Petunia and Vernon were torn.
On one hand, they harbored a deep-seated fear and aversion to wizards and magic. On the other, they couldn't ignore the fervent desire of their beloved Dudley.
They knew their son's unyielding nature all too well. Over the years, they had indulged him endlessly, to the point of blind obedience.
Except when it came to matters involving Harry, wizards, or magic, the Dursleys had never refused any of Dudley's demands.
This time, however...
"Alright, Dudley. But I'm coming with you!"
Vernon made up his mind, speaking with utmost seriousness. For the sake of his son's wishes and safety, he was willing to step into the wizarding world—a place he loathed with every fiber of his being.
Once again, for love, he was breaking his own rules.
"Vernon, you..." Petunia was stunned but quickly understood her husband's reasoning. She was deeply moved.
Dudley, too, was touched by his parents' devotion.
But precisely because of that, he couldn't let Vernon and Petunia join him and Harry on their trip to Diagon Alley.
After all, his intentions for this journey weren't exactly pure.
He had been planning this for years, preparing meticulously. As long as the trip didn't deviate too much from the original storyline, he had a good chance of achieving a monumental leap into the magical world.
"Mom, Dad, neither of you is coming!"
Dudley firmly rejected his father's offer. "No matter what, Dumbledore's side is on Harry's side. Whoever he sends will ensure our safety.
Besides, if we do run into danger, your presence wouldn't help. In fact, you might even become..."
Dudley hesitated, but thinking of Petunia's other regrets and the Dursleys' future, he steeled himself and continued:
"You might even become a burden."
Vernon and Petunia's eyes widened, their mouths agape. Dudley's words struck them like a thunderbolt.
They could become a burden to their own child!
A wave of profound sadness washed over them. Combined with Dudley's earlier words, they understood what he was trying to say.
Ordinary people stood no chance against wizards. Their presence in the magical world would be useless.
But... the truth hurt, especially when it came from their beloved son.
They were utterly powerless!
As sadness engulfed them, Vernon and Petunia, who had always doted on Dudley, fell into a spiral of self-doubt.
Dudley, seeing the look on his parents' faces, knew his words had hit home. Seizing the moment, he pressed on, laying the groundwork for what was to come:
"Mom, Dad, the strong dominate the weak—that's the harsh reality!
Wizards can alter our memories, confuse our senses, paralyze our bodies, even control our minds and take our lives!
Harry's enemies are the most terrifying and evil of wizards. Even though the good wizards are in power now, the dark wizards aren't gone. They could return at any moment.
When that happens, our family will be targeted.
So, instead of forcing yourselves to join Harry and me in the magical world, you should overcome your aversion to wizards and magic. Understand this power and prepare to harness it!
The path to strength and self-preservation is the right one!"
Dudley's heartfelt words made Vernon and Petunia feel their son's love for them.
He wasn't rejecting them; he was trying to inspire them.
But this inspiration only deepened their confusion.
Vernon knew little about wizards, while Petunia had some understanding of magic.
As far as she knew, Muggles couldn't become wizards!
Dudley noticed the confusion in his parents' eyes and offered a clearer explanation:
"Trust your son. Just because others can't turn Muggles into wizards doesn't mean Dudley Dursley can't!"
Dudley's confident words began to dispel the fog of doubt in his parents' minds.
If anyone else had said this, they would have dismissed it as pure bravado.
But coming from their son, it was different. His words carried absolute credibility.
Dudley had finally convinced his parents. By then, Harry had finished writing the reply.
Dudley took the letter, carefully checking the agreed-upon time and the part about him accompanying Harry. Satisfied there were no mistakes, he slipped the letter into an envelope.
Then, he fed the poor owl two more strips of beef jerky and released it from its cage.
Opening the living room window, Dudley set the owl free to deliver the letter.
"Good bird, take this to Dumbledore!"
Watching the owl soar into the distance, and the two cats slinking away at the corner, Dudley's expression was unreadable.
"Everything's ready. All we need now is the right moment."
After bidding their still-anxious parents goodbye, Dudley and Harry headed upstairs to their respective bedrooms.
As they reached the top of the stairs, Harry hesitated, clearly troubled.
Dudley stopped and looked at him.
Harry, knowing his cousin had noticed his unease, spoke up: "Cousin, does my presence cause trouble for you and Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon? If it does, I..."
"What are you thinking? Running away?"
Dudley cut him off, speaking firmly. "Harry, you're not a burden. Without you and Aunt Lily, we'd be clueless Muggles, at the mercy of wizards.
Who knows? We might have been caught in the crossfire of some wizard duel, either dying unnoticed or having our memories wiped by the Ministry of Magic, left to live in ignorance.
Because of you and Aunt Lily, we have a chance to understand the wizarding world, and we have good wizards protecting us. That's a good thing!"
Hearing Dudley's explanation, Harry's expression softened. "But cousin, what about that Obscurial thing you mentioned earlier?"
Dudley chuckled softly. "Don't worry, Harry. You won't become an Obscurial. That was just a tactic to make Mom and Dad face their feelings.
To become an Obscurial, it's not about others' ridicule or rejection. It's about whether the wizard themselves is influenced by the outside world, denying and suppressing their own magic.
Harry, your past is tragic, but you're naturally resilient and have your own sense of judgment. Even without my guidance, you wouldn't deny yourself and become an Obscurial.
I'm absolutely certain of that!"
With Dudley's reassurance, Harry's worries faded. He hesitated, then brought up one last topic: "Cousin, I think I might have misjudged Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon..."
"That's not your fault, Harry!" Dudley ruffled Harry's hair comfortingly. "Given how they've treated you, it would be strange if you thought they loved you!
Everyone has their limitations. Their attitude toward you was shaped by their own emotional baggage and personalities. You have nothing to feel guilty about.
Harry, enjoy what's left of your childhood! After your eleventh birthday, you won't be a child anymore. From then on, my expectations of you will be much higher. Be prepared!"
Dudley's words dispelled Harry's lingering doubts and gave him a healthy dose of motivation.
Harry nodded resolutely and, under Dudley's watchful gaze, retreated to his small bedroom.
Dudley paused for a moment before stepping into his own room, just next door.
This room was his headquarters.