I think you are corresct, aes824. It would have worked if they had shown somewhere in the movies previous that Aunt Petunia really cared about Lily, but even in the books, all Petunia did was put Harry’s parents down. it was a scene that was really well acted by Fiona, but that scene would still not fit in well.

It is my most fervent wish that the extended versions (which we’ve seen on ABC) get released as a Director’s Cut version someday.

This scene was EXCELLENT.

I DO wish we had the handshake. One of my favorite moments in the book was the realization that Dudley brought Harry tea.

That was VERY touching! Very good script!

@aes824: In school we talk about “empty spaces” in a piece of literature. Petunia, and how she really felt about Harry in this chapter of DH, is most definitely a point where we readers fill that “empty space”. We look at what is written about her, what she says and how she is portrayed “between the lines”. In the end, how we perceive Petunia (whether as a repentant or cold person) lies in how we interpret Jo’s writing. This is what I loved about how Jo has depicted the various characters in HP – so many are multi-faceted. Just when we think we have that character categorized, Jo puts a twist in the story that surprises us.

I must say I like the scene very much. In fact I prefer it to the very rushed version shown in the film. Very good acting both from Fiona Shaw and Daniel Radcliffe. And I do think that deep down Aunt Petunia must have loved her sister – it’s just that during most of her life, her jealousy took over because she never got over the fact that wasn’t a witch and wasn’t allowed to attend Hogwarts. But in OoTP, she shows a different side of her personality for a couple of seconds – she shows understanding and concern. She knows about Voldemort and what he is capable of. I don’t think that what he did to Lily totally passed her by. She just suppressed it and tried to conceal it behind anger.

I don’t know why it always happens that the best scenes of the films get deleted, while other irrelevant scenes get added. It’s beyond me.

Aww.. that was great! I wish they could have put it in the movie!

Want to see ittttt

I wish we could have had it.

I wish we could have had it.

That was it? Wackk :P
I was expecting something a little more heartwrenching.
And perhaps some dialogue from Dudley!!
FAIL.

whyz couldn’t this be in the movie? this was important too!

Oh wow – love it. Hope there is a deleted scene of Dudley!

not going to lie, i started tearing up when she said “you not only lost a mother that night in Godric’s Hollow, I lost a sister”.
ah! why couldn’t they have added in more scenes for Privet Drive!!!!!
Can’t wait for the dvd and all the extra goodies that come with it though =)

That would of been great to keep in the film. So powerful.

In truth it may have messed that brilliantly paced opening BUT such wesome acting by Fiona Shaw, such a truly wonderful actress for such a small role