Harry Potter fans divided over what Dudley really says in iconic scene after seeing subtitles

Social media users are conflicted over a line said by Dudley in a notorious Harry Potter scene.

Prepare to 'siriusly' question your childhood:

You know you're truly getting into the Christmas spirit when someone suggests a binge-watch of the Harry Potter franchise, or when you see it pop up on the festive season television schedule.

You may think you can quote the film line-by-line, but there's one iconic scene from the first ever movie where you may have been getting it wrong.

Harry Potter fans have been left divided over one of Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and cousin Dudley's (Harry Melling) most iconic scenes.

Warner Bros.

The scene is the momentous moment viewers are properly introduced to Harry for the first time.

It's Dudley's birthday and he's been given - out of many extravagant presents - a trip to the zoo.

In typical Dudley fashion, he stomps down the stairs, jumping up and down to wake up Harry, who has been shoved in the closet under the staircase to be kept out of the way by his wicked aunt and uncle.

As Dudley thrashes about, he shouts at his cousin to wake up, but upon rewatching the scene with subtitles, Harry Potter fans are shocked by what he actually says.

Warner Bros.

A viewer leapt to TikTok to share their finding, as they originally thought Dudley said: "Wake up, Potter."

However, the subtitles read: "Wake up, cousin." Shocking stuff.

Other social media users and Potter fans have been left just as bamboozled, flooding to the post in confusion.

One fan simply refused to believe the subtitle is correct: "It's Potter. Ain't no way Dudley called him cousin... cousin would imply Dudley claims him as family not as his live-in whipping boy."

Others readily agreed, refusing to bow down to the subtitles.

"I hear Potter. I don't know why in the subtitle said cousin," one said, as another said: "I always thought it was potter too."

Warner Bros.

The original poster replying: "Right? Maybe whoever did the captions misheard?"

Some users disagreed and said they could clearly hear 'cousin' opposed to 'Potter'.

"It was always cousin," one said, while another pointed out: "It says cousin."

The heated debate has continued on other social media sites too, with one Harry Potter fan taking to Reddit in their pained confusion.

They called out to fellow Redditers: "Does anyone actually know what he says? It seems like a stupid question but it's quite hard to distinguish between 'Potter' and 'cousin' when they're muffled by a staircase and it's getting frustrating."

u/hamsterbars/ Reddit

"It's cousin. If you particularly listen for the consonant in the second syllable, it's clearly a 'z' sound like cousin and not a 't' sound like Potter," one user argued.

Another said: "I find it difficult to believe Vernon would let the word 'Potter' be allowed to be spoken inside the house. Then again, movies, so..."

One TikToker threw a spanner in the works - but ultimately pleases both side of the argument - resolving: "I can hear both."