Often, a good Dursley in fanfiction is the result of a different backstory. Maybe Petunia has a moment of reflection about her sister Lily and decides to treat Harry better. Vernon could also come around when he sees the power and influence that Harry might have one day and wants to be on his good side. So, in these fanfictions, they become more likeable and positive characters.
They are often portrayed as the villains. Their years of treating Harry badly are brought to light. They might look scared and out of place in the wizarding courtroom, with all its strange sights and magic.
One way the Dursleys can be good in fanfiction is if they are forced to face the consequences of their actions early on. For instance, they might receive a warning from the wizarding world that if they don't treat Harry well, there will be serious repercussions. So they start to be nicer to him. They could provide him with a proper room, better food, and allow him to have friends over.
The Dursleys could also cripple Harry emotionally in fanfiction. Their constant belittling, isolating him from others, and treating him like a burden could break his spirit. This emotional crippling might make it difficult for Harry to trust people, form relationships, or even fully embrace his wizarding identity. He may become withdrawn and lack the confidence needed to face the challenges in the wizarding world.
It might show the constant power struggle between them. Harry, as a wizard, has an inner strength that the Dursleys try to suppress with their mundane and cruel ways. So it's a battle of wills.
A lot of fanfictions play around with the Dursleys' relationship with Harry. They could be depicted as having a sort of begrudging respect for Harry. For instance, when Harry starts to show real courage and power, the Dursleys might start to see him in a new light. This is different from the original story where they mostly just try to suppress Harry. Also, some fanfictions might give the Dursleys magical abilities of their own, which completely changes their dynamic with Harry and the wizarding world.
One factor that can make the Dursleys good in fanfiction is guilt. They might feel guilty for how they've treated Harry over the years. This guilt could drive them to change their ways and be more loving and accepting towards him.
A good Dursleys fanfiction often gives them more backstory. In the original books, we don't get much about their lives before Harry came to live with them. Fanfictions can fill in those gaps. For example, exploring how Vernon got his job and how Petunia managed the household finances. Also, a good fanfiction might change their relationship with Harry in a believable way. Maybe Harry discovers a family heirloom that makes the Dursleys see him as part of the family. It's all about adding depth and new perspectives to their characters.
In some Harry Potter fanfictions, the Dursleys are depicted as nice. This could be a really interesting take. It might show how they could have been different if they hadn't been so influenced by their dislike for magic. Maybe they could have supported Harry more, or at least been less cruel. For example, a fanfiction could explore a scenario where Vernon Dursleys actually encourages Harry's academic achievements at school, instead of always putting him down.
The plot could involve Harry using his magic in a more open way around the Dursleys. They might help him hide it from the wizarding world until he's old enough to go to Hogwarts. Then, at Hogwarts, he could be more focused on learning for the joy of it rather than as an escape from his horrible home life.
Well, in fanfiction, the idea of 'ridge ribs' and the Dursleys' abuse of Harry Potter could be a completely out - of - the - box concept. Maybe 'ridge ribs' are part of a spell or a magical object that the Dursleys get their hands on. And they use it to make Harry's life even more miserable. It could be that the 'ridge ribs' have some sort of power to cause pain or discomfort, and the Dursleys, being the horrible people they are in the story, take advantage of it to abuse Harry. But this is all just speculation based on the very unique combination of words in the fanfiction world.