can remember. Living without Harry must seem a bit odd after having him around for 16 years, huh? Especially after he saved his life.

If someone saved your life, I don't think you'd say that they were a waste of space either...

If someone saved my life or the life of someone I loved dearly I would be very elated and happy about that. I wouldn't consider them a waste of space, I for one believe that Dudley treated Harry the way he did because he grew up with his father treating Harry that way and thought it was the right thing to do. When he had treated Harry horribly all those years he probably had a reason to pretend to hate Harry more that he might have actually hated him. Dudley seemed to be a person who if they in the end had been a wizard and went to Hogwarts prooved he was not as much of the Bully as he seemed as when he was younger the circumstances made him braver and thus made his paretns fallow his lead. He wanted Harry to come and you could tell with how presistantly he was asking why Harry was not coming. Dudley probably felt Safer in their home when Harry was there and was able to use Magic to help defend them all!

I think that Harry cared about Dudley from the vary start, but him saving dudley's life pretty much sold the deal for dudley caring about harry. i thought it was really sweet how dudley said good-bye, and now they can probably see each other again since harry lived

I don't think it's a matter of caring, I think Dudley, unlike his parents who were blinded by their ignorance and hatred, had a bit more perspective on the whole thing.

I was so surprised when Dudley show respect and some of likeness at the end..I never thought that actually, I thought that Petunia will be the one..not Dudley but that was really nice...Go Dudley

I loved Dudley in this book. He was just so confused and he really felt affection towards Harry...a good way for his character to exit the series

I loved him in this book, i mean i think he has cared for harry for a while now. But it hit in when the dementors attaked him. I loved how he was soo confused as to where harry was going, and if he would be safe.

I agree completely. I felt a bit like Dudley was jealous of Harry when they were growing up because, lets face it, Harry is fitter and better looking than Dudley without having to try at all. That's particularly hard for little children, who pretty regularly pick on other kids who their jealous of anyway. It certainly didn't help that all of Dudley's life he'd been taught that Harry was someone who it was perfectly acceptable to be cruel to.

I think that he probably wised up a bit as he grew older. He certainly probably felt remorse for how poorly he treated Harry while they were growing up, especially once Harry saved his life. Then Dudley had the entire school year to think about it while Harry was away at Hogwarts.

Once summer holidays started and Harry was around again, Dudley probably wanted to show Harry that he appreciated him, but didn't know how. Certainly Harry probably overlooked other small things that Dudley attempted to do, just like he initially overlooked the tea.

Even when he finally did verbally express his feelings to Harry, Dudley was less than masterful at it. The poor kid is just a product of his environment; he's only had his dad as a male role model, and the man is obviously not good at expressing his emotions.

That's just my take. I might be off-base, but I don't feel like I am. I quite thought that Dudley would come round eventually, anyway.

^^I agree. I think that once he saved his butt, he started to care. I was woundering if anyone found out what Dudley saw when the Death Eaters were attacking him.

I think he started after Harry rescued him. I mean...after that he didn't really harm him anymore, of course they didn't become any pals or somewhat but all the bulliing did kind of smoothen.
In the first books, he surely dislikes him, I think thats pretty clear to see, by his words and his actions.

I never used to like his character but now i have this strange lil soft spot for him, yes i do do like him = ]