Harry Potter: Books vs Series

Books vs Series · The unofficial guide to HBO's Harry Potter

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Petunia Dursley

Bel Powley as Petunia Dursley in HBO's Harry Potter
Played byBel Powley
First seasonSeason 1, Philosopher’s Stone
Differences2

Photo: HBO

In the books

This is how J.K. Rowling describes Petunia Dursley in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone:

“Mrs Dursley was thin and blonde and had nearly twice the usual amount of neck, which came in very useful as she spent so much of her time craning over garden fences, spying on the neighbours.”— PS, ch. 1

In the series

Bel Powley plays Petunia Dursley in HBO’s series. Differences from the books so far:

007

The haircut

Different

Books: Aunt Petunia cuts Harry’s hair so short that he is almost bald, apart from his fringe, and it grows back overnight (PS, ch. 2). Series: after the haircut, Harry’s hair is far from almost bald.

Official images

Images © HBO. More in official images.

Other characters

Harry Potter · Hermione Granger · Ron Weasley · Albus Dumbledore · Minerva McGonagall · Severus Snape · Rubeus Hagrid · Draco Malfoy · Vernon Dursley · Dudley Dursley · Neville Longbottom · Quirinus Quirrell · Molly Weasley · Percy Weasley · Ginny Weasley · Garrick Ollivander · Filius Flitwick · Pomona Sprout · Rolanda Hooch · Oliver Wood. See also the full cast.

Premiere

25 Decon HBO Max

Books vs Series

Difference 001 of 15

Snape’s skin colour

Books: Snape has “sallow skin” (PS, ch. 7).

Series: he is played by Paapa Essiedu, a Black British actor.

All 15 differences »

Posters

Harry character poster, HBO's Harry Potter
Harry

All posters »

Latest updates

13 November 2026
New pages: a page for each actor, the ages of the cast, new scenes not in the book, houses and uniforms, magical creatures and music. More »

13 November 2026
New page: sets and filming locations, from the new Hogwarts at Leavesden to London Zoo, King’s Cross and the Cornish coast. More »

13 November 2026
Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton and Alastair Stout, the new Harry, Hermione and Ron, talked to Scholastic News about the auditions, getting the parts and filming. More »

10 November 2026
Snape actor Paapa Essiedu told Vanity Fair he still doesn’t really know what happens in Deathly Hallows, and was baffled by Dumbledore’s death. More »

All news »

Unofficial fan site. Not affiliated with HBO, Warner Bros. Discovery or J.K. Rowling. Images and videos © HBO / Warner Bros. Discovery.
Book references are to the UK editions: PS = Philosopher's Stone, CoS = Chamber of Secrets. · About this site · Page updated