The Complicated Sister/Sister Relationships in the “Potter” Series
Today, the first Sunday in August, is the annually celebrated Sisters Day.
Sisters Day was celebrated for the first time in 2011 but has no discernable history or origin. It unofficially celebrates – you got it – sisters.
Sister relationships, like any other familial relationship, are complicated. They are characterized by unconditional love, over-the-top jealousy, and ridiculous attempts to one-up each other. And I can attest: I have a twin sister, and we’ve gone through our ups and downs and all the different iterations of sisterhood.
But one thing that’s remained constant is that I forever have my sister’s back, and Lord help whoever dares hurt my sister.
Interestingly, there are few sister/sister sibling relationships that exist within the Potter series. Yes, we know that Ginny is the sole sister to the Weasley brothers and that the sadistic Carrow siblings were brother and sister. But actual sister/sister siblings are few.
However, those sparsely mentioned sister/sister relationships fall across the entire spectrum of love and hate.
Let’s take a look.
Padma Patil/Parvati Patil
Padma and Parvati don’t have much to say or do. We don’t even realize that Parvati has a sister (a twin!) until Goblet of Fire, when Ron needs a date to the Yule Ball. Harry does some unintentional wingman-ing and gets Ron a date with Padma.
Unfortunately, the Patil sisters don’t have as fleshed out of a history as other characters, male or female. However, what we do know is pretty great: They’re close to each other, despite being in different Houses, and they can silently communicate to each other that they’re having a lousy time.
Padma and Parvati are your everyday, normal sisters.
Lily Evans Potter/Petunia Evans Dursley
Out of all the sister relationships in the series, Lily and Petunia’s is definitely the most volatile and malignant.
Petunia was jealous of Lily’s magical abilities from the very beginning and shamed her for them, even though Petunia herself desperately wanted to go to Hogwarts. It didn’t help that a bitter Severus made sure to frighten and threaten Petunia whenever he saw her. That dislike of Lily continued to persist, blossoming into utter hatred every time Lily came home from Hogwarts during winter and summer holidays.
We know how terribly Petunia ended up treating the only son of her sister; angry that Lily’s magical legacy ended up on her doorstep, she, Vernon, and Dudley did their absolute worst to Harry.
>Lily and Petunia are sisters broken.
Andromeda Black Tonks/Bellatrix Black Lestrange/Narcissa Black Malfoy
Andromeda bears a great resemblance to Bellatrix, but she is not close to her sisters. On the flip side, Bellatrix and Narcissa are very close. Whether that’s because they both are devoted to Voldemort or the dark side is irrelevant – after all, we’ve all had those sisterly relationships where we became fast friends as adults after hating each other’s guts as children. (Or is that just me?)
Initially, I thought Andromeda and Bellatrix were twins; Harry is shocked enough at Andromeda’s appearance that he threateningly brandishes his wand at her. If so, they would be the third set of twins in the series. But no, Andromeda is the middle sister and the polar opposite of both Bellatrix and Narcissa.
Interestingly, both Andromeda and Narcissa are very family-oriented. Both women are fiercely protective over their own; Narcissa even has the bravery to lie to Lord Voldemort upon learning that her son is still alive in battle-wrecked Hogwarts.
Andromeda is strong, generous, kind, and married to a Muggle.
Bellatrix is merciless, dedicated, unhinged, and desperately in love with Voldemort.
Narcissa is silent, prone to judging non-pure-blood wizards, terrified of the upheaval of the status quo, and absolutely devoted to husband and son.
Andromeda, Bellatrix, and Narcissa are sisters splintered.
What are your thoughts on the sister/sister relationships within the Potter universe? How will you celebrate Sisters Day today?
