The pillow fight was more of a playful tussle, so Dudley didn't shout for help—he just let Harry pummel him with the pillow.
No one knew why, but after that night, Dudley became Harry's shadow.
For the whole month before school began, Dudley acted like a completely different person toward Harry.
But only Harry knew the real reason. Sure, Dudley was a little afraid of his magic, but the main thing was that Harry had promised to bring Dudley some snacks from the Magic World next time he went home.
Looking at Dudley's chubby figure, Harry thought he'd better add a few slimming magic potions for him.
The seven hundred and fifty British Pounds Harry swiped from the Dursley family were all spent on Muggle snacks, with a particular focus on Coca-Cola.
You have no idea how much he craved a sip of that magical drink during the Victorian Era.
Considering the spending power of British Pounds, Harry took the Knight Bus alone to Diagon Alley and bought a suitcase with a Traceless Stretching Spell charm.
He stuffed all the Muggle snacks into the suitcase. Seeing there was still extra space, he shoved in his books and clothes too.
This suitcase set him back thirty Golden Galleons.
You get what you pay for—Harry was more than satisfied with his new suitcase.
One month flew by in a blink, and the first day of school arrived before he knew it.
Since Dudley was starting at Smelting Middle School, the Dursley family drove to London to drop him off.
"I've always wondered, where did you get Wizard Money?"
Sitting in the car, Uncle Vernon suddenly asked.
Harry answered, "It's my inheritance from my parents, locked up at Gringotts—"
The car screeched to a halt, and Harry nearly smashed his head on the seat in front.
Through the rearview mirror hanging in front, Harry saw Uncle Vernon's face instantly turn gloomy.
Could it be… he's upset I never paid child support? Harry guessed, and accidentally blurted out,
"I know, now that I have some money, I could pay back all those years of support…"
"You're just like your father, Potter!" Uncle Vernon's fat body heaved as he turned around on the seat to glare at Harry. "He was just as arrogant and full of himself—"
Harry instinctively defended his dad: "My father wasn't arrogant, and I'm not either. If you don't mind, could you please pull over first?"
Vernon snorted and pulled the car to the side of the road.
He turned around again and yelled, "Listen, boy, I don't care how much doggone gold you've got stashed away at Gringotts! I love Penny! I love her more than anything! If not for her, did you think I'd let a freak like you into my house?"
"You know Gringotts?" Harry raised his eyebrows, guessing that Uncle Vernon had slammed the brakes because he mentioned Gringotts.
Uncle Vernon's face flushed purple again, and his moustache quivered as he roared: "Gringotts? Of course I know Gringotts! Back when I met your father in that restaurant—Penny mentioned he didn't have a job, so I wanted to find him a position at my company, even though he had no proper qualifications. I was even willing to sponsor him, but your father—"
"Dursley! Oh, Dursley!" wailed Aunt Penny from the passenger seat, clutching her collar as if she couldn't breathe.
"Like father, like son! The station's here, you can get out!" Uncle Vernon barked in anger.
Harry looked up—sure enough, it was King's Cross Station outside.
"Sorry about that." Harry smiled at the Dursleys, then turned to Dudley and said, "I'll be going then."
"Don't forget what you promised me," Dudley mouthed to Harry.
Harry nodded, hauled the suitcase out of the trunk, extended the handle, set it down, and headed off without looking back.
That was their parents' feud, nothing to do with him. No need for emotional self-torture.
"Platform 9 3/4…" Harry muttered, towing his suitcase toward the station interior.
It wasn't his first time at the platform, so Harry was in no hurry—he strolled leisurely, suitcase in tow, looking relaxed. Only after a family of redheads entered the station ahead of him did he follow them onto Platform 9 3/4.
The steam train's smoke swirled above the crowd, all sorts of colorful cats weaved between people's legs, and amid the lively chatter, owls hooted here and there—together composing the symphony of back-to-school day.
It was full of Wizarding vibes—absolutely magical.
As the train was about to depart, the front carriages were packed with students. Some craned out the windows to chat with their families, some joked and played inside, and some sat quietly, nibbling snacks.
Harry even spotted a Chocolate Frog that had just leapt out of an open window, while its owner grimaced in frustration.
Toward the back, he found an empty compartment. He'd just hoisted his suitcase up when he bumped into a pair of identical red-headed twins.
"You're—Harry Potter, aren't you?" the one on the left asked, excitement lighting up his face.
Before Harry could answer, a woman's voice sounded from outside.
"Fred! George! Are you boys on the train?"
"Coming, Mum!" The twins hurriedly bid Harry goodbye and dashed off.
Harry slumped onto his seat, gazing blankly at the crowd outside.
He could still hear the twins' mother scolding them: "That poor boy isn't some zoo animal—stop staring at him! Fred! George!"
The mother's voice faded, but Harry wasn't interested in eavesdropping. He simply settled into a comfortable position on his seat.
Out on the platform, that mother was still lecturing her brood.
"I don't want you boys asking him anything about his scar! Don't make him remember that on his very first day! All the Wizards are celebrating the day he got that scar and defeated You-Know-Who, but to him, it means losing the mum and dad who loved him the most. Oh, poor child…"
"Alright, don't be mad, Mum." Fred or George muttered, "We got it."
The train whistle blew.
"Alright, dears, time to say goodbye!" Their mother smiled, kissing each child on the forehead. "On the train, Little Ronnie— And you two! Don't let me get another letter from a professor about your pranks!"
That last bit was aimed at the twins.
(The following is from Pottermore—a supplement from Rowling about the first meeting between the Dursleys and the Potters. Vernon's lines are not my own invention; James actually felt embarrassed afterwards and promised Lily he'd repair the relationship when possible.)